Crowdog
08-08-2002, 09:03 PM
Boxer's bill still sitting
By Darcy Ellis, News Staff
08/05/2002
But companion House bill has reached subcommittee study
While proponents and opponents argue about the chances of Senator Barbara Boxer's wilderness legislation reaching fruition, a companion bill to Boxer's is progressing farther in the House of Representatives.
As opponents cite a lack of support for Boxer's attempts to designate parts of the state wilderness via the Senate, co-sponsors are tacking their names to a growing list in support of the House bill that identifies local lands for the designation.
Boxer first introduced her California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 to the Senate May 21, at which point it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources where it still sits more than two months later.
Rep. Hilda Solis, of Napa Valley, meanwhile, had developed a companion bill that covered essentially all lands mentioned in Boxer's legislation in the southern half of the state - including Eastern Sierra public lands proposed for wilderness designation. Known as the Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, it has been in committee for a lesser period of time than Boxer's senate bill and already has 20 times the co-sponsors.
Rep. Mike Thompson of El Monte simultaneously sponsored a bill that covered Boxer's proposed wilderness areas in the northern part of the state. Both were introduced to the House June 17.
Solis' bill, numbered H.R. 4947, was at that time referred to the House Committee on Resources. On June 27, it was referred to both the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health for further study and hearings.
The House also requested executive comment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service among other entities.
As of Wednesday, Solis' bill was supported by 20 co-sponsors (whose names can be found on the Library of Congress website). Among those mentioned are Rep. Maxine Waters, Thompson and Rep. George Miller.
To date, Boxer's senate counterpart has zero co-sponsors.
According to the American Gas Association's 107th Congress Directory, it is while a bill is in committee (when it is placed on that commitee's calendar) that it is carefully examined and its chances for passage are determined. It is lack of support and action so far in regards to Boxer's legislation that has local opponents citing those chances as slim and claiming temporary victory.
Rex Allen and Dick Noles, co-chairs of the outspoken Advocates for Access to Public Lands, recently reported they feel confident in word received from various congressmen's offices that Boxer's bill will not be acted upon this session. Allen reported that the "consensus view in Congress" is that lack of support in the Senate has caused the bill's proponents to withdraw it this year to "try again next year."
Allen, although encouraged by the news, acknowledges the bill's opponents are still in for a "long war.
"We are very pleased nothing is going to happen this year. It gives us more maneuvering room," he said. "(But) I am of two minds on this. The best of all scenarios would be for it to be voted out of committee and killed on the floor. (But) we're still getting up to speed. It's nice to have a little bit more time to get us all on the same page."
Boxer's state deputy director Tom Bohigian, meanwhile, acknowledges that no action may be taken on the bill this year, but refutes assertions that the legislation is by any means dead or defeated.
"We know nothing about that," he said, referring to rumors the bill had been pulled, "and the fact of the matter is it hasn't been tabled or iced or anything like that."
Efforts are still moving forward, he reported, and "we're continuing to be optimistic and hopeful."
Bohigian, who has repeatedly and publicly stated that no one expects anything on the bill to happen overnight, said, "There's nothing about this process that is fast.
"There's still a ways to go in the session this year," he continued, adding," but of course anything can happen."
He said, however, that he believes there is nothing to indicate the bill is ill-fated. Bohigian also takes exception with the view held by opponents that Boxer's bill lacks support.
"I think we have got tremendous support from most parts of the state," he said, citing "elected officials" and "thousands" of private citizens. "I think that public support is growing," Bohigian concluded, saying, "We feel great about the Eastern Sierra."
Allen nevertheless still questions the support of elected officials in the senate. He points to Sen. Diane Feinstein as an example, explaining the she is a member of the committee where Boxer's legislation has been referred.
She has yet to publicly support the bill, or as Allen reported, mentor it while in committee - which at this point appears to still be examining the legislation.
According to the procedures established for a bill to become law, if the committee does not act on a bill, "it is the equivalent of killing it," as noted in the AGA's directory.
