[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10277-S10278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY:
  S. 1499. A bill to adjust the boundaries of Green Mountain National 
Forest; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to expand the 
boundaries of the Green Mountain National Forest. This will allow for 
the inclusion of lands that have already been purchased using Land and 
Water Conservation Fund dollars to be brought into the boundaries of 
the national forest providing them full statutory protection. The 
Forest Service supports this administrative action and has been 
extremely helpful in providing the information needed for this 
legislation.
  It is with pride that I can say that since I came to Congress in 1975 
and began to seek funding for land acquisition in 1977 we Vermonters 
have seen the Green Mountain National Forest expand from approximately 
264,100 acres to over 387,500 acres in size. This 123,400 acre 
expansion will provide unmeasured opportunities for the American 
public.
  While there is much debate over the future management of our Nation's 
national forests today, this should not diminish their importance. In 
Vermont, where approximately five percent of land base is in federal 
ownership, these lands are treasured for the opportunities they provide 
not only to Vermonters, but to all who enjoy the Green Mountain 
National Forest. This includes recreational activities from camping, 
hiking, mountain biking, and skiiing to job opportunities provided 
through timber management activities, the ski industry, and other 
support services, as well as for their intrinsic value by providing 
that certain lands are set aside for in their natural state through 
wilderness protection and other special designations.
  I am concerned that some will argue that we need to reduce our land 
acquisition dollars and to better manage what we already have. I do not 
dispute the need for better management, but I wholeheartedly disagree 
with reducing our land acquisition efforts. At one time this Nation 
believed that our boundaries were limitless. Today we realize that land 
is a finite resource and as more is acquired for development less will 
available for the American public to acquire for Federal ownership. 
There will come a time when the only land one can freely access, 
thereby avoiding the ``No Trespassing'' signs, will be our Federal, 
State, and county lands. Visionaries see what tomorrow will bring and 
prepare for that today--those who are still building upon our public 
land base have that vision.
  At the turn of the century, the 20th century that is, there existed 
that vision, between then Chief of the Forest

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Service Gifford Pinchot and President Theodore Roosevelt who together 
expanded the boundaries of the national forests immensely. We continue 
to need that vision, as seen by the efforts by those on the Green 
Mountain National Forest, in continuing to fund land acquisition into 
the future.
  This need, for providing the American public with unfettered access 
to open lands, is of significant importance to those who live east of 
the Mississippi; where more than 50 percent of the American public are 
within three hours of their national forests, but only have access to 
approximately one-quarter of the national forest land. I hope that my 
colleagues will join me in supporting this bill and continue to carry 
that vision on the future to build upon our national forest system as 
we start the 21st century.
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