Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks Backcountry Access Act

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I yield to the gentleman from Washington, the chairman of the committee.

Further reserving my right to object, Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today, as amended this morning, gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to reopen the wilderness areas in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to pack and saddle animals for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Earlier this week, I joined with my colleagues, Jim Costa, Mike Thompson, John Garamendi, and Sam Farr, in a letter to Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey of the Natural Resources Committee. We asked the committee, on behalf of our California constituents, to resolve a situation that's already affecting families and businesses and harming the regional economy.

In response to a court order, the National Park Service has not been allowing pack animals into the parks' wilderness areas this year. This situation has caused economic harm to outfitters, packers, guides, and other permit holders who rely on the income that the park visitors bring to the area, and it's causing visitors to reconsider their trips to the park and the wilderness areas.

Today, this House is taking this action, and I want to thank Mr. Markey and Chairman Hastings. I spoke to Chairman Hastings less than 24 hours ago on the content of our letter, and both he and Mr. Nunes came forward and asked whether or not we could do this by unanimous consent, and that's why we're here this morning.

I want to thank the staffs of both of the majority and the minority side of this committee for all of their work. They worked overnight because very early this morning we all signed off on this legislation.

I think that this legislation is a very good deal for families and visitors to the park. It's a good deal for the businesses who depend upon spring and summer wilderness trips for their livelihood.

The high country wilderness in the Sierras is one of the premier experiences the National Park System has to offer, and for many, the only way to have this experience is through use of pack animals for whatever personal reasons, either frailty, age--age would be my reason. I think it's important. I've had the honor and the pleasure to hike the high country in Kings Canyon and in Sequoia and Yosemite, and it's a unique experience, unique to the American Sierra Mountains system.

I hope that the Senate will be able to take this up by unanimous consent quickly so, again, the people planning to take the trips will have certainty, the packers will have certainty, and the surrounding businesses around Sequoia-Kings Canyon Park will have certainty that the summer trade will be there.

Again, I want to thank the chairman of the committee for his immediate response to our letter of concern. I want to thank my colleagues who joined me on that.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 4849) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue commercial use authorizations to commercial stock operators for operations in designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

This legislation addresses an urgent need at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California. Because of a lawsuit, the National Park Service has chosen not to issue commercial packer permits this year. These permits allow mules and horses into the park to carry visitors and supplies. Unfortunately, this not only means the loss of hundreds of jobs, it also canceled long-planned family vacations into the outdoors. For many Americans, whether elderly or handicapped, stock animals are the only option if they want to visit our national parks.

Today, we have the option to right a wrong and allow these permits to be awarded to responsible stewards of our parks. This bipartisan legislation was worked out between Members of both parties in the California delegation. Time is very crucial here. This only extends what has been happening for decades in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We must act now if there's any hope in preserving the season for those individuals who have planned and paid for their visit in the national park.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 394, H.R. 4849.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a Boxer- Feinstein substitute amendment, which is as the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record at the appropriate place.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 4849) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue commercial use authorizations to commercial stock operators for operations in designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. President, I understand there are four bills at the desk due for a second reading, and I would ask the Chair to move these forward.

Mr. President, I now object to further proceedings with respect to each of these bills.