Don Nickles: “Just for the Senator's clarification, as original sponsor of S. 219, I would like to inform my colleague that we did…”

“Just for the Senator's clarification, as original sponsor of S. 219, I would like to inform my colleague that we did have in the original bill an exception for administrative actions. When Senator Roth introduced the bill for markup, we had an exception for routine administrative actions. Also we have always had exceptions for licensing. So the arguments that were made by many people--including President Clinton--who said that duck hunting licenses and burials at Arlington cemetery were jeopardized by the moratorium, were totally incorrect. The bill did state--just so my colleague will know-- the bill stated and exempted from routine administrative actions--and it exempted agencies in their licensing process--which happens to include hunting and fishing licenses. So they were never in jeopardy. But I know that an amendment was clarified just to make absolutely sure that people in Minnesota would be able to hunt ducks and people would be able to go fishing without any prohibition whatsoever by this moratorium on rulemaking.”