[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E869-E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FOREST EMERGENCY RECOVERY AND RESEARCH ACT

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                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4200) to 
     improve the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
     Secretary of the Interior to promptly implement recovery 
     treatments in response to catastrophic events affecting 
     Federal lands under their jurisdiction, including the removal 
     of the dead and damaged trees and the implementation of 
     reforestation treatments, to support the recovery of non-

[[Page E870]]

     Federal lands damaged by catastrophic events, to revitalize 
     Forest Service experimental forests, and for other purposes:

  Mr. STARK. Madam Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4200, 
the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act.
  Rather than aid in a speedy recovery after a natural disaster, this 
bill is itself a disaster for the environment.
  Forestry experts have repeatedly expressed concern about the harmful 
effects of salvage logging, yet Republicans choose to ignore sound 
science and insist on implementing environmentally irresponsible 
logging policies. Contrary to what Republicans and their campaign 
contributors in the logging industry would like you to believe, 
research shows that post-fire logging actually impedes forest 
regeneration, causes erosion and degrades water quality.
  As if facilitating the destruction of forests wasn't enough, this 
bill also weakens existing laws meant to protect our entire 
environment. In the case of a catastrophic event, H.R. 4200 allows for 
the removal of timber salvage while ignoring the National Environmental 
Protection Act, the Clean Water Act, and key provisions of the 
Endangered Species Act.
  The exemptions contained in this bill are entirely unnecessary. The 
Forest Service is currently completing the removal of timber salvage, 
on national forests impacted by Hurricane Katrina with existing 
environmental guidelines and authorities for such practices. H.R. 4200 
isn't needed and it is merely another attempt by Republicans to 
dismantle landmark environmental laws.
  Finally, H.R. 4200 provides no protection for roadless areas, nation 
recreation areas, national conservation areas or wilderness study 
areas, thus putting many of our valuable public lands at risk.
  I believe we have more reason to be concerned about the damage this 
bill will cause than the potential damage caused by actual natural 
disasters. H.R. 4200 is nothing short of disastrous for our national 
forests and public lands and I urge my colleagues to vote against it.

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