WALLY HERGER: “severe storms and floods have recently ravaged my home State of California, destroying entire communities and claiming…”

“severe storms and floods have recently ravaged my home State of California, destroying entire communities and claiming over a dozen lives. If flood prevention measures had been available to avoid this catastrophe at no cost to our taxpayers, every Member of Congress would have endorsed them. Mr. Speaker, next summer our Nation will face forest fires as destructive as our recent floods. If unchecked, these fire storms will incinerate public resources, homes, and people. Fortunately, the Taylor-Dicks emergency timber salvage amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill before the House today provides national wildfire protection through the removal of deadly natural fuels from our forests--at no cost to our taxpayers. This is a deal that Americans and Congress simply cannot pass up. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this timely and tax-free legislation.”