Gilbert Gutknecht: “I rise in support of H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act. We have heard so far this morning some…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act. We have heard so far this morning some people say that this bill is about somehow suspending the laws of science. But I would argue this bill is really about restoring some common sense, and we have heard some excellent testimony by Members of both sides of the aisle. In Minnesota we have the Superior National Forest. It covers about 3 million acres in northeastern Minnesota. It is not in my district, but I have had the opportunity, as chairman of the Forestry Subcommittee of the Agriculture Committee, to go up there on several occasions. Now, the forest itself is beautiful. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful national forests in the entire galaxy. But you don't have to visit there very long to understand the sense of frustration among the locals in the way that we manage that forest. In a State that is dominated by public timberland, the national forests in Minnesota have a reputation of being too bureaucratic, slow moving, and unresponsive. When there is a catastrophic event, county and State foresters, and certainly private land owners, are far quicker to move to salvage and reforest than the National Forest Service is. H.R. 4200 is a step in the right direction. It would require the National Forest Service to rapidly evaluate the need for recovery projects and then allow the salvage to go forward if necessary.…”