Washington, D.C. - Congressman Jim Moran, Ranking Member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee delivered the following remarks at the congressional hearing on the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget request with testimony from Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The hearing examines the justifications for President Obama’s proposed FY 2012 Budget for the Department of the Interior.
Prepared remarks are below:
“Good morning and thank you Mr. Chairman. Secretary Salazar it is nice to see you again, and I also welcome Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Deputy Assistant Secretary Pamela Haze.
“The Interior Department is directly responsible for managing 20 percent of America’s land as well as its Indian trust responsibilities. This is an important mission which generates millions of jobs, produces energy for our economy and our standard of living, and protects our natural heritage for future generations
“As we saw all too plainly after the BP-Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, the way we manage the resources is important and can have huge consequences if not done correctly.
“Last year, I had a habit of quoting a great conservationist at the beginning of each hearing on the Interior Department. I’d like to continue that tradition and have selected one from one of my favorable Republicans, Teddy Roosevelt, that may be appropriate for today’s hearing:
“The 'greatest good for the greatest number' (includes) the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including unborn generations, bids us restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wildlife and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method."
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
