Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher) for his leadership. I rise in strong opposition to this package of divisive and partisan bills. Collectively, this package of ideologically driven bills impact lands in Colorado, California, and Washington by creating nearly 1.5 million acres of new wilderness, designating 843 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, and creating 100,000 acres of National Monument expansion. In Colorado alone, H.R. 2546 would designate approximately 570,000 acres of new wilderness areas, 23,000 acres of expanded wilderness, and 14,000 acres of potential wilderness. These new designations would be in addition to the already existing 3.5 million acres of public land in Colorado that is already designated as wilderness. Now, I commend my colleague from Colorado for her efforts to work with local shareholders to address some of their concerns, but the bills contained in this package do not achieve the type of balance and local consensus necessary for bills of this magnitude. Many of the local communities impacted by this wilderness package have raised significant concerns, including the loss of motorized access and recreation, the elimination of multiple use, and the overall threat to local economies. If wilderness designation is imposed, fewer people will have access to these lands. Engaging local stakeholders and considering their on-the-ground expertise are critical steps in making decisions about public lands management.…”