[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12377-S12378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, this past Saturday was National Public 
Lands Day. On September 29, hundreds of thousands of citizens from 
across the country volunteered to give their time to improve our public 
lands. These volunteers cleared obstructed trails, picked up litter, 
planted trees, removed invasive species, and taught young Cub Scouts 
and Girl Scouts about camping. I commend all volunteers for their 
commitment.
  Now in its 14th year, National Public Lands Day has become the 
largest grassroots volunteer effort on behalf of our public parks, 
rivers, lakes, forests, rangelands, and beaches. Last year, an 
estimated $11 million worth of labor intensive work was carried out, 
and this year it is expected that $12 million of improvements were 
added to America's public lands.
  On Wednesday, September 27, the front page of USA Today displayed a 
picture of Coeur d'Alene, ID, with a headline that read ``No end in 
sight for Idaho's growth.'' The article went on to provide a breakdown 
of how Idaho's economy has remained strong despite the current slump in 
the housing market. It reads, ``[An] ingredient in Idaho's boom has 
been the ``amenities business''--hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, 
whitewater rafting--that attracts tourists and new residents, from 
billionaires to young outdoor enthusiasts.''
  Today Idaho is experiencing a new brand of tourists and a new brand 
of neighbors moving in down the street. These people are focused on the 
vigorous quest for a quality of life that includes the enjoyment of the 
outdoors. What ties the third generation Idahoan to a newcomer is an 
appreciation for the resources and the value that multiple uses 
contribute to our livelihoods and communities.
  The USA Today article also points out that ``[t]he federal government 
owns about two-thirds of the land in Idaho, mostly national forests. 
The state has 21 million acres of roadless wilderness, about the size 
of South Carolina and more than any state except Alaska.'' Public lands 
have much to offer and are very beneficial for Idaho.
  There are a myriad of different resources that can be responsibly 
harvested or extracted from our public lands. From sustainably managed 
forests to livestock use to oil and geothermal potential, these lands 
hold the resources Americans rely on to achieve the standard of living 
that we have today.
  Using the resources on our own public lands, as opposed to relying on 
foreign resources, affords us the opportunity to fund schools, 
highways, and national defense, all the while easing the financial 
burden on the taxpayers.
  There are those, however, who would prefer to see land management 
agencies take more of a preservationist role, prohibiting access to our 
national forests, parks, beaches, and rangelands and leaving nature to 
run its course. This is not a value that many Idahoans hold, and 
neither do I.
  We must actively manage our lands so that the recreational and 
resource benefit can be utilized by every American citizen. Under 
certain circumstances, active management includes limited access in 
specific areas;

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however, we must be cautious not to be overly restrictive of public 
access to public lands. The same holds true for natural resource 
management. We cannot use a one-size-fits-all management style when 
there are so many differing opinions on how to best utilize our 
domestic natural resources.
  In closing, I want to again say thank you to the volunteers for their 
tremendous efforts to ensure that the public lands we enjoy today will 
be enjoyed by many, for years to come.

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