[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 161 (Thursday, December 13, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H6767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE ENVIRONMENTAL FISCAL CLIFF

  (Mr. QUIGLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise because whether you call it a fiscal 
cliff or a slope, there's no denying the environmental wreckage hitting 
a metaphoric ledge will have.
  Under the sequester, the National Park Service would likely have to 
close national parks, campgrounds, and visitor centers. Under the 
sequester, widespread rural job loss, weaker wildfire management, 
closure of trails and campgrounds, poor maintenance of forest roads, 
unprocessed recreational permits, and greater invasive species growth 
is forecasted.
  Under the sequester, $148 million would be taken away from the U.S. 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, which would be 
equivalent to cutting the solar energy program in half or equal to 
eliminating the entire wind and geothermal energy programs.
  Fiscal cliff or slope, the environment knows no difference. We must 
act and act now.

                          ____________________