[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 3692, THE NATIONAL FOREST ROADLESS AREA 
                            CONSERVATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 2009

  Mr. INSLEE. Madam Speaker, today, with bipartisan support from 151 of 
my colleagues, I introduced the National Forest Roadless Area 
Conservation Act of 2009, which will protect 58.5 million acres of 
pristine wild forests by prohibiting new road construction and 
reconstruction and providing critical ecological protections. Roadless 
areas provide clean drinking water to over 60 million Americans, 
recreational opportunities, and undeveloped habitat for more than 600 
threatened, endangered or sensitive plant and animal species. In 
Washington, 2,015,000 acres of roadless areas, almost 22 percent of our 
wildlands, are at stake. Washington State crown jewels, like Eagle Rock 
and Dark Divide, should be preserved for future generations. This 
legislation will codify the Clinton Administration's Roadless Area 
Conservation rule to protect these lands and move us closer to 
permanently protecting our nation's unique and invaluable wildlands.
  In 2001, President Clinton issued the Roadless Area Conservation 
Rule, protecting 58.5 million acres of National Forest land (30 percent 
of all National Forest land) from new road construction. The Clinton 
Roadless Rule was the result of a two-year rulemaking process that 
included the most extensive public involvement process in federal 
rulemaking history. The U.S. Forest Service held more than 600 
meetings, with more than 1.6 million Americans submitting comments to 
the plan, where my constituents and many other Americans voiced their 
overwhelming support for the rule.
  While the Clinton Roadless Rule enjoyed enormous public support, the 
Bush Administration fought a multi-year battle to overturn it. In 2005, 
the Bush Administration issued a new roadless rule that removed 
protections and opened roadless areas up for further development. In 
addition, numerous lawsuits have tracked the roadless rule's course, 
both in favor and opposed. Recently, the 9th District court has decided 
in favor of the 2001 Roadless Rule. This legislation will permanently 
protect our nation's roadless areas and remove all ambiguity concerning 
their conservation and protection.
  As a native Washingtonian and a lifelong outdoorsman, I grew up 
exploring and enjoying our National Forests. It is my hope that my 
grandchildren will be able to explore and enjoy the same untouched and 
protected forests that I have grown to love. By carefully and 
thoughtfully conserving our National Forest lands, they will be here 
for future generations to come.
  I have led the fight for our roadless areas in Congress since 2002 
and will continue to seek ways to protect our National Forests.

                          ____________________