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Public Access and Lands Improvement Act

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 11, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2954, the so-called ``Public Access and Lands Improvement Act.'' While there are some provisions in this bill that I think many of us could support, most of its titles include unacceptable waivers of environmental law and giveaways to private interests.

The bill bypasses carefully balanced processes for transferring federal lands while protecting access and value for taxpayers, reverses a scientifically-based land management decision, and waives environmental protections and local consultation for certain land for timber harvests and grazing.

As with many of the bills we've seen on the Floor this week, H.R. 2954 makes sweeping and unnecessary changes to existing law that disrupt the balance necessary to manage our public lands in the best interest of American taxpayers. By waiving scientific review and local consultation, this cobbled-together omnibus makes ill-considered decisions about the future of public resources. I urge a no vote.


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