Russ Feingold: “I am delighted that the conference report for Interior appropriations before this body today makes a significant…”

“I am delighted that the conference report for Interior appropriations before this body today makes a significant investment in Wisconsin's only unit of the National Park System, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The Lakeshore recently celebrated its 30th anniversary on September 26, 2000, and I rise today to express my gratitude to the Senior Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Byrd) and the Senator from Washington (Mr. Gorton) for working with me to ensure that some of the highest priority needs at the Lakeshore are met. I have been raising the need for these funds since 1998. On April 22 of that year, I introduced legislation, named for former Senator Gaylord Nelson who was the sponsor of the federal legislation that created the Lakeshore, to try to make sure that the Park Service has the funds included in this bill today. This bill helps to fund a wilderness suitability study of the Lakeshore as required by the Wilderness Act. Most of the Lakeshore is managed as wilderness, yet the required study has not yet been completed so that Congress can evaluate whether there is a need for a formal legal designation. This bill retains amendment language that I offered during the Senate consideration of Interior appropriations and provides $200,000 for that purpose. The bill also provides funds to the Park Service to protect the history Raspberry and Outer Island lighthouses which are threatened by erosion.”