Scott Tipton

I think we can all agree the status quo just doesn't work, and won't work, going forward.

This is ridiculous, and I am unwilling to say that we cannot fix it.

How could we let this happen to our rural forested communities?

The economic picture in Oregon's rural forested communities is just as bad.

I recognize my colleagues from Oregon, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader, for working together with me and others, as we work to deal with this problem.

No is not an answer. It is time to have so called skin in the game from everyone.

While long-term active forest management will protect all of us over the long-run, we have to protect our people and our assets today.

My bill renews and reforms this important tool so that these types of initiatives are primed for success.

I am committed to doing anything needed here in Congress to ensure the 4FRI's success.

Thank you Chairman Hastings for holding today's hearing and for including my legislation, H.R. 818, the Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act.

I urge my colleagues to join an already strong coalition of support for this common-sense bill.

It is time to take a stand. And it is time for action.

The status quo is no longer good enough. The status quo has given us decades of declining forest health.

I think it is important to acknowledge the efforts of these folks and their colleagues.

Is there a real concern when we look at the litigation in some of the policy going on that it is an overreach?

Wouldn't it be a sensible approach rather than having a one-size-fits-all program going across the West, to be able to encourage these local conservation efforts?

I hope there will be heavy consideration again for the state water rights, state law and private property rights.

This obviously is contrary to Colorado water law, private property rights.

Increasing the number of small business exporters is a key priority for me, as well as this Committee.

I do look forward to working with all of our members in the 113th Congress.

Chairman Tipton, I do want to recognize the transparent rules allowing direct export of trade act for small business and jobs that you introduced in the last session and then suggest that you consider reintroducing it in this section.

FTAs are an important first step, but they are not the sole solution.

No country in the world does it better than the workers and the entrepreneurialism of this country.

It is about these kids. It is about their future and it is about American entrepreneurialism to be able to get this country moving.

I think simplification and consolidation of that information is going to be really critical for us.