ŠThe Inyo Register 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2270&dept_id=498515&newsid=4960506&PAG=461&rfi=9
By Darcy Ellis, News Staff
08/05/2002
But companion House bill has reached subcommittee study
While proponents and opponents argue about the chances of Senator Barbara Boxer's wilderness legislation reaching fruition, a companion bill to Boxer's is progressing farther in the House of Representatives.
As opponents cite a lack of support for Boxer's attempts to designate parts of the state wilderness via the Senate, co-sponsors are tacking their names to a growing list in support of the House bill that identifies local lands for the designation.
Boxer first introduced her California Wild Heritage Act of 2002 to the Senate May 21, at which point it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources where it still sits more than two months later.
Rep. Hilda Solis, of Napa Valley, meanwhile, had developed a companion bill that covered essentially all lands mentioned in Boxer's legislation in the southern half of the state - including Eastern Sierra public lands proposed for wilderness designation. Known as the Southern California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, it has been in committee for a lesser period of time than Boxer's senate bill and already has 20 times the co-sponsors.
Rep. Mike Thompson of El Monte simultaneously sponsored a bill that covered Boxer's proposed wilderness areas in the northern part of the state. Both were introduced to the House June 17.
Solis' bill, numbered H.R. 4947, was at that time referred to the House Committee on Resources. On June 27, it was referred to both the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health for further study and hearings.
The House also requested executive comment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service among other entities.
As of Wednesday, Solis' bill was supported by 20 co-sponsors (whose names can be found on the Library of Congress website). Among those mentioned are Rep. Maxine Waters, Thompson and Rep. George Miller.
To date, Boxer's senate counterpart has zero co-sponsors.
According to the American Gas Association's 107th Congress Directory, it is while a bill is in committee (when it is placed on that commitee's calendar) that it is carefully examined and its chances for passage are determined. It is lack of support and action so far in regards to Boxer's legislation that has local opponents citing those chances as slim and claiming temporary victory.
Rex Allen and Dick Noles, co-chairs of the outspoken Advocates for Access to Public Lands, recently reported they feel confident in word received from various congressmen's offices that Boxer's bill will not be acted upon this session. Allen reported that the "consensus view in Congress" is that lack of support in the Senate has caused the bill's proponents to withdraw it this year to "try again next year."
Allen, although encouraged by the news, acknowledges the bill's opponents are still in for a "long war.
"We are very pleased nothing is going to happen this year. It gives us more maneuvering room," he said. "(But) I am of two minds on this. The best of all scenarios would be for it to be voted out of committee and killed on the floor. (But) we're still getting up to speed. It's nice to have a little bit more time to get us all on the same page."
Boxer's state deputy director Tom Bohigian, meanwhile, acknowledges that no action may be taken on the bill this year, but refutes assertions that the legislation is by any means dead or defeated.
"We know nothing about that," he said, referring to rumors the bill had been pulled, "and the fact of the matter is it hasn't been tabled or iced or anything like that."
Efforts are still moving forward, he reported, and "we're continuing to be optimistic and hopeful."
Bohigian, who has repeatedly and publicly stated that no one expects anything on the bill to happen overnight, said, "There's nothing about this process that is fast.
"There's still a ways to go in the session this year," he continued, adding," but of course anything can happen."
He said, however, that he believes there is nothing to indicate the bill is ill-fated. Bohigian also takes exception with the view held by opponents that Boxer's bill lacks support.
"I think we have got tremendous support from most parts of the state," he said, citing "elected officials" and "thousands" of private citizens. "I think that public support is growing," Bohigian concluded, saying, "We feel great about the Eastern Sierra."
Allen nevertheless still questions the support of elected officials in the senate. He points to Sen. Diane Feinstein as an example, explaining the she is a member of the committee where Boxer's legislation has been referred.
She has yet to publicly support the bill, or as Allen reported, mentor it while in committee - which at this point appears to still be examining the legislation.
According to the procedures established for a bill to become law, if the committee does not act on a bill, "it is the equivalent of killing it," as noted in the AGA's directory.
ŠThe Inyo Register 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2270&dept_id=498515&newsid=4960506&PAG=461&rfi=9