Smith Pushes for Passage of Healthy Forests Restoration Act
Bill Nears Passage by the U.S. Senate
Washington, DC – Today, Senator Gordon Smith took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (H.R. 1904), legislation designed to address the extreme danger posed by catastrophic wildfire in the West. He also voiced strong opposition to amendments which would negate the bill's positive effects and endanger its passage.
"Many of the forests which environmental groups have pled to protect, in large part are now gone or in serious jeopardy," Smith said in his floor speech. "And they're not gone from logging. They're not gone from road-building, they're not gone from development. They are gone because of bureaucracy, bugs, and burning. And now we find in some of our forests just carbon dioxide in the air and charcoal matchsticks on the ground."
Senator Smith also spoke out against a variety of possible amendments which threaten to dilute H.R. 1904 or kill the compromise's chances for passage.
"We're right to pursue this legislation," Smith said. "I would say to my colleagues that some may do the bidding of environmental organizations by coming to the floor and offering amendments, amendments designed to kill this legislation. And I plead with all my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, that they hold to this agreement, because this has to happen for the country's sake. It is literally a life and death issue. And I plead that those who have amendments will think again about it. Because this legislation truly needs to pass."
Smith added, "One of the amendments may be a roadless initiative. And that may be fine to debate in isolation or as part of a separate piece of legislation, but if presented to frustrate this, it's truly unfortunate."
