[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2087-E2088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          OMNIBUS NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4570) to 
     provide for certain boundary adjustments and conveyances 
     involving public lands, to establish and improve the 
     management of certain heritage areas, historic areas, 
     National Parks, wild and scenic rivers, and national trails, 
     to protect communities by reducing hazardous fuels levels on 
     public lands, and for other purposes:

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4570, 
the Omnibus National Parks and Public Lands Act of 1998. This 
compilation of many separate bills contains provisions which waive 
current environmental protections, provide subsidies and benefits to 
exclusive special interests, and undermine protections for national 
parks and public lands.
  Due to the many destructive environmental provisions contained in 
this measure, opposition remains truly bipartisan in nature, with 
groups ranging from the League of Conservation Voters, to Taxpayers for 
Common Sense expressing their disapproval.
  While many provisions contained in this measure enjoy broad support 
from the administration and Members alike, this omnibus

[[Page E2088]]

measure includes many ``poison pill'' sections which were assured to 
fail individually. The administration continues to oppose provisions, 
contained in H.R. 4570, which would endanger our Nation's natural 
resources. The President has indicated that he will veto the measure in 
its current form.
  I am concerned that the majority has chosen not to provide, 
sufficient opportunity to remedy and find consensus among Members 
regarding the deficiencies contained in this bill. In fact, there are 
seventeen provisions within this measure which have never been heard or 
taken up before the Committee on Resources. An additional forty-eight 
have yet to be reported out of committee. However, the bill's sponsors 
have chosen to combine these provisions without opportunity for and the 
benefit of debate or amendment. Such heavy handed and partisan tactics 
espouse the worst qualities of legislating in a politically motivated 
environment.
  I take particular exception to several sections included in this 
bill. For example, I object to efforts which hinder Presidential 
authority, as granted under the Antiquities Act, to protect our most 
significant and valuable natural resources on Federal lands. Also, I am 
opposed to efforts to accelerate timer harvesting on Federal lands in 
the name of ``forestry management.''
  In addition to circumventing the environmental review process under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this section does not 
allow for careful and prudent planning for timber harvesting. Further, 
it creates additional timber subsidies through a new credit program 
established for loggers. Such ``poison pill'' sections in this omnibus 
measure need to be addressed on a singular basis without hindering the 
passage of other non-controversial provisions.
  Mr. Chairman, while I support many of the provisions contained in 
this omnibus act, I cannot support them with the many more 
environmentally adverse sections contained in this bill. Until such 
adverse provisions are removed from this bill, I will urge my 
colleagues to vote against H.R. 4570, while continuing to work toward 
enactment of a bill that is responsive to the needs of our national 
parks and public lands.

                          ____________________