[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E99]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    ADDRESSING THE COSTS TO LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THE 
           OCCUPATION OF THE MALHEUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, for 32 days armed militants have 
occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. 
Acting on behalf of a misguided anti-public lands agenda and against 
the wishes of the local community, these extremists have endangered 
lives, damaged property, and disrupted society.
  The armed takeover of a federal facility is simply not the way we do 
things in Oregon, and is not how things have been done at the Malheur 
National Wildlife Refuge--a national treasure cherished by birders and 
other outdoor recreation enthusiasts and a model of collaboration and 
partnership with the local community.
  The situation has been allowed to continue for far too long, and the 
costs of this dramatic and dangerous incident will be innumerable to 
the federal government, the Bums Paiute Tribe, the state, and the local 
community.
  One particular manifestation of this cost is the financial expense to 
state and local law enforcement, which has spent an estimated $100,000 
per week responding to this incident.
  This is why, today, I am introducing a bill to help assuage some of 
the financial hardship borne by state and local taxpayers in protecting 
the community during this challenging time.
  Because the incident involves a federal facility, the federal 
government made decisions about the timing and manner of addressing 
this ordeal. Ultimately, those decisions have been very expensive for 
Oregon and the local community. My bill will allow the federal 
government to ease this burden within 180 days by reimbursing 
reasonable costs associated with state and local law enforcement's 
response to this incident. Under my bill, the federal government will 
have the authority to pursue civil action seeking to recover those 
costs from the armed militia members to make sure taxpayers aren't on 
the hook.
  Placing the burden of these costs on the militants is the right thing 
to do. It will send a strong signal that an armed takeover of a federal 
facility is unacceptable and will result in consequences. In the 
meantime, however, these communities already face resource constraints 
and an immediate federal reimbursement will help to address at least 
some of the hardships caused by this irresponsible and unfortunate 
incident.