[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5748]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           KATAHDIN IRONWORKS

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to correct the record 
regarding conservation funding I secured last year under the Forest 
Legacy Program.
  During debate on the fiscal year 2006 Interior Appropriations Act, I 
worked with Senator Olympia Snowe to obtain $4.5 million to protect 
37,000 acres of forested land in my home state of Maine. I was very 
pleased that these crucial resources were allocated for this section of 
the 100-mile wilderness, which in addition to its natural beauty 
provides critical habitat to a variety of species, providing vital 
breeding, feeding, and resting grounds.
  The site of a long-deserted factory, Katahdin Ironworks, marks the 
gateway to this treasured expanse of wooded land. It was from this 
notable Piscataquis County landmark that project supporters generated 
the name ``Katahdin Ironworks Forest Legacy Program'' to refer to this 
effort to protect and preserve this stretch of forest. As the old adage 
goes, so much is in a name. And this name has sparked unfounded 
criticism from colleagues and outside interest groups who have jumped 
to the assumption that funding secured for this project was to be 
utilized for the upkeep of an abandoned building. Today, I wish to set 
the record straight and assure my fellow Senators and other interested 
parties that this highly competitive program funding will be used to 
ensure the survival of thousands of acres of precious forest.
  There are many things that make America great, but it is our 
commitment to safeguarding our open spaces and wooded lands that make 
us unique as an industrialized Nation. Sadly, the growing trend of 
urban sprawl, along with the increased pressure to exploit our natural 
resources, has placed the survival of these invaluable lands in 
jeopardy. General agreement that we must undertake conservation efforts 
to ensure the preservation of these precious natural landscapes for 
future generations has lead to the development of conservation programs 
like Forest Legacy. This initiative has afforded us a needed mechanism 
to facilitate the survival of these lands. Supported by the Wilderness 
Society, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and other respected 
environmental protection groups, the Forest Legacy Program enjoys a 
wide range of support among organizations committed to natural 
preservation causes.
  Sadly, limited resources preclude our ability to defend all 
endangered wilderness areas through this program, and it thus remains 
appropriately competitive. For this reason, I was extremely pleased 
that both the President's budget and the Senate Appropriations 
Committee recognized the importance of maintaining this pristine 
wilderness in my home state, and included funding to protect it through 
tight Forest Legacy Program dollars. In fact, this project was 
recognized as one of the most meritorious in the country by a 
distinguished panel of experts at the United States Forest Service.
  I am hopeful that through increased understanding of the Forest 
Legacy Program and a more accurate depiction of the Katahdin Ironworks 
project that my colleagues will appropriately recognize and appreciate 
my commitment to preserving our wooded lands.

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