Wayne Gilchrest: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 was introduced by our esteemed colleague, the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune). This…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4226 was introduced by our esteemed colleague, the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune). This legislation would allow the Forest Service to consolidate and upgrade several administrative sites in the Black Hills National Forest as well as provide authorization of $2.1 million for the construction of a replacement lab for a branch of the Rocky Mountain Research Center currently located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing on May 3, 2000 where the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune) and the Forest Service testified in support of the legislation. However, the Forest Service requested the bill to be amended to formally identify the sites to be relocated, and requested that the Rapid City branch of the Rocky Mountain Research Station not be required to co-locate a new administrative site in the Black Hills National Forest. Negotiations continued on this bill throughout the entire committee process and the bill that is satisfactory to all of those involved was ordered reported by the full committee, as amended, on July 26, 2000, by unanimous consent. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this important piece of legislation.”