There has been much distrust that has been building on this whole issue.

This proposal does not square with a plain reading of the Antiquities Act.

This is a congressional hearing. It is not a debate.

I want to make sure we do it this way, so that people have the chance to have their input.

The residents of East Millinocket, Medway, and Patten have voted very strongly in opposition of Federal control of this area.

I agree with the Congressman that the states can have everything that the Federal Government says they can do for you.

If you do not do that, you are going to find the same problem that we have in Utah.

It does not necessarily work that way.

That is because we have, as has been mentioned, a $12 billion maintenance backlog in the National Park Service by itself.

On behalf of my representation of the 2nd District of Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives, I would like to present to you this American flag that has been flown over the United States Capitol.

So, it is hard for me to understand why we are going to take land that is a working forest and cede all the rights to manage that land to the Federal Government, which does not have a very good track record of managing that land in the…