Raúl Grijalva: “Reclaiming my time, the administration has not done enough to protect public safety or the quality of our public lands…”

“Reclaiming my time, the administration has not done enough to protect public safety or the quality of our public lands during this shutdown. New roads have been bulldozed through protected land in Joshua Tree National Park because staff was not there to prevent it. Hikers have been injured and had to rely on volunteers to carry them to safety. We all heard about the trash piling up at precious sites across this country. Every day, we see more damage to our public lands, and that involves, also, the vandalism and looting on protected areas, cultural areas, and historic resources in our public lands and parks. I haven't seen any serious willingness from the administration to end this shutdown and get back to normal operations. Ironically, the permitting for gas, oil, and mining continues, unabated, at the expense of the public taxpayers and employees and, of course, our public lands and parks. Though the permitting process in the refuge and in other parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma continues unabated, this is one part of this shutdown that was not affected at all. Ms. McCOLLUM. Will the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) yield once more?”