Bruce F. Vento: “The fact that President Carter, the fact that President Clinton used this action was precisely because there were…”

“The fact that President Carter, the fact that President Clinton used this action was precisely because there were imminent actions. And my colleague from Alaska, our chairman, surely knows that the protection of the D-2 lands, had it been extended, expired because Congress failed to act. The only tool he had available that would really work was this 1906 act. Today we would not have the protection of many of these key areas in Alaska but for the fact that the President had this backup power. It is important to have the '64 Wilderness Act, the 1916 Park Act, and many others, but the fact is the President needs that so that he can protect the public interest, the national interest, in terms of these lands, whether they be in Alaska or Utah. The gentleman disagrees, and I respect the fact that we have disagreement with regards to this, but the President acted in this instance because there were mineral leases that were going to go on. Talking about consultation, there are major flaws in terms of these bills.”