Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, as a fifth generation Montanan, I grew up in timber country. Our mills and train yards were in full swing, and visitors from around the world flocked to see Glacier Park. Revenues from the timber industry were reinvested in the community, and conservation efforts of the Forest Service helped our timber harvest. Building a strong tourist economy and a strong timber economy are not mutually exclusive. That is why I support--strongly support--the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015. It does what it should do. It encourages local organizations to work together on collaborative projects that revitalize the economy. But not only that, it revitalizes our forests. Think about it. As we debate this bill today, there are two wildfires in my home State of Montana, just a few miles from where I grew up. And as of today, more than 3.9 million acres across our Nation have burned in wildfires this year alone. That is larger than the entire State of Connecticut. We are on track for more than double, if conditions don't improve. Just last week, the Forest Service, whom I visited, said we are in the perfect storm. In the words of the former Chief of the Forest Service, Chief Bosworth, we don't have a fire problem as much as we have a land management problem. That is why this bill is so important. Last week, when traveling across my district, I toured the site of the Glacier Rim fire. This fire is burning the same ground that burned in 2003.…”