Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am introducing the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act, a piece of legislation that serves as an update to the historic California Desert Protection Act of 1994. This bill reflects our attempt to achieve consensus among the various uses of desert land and the many stakeholders involved. This bill is bipartisan and it charts a commonsense path forward for the California desert. It protects additional desert land. It helps manage my State's natural resources. It balances competing interests. It includes provisions on recreation and renewable energy development. Overall, it ensures that the California desert will remain what it is today: a true American treasure. This bill has been a long time in the making. Only three months after I was sworn in as Senator, in January 1993, I introduced the Desert Protection Act. I picked up where my predecessors left off, and President Clinton signed the bill into law in October 1994. This law was the largest land conservation designation in the continental United States: It protected or increased existing protection for 9.6 million acres of desert land. It established the iconic national parks of Joshua Tree and Death Valley, as well as the Mojave National Preserve. It helped save habitats for endangered species. It continues to attract millions of tourists to southern California-- a boon for the economy. It has ensured that the beautiful landscapes will be enjoyed for generations.…”