Tom Udall: “I rise in support of H.R. 581. This bill allows us to use wildland fire funds to deal with endangered species issues…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 581. This bill allows us to use wildland fire funds to deal with endangered species issues, and it does so in a very responsible way. This is a win-win for everyone. It is a responsible piece of environmental legislation. The National Fire Plan will move forward on an expedited basis, thereby protecting our communities and their watersheds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have the essential tools and resources to resolve issues related to overall ecosystem health. I want to applaud the gentleman from Colorado (Chairman Hefley) and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), for their hard work and leadership on this issue. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill. Madam Chairman, the Wildland Fire Management Act, H.R. 581, provides the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture legal authority to use wildland fire management funds for reimbursement of costs associated with Endangered Species Act compliance. The strategy of the National Fire Plan is to identify ecosystem health issues in a manner that protects our communities. I support the National Fire Plan and believe it is a significant step in addressing a complex problem.”