Norman D. Dicks: “Mr. Chairman, I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment. The gentleman before said they cannot use the…”

“Mr. Chairman, I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment. The gentleman before said they cannot use the property. They can go in, they can get an incidental take permit; small companies are regularly exempted by this administration. The story here today is whether we are going to allow a special interest amendment to exempt one company from having to go through the lawful pattern that every other company is going through. The question is about the survival of the marbled murrelet in northern California. It is about protecting old growth redwood forests. The recovery plan of the forests of the Fish and Wildlife Service says that this habitat is critical. Now, think of it: In three States we only designated 48,000 acres, most of which are Pacific Lumber. I think it is wrong to give them an exemption. I urge my colleagues to support the Endangered Species Act, to support the environment. Now, this will probably be one of the most important environmental votes of the year. The administration has said that they will veto this bill if this rider is not taken out. Let us not mess up the Interior appropriations bill.”