Omnibus Public Land Management Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Omnibus Public Land Management Act Of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I will vote today for S. 22 because I have been an advocate of initiatives like many that are authorized in this package that protect our nation's historical, cultural, and scenic heritage. Several provisions in this bill will specifically help to preserve areas in my district and throughout the state of Virginia.

I have cosponsored and voted for the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act, which is included in this package and provides grants to assist with the purchase of important Civil War sites that have not yet been protected. This program has helped preserve many sites in my district, rich in Civil War heritage. Most recently, the purchase of the site of the Battle of Third Winchester is contingent on receiving grant funding from this program.

Other initiatives that will preserve important sites in Virginia that are included in this package are the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, the Northern Neck National Heritage Area Study Act and the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act.

While I agree in general with the intent of programs included in this package, I also have concerns regarding some of its provisions. There is language included in the bill that would prohibit natural resource development on about 1.2 million acres in Wyoming. According to the Bureau of Land Management, this provision would permanently take 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of oil out of production. I believe that it is irresponsible to put restrictions on domestic energy production. Environmentally friendly domestic energy production should be considered as part of a comprehensive energy plan to help stabilize the cost of gasoline and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

I also maintain that long-term, permanent energy policy must be developed through clean, alternative and renewable energy resources to fuel our cars and light our homes and businesses. Solar power, wind power, clean coal technology, nuclear power, the hydrogen economy, new energy transmission technology, hybrid vehicle development, biofuels--every option must be on the table for investment and development to secure our nation's energy needs for the 21st century. But we cannot close the door to domestic energy production.

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