Harry Reid: “In Yellowstone National Park last winter, park rangers wore respirators. This isn't some kind of a joke, this is the…”

“In Yellowstone National Park last winter, park rangers wore respirators. This isn't some kind of a joke, this is the truth. In Yellowstone National Park, the park rangers wore respirators because the air was so clouded and fogged with the pollution from snowmobiles that they had to do that to preserve their health. Earlier this week, the Bush administration decided to open Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks to snowmobile traffic. In doing so, they chose to ignore an avalanche of public comments that strongly supported the banning of snowmobiles in these two magnificent national parks. They chose pollution over protection. Mr. President, this isn't the first failing grade of this administration's environmental report card. I am sorry to say it probably won't be the last. It is, however, particularly disappointing in light of the Yellowstone National Park's importance to the American people. Today, I join with Senators Boxer, Clinton, and Lieberman to introduce the Yellowstone Protection Act to shield America's first national park from a relapse of damaging snowmobile traffic.”