William Tauzin: “let me rise in opposition to this substitute and recognize that the amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr.…”

“let me rise in opposition to this substitute and recognize that the amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) basically restates the Chambliss amendment, which would delay this bill for 5 years. The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John) has showed us what 5 years in Louisiana means, 125 more square miles of Louisiana loss we cannot ever recover. The answer, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) said one can come to the legislature and get some money, because the other budget priorities are too important for this bill. But he has not offered, as many other States have not offered, to sacrifice their revenue sharing from Federal lands inside the State while we do other budget priorities. Those go forward. States like Wyoming, which have collected $7.4 billion in revenue sharing from Federal lands inside their State, or New Mexico which has collected $5.3 billion, those programs have not been asked to wait until other budget priorities are matched. This substitute needs to be defeated, as was the Chambliss amendment defeated by 281 votes. But let me tell my colleagues why this bill needs to be passed when we defeat this substitute. Now, there is a reason why the National Lands Rights Alliance is against this bill. They are the ultimate property rights organization out west. They are against it because the Federal Government owns much too much of the land out west, and they know it, and one has a right to be offended by that.”