WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa
Murkowski today applauded the inclusion of language in the continuing budget
resolution that would block implementation of a controversial order by Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar to designate new “wild lands” without required
congressional approval.
“Congress has sole authority to
create new wilderness areas. Any attempt to try an end run around Congress will
get a predictable response,” said Murkowski – who serves as the ranking
Republican on the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.
“Moving forward, I would encourage the Interior Department to work not around,
but with Congress. That way, we’ll ensure public lands are managed to maximize
opportunities for all Americans to benefit from and enjoy.”
The continuing budget resolution
that would fund the government until October would prohibit funds from being
spent to implement, administer, or enforce Secretary Salazar’s order to
designate new federal areas as “wild lands,” thereby managing them as
wilderness and circumventing existing law requiring Congress to approve all
wilderness listings.
“Alaska already has more
wilderness than the rest of the nation combined,” said Murkowski. “Fencing off
additional land – around possible future sites for oil and gas development, for
example – could threaten the state’s economy, and our nation’s energy future.”
The House is expected to vote on
the continuing budget resolution on Wednesday. The Senate could take it up as
early as Thursday. The current funding resolution expires at midnight Thursday.
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