Barbara Cubin: “I do not understand why some Congressmen continue to offer amendments about issues that they truly do not understand…”

“I do not understand why some Congressmen continue to offer amendments about issues that they truly do not understand, that they have never observed, nor have they ever participated in the solution to a problem that exists. The States of Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and the United States Departments of Agriculture and Interior have worked very hard over the past decade to protect and sustain the existing free-ranging elk and bison populations while still protecting the economic interests of the livestock industries in these States. My colleague from West Virginia made the statement that it has never been proven that brucellosis has spread from bison to cattle. That is simply not true. My colleague from Montana will go further into that explanation. Controlling brucellosis is a delicate balancing act for all parties involved. We need to address the needs of each of the environment, Federal and private stakeholders. Bison numbers are nearly at capacity for the range in the parks and surrounding areas, and those herds must be managed. We must actively manage the herd consistently with the greater ecosystem management plan which has been established by stakeholders and the Departments and we have to employ sometimes the unfortunate use of reduction methods. To not do so would upset the balance of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem.”