OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Commending Chairman Taylor and Young

Date: June 16, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending


COMMENDING CHAIRMAN TAYLOR AND YOUNG -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 16, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. SAM GRAVES
OF MISSOURI
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2004

Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend both Chairman TAYLOR and Chairman YOUNG for their efforts to eliminate Federal funding of land acquisitions in the FY05 Department of Interior appropriations bill. I, along with several of my colleagues, have been fighting this battle for some time, and I am pleased with today's results. Federal land acquisitions have been the reason for my opposition to the Interior appropriations bill in the past, but now I can support this legislation.

I offered legislation that accomplishes almost exactly what Chairmen TAYLOR and YOUNG are proposing in the FY05 Interior appropriations bill. H.R. 1517, The Land Reinvestment Act, simply eliminates Federal land acquisitions by zeroing out the land and water conservation fund's Federal expenditures. I want to note that State side assistance will remain untouched and I again commend my colleague's actions for keeping that program funded.

The Federal Government is the nation's largest single landowner. The FY05 Interior appropriations bill sends a clear message that Congress will no longer tolerate Federal land grabs. I am very pleased by my colleagues efforts and look forward to supporting this legislation.

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