The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“YELLOWSTONE AMENDMENT TO INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6710 on July 15, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
YELLOWSTONE AMENDMENT TO INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
(Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, this week we will be voting on a spending bill for the Department of the Interior, the agency entrusted with the management and stewardship of our national parks. Unfortunately, this agency seems to have forgotten the stewardship portion of their mission.
The Department has decided to ignore 10 years of scientific study by the National Park Service, which concluded that the best way to protect and preserve Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, two of our greatest national treasures, would be to phase out the use of snowmobiles. They have decided to ignore the conclusion that emissions produced by snowmobiles force park rangers to wear respirators, adversely affect the health of visitors, and obscure visibility around the famous Old Faithful geyser.
This decision is an affront to the health of our national park system. That is why I strongly support an amendment to the Interior appropriations bill that will call for a phaseout of the use of snowmobiles in these parks.
Our national parks are irreplaceable. We need to act now so that we can ensure that they are protected for generations to come.
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