Political Quotes

“I thank my friend from Arkansas for his work on this issue and also to the gentleman from Utah for sponsoring the legislation. The Bureau of Land Management's recently finalized Public Lands Rule would fundamentally destroy the multiple-use land management policy Americans have relied on for decades. I want to reinforce something my friend from Arkansas pointed out earlier. This is an administrative rule. This is not congressional action, yet it has the same force and effect of law. This is a rule BLM has put forth. This policy is not just an addition of unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. It would effectively lock up 1 out of every 10 acres of land in the United States and thereby shatter the way of life for many families and businesses across the West. In my home State of Idaho, citizens have enjoyed the vast natural resources the State has had to offer for decades. Considering that BLM is responsible for managing about 12 million acres of Federal land in our State, this rule change will have drastic impact on the future of recreation, grazing, and natural resource production. Now, as a fourth generation Idahoan, I am a proud supporter of the WEST Act as it defends the way of life for Americans across the West and empowers local voices. By protecting the land used to feed and fuel our country, H.R. 3397 would safeguard some $201 billion in economic output and protect 783,000 jobs in rural communities.…”