Natural Resources Management Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important package, S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act.

This bill is comprised of dozens of smaller bills, including two that I have had the opportunity to sponsor: the Emery County Public Land Management Act and the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act.

The Emery County bill has been a locally driven effort and will bring long-term certainty to the area through various designations and expanding Goblin Valley State Park for better management. It will also generate millions of dollars for Utah school kids through the School Trust Land Exchanges.

Also in this package, the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act will ensure access to critical water sources and continue to promote the recovery of four endangered species.

There are many, many who deserve praise for their years and decades of work on these bills. I would especially like to thank Republican leader Bishop, who has been invaluable in pushing these bills across the finish line and, on a personal note, has mentored me through very difficult public lands issues.

Especially today, I would like to give appreciation and recognition to Emery County commissioners, who had the ability to see into the future to understand how important this was for their county and to work through all the difficult issues.

Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle for their willingness to work with me, to see this through our eyes and to explain this through their eyes. I am grateful for the friendships and relationships that I have developed through this process.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing both of my bills headed to the President's desk with the passage of S. 47.

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