Conservation - Report No. 14 - 96th Congress 2nd Session Weekly Update of Conservation Legislation - May 23, 1980

Sep 21, 2026

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Weekly update of conservation legislation by the National Wildlife Federation, dated May 23, 1980, covering developments in the 96th Congress, 2nd Session. It reports Senate leadership changes, debate on M-X missile funding on the House floor, and House conferees for the “River of No Return” wilderness designation. It also describes legislation introduced to protect raptor habitat via the Snake River Birds of Prey area and reviews hearings on Lake Tahoe protection, including concerns over condemnation powers, tax revenue, and local public input.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Hollings, Gravel Assume Chairmanships Vacated by Muskie

M-X Missile Funding Debated on House Floor

House Appoints Conferees on River of No Return

Legislation Introduced to Protect Raptor Habitat

Lake Tahoe Protection Plan Examined

# Conservation Report National Wildlife Federation's WEEKLY UPDATE OFCONSERVATION LEGISLATION 96th Congress May 23,1980 Report No,14 2nd Session ## Hollings,Gravel Assume Chairmanships Vacated by Muskie The two Senate chairmanships vacated by Sen.Edmund S.Muskie (Maine)have now beenfilled.(See Report No.12,p.6.) Sen.Ernest F.Hol1ings(S.C.)assumed the chafrmanship_of the Senate BudgetCommittee on May 13. Succeeding as head of the Environmental Pollution Subcommittee ofthe Senate Committee on Envfronment and Public Works is Alaska Sen.Mke Gravel,formerChafrman of the Subcommittee on Water Regources. ## M-X Missile Funding Debated on House Floor During this past week,the House of Representatives has been considering theDepartment of Defense budget authorization which includes $1.6 b1111on for development ofthe M-X mssile system。On May 14 and 15,two amendments to cut funding for the systemwere rejected.An amendment offered by Rep.Paul S1mon(I11.)to reduce funding for themlssile's basing mode by $500 m1111on and to requlre the Air Force to researchalternative basing systems was defeated by a vote of 152 to 250.The House also rejected82-319 an amendment offered by Rep.Ronald Dellums(Calif.)that would have eliminatedall funding for the M-X。 The Simon amendment caused the most discussion.Rep.John Seiberling(Ohio)arguedthat funding development of the "dragstrip"missile system would be premature.Rep.GumnMcKay(Utah)disagreed with amendment supporters,who included Rep.Dan Marriott(Utah)and Rep.Jim Santini(Nev.),stating that "accepting this amendment would jeopardize ournational security." Actual appropriation of funds for the Defense budget wil1 be made around July. ## House Appoints Conferees on River of No Return On May 14,the House insisted on its amendment to S.2009 and agreed to a conferencewith the_Senate.(See Report No.12,p.1.)The bill would designate certain publiclands in Idaho as the River of No Return Wilderness and a segment of the Salmon River asa component of the Natfonal W11d and Scenic Rivers System。 These conferees wereselected:Reps.Morris Udall(Ariz.),Phi11ip Burton (Ca11f.),John Selber1ing(Ohio),James Santini(Nev.),James Weaver(Oreg.),Peter Kostermayer(Pa.),Bruce Vento(Minn.),Don Clausen(Ca1if.),Jim Johnson(Colo.),Steven Symms(Idaho),and Don Young(Alaska). ## Legislation Introduced to Protect Raptor Habitat At the request of the Secretary of Interfor,Sen.Henry Jackson(Wash.)hasintroduced S.2683,establshing the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Areain Idaho.The b±11 was referred May 9 to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.An fdentical proposal(H.R.7359)Introduced by Rep.Morris Udall(Ariz.)was referred May14 to the House Committees on Interfor and Insular Affairs and Merchant Marine andFisheries. The bi11s would expand the current 26,000-acre Snake River Birds of Prey NaturalArea to include 490,685 acres of pub11c lands,40,428 acres of state land,and 78,549 Conservation Area,to be administered by the Secretary of Interor through the Bureau ofLand Management,would protect the habitat of eagles,havks,owls,and other raptors.Existing uses of the pub1ic lands,such as 11vestock grazing and seasonal Nat¹ona1 Guardtraining,would continue. Sen.Jackson's proposal was accompanied by a Final Environmenta1 Impact Statementand a management plan for the area. ## Lake Tahoe Protection Plan Examined Proposed legislation to slow environmental degradation in the Lake Tahoe basin wasthe subject of hearings May 12 and 15.(See Report No.13,p.7.)Following testimonyfrom varlous public witnesses,both the Subcommittee on National Parks and InsularAffairs of the House Committee on Interfor and Insular Affairs and the full committeefavorably reported H,R.7306. Witnesses included: Rep.Harold Johnson(Cal1f.);Rep.Norman Shumway(Calif.);Vera Marcus and Gary Magnisun from the California State Department of Resources;JohnCefalu,Mayor,and Terry Trupp,Vice Mayor of the City of South Lak

FAQs

What Senate leadership changes are reported?

Sen. Ernest F. Hollings assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee on May 13, and Sen. Mike Gravel succeeded as head of the Environmental Pollution Subcommittee.

What was debated regarding the M-X missile system?

The House considered Defense budget authorization including $1.6 billion for M-X development. Two funding-cut amendments were rejected, including proposals affecting basing modes and eliminating all M-X funding.

What does the document say about Lake Tahoe protection hearings?

Hearings held May 12 and 15 led to favorable reporting of H.R. 7306. Testimony focused on environmental degradation concerns, the pace of decision-making for FY81 funding, and objections related to condemnation power and local public input.

Sep 21, 2026

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