Political Quotes

“The current bill would expand the public lands program to a dozen agencies. By restricting the use of the money that would be appropriated for the legislation, you effectively put three-quarters of it into forest activities, thereby eliminating the opportunity to be able to engage young people in a variety and a comprehensive look at opportunities in our public lands and in our public lands agency. The vast majority of the adults who participate in the program are Federal employees. The oversight is their responsibility in the agency. NPS rangers, forest rangers already get full background checks and full clearance. They already get full FBI checks. The minority failed to raise this issue during committees or at the Committee on Rules. The other issue is the issue of due process. To prohibit an individual or organization from being able to seek redress in a court of law I think is not only undemocratic, but sincerely wrong. The motion to recommit basically hamstrings the legislation, prevents it from being effective. It is a hodgepodge of items thrown in that were not before the Rules Committee and were not before the discussion on the full committee. I would urge a 'no' vote. Let me point out thus far that only $7.5 million has ever been appropriated for Public Land Corps, and all of that money was earmarked for forest health.”