House Votes Against New Hampshire Wilderness Act
Wilderness
Kendra Gilbert
New Hampshire Union Leader
Boston University Washington News Service
9-26-06
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – Thousands of acres in the White Mountain National Forest remain unprotected after the House of Representatives killed a pair of wilderness protection bills Tuesday.
“We are extremely disappointed,” said Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., a sponsor of one of the pieces of legislation.
The bills, introduced by Bradley and Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., would have designated almost 34,500 acres of land in New Hampshire as federally protected wilderness areas, putting them off limits for a variety of activities that include mining, logging, road and other construction. But while the bills were widely supported, they fell apparent victim to election-year sniping.
Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who is running for Senate, rallied opposition to the New Hampshire Wilderness Act, which includes the two bills, stating in a letter circulated among his colleagues before the votes that, “these bills will do nothing to protect the environment or increase wilderness areas in New Hampshire.”
Bradley disputed the assertion, saying: “Congressman Sanders is entitled to his opinion. He’s not entitled to the facts though.”
Bradley blamed Sanders’ opposition to the New Hampshire bills on disagreement over Vermont’s wilderness protection legislation.
Sanders wanted similar language included for Vermont in the bill, but it was left out because of opposition within his own state. In recent years, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, the state’s House of Representatives and eight cities all opposed designating more state land as wilderness.
“We should not be held hostage because a similar effort in Vermont to designate wilderness did not have the consensus that the New Hampshire legislation had,” Bradley said.
Bradley praised the timber industry and environmental groups in New Hampshire for coming together in support of protecting New Hampshire wilderness.
Last Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation similar to the Bradley and Bass bills. But the Senate bill, authored by Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., and co-sponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., included protections for both New Hampshire and Vermont wilderness.
With time running out before Congress adjourns, the two House bills were brought to the House floor Tuesday under a procedure that moves legislation quickly through the House, but does not allow any amendments and requires a two-thirds majority.
While House members voted 220-167 in favor of voting on Bradley’s bill, which would increase federally protected land in the Sandwich Range by 10,800 acres, the tally was short of the 260 required.
Likewise, Bass’ bill to designate 23,700 acres of land in the Wild River Valley as wilderness was killed despite garnering 223 votes.
Bradley said he was “shocked” by the votes.
“Just sitting back and watching the flames engulf my bill, and Charlie’s bill, and Judd’s bill, and John’s bill, all four of us in New Hampshire worked together and we’re sitting here watching the flames engulf this bill,” Bradley said.
Bradley accused Democrats of partisan politics, as 163 of the votes against action on his were from Democrats, while 167 of the votes against Bass’ bill were from that side of the aisle.
“I talked to a number of Democrats – because I’m asking them to help us out – and they said that they had already been approached by Congressman Sanders and that they couldn’t help us out,” Bradley said.
Sanders’ Communications Director Erin Campbell blamed Republicans for not including Vermont in the House bill.
“Unfortunately, because of partisan political motivations, the Vermont wilderness legislation was stripped from the bill by the House Republican leadership,” Campbell said.
With Congress expected to adjourn next week and only return briefly after the elections, the bills’ chances seem dim.
“We’re going to find a way to get it back on the tracks,” Bradley said. “I haven’t lost hope, but it’s a very significant disappointment.”
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