Barbara Boxer: “colleagues, I hope Members will vote against the motion to table my amendment. I am simply trying to strike section 333…”

“colleagues, I hope Members will vote against the motion to table my amendment. I am simply trying to strike section 333, which is an anti-environmental rider that singles out 39 timber sales in the Tongass Forest and only allows a 30-day appeals process for citizens, small businesses, and community groups to act. It also says a judge must act in 180 days, pushing this ahead of other pending cases. Now, why is it important to all of us? If you can change the rules in the largest temperate rain forest in the world, think about what would happen to you in your States. We have not had any hearings on this issue. I don't think this is the right way to legislate. If it is a question of jobs, there are 300 million board feet of timber in the Tongass that could be cut today. There are no lawsuits pending on those. This is a process question. I hope colleagues would not take away the rights of their constituents.”