We all understand that compromise is part of the legislative process, yet at the same time, I would submit that wilderness is not for sale.

Wilderness designations should not be the result of a quid pro quo. They should rise or fall on their own merits.

Wilderness is not defined by the absence of certain activities, but rather by the presence of certain unique and invaluable characteristics.

Madam Speaker, I have spent more than half my life as a member of the Resources Committee. In that time I have supported numerous wilderness designations. In fact, I cannot recall ever opposing a wilderness bill.

Simply put, I believe we should not seek the lowest common denominator when it comes to wilderness and saddle a wilderness designation with exceptions, exclusions, and exemptions.

Both the historic resource and wilderness character were slipping away from us. We had to figure out how to compromise our divergent perspectives without compromising Cumberland Island.