[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1100
 
                  TRANSFERRING BLM LAND BACK TO STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaRocco). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of February 11, 1994, the gentleman from Wyoming [Mr. Thomas] is 
recognized during morning business for 4 minutes.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a bill 
which I and a number of my colleagues plan to introduce tomorrow. This 
legislation would transfer the lands currently administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management to the State in which the lands are located.
  Every year since I have been in Congress, we have become involved in 
a long and hard debate about management of the public lands in the 
West. This is especially true for the lands administered by the BLM.
  Issues such as grazing fees, mining law, and oil and gas leases have 
become continually more contentious and there does not seem to be an 
end in sight.
  Currently, the BLM controls nearly 270 million acres of land in the 
United States. Nearly 18 million acres of this land is located in my 
home State of Wyoming. As you can well imagine, this puts a heavy 
burden on the people of my State and significantly affects Wyoming's 
economy.
  In addition, the BLM places a heavy budgetary burden on the taxpayer. 
The 1995 BLM budget request is $1.2 billion and payments in lieu of 
taxes request is $104 million. Clearly, the BLM is a massive Federal 
bureaucracy that costs large amounts of money to administer.
  My bill to return the BLM lands back to the States would solve the 
Federal Government's problems. For my colleagues who claim Westerners 
are getting a free ride on these lands, and costing taxpayers 
millions--my bill has an answer to your concerns. Give it back to the 
States.
  For my colleagues who believe the mineral industry and oil and gas 
companies are getting a sweet deal on BLM lands--my bill is an answer 
to your problems. Give it back to the States.
  For my colleagues who support local control and believe government 
operates the best when it is closest to the people--my bill achieves 
that goal by giving these lands back to the State government.
  No more worries about supposed grazing subsidies, timber subsidies, 
or oil and gas subsidies.
  Under this proposal, all BLM lands except special conservation areas 
would be offered to the respective State, subject to valid existing 
rights. Each State must accept or decline the offer in total.
  It is a great solution. Fair to both the Feds and the States.
  This bill makes good sense for a number of reasons: In fact, here are 
the top 10 reasons to transfer the BLM lands over to the States:
  First, the land stays public. States will keep the lands for the 
public good and multiple use.
  Second, creates real local control and reduces Federal control. 
Supports the Vice President's idea of reinventing Government.
  Third, would put Wyoming people in charge of Wyoming, Colorado people 
in charge of Colorado. Just like the States in the East.
  Fourth, provides fairness and equity with other States in terms of 
land patterns and what they were allowed to keep as States.
  Fifth, protects access for hunters, sportsmen, and recreation. State 
control will be more sensitive to these issues than the Feds.
  Sixth, builds the States' economy and gives them control over their 
future.
  Seventh, BLM lands were residual anyway. In fact it was a burden that 
was never meant to be.
  Eighth, finally solves the problem of grazing, mining law reform, and 
other issues at the Federal level.
  Ninth, it will allow the Department of Interior to focus on priority 
items such as National Parks, which are deteriorating faster than 
improvements can be made.
  Tenth, bill will be a major cost savings to the Federal treasury. No 
more need for annual appropriations for the BLM.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill makes sense. It supports the goal of good 
government and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this effort to 
reform the way public lands are managed.

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