Senate Agriculture Committee Advances Alexander, Corker Legislation to Preserve Tennessee's Heritage for Future Generations

Statement

U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) today made the following statements after the Senate's Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee advanced legislation they introduced earlier this year to preserve Tennessee's heritage for future generations.

"Conserving some of the wildest, most pristine and beautiful areas in our state gives future generations of Tennesseans the opportunity to enjoy Tennessee's land and heritage," Alexander said. "The Tennessee Wilderness Act would help protect our natural heritage and give the millions of people who visit Tennessee each year an additional reason to come and enjoy our great outdoors. I commend Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow and the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee for approving this important legislation, and I hope it can be considered by the full Senate as soon as possible."

"Millions of people visit Tennessee each year to experience our incredible God-given outdoor amenities, and the Tennessee Wilderness Act will help preserve the Cherokee National Forest for future generations of Americans to enjoy," said Corker. "I thank Chairman Roberts and members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for supporting this effort and am hopeful the full Senate will consider and pass this legislation in the near future."

The Tennessee Wilderness Act -- legislation introduced earlier this year by Alexander and Corker as well as U.S. Representative Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) -- would designate nearly 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest as wilderness area. Designation as a wilderness area is the highest level of conservation protection to preserve federal land.

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry -- chaired by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) -- approved the Tennessee Wilderness Act as part of the Federal Land Management Act of 2017. The legislation must now be considered by the full Senate.

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