Dianne Feinstein: “today's vote to pass the Healthy Forests legislation is a major bipartisan victory. This is not just because it is the…”

“today's vote to pass the Healthy Forests legislation is a major bipartisan victory. This is not just because it is the first major forest bill in 27 years. Much more significantly, we have nourished the middle ground in the forest debate that is so often lost in the partisan rhetoric. We actually can create good rural jobs, protect our communities, and restore our forest environment at the same time. Let me repeat this: we can create rural jobs, protect our communities, and take action to restore the health of our forests at the same time. Ever since I cosponsored the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Act 5 years ago, I have been working to bring together the rural, forest-dependent communities--rather than unnecessarily dividing them. This bill goes a long way to that end throughout the West and the Nation. There are many people who deserve credit for this bill, but there are a few Senators in particular to whom I want to give special thanks. Senators Pete Domenici and Larry Craig were the best bipartisan allies I could ever ask for in terms of how they approached this issue. Even though they are in the majority, Senators Domenici and Craig realized that a forestry bill needed a bipartisan coalition. They worked in good faith with me and Senator Wyden from start to finish, and I am deeply grateful for it. I also want to thank Senator Cochran, the chairman of the conference on this bill, for his leadership throughout the process.”