Greg Walden: “There are over 4,500 projects that these resource advisory committees have worked on. They have leveraged $292 million…”

“There are over 4,500 projects that these resource advisory committees have worked on. They have leveraged $292 million to improve watersheds and wildlife habitats, and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. No resource advisory committee has been disbanded or melted down. There are 70 of them in 13 States. No RAC-approved project has been appealed or litigated. No other active land management initiative in either the Departments of Agriculture or Interior can equal such a track record. This has brought disparate individuals together to do good things for the land, habitat and watersheds in a comprehensive way that leverages local funds and support. Today, as we debate this issue on the floor of this House, fires are raging at Lake Tahoe, destroying homes and habitats and watershed. Those sorts of efforts, where they tried to get in and thin in this watershed and protect it and reduce the threat of fire, might have been allowed to occur had there been a resource advisory committee like these, and I don't know what they have got there, but certainly they were not able to get the job done before the fire hit. We are trying to do good things for our national forests, and I know others are trying to as well. I just hope we can approve this.”