Wyden Lauds Public Lands Bill on Senate Floor

Seven public lands bills authored by US Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) passed the Senate on January 15, 2009 by a vote of 73-21 as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (S.22). "The Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007," "The Copper Salmon Wilderness Act," "The Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act of 2008," "The Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Voluntary and Equitable Grazing Conflict Resolution Act," "The Spring Basin Wilderness Act of 2008," "The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2008" and "The Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements Act of 2007" had been held up during the 110th Congress by opposition from Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), but a Sunday vote on the bill achieved enough votes in favor of the legislation to override his objections.