[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 113 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         LIVESTOCK GRAZING ACT

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I recently wrote a letter to the 
principal author of the Livestock Grazing Act outlining my concerns 
over this bill. I ask that this letter be printed in the Record.
  The letter follows:

                                                      U.S. Senate,


                                               Washington, DC,

                                                    July 13, 1995.
     Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
     Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Pete: The purpose of this letter is to let you know 
     that I have added my name as a cosponsor of S. 852, the 
     ``Livestock Grazing Act.'' Livestock operators are a vital 
     part of Montana's economic base. It is my belief that S. 852, 
     as originally drafted, offers the security that ranchers need 
     to remain viable during these uncertain economic times.
       The men and women who make their living off the land form 
     the backbone of Montana. Without the rancher, many small 
     communities would simply cease to exist. Absent ranching, the 
     wide open spaces that provide elk winter range, wildlife 
     corridors and critical wildlife habitat would be jeopardized 
     by subdivision and development. In short, ranching is 
     fundamental to preserving much of what makes Montana, ``the 
     last, best place.''
       As you move to Energy Committee markup of S. 852, I ask 
     that you satisfy three specific concerns that are critical to 
     my support of this legislation. These concerns are as 
     follows:


                        1. public participation

       While the federal public lands are essential to many 
     livestock operators, they are also deeply valued by the 
     general public. Clean streams and healthy wildlife 
     populations are just as important to Montana's sportsmen as 
     predictability and security in the federal grazing rules are 
     to the rancher. S. 852 must ensure that the public is granted 
     full participation in the decision-making process affecting 
     the use and management of these lands. If it does not, I will 
     work to see that comprehensive public participation is 
     assured before this legislation reaches a final vote on the 
     Senate floor.
       We must not lose sight of the fact that these are public 
     lands; they belong to all of us. Ranchers, hunters, 
     fishermen, birdwatchers, motorized recreationists and every 
     other segment of
      the user public must be granted an equal seat at the table. 
     Montana has already worked with the BLM to identify and 
     select individuals interested in working together to 
     improve our public range lands. Just last week, the BLM 
     and the Governor of Montana jointly appointed 45 
     individuals to three advisory councils to begin this 
     important work. S. 852 cannot deprive these Montanans of 
     their fundamental democratic right of participation.


               2. more on-the-ground work, less paperwork

       With over 30 percent of our land base in federal ownership, 
     many Montanans interact on a daily basis with federal land 
     managers. Perhaps our biggest criticism with all federal land 
     management agencies is the ever-increasing allocation of 
     limited resources to paperwork and bureaucracy rather than 
     actual work in the field. The men and women who work for 
     these agencies share this sentiment, and are frustrated by 
     it.
       Having spent a rainy day working with ranchers, 
     conservationists and government personnel to rehabilitate a 
     stream in the Blackfoot Valley, I have seen firsthand how 
     much good can be done with a little start-up money and a few 
     strong backs. As the budgets of our land management agencies 
     continue to shrink, their resources must be directed to the 
     field, rather than to increased bureaucracy and paperwork. S. 
     852 must deemphasize paperwork and get the money to the 
     allotment level where we can see tangible benefits come from 
     our tax dollars.


                             3. Stewardship

       Over 70 percent of BLM grazing lands in Montana are rated 
     good to excellent, while less than 5 percent is in poor 
     condition. These numbers demonstrate that our public lands 
     grazers are largely good stewards of the land. Still, there 
     is room for improvement. S. 852 must include a mechanism that 
     gives permittees increased responsibility for bringing the 
     public range into good to excellent condition. Such solutions 
     cannot be rigidly imposed by those who are removed from the 
     land and the unique challenges that exist on each allotment. 
     We will see improvement only if these solutions come from the 
     permittee. S. 852 should encourage innovative local 
     stewardship.
       In closing, I look forward to working with you on this very 
     important issue to our states. It is my belief that the 
     fundamental thrust of S. 852, coupled with these 
     recommendations, will serve to promote responsible public 
     lands stewardship while providing the necessary security that 
     our ranchers need to remain viable in Montana and throughout 
     the West.
       With best personal regards, I am
           Sincerely,
                                               Max Baucus.
     

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