[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

                                 ______


                            HON. WES COOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. COOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to 
provide for a 6-year ``clean authorization'' for the Bureau of Land 
Management [BLM]. The Bureau of Land Management is the only agency in 
the Department of Interior that is not permanently authorized. Since 
1982, the BLM has been operating without an authorization forcing the 
Appropriations Committee to do the work of the authorizing committee.
  Chairman Don Young of the Resources Committee, Chairman Hansen of the 
authorizing subcommittee, Chairman Ralph Regula of the Interior 
Appropriations Subcommittee, and I are introducing this bill that will 
authorize the BLM. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
[FLPMA] requires the reauthorization of the BLM, but due to political 
wrangling, the BLM is without an authorization.
  Last Congress, under the leadership of Congressman Bruce Vento, a 
bipartisan effort passed a 2-year clean authorization that made it 
through the House. This bill is adding onto that effort and will go one 
step farther and provide the BLM with a clean 6-year authorization.
  This clean authorization will provide the agency with the ability to 
conduct long-term planning and make the management decisions necessary 
to properly care for more than 270 million acres under BLM control.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this clean authorization.

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