The vote is on the Seiberling (D-OH) Motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill (HR 999) to provide conservation jobs and job training for unemployed youths on public and Indian lands. Many of our national parks and forests are suffering major resource damage and deterioration from heavy use and lack of maintenance. The same is true of state and local recreation lands, wildlife refuges, fishery facilities, etc. With massive budget cuts at both federal and state levels, the backlog of needed conservation work has grown tremendously. Under this program young people could plant trees, thin out tree stands, maintain trails, build fences on range land, band birds, and enjoy the outdoors.

This $300 million per year program would create about 100,000 minimum-wage jobs -- many more jobs per dollar invested than most federal programs. The Corps would be funded from federal revenues obtained from such activities as oil and gas leasing and timber sales on public lands.

Seiberling Motion adopted 301-87 (two-thirds majority required for passage); March 1, 1983. YES is the pro-environmental vote. (The bill has not yet been enacted by the Senate.)