[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 26, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 242

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                           HON. WALLY HERGER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2011

  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, for the last few years, national forests 
throughout California have been in the process of implementing the 
Forest Service's 2005 Travel Management Rule, TMR. As a result, many 
national forests have proposed to reduce off-highway vehicle, OHV, 
access by 90 percent or more, in addition to restricting use on so-
called maintenance-level 3, ML-3, roads by classifying them as 
``highways.''
  Throughout the travel management process, recreational users and 
local governments provided substantive documentation and comments to 
address safety issues and other concerns with this flawed policy. 
Despite the best efforts of these elected officials and pro-access 
groups, their comments were all but ignored as the Forest Service moved 
forward with the TMR. For these reasons, and given the significant 
economic damage this rule will cause to recreational communities 
throughout California, I have introduced legislation, H.R. 242, to 
restrict funding to the Forest Service to continue implementing the TMR 
in the State of California until the agency develops a more balanced 
and workable OHV policy.
  Repeated requests for the Forest Service to change course within its 
own authority have gone unanswered. This legislation will help ensure 
that this agency is being held accountable to the public it is required 
to serve instead of using their tax dollars to restrict access to their 
Federal lands. I would encourage you to support H.R. 242.

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