Republicans for Environmental Protection Applauds Passage of Conservation System Permanence Bill

April 10, 2008

Republicans for Environmental Protection applauds House passage Wednesday of legislation to give legal permanence to the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS).

"We are proud of the Republicans, especially Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), who played a crucial role in getting this bill passed. Once the legislation passes Congress and President Bush signs it into law, NLCS lands will receive higher recognition of their outstanding natural, historic, and recreational values and the rugged individualism that they promote," REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins said.

"Elevating the NLCS' prominence will show that effective conservation can co-exist in balance with other land uses," Jenkins said.

"Nevertheless, we are not pleased by the obstructive tactics of House Republicans who nearly torpedoed the legislation with a poison-pill amendment. We have to question why House GOP leaders allowed a handful of radical public lands opponents to nearly undo the hard work of Congresswoman Bono Mack, the leading co-sponsor, her GOP allies, and of the Bush administration in moving this important bill forward," Jenkins said.

REP praised the 50 Republicans who voted for HR 2016, the bipartisan National Landscape Conservation System Act, which gives legal permanence to a system that includes 26 million acres of national monuments, wilderness areas, conservation areas, scenic rivers, and historical trails, all managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Republicans who voted for HR 2016 include:

Arizona, Rick Renzi; California, Brian Bilbray, Mary Bono Mack; Delaware, Michael Castle; Florida, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Mario Diaz-Balart, Connie Mack, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, C.W. “Bill” Young; Georgia, John Linder; Idaho, Mike Simpson; Illinois, Judy Biggert, Tim Johnson, Mark Kirk, Ray LaHood, Peter Roskam, Jerry Weller; Kentucky, Ed Whitfield, Maryland, Wayne Gilchrest; Michigan, Vern Ehlers, Thaddeus McCotter, Candice Miller, Michael Rogers, Fred Upton; Minnesota, Jim Ramstad; Mississippi, Charles Pickering; Nebraska, Jeff Fortenberry; Nevada, Jon Porter; New Jersey, Rod Frelinghuysen, Frank LoBiondo, Jim Saxton, Chris Smith; New Mexico, Heather Wilson; New York, Randy Kuhl; Ohio, David Hobson, Steve LaTourette, Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula, Patrick Tiberi; Pennsylvania, Charles Dent, Phil English, Jim Gerlach, Tim Murphy, Todd Platts; South Carolina, Bob Inglis; Virginia, Tom Davis; Washington, Dave Reichert; West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito; Wisconsin, Tom Petri

"Conservation System lands feature outstanding examples of America's natural, historic, and cultural heritage, in wide-open, uncrowded landscapes where visitors can experience our nation as it was at the time of Lewis and Clark and other great explorers," REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso said.

"There is nothing more conservative than passing on our inheritance from the past for the benefit of future generations. REP urges the Senate to adopt NLCS permanence legislation and send the bill to President Bush as soon as possible," DiPeso said.