On the recordMay 17, 2018
I think that we have actually found some common ground when our colleague is saying, let's use science. Effectively, that is what we are talking about with this amendment, to be able to have analysis, to be able to have project planning. Let me give you a real-life example in southwestern Colorado: the West Fork Complex fire, which erupted because we had trees growing not at the elevation that they should, overgrowth in our forest that resulted in a massive fire. I would suggest that if you care about endangered species, if you care about protecting our waterways, if you care about having an abundant resource to be able to develop to be able to support our schools through the rural school programs as well, this is an opportunity to be able to create those healthy forests and to be able to move forward with good commonsense planning that is going to be provided by this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I encourage the passage of the amendment and applaud Mr. Westerman's efforts on this.
