[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 79 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1094]
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. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, conserving our environment is 
important. Our forests are an important part of both Michigan's and our 
country's environment. In the west, catastrophic wildfires have 
decimated our forests over the last several years destroying both 
government and private property. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (H.R. 1904) is a common-sense, cost-effective piece of legislation 
that helps to control these fires as well as combat destructive insect 
and disease infestations in our forests.
  Removing some of the bureaucratic red tape for performing fire 
prevention measures is not only environmentally friendly but also 
fiscally responsible, as fire prevention costs American taxpayers 
approximately one-fourth of what it costs to fight catastrophic forest 
fires. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act authorizes the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) to reduce the amount of underbrush and deadwood 
buildup in forests that serve as kindling and fuel for the hottest, 
most dangerous fires. It would regulate BLM's activities by putting 
limits on the tree removal and road construction that has provoked 
controversy at times in the past. This would give BLM the tools it 
needs to confront the increasing threat of destructive forest fires on 
federal lands that have had serious impacts both on people and 
wildlife.
  The bill takes additional measures to improve our forests. These 
include provisions to encourage energy production from renewable energy 
sources, protection of watersheds in forest areas and the creation of a 
forest reserve program aimed at preserving and rehabilitating up to one 
million acres of degraded and rare forest lands.
  Disease and insect infestations are not only detrimental to our 
woodlands, but also to our tree-lined streets and backyards. In 
southeast Michigan, we are combating an exotic beetle known as the 
Emerald Ash Borer. The beetles' larvae feed on the sapwood and 
eventually kill branches and entire trees. This invasive pest has 
resulted in the quarantine of all ash products in six counties in 
southeastern Michigan. There are 28 million ash trees in the six 
quarantined counties and an estimated 700 million ash trees in 
Michigan. We are now finding that the pest is spreading into Ohio. The 
magnitude of this problem is serious. Preliminary data from the Forest 
Service estimates that the potential national impact of the Emerald Ash 
Borer is a loss of ash trees up to 2 percent of total timber with a 
value loss of between $20-60 billion.
  Following discussions with Secretary Veneman and gaining the support 
of the Michigan delegation, Michigan Department of Agriculture, and DNR 
we were able to get the approval of $14.6 million in emergency 
assistance from USDA to combat the Emerald Ash Borer. This federal 
funding will supplement resources provided by state and local 
authorities and will be used for pest surveillance, quarantine of 
infected areas, and some tree removal. In order to more efficiently 
combat destructive pests like the Emerald Ash Borer, the Healthy Forest 
Restoration Act puts in place measures that will allow accelerated 
information gathering on such insect infestations. By removing 
bureaucratic red tape and being more proactive in maintaining forest 
health, the Healthy Forest Restoration Act is a step in the right 
direction towards efficiently managing our forests, preventing 
catastrophic fires, controlling damaging insect infestations, and 
protecting our environment.

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