Over The Last Six Years, Airlines Have

Simply Put, I Believe We Should Not Seek The Lowest Common Denominator When It Comes To Wilderness And Saddle A Wilderness Designation With Exceptions, Exclusions, And Exemptions.

Madam Speaker, I Have Spent More Than Half My Life As A Member Of The Resources Committee. In That Time I Have Supported Numerous Wilderness Designations. In Fact, I Cannot Recall Ever Opposing A Wilderness Bill.

But Through World Wars And A Great Depression, Through Painful Social Upheaval And A Cold War, And Now Through The Attacks Of September 11, 2001, Our Nation Has Indeed Survived.

Wilderness Designations Should Not Be The Result Of A Quid Pro Quo. They Should Rise Or Fall On Their Own Merits.

Over The Last Six Years, Airlines Have Experienced Severe Financial Pressure To Leave Smaller Communities, Making Demands On The Eas Program Even Greater.