Wilderness Bill Clears Congress 

WASHINGTON -- With Congress reconvened for the final weeks of the lame duck session, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator Jim Jeffords and Congressman Bernie Sanders have successfully passed the New England Wilderness Act in both the House and the Senate.  The bill now goes to the President's desk for signing.  The bill expands wilderness in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest by roughly 42,000 acres and includes additional wilderness designations in New Hampshire. The legislation passed the Senate in the final days of the regular session in September and cleared the House by voice vote Wednesday morning.

Congressman Bernie Sanders said, "I am very happy that the delegation was able to pass this important legislation to protect and expand wilderness in the Green Mountain National Forest. This bill implements a balanced plan that takes into account the thousands of comments offered during the extensive planning process and has the full bipartisan support of both the Vermont and New Hampshire delegations. Vermonters have high expectations about the stewardship of our natural resources and I am pleased that we were able to pass legislation that recognizes the diverse needs of Vermonters while ensuring that wilderness areas are preserved for future generations. "

Senator Jim Jeffords said, "I am very pleased that we have passed a bill that will preserve more acreage in the Green Mountain National Forest for generations to come.  This bill is the product of many years of hard work, and reflects the true spirit of conservation in Vermont. I thank the thousands of Vermonters who offered their input, as well as the dedicated staff of the US Forest Service in Vermont, who deserve so much credit for making this happen."  

Senator Patrick Leahy said, "Vermont is an extraordinary place, and these are special areas that now will be the legacy of every Vermonter of today and tomorrow.  This has been a difficult achievement but one that we know has enduring significance and value to the people of our state.  I commend the Republican leadership for helping to overcome partisan delays that have slowed this bill, and I hope this will be one of the first signs of a new period of bipartisan cooperation.  Years of work have gone into this decision, and thousands of Vermonters have added their voices to this process.  Many Vermonters wanted much more wilderness set aside, and some preferred none at all.  We have worked hard to achieve a balanced plan that reflects the overall interests of our state, its people and its future."

The legislation also establishes the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area near Middlebury, providing national recognition for this premier recreation destination that includes the Middlebury Snow Bowl, world class cross country ski trails, snowmobile trails, the Robert Frost Wayside and camping at Silver Lake.

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