Wilderness Designations Should Not Be The Result

Madam Speaker, 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.

But Through World Wars And A Great Depression, Through Painful Social Upheaval And A Cold War, And Now Through The Attacks Of September 11, 2001, Our Nation Has Indeed Survived.

I Believe That The Framers Of The Constitution Made Their Intent Clear When They Wrote The First Amendment. I Believe They Wanted To Keep The New Government From Endorsing One Religion Over Another, Not Erase The Public Consciousness Or Common Faith.

As A People Of Faith, We Know That Prayer Is A Powerful Instrument. And As One Nation Under God, We Know That Many Times Our Most Powerful Tool Is Prayer.

Wilderness Is Not Defined By The Absence Of Certain Activities, But Rather By The Presence Of Certain Unique And Invaluable Characteristics.