Martin Sabo: “Mr. Speaker, when H.R. 4328, the fiscal year 1999 transportation appropriations bill passed the House, it was a bill…”

“Mr. Speaker, when H.R. 4328, the fiscal year 1999 transportation appropriations bill passed the House, it was a bill that was relatively free of antienvironmental riders. However, the Senate has attached to the bill several controversial riders that undermine important environmental protections. Mr. Speaker, this Motion to instruct addresses the most controversial of those riders which would amend the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act to permit helicopters to operate inland in all national wildlife refuges, national parks and wilderness study areas in Alaska. This motion to instruct directs the House conferees to disagree with this provision which is not in the House bill. Mr. Speaker, the Senate rider has no place in the transportation appropriations bill. First, the provision is a legislative provision that amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, a law that is within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Resources. Second, this provision is not simply a provision to clarify as some have claimed. It would rewrite 18 years of national environmental policy with potentially far-reaching impacts that, according to the National Park Service, could fundamentally change the character of national parks in Alaska.”