[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




WE NEED THE PRESIDENT'S VISION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, NOT JUST A VISIT TO 
                         ANOTHER NATIONAL PARK

  (Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, Americans of all 
political stripes place a very high value on the protection of our 
environment and public lands.
  President Bush recently visited the Everglades National Park in 
Florida, and previous to that he visited Sequoia National Park in 
California. These photo opportunities are intended to portray an image 
of a President who cares about the environment. But these Presidential 
visits are inadequate; and they are also inaccurate because, while the 
President visits two of our most treasured parks, he and his 
administration are planning to throw open the door of the public lands 
of this Nation to increased drilling, mining, logging, road building 
and contamination of these very public lands.
  Madam Speaker, these public lands are every bit as important as the 
national parks that the President has visited. His administration 
continues to threaten the very stewardship of those public lands and 
opportunities for American citizens to enjoy them not only throughout 
the summer months but year around. His administration continues to 
threaten the Sierra Nevada Conservation Plan, which is about the 
integrity and the survival of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the 
forest in those mountains in California.
  Madam Speaker, the President refuses to move forward on the Giant 
Sequoia National Monument proposal.
  Mr. President, what we need is your vision for the environment, not 
just another visit.

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