Political Quotes

“I rise to thank the managers of the fiscal year 2002 Interior appropriations bill for working with me to provide Forest Legacy funding for an important conservation project in the western mountain region of Maine. In drafting the Interior appropriations bill for fiscal year 2002, the managers have demonstrated, once again, their commitment to promoting conservation. I am particularly pleased that the bill funds Forest Legacy at $65 million--the most that has ever been allocated for this important and growing program--and I am grateful for the support Chairman Byrd and Senator Burns have given to projects in my State this year and in years past. Neither the Interior appropriations bill that passed in the house nor the Senate bill voted out of committee included funding for the Tumbledown/Mt. Blue conservation project in the western mountain region of Maine. Because of the importance of this project to my State, I proposed an amendment to the bill to dedicate Forest Legacy fund to the Tumbledown/Mt. Blue initiative. Chairman Byrd and Ranking Member Burns have graciously agreed to accept a modified version of my amendment, which will earmark $1 million for the project.”