Political Quotes

“I appreciate the commitments made by the gentleman from California to look at this very onerous program as it is implemented in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. I am an avid hiker. I am taking part in what for many people in the Northeast is a lifetime accomplishment, to try and climb all of the 48 peaks in the White Mountain National Forest; and I am at 37. I constantly am hearing from my constituents how little they like this program and the reason they like this program so little is the hassle that is involved, and then to find out that the administrative costs are so staggering. I really appreciate the comment from the gentleman from California to look at this, but I believe we can pass this amendment and finish and make a very clear statement that the program as it exists today does not need to be extended past September, 2004, and make sure that if a subsequent program comes into effect in the future that it is well run, that the administrative costs are within reason, and it is not an onerous burden, in particular, on the people that use the national forests where there does not need, in my opinion, to be an expensive-to-collect forest fee. I look forward to working with both sides on this issue.”