Daines Timber Bill Approved by Committee

Press Release

Congressman Steve Daines' bill to revitalize Montana's timber industry and clear the way for active and responsible forest management in Montana was today approved by the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill is now set to receive a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"As a fifth-generation Montana, I know too well how devastating wildfires and the mismanagement of our National Forests can be to our communities, our state's economy and the health of our forests," Daines stated."As most Montanans recognize, the responsible and active management of our National Forests is critical for the health of Montana's economy, as well as the health of our forests themselves. That's why I'm proud to have helped introduce the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which is now one step closer to receiving a full vote in the House. This bill will help create thousands of long-term jobs, protect our environment for future generations, allow tribes, local counties and states to have more input in forest management, and renew the federal government's commitment to our rural counties."

The Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which Daines joined Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings in introducing in April, works to help revitalize Montana's timber industry and create thousands of good, long-term jobs, while addressing beetle kill, protecting the environment for future generations and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires in Montana.

The Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act will cut the red tape that has held up responsible forest management and timber production and addresses the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program by renewing the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources. It also includes comprehensive reforms to discourage and limit the flood of frivolous appeals and litigation that has long held up the responsible stewardship of our National Forests.

Daines also successfully offered two amendments to the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which were adopted by the Committee.

Daines amendment #1

Daines' first amendment, which was adopted with bipartisan support, would ensure the U.S. Forest Service prioritization of Tribal Forest Protection Act projects, allowing tribes and the USFS to coordinate in hazardous fuel reduction.

The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (TFPA) was passed in response to devastating wildfires that occurred in many western states that crossed from Federal land onto tribal land in 2003. By design, the TFPAallows tribes to coordinate with the Forest Service in hazardous fuels reduction--keeping their communities safe, their forests healthy, and creating jobs and economic development on their reservations.

However, since implementation, the USFS has failed to prioritize TFPA projects. The mismanagement of National Forests that share borders with tribal lands has a detrimental effect on the health of tribal forests and the tribal economies which rely on these forests. There are 80 million acres of national forest lands that are in need of treatment and pose a threat to tribal resources.

Daines' amendment ensures that the USFS prioritizes management of the contiguous acres of forest lands that are in need of treatment and pose a threat to tribal resources.

Daines amendment #2

Daines' second amendment clarifies that categorically excluded projects in National Forests are excluded from the appeals process and can proceed as originally intended to do so, without onerous and lengthy administrative delays. This change will allow stakeholders and interested groups to be involved in the design of a project before a decision on the project is made, rather than appealing a decision after its announcement.

Without this provision, decisions on important low impact projects conducted by the Forest Service which were once completed in five to ten days will continue to be delayed by at least 30 days and in some cases, up to 145 days.

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