Porter Goss: “I rise in support of this mainly open rule. Mr. Speaker, the Interior appropriations bill...provides important funding…”

“I rise in support of this mainly open rule. Mr. Speaker, the Interior appropriations bill...provides important funding to protect our natural resources for future generations, including our children. The underlying bill is an excellent example of doing more with less. We are going to save money by focusing our limited resource in priority areas. Even though this bill spends $100 million less than last year's appropriation, it still provides important funding increases for our national parks, the National Forest System, and the National Wilderness Refuges, which many Americans and American children use. Especially important for my home State of Florida, this is a vehicle for the crucial Everglades restoration funds. These funds permit us to meet the Federal commitment in our ongoing effort to restore and preserve for future generations, especially our children, the unique river of grass. Another important provision is the extension of the Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration moratorium, which protects Florida's fragile coastline from oil slicks and pollution.”