[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2003

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, today the House considers legislation to 
address the susceptibility of our national forests to insects, 
diseases, and wildfires. In 2000, 8.4 million acres of land burned, 
costing approximately $1.3 billion in suppression costs. In 2001, 3.6 
million acres burned, costing more than $900 million. Last year, 6.9 
million acres burned, costing approximately $1.6 billion. This year, 
conditions are ripe for another big fire season.
  From 1960 through 1990, the Southern Pine Beetle has caused $900 
million in damage to pine forests. Red and White Oak Borers have 
devastated 33% of standing Red and White Oak timber in Arkansas, 
Missouri, and Oklahoma. These insects and others are threatening 
forests throughout the South and East, including in my state of North 
Carolina.
  H.R. 1904 proposes to give the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. 
Bureau of Land Management authority to treat our public forests so they 
will be less susceptible to fire, insects, and diseases. The bill 
certainly is not a perfect bill; it is not everything I would have 
wanted. However, it is a noteworthy attempt to deal with these threats 
to the health of our public forests.
  If used properly, the tools provided in this bill will ease the path 
of projects designed to reduce the risk of fire in those areas where 
fire would most threaten lives, homes, and water supplies. It will also 
allow the federal government to better respond to insect and disease 
infestations before they spread out of control. However, it is not my 
intent for this authority to be used to increase commercial logging or 
circumvent public interest in our national forest.
  Should this bill become law, I would caution the agencies not to use 
their new authority for expedited treatment and review except in the 
most dire cases and on lands in desperate need for attention. Over 190 
million acres of public forests are at risk to damage from insect, 
disease, and wildfire. However, the bill limits this new authority to 
less than 21 million acres. This clearly demonstrates Congress' 
interest in ensuring that the Forest Service and Bureau of Land 
Management do not use their new authority as a mandate for clear 
cutting or sacrificing healthy old growth forests.
  The provisions in H.R. 1904 dealing with biomass, the Healthy Forest 
Reserve Program, the establishment of a new remote sensing program to 
diagnose insect and disease threats to forestry, and watershed 
management will benefit private landowners in my state. They also 
promote environmentally responsible practices, which in turn will 
generate healthier forests. While not perfect, H.R. 1904 will go a long 
way to protect our nation's forests, which is why I will vote for final 
passage.

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