Conrad Burns: “I rise today to introduce legislation that is meant to make a point. The bill I am introducing would direct the U.S.…”

“I rise today to introduce legislation that is meant to make a point. The bill I am introducing would direct the U.S. Forest Service to redirect the money that is being currently spent on a rule, and instead spend those moneys on trailbuilding for handicapped access in our national forests. Most of us going home over the holidays--and especially myself, from Montana--found that we have a firestorm going on in our States about some rules that have been submitted by the Forest Service. Mr. President, I serve on the Interior Subcommittee of Appropriations. I understand just how tight Federal dollars are. That is why I am so upset by what the Forest Service now appears to be up to. I am sure that most of my Senate colleagues are unaware of the fact that the Forest Service has issued a proposed rule that would, among other things, make it illegal to carry a gun in a national forest, make it illegal to pick up and carry a pine cone out of a national forest, make loud noises, or to curse in a national forest. It would make the use of controlled substances a misdemeanor rather than the felony that it now is, and it would authorize the payment up to $500 to snitches for information leading to the convictions of citizens--such as yourself--for any of the above crimes. I think the rock hounds and the folks that use our national forests are really up in arms about this proposed rule. Mr. President, if this was not so scary, I would laugh. But it is no laughing matter.…”