Joe Cunningham: “Mr. Chairman, the bird survey that we are talking about is put there for a specific agenda; it is to count birds. We…”

“Mr. Chairman, the bird survey that we are talking about is put there for a specific agenda; it is to count birds. We have been asked why would we oppose the amendment of the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest]. Some of the Members have indicated that it is trivial, why we would oppose it. I would say, Mr. Chairman, that it is not. Why would I say that? The previous actions of this House and of the Members and of specific agendas that have been pushed through in the past have superseded common sense. I look at the last time that this body was in the majority on the other side. They were pushing to even have these volunteers to be able to go on the land without permission, without permission of the private property owner. Now they cannot do that, so they are trying to get volunteers. I would look at the comments of the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard]. If you have different agendas, you would go to those groups to have them go into those areas. And the other side of the aisle, some of the speakers, and some on our side, too, as well, believe and they will say strongly, and they have a right to their opinion, but have pushed that agenda to the extreme. And the people that are out in the field, they support that agenda. That is why those volunteers would be even further pushing that agenda. We think that that is wrong.”