David Thomas: “we are focusing today on energy and energy costs, which is something of which each of us is certainly aware. I suspect…”

“we are focusing today on energy and energy costs, which is something of which each of us is certainly aware. I suspect there is more exposure to gasoline prices than any other particular price. As we drive down Main Street in our hometowns, on every block we see a big sign showing the price of gasoline, and it certainly changes. I wanted to go back a little, however. As the Senator from Arizona mentioned, there is a background here. I think there are several reasons, of course, why we have the price difficulties we have now. It is a complex story. It has to do with global supply and demand. It has to do with technological change and environmental consciousness, the shifting of consumer tastes, and social order. It also, of course, has a great deal to do with restrictions and regulations that have been imposed. But one of the other things it has to do with is the availability and access to public lands. About 54 percent of the surface of this country belongs to the Federal Government. Most of that, of course, lies in the West. The State ownership in my State of Wyoming is about 50 percent of the total. It goes up to as high as 90 percent of the total in Nevada and Alaska and other States. So the idea of multiple use and access to these lands becomes a very important factor, not only for resources such as oil and gas, but equally important and perhaps even more important, often, for recreation, access for hunting and fishing recreation.”