[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          FOREST SERVICE FEES

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 1999

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I introduced legislation which will prohibit 
the Forest Service from charging a fee for special permits issued to 
churches.
  Some churches, which were established many years ago, currently fall 
within the boundaries of National Forests. These churches are now 
charged, or taxes, by the Forest Service to continue to hold their 
services or schools on the property that they have traditionally 
occupied.
  I do not believe that this is an appropriate practice. Thus, I have 
introduced this bill which would prohibit this practice by the Forest 
Service.
  Most of these churches are small and located in rural area. 
Unfortunately, they operate on a very limited budget. I do not think 
that eliminating these fees will hurt the federal government, which 
currently spends billions of dollars a year.
  While this will mean very little in terms of the overall federal 
budget, it will be very important to these small churches in rural 
America.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a very modest proposal which I 
believe just about everyone could endorse. I hope that my colleagues 
will join me in supporting this bill by cosponsoring it.

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