Political Quotes

“Cat Island is the last remaining private island that lies outside the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Located so close to the mainland, Cat Island has many natural and recreational resources that make it an attractive target for development. For the past couple of years, the owners of this property have been extremely patient while working with the Mississippi delegation and the National Park Service to ensure that their property is included in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, while competing development offers have been on the table. H.R. 2541 has passed the House of Representatives, allowing the Park Service to acquire this tract. A companion bill, S. 2638, is now pending here in the Senate, where I hope it will move forward expeditiously and be enacted this year. Because this process has taken longer than expected, it is now critical that funding for the first phase of this project be provided this year through the Land and Water Conservation Fund should the enabling legislation be enacted. There is $2,000,000 in the House-passed Interior Appropriations bill which is a good start, but it provides well below the amount needed for Phase I of this project. In fact, the first phase will require $10 million.”