Bill Clinton

“ In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. ”

“ American Indians and European settlers alike found in our forests the fuel and material for shelter to sustain their families and communities. From those same forests came timber for our fleets of sailing ships and the ties for our railroads that span the continent. Whether working in lumber mills or paper mills, for furniture manufacturers or the building industry, generations of Americans have earned their livelihood from the bounty of our forests. ”

“ Forests bring more, however, to our lives than economic prosperity. They provide invaluable habitat for a variety of plants and animals, help to keep our air and water clean, and promote soil stability. They also renew our spirits by offering us a place to experience the beauty, peace, and diversity of the natural world.
As our Nation has grown and developed, so too have our demands on our forests. ”