Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment that redirects $5 million from government bureaucracy to active forest management activities at the U.S. Forest Service to prevent catastrophic wildfires and save lives. Each year in the United States, about 65,000 wildfires burn more than 10 million acres. Wildfires kill people and destroy everything they own, including their homes and sentimental family heirlooms that can never be replaced. Some of the stories of loss I have heard from people in my district are truly heartbreaking. Our forests are overgrown and poorly managed, making them more susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. We can reduce the size and severity of wildfires through active forest management, which will also protect our watersheds and municipal water supplies. A healthy forest means healthy watersheds. According to the Colorado State Forest Service, more than 24.4 million acres of Colorado forestland impact Colorado's water supply, where 80 percent of the State's population relies on those forested watersheds for municipal water supplies. Healthy forests act as a natural water filter and storage system and are critical to maintaining healthy watersheds. In the United States, forests are a source of drinking water for over 180 million people. Historically, wildfire suppression has consumed more than 50 percent of the Forest Service's budget. The Forest Service only harvested 3.2 billion board feet in 2020 compared to over 10 billion board feet in 1990.…”