David Skaggs: “Mr. Chairman, I rise in vehement opposition to this year's Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 1977). By slashing the…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in vehement opposition to this year's Interior appropriations bill (H.R. 1977). By slashing the amount of money the Nation spends on protecting various species and their environment, this bill will set back many of the gains the Nation already has made in ensuring that our children and grandchildren have a healthy environment in which to live. Make no mistake, this bill is the first step by the Republican majority to effectively gut and make useless the Endangered Species Act--an act that has successfully balanced economic development with necessary environmental concerns across the country for almost 25 years. In fact, over the last 22 years, there have been fewer than 12 court cases concerning habitat modification while countless sustainable compromises have proven ESA's effectiveness. I am not just talking about preserving ESA moneys so that future strip malls aren't built on wetlands or timber companies clearcut too close to salmon habitat. We need these species for the future because we know how much the vast spectrum of life has helped us in the past. Right now, ESA protects plant life which may cure diseases such as AIDS.”