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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Capps took to the House Floor to denounce the decision to include a proposal by Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) in the 2007 Defense Authorization Conference Report that would allow a lucrative private hunting operation on Santa Rosa Island to continue indefinitely. Currently, the hunting operation effectively closes off up to 90% of the island to visitors for nearly 5 months every year. The controversial proposal conflicts with a court order requiring this trophy hunting operation to end in 2011 and allow the public full, unrestricted access to the National Park. Taxpayers purchased Santa Rosa Island for $30 million in 1986 from the owners of the deer and elk herd.
Capps vowed to introduce separate legislation to reverse the provision in the Defense bill that would effectively kick the public off of its National Park.
“The inclusion of this ridiculous proposal in the Defense bill is a travesty,” said Capps. “Kicking the public off a National Park it paid more than $30 million for to continue indefinitely a lucrative private hunting operation is clear violation of the public trust. I will be introducing legislation to reverse this terrible provision.”
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A Copy Of Congresswoman Capps’ Prepared Floor Statement Follows:
Statement of Rep. Lois Capps
Statement Opposing the FY07 DoD Authorization Bill (H.R. 5122)
September 29, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.
I do so because of a ridiculous earmark added by Chairman Hunter to keep the public out of a national park in my district.
This provision monkeys around with a court settlement ending a lucrative privately-run, trophy hunting operation on Santa Rosa Island.
The owners of the elk and deer herds, the Vail family, were already paid $30 million by taxpayers for the island back in 1986.
They were supposed to end this hunting operation in 2011, which by the way costs hunters up to $17,000 a trip and shuts the island to visitors 5 months each year.
Mr. Hunter is seeking to allow private hunting in the Park to go on indefinitely and this will result in more lawsuits.
One might wonder why this provision is in a bill about supporting the troops.
The proposal and reasons behind it have evolved over time.
At one point it was to establish a hunting preserve for the military’s top brass and guests.
When that didn’t fly, it was quickly changed to making Santa Rosa a place for disabled vets to hunt.
But the Paralyzed Veterans of America actually went to island and told Chairman Hunter, and I quote, “the Santa Rosa initiative is not viable.”
Then the provision morphed into saving the animals from “extermination.”
That’s right, we are going to save the animals, though they continue to be hunted, indefinitely.
This provision is opposed by the Park Service, the PVA, the Humane Society, and many public lands groups.
I ask unanimous consent to insert letters from these groups in the record.
Even the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution against this proposal.
So why is it in the bill?
Who knows?
What we do know is that taxpayers, who paid $30 million for the island, are being told by the chairman they can’t visit it for nearly half the year.
This is an insult to our constituents and taxpayers.
It’s also an insult to our troops, whose service to this country is being used as a cover for this special interest boondoggle.
I know this bill will pass by a wide margin and I understand that.
I also know that the House has never endorsed this proposal and given the opportunity for an up or down vote would agree with me.
This is yet another sad day for taxpayers, our National Parks, and this House.
I yield back my time.
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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