Announcement By the Acting Chair

Floor Speech

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Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of my amendment, which exempts defense-related activities from the Endangered Species Act.

This amendment would end the Endangered Species Act application in areas used for national defense-related operations and prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from designating areas necessary for military operations as crucial habitats.

I have been listening to my colleagues now for quite a while this afternoon and this evening on both sides. Where there was comity and concord, it was always arguing over how much we need to be ready and prepared. I will give you an example of what is happening here, the Yuma Proving Ground and the Barry M. Goldwater Range, where you can fire live fire missiles, are booked literally months, almost a year, in advance. Why? It is one of the most remote areas in the country that allows us to do it, but can we do it all the time? No. They are closed at least 12 percent of the time. That means contractors and the military can't complete their mission and prepare for their mission.

Why is that? Compliance with environmental laws has created restrictions on how DOD manages plants and conducts training exercises on its installations, not just at YPG or at Goldwater.

According to DOD, 85 percent of Army installations have threatened or endangered species present. Two million acres of Army training and testing lands have training restrictions in place related to ESA compliance requirements. These restrictions hinder our readiness and our mission.

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Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, to oppose this amendment is an example of hate, bigotry, and ignorance. This is a longstanding issue, and you stand there and have the audacity to say there is zero evidence.

Explain then why officials have to report that on the Goldwater Range they had to cancel 8 percent of their F-16 training exercises. What is this for? It is for the Sonoran pronghorn, which doesn't inhabit that range? It inhabits the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in the Cabeza Prieta Refuge.

However, anytime that pronghorn gets within 3 miles of this massive range that we have expended--by the way, you all just voted to give Mr. Grijalva from Arizona more money to expand and improve that. Guess what? It won't be able to be used a significant portion of the time.

If biologists determine that the Sonoran pronghorn is present within 3 miles of the training range, they shut it down.

We can't bomb in certain places. We can't test missiles in certain places. Why? For the acuna cactus.

I am telling you, when you say this isn't necessary, it is necessary. It is not extremist to say we need to help get our military ready in one of the most unique training ranges in the country, the Goldwater Range off Luke Air Force Base and the Yuma Proving Ground.

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Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Chairman, I think that it is interesting when we talk about protecting wildlife. How about protecting the homeland? How about protecting our military by allowing them to be ready and prepared? How about protecting the development of new military capabilities through the research and development that goes through both the Barry M. Goldwater Range, which, by the way, is impacted by the ESA, and also the Kofa range. That is why DOD responds.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the passage of this amendment. I think it is necessary if you want to keep advocating for preparation, which everybody has been talking about. That is the only thing everybody has been in harmony about until you get to this. Then we are told that if you want that, somehow you are a bigot, somehow you are ignorant.

That is audacious, offensive, and childish, and it doesn't warrant the worthiness of the debate that should be going on about a real issue.

If you want to talk about it, let's talk about it, but you don't need to throw out ad hominem attacks. That is really a shame.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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