John Williams: “Madam Chairman, I would like to seek a clarification from my colleague Chairman Vento. As the chairman knows, we are…”

“Madam Chairman, I would like to seek a clarification from my colleague Chairman Vento. As the chairman knows, we are very fortunate in Montana to have some of the most skillful wilderness outfitters and guides in the Nation, including many individuals like Smoke Elser and CB Rich who have contributed immensely to wilderness ethic, management, and stewardship. In drafting this legislation, I sought to recognize the fact that these businesses provide services allowing visitors from Montana and across the Nation to utilize and enjoy many roadless national forest lands including lands designated by this bill. Many of these outfitters approached me about some statutory language that makes clear that outfitting is wholly consistent with the 1964 Wilderness Act. I was reluctant to do that because it was my understanding that, in fact, this was true and I did not want to imply with this bill that somehow this was not true. Madam Chairman, am I correct in my assumption that this legislation does not affect the current law regarding outfitters in wilderness and am I correct that this legislation does not affect the traditional role outfitters have always played in the use of our national wilderness areas.”