Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT), member of the Natural Resources Committee, delivered the following remarks on the House of Representatives floor. The Congressman lauded the many Utah centric bills included in the Natural Resources Management Act, including two bills that he sponsored: the Emery County Public Land Management Act and the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act. The legislation will be voted on this afternoon.
“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 to help Utah’s school children through 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 fish species. There are many who deserve praise for their years 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 has been a mentor to me with his wealth of knowledge of Utah public lands issues.”The Congressman’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important package, S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This bill is comprised of over 100 smaller bills, including two that I have sponsored, 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 to help Utah’s school children through 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 fish species. There are many who deserve praise for their years 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 has been a mentor to me with his wealth of knowledge of Utah public lands issues.I look forward to seeing both my bills head to the President’s desk with the passage of S. 47. I yield the balance of my time.”
