First, I want to thank all of those whose leadership has brought us this far.
In the House, it's been the work of Congressman Young, Congressman Miller, and others.
In the Senate, it's been Senator Murkowski. And Senator Bingaman, who has written a very good bill that I am proud to cosponsor.
I want to pay a particular complement to Senator Landrieu. I don't agree with every provision of her bill. But she's been a determined and articulate advocate, pressing her case at every opportunity.
There's not much time left in this session of Congress. But, if we roll up our sleeves, and work together, we can pass a solid lands legacy bill. A bill that not only is good for coastal states, like Louisiana, Alaska, and California, but that also is good four the entire nation, including the west.
From the western perspective, some folks are concerned about the impact that they think these bills might have on private property rights.
We may have differences about that.
But there's a lot that we ought to be able to agree on.
For example, all of the bills would increase funding under the Pittman-Robinson Act, which supports state conservation programs.
All of the bills provide financial incentives for landowners to take voluntary steps to improve the environment, such as through conservation easements
The Bingaman-Baucus bill would provide funding for voluntary agreements with landowners to protect endangered species, which is critical to making the Endangered Species Act work better and achieve more widespread support.
And the Bingaman-Baucus bill would fully fund to make payments in lieu of taxes, to offset the impact that federal land ownership has on our local tax base.
These are important improvements.
Mr. Chairman, with the legislation before us today, we have an important opportunity. We can write a solid, bipartisan bill that leaves our children and grandchildren a legacy, in the tradition of one of your heroes, Theodore Roosevelt.
We must not let the opportunity pass.