[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMENDING CHAIRMAN TAYLOR AND YOUNG

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                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 16, 2004

  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend both Chairman Taylor and 
Chairman Young for their efforts to eliminate Federal funding of land 
acquisitions in the FY05 Department of Interior appropriations bill. I, 
along with several of my colleagues, have been fighting this battle for 
some time, and I am pleased with today's results. Federal land 
acquisitions have been the reason for my opposition to the Interior 
appropriations bill in the past, but now I can support this 
legislation.
  I offered legislation that accomplishes almost exactly what Chairmen 
Taylor and Young are proposing in the FY05 Interior appropriations 
bill. H.R. 1517, The Land Reinvestment Act, simply eliminates Federal 
land acquisitions by zeroing out the land and water conservation fund's 
Federal expenditures. I want to note that State side assistance will 
remain untouched and I again commend my colleague's actions for keeping 
that program funded.
  The Federal Government is the nation's largest single landowner. The 
FY05 Interior appropriations bill sends a clear message that Congress 
will no longer tolerate Federal land grabs. I am very pleased by my 
colleagues efforts and look forward to supporting this legislation.

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