One of my major environmental goals during the past year has been to push for permanent protection of the roadless areas within our National Forest System. On June 18, 1999, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) and I initiated a letter to President Clinton that 168 Members of the House of Representatives also signed. This letter urged the President to take decisive action to protect roadless areas in all national forests from the construction of new roads, vehicles, logging, and mining.

      Roadless areas throughout our National Forest System provide essential habitat for fish and wildlife, protect the greatest reserves of diverse plant life, and offer an abundant supply of clean drinking water. However, postponement of permanent protection for these pristine areas would leave them susceptible to a wide variety of ecological problems. Roads within our forests often contribute to such natural disasters as floods, landslides, and an increased frequency of fires as a result of access. Furthermore, roads built deep into forests have lead to habitat fragmentation, and the invasion of exotic species that often displace native species.

      On October 14, President Clinton responded by directing the Forest Service to prepare an environmental analysis on how to best conserve and safeguard the many roadless areas throughout our nation. It is my hope that with continued public and Congressional debate, our important national treasures will soon be protected indefinitely for our future generations to enjoy.

      I have also fought hard in the past few months to ensure that the numerous appropriations bills passed each year were free of destructive anti-environmental riders. I believe that the appropriations process should not be the forum in which environmentally harmful legislation is passed. Instead, these issues must be open to the public for debate and discussion. Working with my colleagues, we won an agreement that significantly diminishes the impact of all destructive riders concerning grazing permits, mining waste, and hard rock mining regulations.