this one from John Ensin:
Better!
Thank you very much for contacting me about the proposed Omnibus Public Lands bill being considered in the U.S. Senate. I value the opinions of every Nevadan and am always grateful to those who take the time to inform me of their views.
The Omnibus Public Lands bill that you mention in your letter is a compilation of lands bills from all over the country. You should know that when it comes to public lands bills in states other than Nevada, I tend to give deference to the Congressional delegation of the relevant state because they should know the needs and desires of their constituency. Sometimes, outside Nevada, legislation is developed without soliciting or taking into account the opinions of all the interested parties, and this often leads to opposition that can make passage of the bill difficult. As other states work on public lands bills, I am hopeful that those delegations can follow Nevada's lead and reach consensus compromises with their diverse constituencies in the same manner we have in our state.
While I support increased natural resources protection where it is appropriate and makes sense, I believe lands bills must be balanced between conservation and other multiple uses of federal lands. During my service in Washington, I have worked to set aside millions of acres of land in Nevada specifically for environmental preservation, such as wilderness areas. These lands will be protected for future generations to enjoy. To that end, I have worked with the Nevada congressional delegation over the past seven years to pass into law three comprehensive land bills, including the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA), which is widely recognized as a model for managing federal land in the West.