Colorado Wilderness Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I was born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State, and I know firsthand how special our region is and how our public lands contribute to the fabric of who we are.

In our region, we understand that protecting our public lands isn't just about saving these unforgettable places for future generations. It also means protecting high-quality jobs for the next generation as well.

That is important to me, as someone who grew up on the peninsula and as someone who worked in economic development professionally for over a decade.

I have seen how our natural resources contribute to our economic vitality. Each year, millions of people and families travel to our State and contribute roughly $22 billion in economic impact and support 200,000 jobs in Washington's outdoor economy.

Our national treasures have helped create opportunities for local entrepreneurs who started restaurants, guided tour companies, hotels, and B&Bs, and other small businesses. That is why it makes sense to protect these special places, and that is why I am proud that the House is considering this comprehensive package, including a bill I introduced called the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

That bill protects some of our most environmentally sensitive areas by establishing a new wilderness area to protect the last remaining old-growth stands on the peninsula and designating 19 rivers and tributaries as wild and scenic rivers to protect critical salmon spawning habitats.

This proposal has evolved through extensive public engagement with Tribes, conservation groups, timber communities, business leaders, shellfish growers, and everybody in-between, to create a bill that works for our local communities.

It is because of that outreach that this bill is now formally supported by more than 800 community leaders, Republicans and Democrats, businessowners, sportsmen, mayors, county commissioners, and Tribal leaders, all of whom agree this proposal moves our region in the right direction.

In addition to protecting recreational access and supporting our outdoor economy, the bill bolsters our region's efforts to protect sources of clean drinking water, supporting critical salmon and steelhead habitats, and protecting key waterways that are vital to our shellfish industry.

But just as important are all the things this bill will not do. This proposal will not close, decommission, or otherwise restrict access to any Forest Service roads or trailheads. It will not impact any harvestable timber base in the Olympic National Forest. I am doing a whole bunch of other work to increase the harvest through other avenues.

This bill will not affect any private property rights. It will not impact how the Washington Department of Natural Resources manages State-owned lands, which is why it has gained support of the Washington commissioner of public lands.

We know that our region's future depends on building a strong and diversified economy, and after years of collaboration, I think this bill we are considering today represents a clear win-win for the communities I represent.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the senior Senator from Washington, Senator Murray, for her partnership in this effort. I want to thank the lead sponsor and the Natural Resources Committee. I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

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