OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2018

Floor Speech

Date: April 16, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Natural Resources

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3961) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Kissimmee River and its tributaries in the State of Florida for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes, as amended.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3961 would designate the Kissimmee River for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

I must admit, I have become highly skeptical of wild and scenic designations on our rivers after I watched the Merced River's designation used as an excuse to severely restrict traditional recreational amenities at Yosemite National Park in my district, including bicycling, horseback riding, river rafting, lodging, and many other amenities that long predated the wild and scenic designation. The iconic Curry Village Skating Rink was lost to these restrictions.

Not only are the designations used to severely restrict public access and to restrict the enjoyment of the public's lands, even the existence of a study has often been used as an excuse to forbid longstanding and traditional enjoyment of these rivers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's author, Mr. Soto, for agreeing to amendments that will assure that the conduct of the study authorized by this measure cannot be used as justification for any restrictions on the public's use of the Kissimmee.

It should be very clearly understood that, with this bill, Congress is authorizing a study and nothing else. In no way is it authorizing any restriction on the public's use of this land while it is being studied or because it is being studied.

Any further actions forthcoming from the result of this study is for the Congress and the Congress alone to decide.

With that very clear understanding, I support adoption of the measure.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward