Tom Udall

There is nothing fair or equitable about this budget request.

I am particularly pleased that you are here, Chief Tidwell, because your presence speaks to the important work that the agency staff does even when political administrations change.

I am pleased that this administration recognizes the problem, and look forward to working with the Forest Service and the Office of Management and Budget to address this issue during this budget cycle in a fiscally responsible and…

Without adequate funding for road maintenance and construction, the agency will be unable to provide necessary access for timber purchasers while also meeting legally required environmental standards.

I think the Chief knows that Senator Udall and I just returned from a meeting this morning with the Secretary of Agriculture.

Every year, we come back before the subcommittee and hear the same issues raised repeatedly.

The cycle of borrowing and repayment and the accompanying lack of budget certainty and discipline is not helping to improve the health of our Nation's forests.

Can you commit to me to helping to steward these issues in New Mexico, and work with the region to bring stakeholders together to address ESA concerns, not just sending them to another Federal agency and passing the buck?

We all want to find what is best for the species, the forests, and New Mexicans within the law.

There is often a sense that the Forest Service does not offer any flexibility to work through options and come to a reasonable solution for all interests.

I have heard, Chief, of complaints from stakeholders in New Mexico that when consultation is required for an Endangered Species Act on national forest lands, rather than coming to the table to work through concerns, after the Fish and…

Federally recognized Tribes are not simply stakeholders, they are sovereign governments.

I have heard the same thing, and very much appreciate your effort on this.

I am incredibly concerned by this budget's failure to adequately fund firefighting.

I would like to confirm, Chief Tidwell, that you will continue the long-standing practice of responding to the written questions.

I hope we can bring together maybe an SRS long term funding proposal in conjunction with long term litigation reforms.

The SRS is critical there, of course, because the Federal Government does not pay taxes.

I am a co-sponsor of legislation to reauthorize the SRS Program.

I would be less than honest with you if I did not tell you that this budget was a wreck.

Senator Tester has a pressing engagement.

This budget with more than 60 percent of funds devoted to wildfire prevention and response is a dangerous step in that direction. It concerns me deeply.

I am very disappointed, Chief Tidwell, that the President's budget makes no attempt to provide supplemental funds to shore up the 10-year average or to address the longer term structural problems with the wildland firefighting budget.

It means a budget that slashes nearly $700 million from Tribal programs, ignoring this Nation's trust and treaty obligations for American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

It means a 30 percent cut to programs that preserve clean air and clear water within the Environmental Protection Agency's budget.

The decision to propose these massive cuts reverberates through programs that Members on both sides of the aisle care about, and virtually every agency.