Jodey Arrington: “There is a Navajo saying that a rocky vineyard does not need a prayer but a pickax. We don't need protectionist prayers…”

“There is a Navajo saying that a rocky vineyard does not need a prayer but a pickax. We don't need protectionist prayers from elites in Washington who think they have all the answers; we need a pickax for prosperity and opportunity for folks living in rural America and the Navajo people in New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 2181, the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act. My amendment would prevent the proposed ban on future oil and gas development from going into effect in an area that already has adequate protections, protections that are there to ensure that these operations won't have any adverse impact on historic and sacred lands in the Chaco Canyon Historic Park. The reality is there are already a litany of State and Federal laws in place to ensure environmental protection and to prevent mineral development from affecting sensitive infrastructure and sacred artifacts within this exclusion zone. Energy companies have had a positive track record when it comes to working with the Federal Government to comply with these laws for necessary permits and approvals. And, since producers already meet the standards set in several comprehensive environmental laws, this proposed ban on new oil and gas development in this area, in my opinion, is unnecessary, is misguided, and is overreaching.…”