WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA, 13th) gave the following statement in objection to H.R 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act, because it is nothing more than an assault on our environment. Stark voted no; his statement follows:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act.
“The Republican Majority has already dismantled nearly every government program for people, and now it appears they’re moving on to other species. They constantly preach that God’s creations are precious, yet once again they are showing their hypocrisy that they would be so careless with the lives of God’s creatures. Perhaps if some of these endangered species were in a persistent vegetative state, Republicans would come rushing to their aid. Perhaps if scientists would concede these same plants and animals were fashioned during the week of God’s creating the world, the right wing would be willing to help.
“The Republicans want us to believe that this bill represents a fair and balanced way to protect endangered species without infringing on property rights. Not true. This bill grants unprecedented and immeasurable subsidies to land owners rather than ensuring their fair costs are covered; so much so in fact, that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office cannot estimate the potential impact to the federal budget.
“This bill is nothing more than an assault on our environment. I urge my colleagues to join me, and every environmental organization on God’s green Earth, in opposing this bill.”
