Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chair, thank you to my seatmate, Congressman Simpson, for his overall work on this larger appropriations package. It is not a simple thing to do right now.

My amendment will restrict funds to implement section 216 of Executive Order No. 14008, which aims to supposedly conserve 30 percent of our Nation's lands and waters by 2030.

Over the last 2 years, my colleagues and I on the Committee on Natural Resources have introduced legislation to reverse President Biden's land grab and environmental extremism through this 30 by 30 initiative. My constituents in Idaho are tired of interference and overreach by the Federal Government as it tries to place more use mandates on land.

Sixty-three percent of Idaho's landmass is federally controlled. If it is truly the goal of this administration to increase federally controlled land by another 30 percent, in that case, States in the West, Idaho included, already disproportionately share in the economic distress associated with this federally controlled land.

If the lands in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Maine, and other eastern States were locked up by federally run bureaucracies like those in the West, I am sure more of my colleagues from those States would share the same desire that I have to restrict further expansion on the Federal Government's land footprint.

In addition, there is a direct correlation between the percentage of Federal landmass with increased budget costs, and, as we continue to face record-breaking deficits, debt, and debt financing, we certainly don't need to expand our cost centers.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and stop this land-grab effort through this 30 by 30 initiative by the Federal Government.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Chair, I point out that the amount of federally controlled lands is nowhere equal across our country. In Idaho, it is 32.8 million acres, and, to my good friend from Maine, it is 301,000.

You can't possibly contemplate the ramifications that has when it comes to local governance and land management for your entire State.

When it comes to federally controlled land, enough is enough. Our Federal resources are overwhelmed, and they are not in a good position to manage this landmass, and so oftentimes they don't, and more Federal use mandates reduce our overall wise land management.

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

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