425 



^Ir. Dox H. Clausex. ]Mr. Cliairman, I merely make two points. 



You may very well be negating the possibility of wanting to preserve 

 an area by this amendment. 



The otiier thing is I thinlv the essential objectives of this legislation 

 are to get the States and tlie political subdivisions into the planning 

 process so far as the coastal management is concerned. 



jlr. Dellenbapk. I thank the gentleman, and I now yield to the 

 gentleman from New^ York. 



]Mr. Gro\t2k. I think the gentleman's objection is well founded. 



There is one fault in the amendment of the gentleman from Texas, 

 and that is it points to public beaches and complete access to public 

 beach lands. 



You must remember that a great deal of our public beach lands was 

 not designed for recreational use. A good deal of it along the Atlantic 

 coast is used for purposes of waterfowd and bird sanctuaries, nature 

 study laboratories, and wet lands. This would open up the wet lands 

 to use. 



Mr. Dellexbaciv. The point the gentleman makes is very well taken. 

 The motives are exceptional. The amendment is bad. 



I urge, ladies and gentlemen, that we defeat this amendment today 

 and let the matter be considered at tlie proper time by the proper com- 

 mittee at a later date. 



Mr. Hanna. Mr. Chainnan, I move to strike the requisite number 

 of words. 



Mr. Chairman, I think the point that Mr. Gonzalez tried to make 

 is very well worth our consideration and the points made in objection 

 to the present language are very well taken. I would suggest to Mr. 

 Gonzalez that his objective can be reached and I think all of the objec- 

 tions can be overcome by rewording the amendment as follows : 



Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed as changing any citizen's 

 access and enjoyment of the public beaches and beachlands in all coastal areas 

 as now by law exists. 



I think what the gentleman wanted to be sure of is that this legis- 

 lation did not in any way supersede existing law which created cer- 

 tain rights of enjoyment to the great and yet very limited resource of 

 public beaches. 



I think the points being made against the language are valid, but I 

 think the point being sought by the gentleman from Texas, if I under- 

 stood the thrust of his remarks correctly, is also valid. 



He wanted to be sure in passing this law at this point in time and 

 context Ave were not superseding existing rights that by State law exist 

 for State citizens all over this country. 



Mr. GoxzALEz. Will the gentleman yield? 



Mr. Haxxa. I am glad to yield to the gentleman. 



jNIr. GoxzALEZ. If my distinguished friend will yield for just one 

 moment, I want to thanlc my good friend from California, 1 do not 

 qui bide with the refined language that the gentleman offers. I will 

 accept it, if it is in oi'der, because it cei-fainly refines my intention. 



I can certaiidy assiu'c this body there is no desire or even the least 

 scintilla of an intention to intrude on the freedom of religion, the 

 ■freedom of ex]:)tession, or any of the other traditional American free- 

 doms except to pinpoint that the freedom that a citizen now has of ac- 



