As in the Senate (see Senate votes 6, 7, & 8), House debate on legislation to protect California's fragile desert lands was marked by controversy and frequent attempts at amendment. During the 11-week debate, in fact, lawmakers filed 43 amendments to the California Desert Protection Act (H.R. 518) introduced by Reps. Richard Lehman (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA). Many amendments were offered by opponents as part of a strategy to prevent passage of the bill through extensive delays.

Recorded votes were taken on most of the proposed amendments, including the following:

Rep. Larry LaRocco (D-ID) offered an amendment to remove language designating a 1.5 million acre Mojave National Park -- where hunting would be barred -- and replace it with language creating a National Park Service-managed preserve that would allow hunting. Conservationists opposed the amendment, noting that the preserve would receive a lower level of protection, cost more to manage, and produce fewer economic benefits for the region. Opponents also noted that polls showed Californians overwhelmingly supported creation of the Park and that hunters had historically shown little interest in the area. Even with Park designation, nearly 10 million acres of surrounding federal land would be open to hunting.

On July 12, 1994, the House accepted the LaRocco amendment by a vote of 239 - 183. NO is the pro-environment vote (see Senate vote 6).