PERSONAL EXPLANATION--VOTE CLARIFICATION ON H.R. 701--THE CONSERVATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT (CARA) -- HON. LARRY COMBEST (Extensions of Remarks - May 15, 2000)

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HON. LARRY COMBEST OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, May 15, 2000

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the RECORD a clarification of my vote during final passage of H.R. 701, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. Mr. Speaker, during final passage, I was gathering together Members of the House Agriculture Committee to catch a flight to Idaho for a committee field hearing. I mistakenly voted ``yea'' when I intended to vote ``no'' on final passage.

Let me clearly state for the record my opposition to H.R. 701 is due to the concerns I have over its impact on private property rights, federal budgeting, and the troubling shift in policy to acquire more federal land instead of properly maintaining what the United States government already owns. During consideration of H.R. 701, I supported numerous amendments that sought to remedy these concerns and improve the bill. Unfortunately, the measure in its final form was still not a bill that I could support and is why I intended to vote ``no'' on passage. I would ask that this statement follow debate on H.R. 701 in the permanent CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.

Again, I regret this error and appreciate the opportunity for clarification.
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