[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
              NOT LOOKING FOR A BAILOUT, JUST A FAIR SHAKE

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. It has been 68 days, Mr. Speaker, since 
the United States Forest Service approved a notice to proceed with oil 
and gas production on the Allegheny National Forest.
  Why is this cause for concern? Well, we are talking about a 
relationship between the Forest Service and private landowners that has 
existed for 86 years without a disruption of this magnitude. We are 
talking about jobs. Without permits to proceed, companies continue to 
lay off employees, and the local economy suffers.
  Take Michael Hale's company, for example, a constituent of mine from 
Bradford, Pennsylvania, who recently wrote:
  ``As an owner of an excavating company during tough difficult times, 
I am discouraged by the recent actions by the Forest Service in 
delaying processing of notices to proceed for oil and gas extraction in 
the Allegheny National Forest.
  ``For the first time in our 26-year history, we have had to make 
adjustments to our workforce due to an inability to work. Currently, 35 
percent of our field workers have been laid off and the remaining 
workers have had their hours reduced by 25 percent.
  ``We are not asking for a handout or a bailout of any kind, we just 
want to be able to work.''
  It's companies like Michael Hale's that are the fabric which holds 
this economy and many of our rural communities together. They're not 
looking for a bailout, just a fair shake.

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