Protect Nation’s Wilderness Areas

Wheeling News-Register  
January 13, 2009

About 37,000 acres of land in West Virginia would be protected for future generations if the House of Representatives goes along with the Senate on an important package of legislation. The measure would safeguard about 2 million acres in several states. In addition to the Mountain State land, 55,000 acres in the Jefferson National Forest, in nearby Virginia, are included in the package

Senators have not passed the bill yet. But on Sunday, they voted 66-12 to deal with "procedural" hurdles needed for the scores of bills in the package to advance.

We encourage the Senate to proceed with full approval. We urge the House to follow suit.

Some lawmakers who have objected to the package have valid complaints. It does contain some "pork barrel" funding, such as that to build an airport access road in Alaska. Unfortunately, however, just about every bill in Congress includes some hidden agendas.

Congress has approved use of hundreds of billions of dollars to ensure that the economy is sound in the future. It should also spend the relative pittance needed to protect valuable wilderness areas