Mike Simpson

Thank you all for what you do, and could you make an announcement so that I know when those commercials are going to come on.

I am always thoughtful.

We only did that for Montana and Idaho. Wyoming wanted us to do it for Wyoming, but Wyoming didn't have an approved state management plan.

I fear that we can make science for whatever outcome we want, and we shouldn't do that.

But I can remember testimony one day in the state legislature. A wolf expert, and this is why the science always gets me, and that is why I am a little subject to, you know, skepticism about the science.

I tell you how much of a wolf advocate I was. When I first came here, I had a piece of legislations called PAW, called Protect American Wolves.

There has to be some management. That is all we are asking for, and believe me the state will do a good job of management.

There are some groups. There are some organizations that I don't care if there were a million wolves in Idaho, they would not want them delisted because they are going to be hunted.

And we would urge the Subcommittee simply ensure that Fish and Wildlife Service use the best available science in moving forward with any such decision making.

We really ask the Subcommittee to pay attention to that respectfully.

We are also opposed to the nearly $18 million cut proposed for Forest Service R and D.

Norm told us to take care of the refuge system.

And, of course, San Diego Zoo speaks for itself. You don't have to say a heck of a lot more than that.

Thank you, and thanks for all the work you do.

We have come across this in our Defense Appropriations hearings, the amount of money that is going into terrorist groups that is gotten through the illegal trade, exotic animals and tusks and ivory, and devastating populations of…

The second really important thing is the other issue I am working on, and that is trying to tie SRS, PILT, and LWCF together, and get them mandatorily funded and out of the budget.

I don't have a problem with it because it helps maintain the parking lots and bathrooms.

There are rec fees on a lot of our national forests when you go park at a certain place.

It is easy to make that commitment as a government, but as an individual that owns something that is of a certain value.

So as you know, the Fish and Wildlife Service is talking about a rule to clamp down on the legal sale of ivory, ivory that is sold by people for a variety of different, ornamental reasons, firearm, and many other purposes.

We have significant concerns about the reduced funding in the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program.

All Members of this Subcommittee are now cosponsors of that legislation, and we really appreciate your support for that.

I wish to thank you, Congressman Simpson, and Ranking Member Moran for all of your work on this front.

I guarantee you we will look into it.

Are you aware of any delays in BLM efforts to reseed burned over areas because of new genetic requirements for seeds that are too localized to be commercially viable?