Sam Farr: “I think the legislative process and particularly the committee process is designed to draft legislation so that…”

“I think the legislative process and particularly the committee process is designed to draft legislation so that ambiguities are spelled out and worked out so that the bill as we enact it, as it becomes the law of this country, we can understand what it means. I think what the problem with this amendment is, and some of those that we have been speaking on today, I believe they are kind of reckless. This amendment deletes definitions. There is a whole section on definitions. If Congress has not defined what it means by the use of those funds, it leaves it up to others to define. As the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) said, it leaves it up to the States to define it, it leaves it up to the Secretary of the Interior to define it, it leaves it up to an uncertain process. Frankly, when it comes to dealing with land, management of land, acquisition of land certainty is key. By this amendment, we eliminate the line that says, 'The term 'wildlife conservation and restoration program' means a program developed by a State Fish and Wildlife Department and approved by the Secretary.' They delete that, so they can do it any way they want. They do not need it approved by the Secretary.”