Jerry Moran: “I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding. We hear from a number of people and organizations around the country…”

“I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding. We hear from a number of people and organizations around the country who are concerned about this because without the ability to seek injunctive relief from the courts, opponents of a grazing decision are very much handicapped. Meanwhile irreparable damage to a resource may occur while the administrative appeals process is being exhausted. So that's our concern. I know that's the concern of the ranking member of the full committee. But let me share another concern that I think underlies this whole issue of grazing. Currently--I know the ranking member's aware of this--the Federal Government charges $1.35 per month, per cow to graze on federally owned lands. In the meantime, States like Idaho charge four times that, $5.12; Montana, $6.12. Nebraska can charge up to $41 per acre to graze on State-owned land. Texas--I know the gentleman is aware of this--Texas will charge $65 to $150 per acre per cow. But the Federal Government charges $1.35. Now that's the kind of Federal subsidy that we really think we ought to go after. When we're cutting deeply into the bone programs for people who are destitute, programs that are absolutely necessary to protect our environment or needed infrastructure in this country, we're giving this kind of a subsidy, $1.35 to graze on Federal land versus as much as $65 to $150 that the great State of Texas charges to graze on State land. And then private land is oftentimes even more expensive.…”