I have spent more than half my life as a member of the Resources Committee. In that time I have supported numerous wilderness designations. In fact, I cannot recall ever opposing a wilderness bill. Yet, today, I find myself in a different situation. While I am normally excited, in fact, enthused, whenever a Republican introduces a wilderness bill, H.R. 3603 falls far short of what I see as an acceptable standard for such an exceptional area.

     Wilderness designations should not be the result of a quid pro quo. They should rise or fall on their own merits. We all understand that compromise is part of the legislative process, yet at the same time, I would submit that wilderness is not for sale. Simply put, I believe we should not seek the lowest common denominator when it comes to wilderness and saddle a wilderness designation with exceptions, exclusions, and exemptions.

     With all due respect to the author of this legislation, and its supporters, in my view the focus of this bill is placed on development, with public land giveaways, monetary favors and special legislative provisions for a select few.

     There is nothing to be ashamed about with wilderness. Wilderness is not defined by the absence of certain activities, but rather by the presence of certain unique and invaluable characteristics. The answer to the oft-asked question, "why do you want this area to be wilderness" is that these areas are already wilderness. Congress cannot "create" wilderness. That is done by the hand of God. But what we can do is look beyond the fleeting uses these wild lands could be put to and preserve them as they are and as they have been for generations.

     President Lyndon Johnson, at the signing of the Wilderness Act in 1964 perhaps summed it up best when he said: "If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it."

     Unless some rather dramatic modifications are made to the pending legislation, I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to oppose it. For instance, I simply cannot support eroding protections in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, the transfer of public lands within the NRA to developers, or the proposed elimination of federal water rights to name a few issues.

     Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to Idaho resident Carole King for being with us here today. "If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds, and that old north wind should begin to blow, keep your head together and call my name out loud, and soon I will be knocking on your door."

     Well, Carole, you have done that time and time again when it comes to the advocacy of wilderness and our environment and for that I salute you.

    Thank you.