Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act.

Rather than aid in a speedy recovery after a natural disaster, this bill is itself a disaster for the environment.

Forestry experts have repeatedly expressed concern about the harmful effects of salvage logging, yet Republicans choose to ignore sound science and insist on implementing environmentally irresponsible logging policies. Contrary to what Republicans and their campaign contributors in the logging industry would like you to believe, research shows that post-fire logging actually impedes forest regeneration, causes erosion and degrades water quality.

As if facilitating the destruction of forests wasn't enough, this bill also weakens existing laws meant to protect our entire environment. In the case of a catastrophic event, H.R. 4200 allows for the removal of timber salvage while ignoring the National Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Water Act, and key provisions of the Endangered Species Act.

The exemptions contained in this bill are entirely unnecessary. The Forest Service is currently completing the removal of timber salvage on National Forests impacted by Hurricane Katrina with existing environmental guidelines and authorities for such practices. H.R. 4200 isn't needed and it is merely another attempt by Republicans to dismantle landmark environmental laws.

Finally, H.R. 4200 provides no protection for roadless areas, national recreation areas, national conservation areas or wilderness study areas, thus putting many of our valuable public lands at risk.

I believe we have more reason to be concerned about the damage this bill will cause than the potential damage caused by actual natural disasters. H.R. 4200 is nothing short of disastrous for our National Forests and public lands and I urge my colleagues to vote against it.