Grazing Improvement Act

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to submit for the Record an article written by Karen Budd-Falen and published May 28, 2011, in the Wyoming Livestock Journal. The article's title is ``Leveling the Playing Field: Support for the Grazing Improvement Act of 2011.''

The title of the article is instructive. Anyone living and working in rural communities knows the playing field is not level. The National Environmental Policy Act has become the preferred tool to delay and litigate grazing permit renewals for American ranchers.

Livestock grazing on public lands has a strong tradition in Wyoming and all Western States. Ranchers are proud stewards of the land, yet the permitting process to renew their permits is severely backlogged due to litigation aimed at eliminating livestock from public land.

During times of high unemployment and increasing food prices, we need to be encouraging jobs in rural economies. We need to be fostering an environment to raise more high quality, safe, American beef and lamb; not litigating less.

That is why I introduced the Grazing Improvement Act of 2011. This legislation will provide the certainty and stability public grazing permit holders desperately need in order to continue supporting rural jobs, providing healthy food, and maintaining open spaces for recreation and wildlife.

It is time to help level the playing field for hard working ranching families across the West. Their livelihood should not be held hostage by litigation and anti-grazing special interest groups. I thank my colleagues, Senators Enzi, Crapo, Hatch, Heller, Risch, and Thune, in supporting ranching families and this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the article to which I referred.

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