There are many programs in this appropriations conference report that I strongly support. I applaud the conferees on their decision to restore funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. I thank President Clinton for his leadership in restoring funds for the land and water conservation fund. I also commend my colleague Senator Slade Gorton for dropping his opposition to removal of two dams on the Elwha River and allowing the dams to be eligible for acquisition and future removal.

However, I am voting against the legislation because of an issue that has been very controversial amongst my constituents throughout the Interior appropriations process.

Earlier this year the House approved an amendment to the Interior appropriations bill which would have reduced the appropriation for the roads budget of the Forest Service and would have placed a cap on the use of the Purchaser Road Credit Program. Offered as a compromise, the Dicks amendment was a balanced alternative to an enormously controversial policy of the Forest Service.

The Purchaser Road Credit Program may have been an effective tool for some small timber companies in the past, but I feel that it has outlived its usefulness and should be phased out. Timber companies should take more financial responsibility up front when roads are needed for a timber harvest on public lands, as they do currently on private lands.

Unfortunately, the Interior appropriations conferees refused to accept this compromise language, instead opting to raise the cap on the Purchaser Road Credit Program. I am disappointed because the House approved the Dicks amendment, the Senate came within one vote of approving a very similar amendment, and President Clinton has indicated his willingness to begin phasing out the Purchaser Road Credit Program.

Again, I regret that I cannot support this bill because there are many good things in it. However, my concern that we are not taking the first step to reform the outdated Purchaser Road Credit program has forced me to vote `no' on this bill.