Political Quotes

“The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in 1973, in order to preserve, protect, and recover key domestic species. The ESA also contains a citizen lawsuit provision, which allows private citizens--and, in many cases, special interest organizations-- to sue Federal agencies and private landowners for allegedly failing to comply with ESA. Taxpayers are on the hook, even when the Federal Government prevails. The Forest Service, which I had the privilege of holding jurisdiction over as chairman of the Agricultural Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, must comply with ESA before engaging in any kind of forest management activity, which is the agency's most basic and fundamental role Protecting species is our goal, but unfortunately, this provision has been used as a tool by those who would like to halt land management activities. The financial impact of these activities in the Forest Service is significant, posing a threat to the forest health, the economic well- being of local communities, and also the species we are aiming to protect. We must replace this flawed policy with one that protects taxpayers and species restoration, but also the health of our forests and our local economies. ____________________”