Angie Craig: “I have just sent to the desk a second- degree amendment in my name and that of the Senator from New Mexico, Mr.…”

“I have just sent to the desk a second- degree amendment in my name and that of the Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Domenici, and a good number of other Western Senators who have grown extremely concerned about the fire situation in the Western States primarily, and especially the Great Basin States, where we have seen now wildfires raging since mid-June--some 66.5 million acres, 2,300 homes up in smoke, 28 lives lost, phenomenal wildlife habitat and watershed destroyed. Clearly, it is a time when we need positive action to resolve this issue. Others have spoken to it. Our President, about 3 weeks ago, while in Oregon, spoke very clearly to the need for flexibility within forest policy in this country to deal with the fuel-loaded forests of our Nation, to thin them and to clean them, to restore their health, and to do so in an environmentally sound way. The amendment we offer today--while we still work with my colleagues from Oregon and California and other States that have the same problem, but we are working with a variety of interest groups at this moment to see if we can resolve this in permanent policy--is an expedited process that does not lock the courthouse door, that recognizes the validity of expression and public participation to deal with this issue.…”