Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) for his leadership and for the service that he has given to this…”

“I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) for his leadership and for the service that he has given to this Congress. We are so delighted to have him join us. I thank the manager as well, his colleague from Virginia (Mr. Wittman). Madam Chair, in coming from Texas and knowing many of those who seek recreational hunting, fishing, and participation on lands, private and Federal, one wonders whether or not we could have found a way to deal with the concerns of our friends of whom I support: environmental groups and the Humane Society and just a litany of individuals from the Atlantis, the Alaska Wilderness League, the Alliance of the Wild Rockies, the Humane Society International, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Environmental Investigation Agency, the National Audubon Society, the Kentucky Heartwood, and just a whole array of individuals, the names of whom I will offer into the Record at another time. {time} 1700 This bill comes and specifically interferes with what I believe is the important protection, if you will, of items that impact our wilderness. This bill undermines the NEPA Wilderness Act and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act to solve a problem that does not exist. It blocks the administration's rule to restrict trade in African elephant ivory and protects African elephants from being slaughtered for their tusks.…”