Political Quotes

“Madam Chair, just to make sure that the record is clear, as I mentioned, much of our public lands--and CBO mentioned that as well--are open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting. {time} 1540 I think it's important to see how that translates into acreage: BLM lands, 245 million acres, 95 percent open; Park Service, 84 million acres, 70 percent open; Fish and Wildlife, 150 million acres, 57 percent open; Forest Service, 193 million acres, 95 percent open. The real threat to access to our public lands for hunters, anglers, and recreational shooting is the privatization of these very important public resources, degraded habitat due to lack of funding, and development that disrupts habitat and water quality. The majority frequently laments that Federal lands dominate the West and are robbing local communities of important resources. They have promoted taking these same lands and giving it to the States, liquidating others, and intensely developing what is left. If that is the pattern of land management that the majority seeks for our public lands, then hunters, anglers, recreational and people that enjoy our open spaces and public lands will be more endangered by that public policy than by a problem that this bill attempts to address that doesn't exist. I reserve the balance of my time.”