Simpson's CIEDRA Passes the House
Simpson's CIEDRA Passes the House
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson brought his bill, the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, H.R. 3603, to the House Floor and passed it by unanimous consent today.
In his floor speech, Simpson told colleagues, "Idahoans know that the Boulder-White Clouds are some of the most beautiful mountains in the United States. They also know they have been the subject of some of the most contentious wilderness debates of our times"
"HR 3603, the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act, marks a new era in wilderness creation, one in which the needs of the people who live and recreate in the area are as important as the lines drawn on a map. The old approach to wilderness of sacrificing the needs of individuals and specific user groups to the benefit of others will not work anymore. Those who are affected by wilderness must be a part of the solution."
Simpson and his staff have worked on this legislation for over six years, meeting with the groups and individuals that will be impacted by H.R. 3603. People like Custer County's commissioners, elected city officials, ranchers, snowmobilers, off-road vehicle users, outfitters, conservationists and others as well as public meetings in Stanley, Challis and Ketchum led Simpson to believe that by working together we could find a positive outcome in the management of the Boulder-White Clouds to benefit all users.
"We are providing economic stability for Custer County, securing roads and trails for today's motorized recreation users and future generations of motorized users, and working to provide economic viability to ranching families," said Simpson. "We are also creating three substantive wilderness areas that have an area half the size of the state of Rhode Island, and we are creating the first-ever handicap accessible wheel chair trail into a wilderness."
Congressman Simpson concluded his floor speech by saying, "Henry Clay once stated that "politics is not about ideological purity or moral self righteousness, it is about governing, and if a politician cannot compromise, he cannot govern effectively." Today, we have an opportunity to show that we can govern effectively."
H.R. 3603 will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.