STATEMENT OF THE HON. JOE SKEEN on Wilderness

"Representative Joe Skeen on Wilderness"
IMPLEMENTATION OF WILDERNESS ACT OVERSIGHT HEARING

EXPLORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1964 WILDERNESS ACT BY THE FOREST SERVICE, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE APRIL 15, 1997--WASHINGTON, DC

STATEMENT OF THE HON. JOE SKEEN, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW MEXICO

  Mr. SKEEN. Thank you very much, and I want to thank my good friends for holding this important hearing on the current policies regarding management of our Nation's wilderness area areas, but I especially want to thank you for allowing me to come here today to pay my respects to an outstanding citizen of New Mexico, and that is Bobby Unser.

  Bobby Unser and his family have become a living symbol of auto racing in America today. This three-time winner of the most famous race in America, the Indianapolis 500, 14-time winner of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and 35-time winner of Indy Car races is today one of the premier spokespersons for auto racing in America. Millions of Americans know him from his career as a race broadcast analyst for ABC, and his background has given him the tremendous insight he passes on to viewers across America who have never been behind the wheel of a car going 200 miles an hour, except on the 14th Street Bridge.

  Bobby has never forgotten his hometown of Albuquerque and, we will never forget him or his family; he has been a credit to his city, his family; and we are proud the Land of Enchantment is his home.

  I only wish this hearing was focusing on honoring Bobby and the great sport of auto racing.

  I want to remind people, the first wilderness in America was created in New Mexico. The Wilderness Act was a product of Senator Clinton Anderson of New Mexico. So suffice it to say, we know a little about wilderness in our State, and I will let Bobby tell you about his situation today.

  What I want to relay to this committee is my concern that government agencies are spinning out of control. The Bobby Unser story you will hear today should never have happened. The other stories you will hear today should never have happened. The selective enforcement and prosecution of our resource laws are not what Senator Anderson intended or envisioned.

  I will tell you what upsets me even more is when the cases are brought to public attention, then a curious thing happens. All of a sudden, mysterious stories start to appear in the news media questioning citizens that have been wronged by the government.

  I don't understand why responsible people in the Forest Service or other agencies let situations like this get out of hand. Is that what Reinventing Government is all about? Just ask yourself, if this can happen to Bobby Unser, this can also happen to anyone out there. We basically are at the mercy of local bureaucrats. It is no wonder people have such a low opinion of government and its leaders.

  Perhaps we have reached the dumbing down of government, not the downsizing of government. I sincerely hope that is not the case.

  Mr. Schiff asked me to pass along his regrets for not being here today. I am certain he would have had many good thoughts to add.

  So thank you, Mr. Chairman and Mrs. Chenoweth.

  Mr. HANSEN. Thank you, Mr. Skeen.