Republican members of the House Natural Resources Committee announced today that they will propose 12 amendments to the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act when it is taken up by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.
“For over two months, the legislative process surrounding the Omnibus Lands Management Bill has been a game of political ping-pong between Democrat leaders in the House and the Senate. Rather than considering the bill through a fair and open process, Democrat Leaders continue to lob the $10 billion, 1200-page bill from one chamber to another through a series of legislative tactics aimed at blocking every single House Member from offering an amendment. These amendments would help create new jobs through domestic energy production, secure our nation’s borders, and protect public access to public lands. They are all serious concerns that deserve to be considered in an open and fair process,” said House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings.
Ensure that nothing in the section creating The National Landscape Conservations System impedes efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to secure the borders of the United States. [This amendment was originally offered by Rep. Grijalva D-AZ to H.R. 2016 and adopted by the House in a 414-0 vote (Roll Call vote # 167, April 9, 2008) but was taken out by the Senate.]
Apply the Grijalva border security language to the entire bill.
Require that nothing in this Act shall impact the supply of domestically-produced energy resources in the Taunton Wild and Scenic River area. [This amendment was originally offered by Rep. Boyda D-KS and adopted by the House in a 421-0 vote (Roll Call vote #505, July 1, 2008) but was taken out by the Senate.]
Require a report on the bill’s impact in eliminating the possibility of renewable energy production on federal lands included in the bill.
Add a new title at the end of the bill to ensure that nothing in this Act limits the creation and operation of energy transmission corridors.
Add a new title at the end of the bill to ensure nothing in this Act affects vegetation management for wildland fire prevention on energy rights-of-way.
Ensure that existing motorized recreation access to public lands is grandfathered and not prohibited in this Act.
Ensure that nothing in this Act will limit recreational access for bicycles – the bill as currently written would ban bicycle access on over 2 million acres of new wilderness area designations.
Ensure that nothing in this Act will limit recreational access for the disabled – the bill as currently written would ban wheelchair access on over 2 million acres of new wilderness designations.
Ensure that nothing in this Act will limit recreational access for disabled veterans – the bill as currently written would ban wheelchair access on over 2 million acres of new wilderness designations.
Replace the National Landscape Conservation Act System language with language establishing this System that was passed by the House in a 278-140 vote (Roll Call vote #174, April 9, 2008)
