|
Contact: Dave Yonkman
202-225-4401
|
|
|
Hoekstra Votes against Washington Land Grab
Legislation Severely Limits Energy Exploration, Access to Public Lands
Washington,
Mar 25 -
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today voted against a massive Washington land grab that will prevent American energy exploration in some areas of the country and restricts access to land, including 11,740 acres in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
"The top-down Washington approach to land management prevents enormous opportunities to explore for energy in America and significantly limits opportunities for public recreation," Hoekstra said. "The environment can and should be protected in certain areas, but the public should have a say in where that happens."
The House passed H.R. 146 – the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 – for the second time in two weeks. It is composed of 172 bills and costs more than $10 billion. Among many other provisions it restricts 2 million acres from access for energy exploration and recreational activities.
The bill also authorizes $5.5 billion in new discretionary spending over five years and $900 million of direct spending, as well as eliminates 1.2 million acres from mineral leasing and energy exploration in Wyoming alone – withdrawing 331 million barrels of recoverable oil and 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas supply.
The bill even subjects amateur fossil and rock collectors to five years in prison.
"Congressional leadership quickly forgets how outraged Americans were when the price for a gallon of gasoline exceeded $4 last summer," Hoekstra said. "When the economy eventually rebounds, energy prices will inevitably increase and Americans will again be outraged at how much American energy is off-limits."
|
Print version of this document
|
