Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the legislation before the Senate today proposes to set aside more than 6.6 million acres of land in California as wilderness or national parks. The objective of the legislation is to protect the desert ecosystem of southern and eastern California. The worthiness of the resources of the California Desert and the need for their protection are not in question. In fact, much of the land involved in this legislation is already in Federal ownership and is already protected and managed pursuant to the California Desert protection plan developed by the Bureau of Land Management. The two distinguished Senators from California have been very steadfast in their dedication and their commitment to further protection for the California Desert. I commend them for their effort. Senator Feinstein, who is a member of the Appropriations Committee, has worked extensively to accommodate many of the concerns of various parties interested in the future of the California Desert. However, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and more specifically, as chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I must call attention to the potential costs of this legislation.”