Lois Capps: “Mr. Chairman, I think there is paranoia going on here having to do with a fear about Unesco, the United Nations and…”

“Mr. Chairman, I think there is paranoia going on here having to do with a fear about Unesco, the United Nations and various things; and I think it is completely overblown. The research has already been authorized, that is point No. 1, and the research that has been authorized does not infringe upon property rights. I think that this ought to be emphasized. The biosphere reserve designation does not convey any control or jurisdiction over such sites of the United Nations or to any other entity. The United States and/or State and local communities where biosphere reserves are located continue to exercise the same jurisdiction as that in place before the designation, and areas are listed only at the request of the country in which they are located. These areas can be removed from the biosphere reserve list at any time by a request from that country. Mr. Chairman, I am reading from a CRS report for Congress. I want to add to that that CRS is not known to lie to Congress. I am opposed to the amendment and urge my colleagues to vote against it.”