In a move intended to reduce the power of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-the federal agency responsible for protecting and preserving public lands for future generations-Representative Taylor (R-NC) proposed an amendment to the 2004 Interior appropriations bill to restrict the BLM's so-called "rights-of-way" powers. Rights-of-way powers allow the Bureau to regulate access to public lands and deny entrance to individuals or groups who may exploit the land for their own material gain (hunters, loggers, miners, etc.). Progressives viewed Taylor's amendment as an attempt to open federally-managed wilderness areas to logging, mining, and other commercial interests and voted against the amendment as a way to preserve the natural beauty of wilderness areas. The Taylor amendment was adopted on a 226-194 vote and the power of the Bureau of Land Management to regulate commercial access to public lands was summarily restricted.