Richard Pombo: “Mr. Chairman, the amendment says that none of the funds made available by this act may be used to adversely affect the…”

“Mr. Chairman, the amendment says that none of the funds made available by this act may be used to adversely affect the physical integrity of Indian sacred sites on Federal lands as such terms are defined in the Executive Order No. 13007, dated May 24, 1996. This sounds pretty straightforward and innocent enough, and who could vote against protecting a sacred site? The gentleman should be commended for his efforts to safeguard areas of cultural significance for Native Americans... The problem with this amendment is simple: It has not been the subject of a hearing in the Committee on Resources. This is because we only saw this amendment for the first time yesterday. There also has not been a process for consultation with the tribes on this amendment... But we are then asked to take it on faith alone that this amendment will result in exactly what the author intends. But what will this amendment do? That is the question I have.”