[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 11 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VETO OVERRIDE ON THE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS BILL

                                 ______


                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 26, 1996

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, on July 18, 1995, I voted for the fiscal 
year 1996 Interior appropriations bill. While I did not agree with 
everything in the bill, I strongly supported the reforms that were 
included on the Endangered Species Act. Specifically, the bill 
prohibited the listing of new endangered species until the Endangered 
Species Act is reauthorized. Also, the bill prohibited the use of funds 
to designate critical habitat for listed species. As a defender of 
private property rights, I also supported the provision that defunded 
the National Biological Survey.
  When the House considered the conference report on this bill in 
December, again I supported the bill because of these important 
provisions. That measure passed the House on December 13, 1995 by a 
vote of 244-181.
  Unfortunately, President Clinton vetoed the Interior appropriations 
bill. I was disappointed that these important provisions were not 
signed into law.
  When the House voted to overrride the veto in January 1996, I fully 
intended to continue my support for the bill by voting to override that 
veto. However, when I checked the Congressional Record,  I realized 
that I had mistakenly voted to sustain the veto. This vote was in 
error. I want to make it clear for the record that I support this 
legislation and I intended to vote to override the President's veto.
  I have consistently been in favor of making changes in the current 
Endangered Species Act [ESA]. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2275, a bill 
supported by the Texas Farm Bureau that would make commonsense changes 
to the existing law.
  In 1994, when central Texas was under fire from the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service over designating critical habitat for the golden 
cheeked warbler, I was a leader in forcing the Service to abandon the 
plan. I believe that this situation demonstrates the weaknesses of the 
ESA, and shows how desperately reform is needed.
  I have also been a vocal critic of the National Biological Survey. On 
June 22, 1994, I voted in favor of the Allard amendment to the Interior 
appropriations bill. This amendment, which would have eliminated all 
funds for the National Biological Survey, did not pass. This year 
opponents of the NBS like me were pleased to see that this program was 
targeted for elimination. While I appreciate the recent reforms in this 
program, I am still not convinced it is a prudent use of taxpayers' 
money.
  When the issues regarding private property rights come up for votes 
in 1996, I will vote to protect those rights as I have consistently 
done in years past.

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