Reforming Federal Forest Policy
Each summer, our forested communities face catastrophic fires that burn through overstocked forests, choke our skies with smoke, destroy watersheds, and threaten property and lives. Meanwhile, our most rural communities face high levels of poverty and unemployment. It is clear the status quo isn't working for our forests or our communities, and that’s why I continue to push for reforms in the House
Improving the management of our federal forests
I helped write legislation to fix and streamline management to improve the health of our forests and our communities. For example, the House has passed a plan l to repeal the arbitrary prohibition on harvesting trees over 21 inches in diameter on national forests in eastern Oregon. The restriction denies forest managers the flexibility to address site specific needs of the forest on the ground, and is a source of litigation that continues to stall much needed forest management efforts.
Putting people back to work in the woods
I’ve supported a plan that would cut costs and streamline management on Oregon’s unique O&C Lands. The O&C Lands in southern and western Oregon are uniquely managed by the BLM for timber production under the requirements of the O&C Act. Timber harvests have lagged below these requirements and legislation I helped craft makes clear the O&C Act mandates at least 500 million board feet in annual timber harvest.
Ending the cycle of “fire borrowing”
We must fix the way we pay to fight fire, and stop the endless cycle of “fire borrowing”— or forcing the federal government to use wildfire prevention funds to pay for fighting fire. I supported a bipartisan plan that would allow the Forest Service to apply for FEMA disaster funds to pay for firefighting. This treats wildfire as the natural disasters they are, similar to hurricanes or tornados, and ensures the cost-effective preventive forest management work gets done.
More on Reforming Federal Forest Policy
Greg Walden secures key priorities for Oregon
Supports House passage of government funding measure
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement after the House passed a government funding measure that included key priorities for Oregon:
Greg Walden secures forest management reform, resources for Oregon counties in government funding measure
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) issued the following statement after securing forest management reform and resources for Oregon’s rural counties in the government funding measure released today:
Mail Tribune: Seeking common ground
By Nick Morgan
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden touched on early efforts to reach across the aisle and across legislative branches to change the way forests are managed at a meeting with local business leaders.
Year-in-Review: Greg Walden’s top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017
Greg Walden: “It’s important we work together to protect our public lands”
Walden stressed that he will not support action to remove millions of acres of America’s public lands
Greg Walden statement on recommendations for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Secretary Zinke Sends Nearly $20 Million in Timber Dollars to Rural Oregon, Doubles Down on Commitment to Future Harvests
For the fifth time in as many years, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would expedite certain forest thinning projects to lower the risk of destructive wildfires across the country.
Greg Walden applauds passage of Resilient Federal Forests Act
Helps advance forest management reform through House for fifth year in a row