Mark Udall: “I want to urge the House to preserve its institutional prerogatives to make sure that we are making the law and we are…”

“I want to urge the House to preserve its institutional prerogatives to make sure that we are making the law and we are supporting the law we passed in the past by supporting the Udall amendment. Second, I understand what Utah has done; and there are some good steps forward as my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), has pointed out. But this is not just about Utah; it is about the entire West and wherever these claims can be made. Finally, my good friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor), is on the right track; but under his perfecting amendment, we leave out private lands, military lands, national forest lands, tribal lands, national conservation areas, public lands generally, areas of critical environmental concern, wild and scenic rivers, and national trails, an enormously important list. Please vote against the Taylor secondary amendment and support the Udall amendment.”