landusepbb
07-18-2002, 02:24 PM
For Immediate Release: Contact: Marnie Funk/Tracey Shifflett
July 18, 2002 202-226-9019
Labor Unions, Republicans Scare Off Inslee Roadless Amendment to Interior Approps That Would Have Cost Jobs
Amendment opponents rally to protect jobs, fire prevention efforts
Washington, D.C. - Labor unions and resource-minded Republicans joined forces this week to successfully fend off a proposed amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would have cost countless western jobs and hampered forest managers' efforts to prevent wildfires in parched western forests.
Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Washington, announced plans to enforce President Clinton's flawed roadless rule - which is in federal litigation - through an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill. The amendment would have prohibited federal funding for forest management activity in the 57 million acres of federal forestland that President Clinton proclaimed as roadless in a hasty administrative order in the waning days of his presidency.
The amendment would have prohibited several fire prevention activities, including the use of backfires, which has been successful in saving western towns threatened by looming fire this season. The U.S. Forest Service has reported that more than a third of the land in the roadless area -- 22 million acres - is at moderate to high risk for forest fire during one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in recent memory.
Republicans teamed with several labor unions, including the Forest Service Council of the National Federation of Federal Employees, the Western Council of Industrial Workers, The Woodworkers District I of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The combined effort to protect jobs and prevent wildfires prompted Rep. Inslee to redraft his proposed amendment several times before withdrawing it altogether.
Chairman Scott McInnis:
"In my opinion the support just wasn't there to put a straight-jacket on the Forest Service's ability to manage and prevent catastrophic fires in our nation's forests. I think it is now clear that Members of Congress who represent areas not impacted by these destructive fires have gained a perspective on the importance of managing our nation's forests."
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July 18, 2002 202-226-9019
Labor Unions, Republicans Scare Off Inslee Roadless Amendment to Interior Approps That Would Have Cost Jobs
Amendment opponents rally to protect jobs, fire prevention efforts
Washington, D.C. - Labor unions and resource-minded Republicans joined forces this week to successfully fend off a proposed amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill that would have cost countless western jobs and hampered forest managers' efforts to prevent wildfires in parched western forests.
Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Washington, announced plans to enforce President Clinton's flawed roadless rule - which is in federal litigation - through an amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill. The amendment would have prohibited federal funding for forest management activity in the 57 million acres of federal forestland that President Clinton proclaimed as roadless in a hasty administrative order in the waning days of his presidency.
The amendment would have prohibited several fire prevention activities, including the use of backfires, which has been successful in saving western towns threatened by looming fire this season. The U.S. Forest Service has reported that more than a third of the land in the roadless area -- 22 million acres - is at moderate to high risk for forest fire during one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in recent memory.
Republicans teamed with several labor unions, including the Forest Service Council of the National Federation of Federal Employees, the Western Council of Industrial Workers, The Woodworkers District I of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The combined effort to protect jobs and prevent wildfires prompted Rep. Inslee to redraft his proposed amendment several times before withdrawing it altogether.
Chairman Scott McInnis:
"In my opinion the support just wasn't there to put a straight-jacket on the Forest Service's ability to manage and prevent catastrophic fires in our nation's forests. I think it is now clear that Members of Congress who represent areas not impacted by these destructive fires have gained a perspective on the importance of managing our nation's forests."
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