Burner Statement on Protecting Public Wilderness in Washington State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2007
Contact: Sandeep Kaushik, (425) 443-2564
Bellevue, WA (August 8) - Democrat Darcy Burner today issued the following statement on the importance of protecting our pristine public lands, which are increasingly threatened due to anti-environmental Bush administration policies backed by Congressman Reichert:
"My family and I live in modest home outside of Carnation because we enjoy being close to the land. I grew up in rural areas, so a connection to open country is something I feel deep in my bones. Growing up, my dad spent several summers as a park ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park. We lived near the park while he worked to protect those areas so visitors from across the state could come and appreciate the great outdoors.
"I remain committed to conservation and to protecting our environment. Our pristine open spaces are disappearing before our eyes as the Bush administration guts the strong wilderness conservation protections established during the Clinton years. If we do not act soon to reverse this situation, much of our wilderness will be lost forever.
"That is why I strongly support Senator Maria Cantwell's and Rep. Jay Inslee's Roadless Area Protection Act. Fifty-nine million acres of wilderness across the country are at risk - including 2 million acres in Washington State (accounting for more than a fifth of our National Forests here) - because of rule changes imposed by the Bush administration that amount to a giveaway of public lands to loggers, oil companies and the mining industry. Unfortunately, these are changes that Congressman Reichert seems to support, since he is notably absent as one of the 144 co-sponsors - including a number of Republicans - of this important legislation.
"Now I hear that Congressman Reichert, who is not even sure yet that global warming exists, intends to begin portraying himself as going 'green.' He is telling the press that he would like to consider designating some 26,000 acres of federal land of the Pratt River Valley a wilderness area. Many in the environmental community would like to see this area conserved and so would I. So I applaud Congressman Reichert for taking a small step in the direction of wilderness conservation.
"But I would also hope that he would join so many of his colleagues in co-sponsoring the bipartisan Cantwell-Inslee legislation. Otherwise, his willingness to consider protecting one small area while threatening 2 million acres elsewhere in the state is the equivalent of focusing on a tree while losing sight of the fact that the forest is being chopped down around you.
"Moreover, I believe strongly that we can not forget to take care of what we already have. Congress must ensure that the horrible damage the winter storms did to Mt Rainier National Park can be put on a fast track for repair and restoration. The voters of the 8th District can be sure that conserving our untouched public lands is one of my top priorities. In Washington, D.C., I will fight to ensure that the environmental health of our entire region is preserved and enhanced."
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