Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am introducing with Senator Stabenow the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act, which would permanently protect 32,557 acres within the extraordinarily beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore located in the Michigan counties of Leelanau and Benzie. This legislation reflects the 2008 National Park Service wilderness proposal, which was the result of a lengthy public process beginning in 2006, and culminating in broad public support for the proposal. The wilderness designation improves upon a 1981 recommendation by ensuring that access to recreational areas is provided while protecting lands in their natural condition. While there currently are no areas in the Lakeshore formally designated as wilderness, the National Park Service has been managing 30,903 acres as wilderness since 1982, when an amendment to the park's enabling legislation required the Park Service to manage land recommended as wilderness in 1981 in this manner ``until Congress determines otherwise.'' The legislation I am introducing today would modify somewhat which areas would be managed as wilderness to ensure visitors continue to have access to these lands. The bill specifically excludes developed county roads and State highways from the wilderness area such that access is not impeded for recreation and other purposes. Several areas for boat launching and historic structures have also been excluded from the wilderness designation.…”