    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [September 29, 1996]
    [Pages 1726-1727]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on House of Representatives Action on Omnibus Parks
    Legislation
    September 29, 1996

        I am pleased that the House voted last night to approve legislation
    that would improve our management of the national parks and other
    Federal lands. The bill represents a victory for all Americans who
    treasure and want to preserve our natural resources.
        This bill includes my top priorities for parks legislation. That is,
    it includes provisions to improve the management of the Presidio in San
    Francisco, help acquire the Sterling Forest in the New York/New Jersey
    Highlands Region, and establish the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
    in Kansas.
        At the same time, the bill deletes almost all of the provisions of
    the earlier conference agreement that the administration had found
    objec-

    [[Page 1727]]

    tionable. These provisions include those that would have adversely
    affected the Shenandoah National Park and Richmond Battlefield National
    Park in Virginia, the Sequoia National Park in California, the Tongass
    National Forest, and other national parks and Federal lands.
        To be sure, this is not a perfect bill. I continue to have concerns
    about certain provisions. But on the whole, it represents a vast and
    good-faith improvement over the earlier conference agreement. Again, I
    applaud the House for approving this legislation last night, and I hope
    the Senate will do the same before it adjourns for the year.