Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 765 introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Jones], requires the National Park Service to maintain a herd of wild horses on Shackleford Banks in Cape Lookout National Seashore. I recognize and appreciate my good friend's deep personal interest in this matter, as well as the concern this issue has generated in the local community. As such, I am supporting the bill in the House today. I must note for the record that the administration has strong concerns and objections to the bill which are also shared by the National Parks and Conservation Association, a park advocacy group. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 765 has been very specific in management directives for the National Park Service, right down to specifying that the number of wild horses that must be maintained at the National Seashore be no less than 100 and no more than 110. That detailed a number may well cause some significant management problems, I am sure. We do not know the genetic diversity of this herd, nor the carrying capacity of the small barrier island on which they live. In fact, a report on the genetic diversity of the horses is due by sometime next month. We would do well to have better scientific information as we consider this legislation.”