I recently read with great interest an article titled "Hansen chides Redford over Utah Wilderness Bill." Although I work for the House Resources Committee and live in Washington, D.C., I visit Utah several times a year and try to follow major stories originating in the state.
According to the article, Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, wrote to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) regarding incorrect statements in a fund-raising letter sent out by the NRDC and signed by Robert Redford. One of the incorrect statements attributed to Hansen was that "not one bill or legislative initiative introduced by the Republican Congress would sell off one acre of federal land."Robert Redford responded to this by writing a letter and said, "HR150 would transfer title of public land to mining companies, many of them foreign entities. . . . "
As a dues-paying member of NRDC and someone who respects Redford's acting ability, I would like to set the record straight. HR150 is a bill introduced by Rep. Gerald Solomon, R-N.Y., to prohibit the importation of foreign-made flags of the United States. What Redford was probably referring to was HR1580, which amends the Mining Law of 1872 to deliver a fair return to the taxpayer for public assets.
I can perfectly understand the confusion between selling off public lands to foreign corporations and preventing the importation of foreign-made flags. However, I would hope that before he signs another letter written for him, he finds someone who can properly research the facts. As one of the professional staff on the Resources Committee, I would like to offer to assist him with obtaining the correct facts if he or anyone else will only call.
Kurt Christensen
Washington, D.C.