Bruce Westerman: “I include for the Record the following letters from multiple organizations in opposition to H.R. 803. Independent…”

“I include for the Record the following letters from multiple organizations in opposition to H.R. 803. Independent Petroleum Association of America, Washington, DC, February 23, 2021. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Madam Speaker: The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) is opposed to H.R. 803, the ``Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act.'' This bill creates nearly 1.5 million acres of new wilderness and permanently withdraws 1.2 million acres from mineral production. It is in direct opposition to the multiple use mandate given to the Department of the Interior to manage the federal estate. Many of the local communities impacted by this measure, including Garfield County in Colorado which has existing mineral leases and planned for further development, have raised significant concerns due to the elimination of multiple use of the land and the overall threat to local economies and rural jobs. Further, many of the lands under consideration in H.R. 803 do not meet the basic characteristics for consideration as wilderness. Instead, the legislation arbitrarily designates areas as wilderness and wild and scenic rivers despite official testimony provided by the relevant land management agencies to previous Congresses that many of these designations are inappropriate and not recommended.…”