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House Passage of Lands Bill Good News for Conservation

Republicans for Environmental Protection, a national grassroots organization that includes elected officials as members, praised House passage Tuesday of legislation that designates the Wild Sky Wilderness in Washington State and the Eightmile Wild and Scenic River in Connecticut.

"We are pleased that outstanding examples of America's natural heritage will be protected, thanks to a bipartisan vote in the House. We look forward to President Bush signing this important bill into law," REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso said.

The Wild Sky Wilderness and the Eightmile Wild and Scenic River proposals both enjoy Republican co-sponsorship from, respectively, Dave Reichert, R-WA, and Chris Shays, R-CT.

"Nothing is more conservative than protecting our country's heritage for all to enjoy," REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins said. "We thank all of the Republicans who voted to pass this legislation."

The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 includes an assortment of public lands authorizations, including establishment of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area in Florida; and the 290-mile Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail in Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia.

"As conservatives, we believe that it is our generation's duty to safeguard our country's scenic and historic treasures. Future generations will thanks us for our foresight," Jenkins said.

Republicans voting to pass the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 include: Alaska: Don Young. Arizona: Rick Renzi. California: Ken Calvert, Mary Bono Mack, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, George Radanovich. Colorado: Marilyn Musgrave. Connecticut: Chris Shays. Delaware: Michael Castle. Florida: Gus Bilirakis, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, C.W. "Bill" Young. Idaho: Bill Sali, Mike Simpson. Illinois: Judy Biggert, Tim Johnson, Mark Kirk, Ray LaHood, Donald Manzullo, Jerry Weller. Iowa: Tom Latham. Kansas: Todd Tiahrt. Kentucky: Ed Whitfield. Maryland: Wayne Gilchrest. Michigan: Vern Ehlers, Joe Knollenberg. Minnesota: Jim Ramstad. Missouri: Jo Ann Emerson. Montana: Dennis Rehberg. Nebraska: Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith, Lee Terry. Nevada: Dean Heller, Jon Porter. New Jersey: Michael Ferguson, Rod Frelinghuysen, Frank LoBiondo, Jim Saxton, Chris Smith. New Mexico: Heather Wilson. New York: Peter King, Randy Kuhl, John McHugh, James Walsh. Ohio: David Hobson, Steve LaTourette, Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula, Patrick Tiberi, Michael Turner. Oklahoma: John Sullivan. Oregon: Greg Walden. Pennsylvania: Charles Dent, Phil English, Jim Gerlach, Tim Murphy, Todd Platts, Bill Shuster. South Carolina: J. Gresham Barrett. Tennessee: Zach Wamp. Texas: Louie Gohmert. Virginia: Rob Wittman, Frank Wolf. Washington: Dave Reichert. West Virginia: Shelley Moore Capito.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com