Bristol Bay deserves a particularly hard look. It is an important economic driver for both the State of Alaska and the entire Pacific Northwest.

And you think that this could have an impact on water quality?

But those activities cost money. Implementing the Healthy Forest Restoration Act...requires congressional appropriation.

We are willing to do anything and everything that it takes to gain this prestigious recognition...

The Chief wants to go in, do a thorough survey of the damage, plot the whole mosaic of the burn.

But none of these things are happening right now thanks to this illogical, irresponsible, completely unnecessary Government shutdown.

There is common ground between Democrats and Republicans on this committee about the need for restoration to make our forests more resilient to fire.

I have considerable experience with dealing with salvage.

And so this, of course, is something that I appeal to the committee's genuine sense of fairness...

I don't believe that we are going to go down the path of suspending all laws and judicial review to do the salvage, but salvage does have a sense of urgency about it.

I am disgusted with what the Park Service is doing, especially when I contrast it to what I think this new Secretary of the Interior is trying to do to add a different level of professionalism in the Department.

We write on behalf of Trout Unlimited and its 3,600 members in Montana to sincerely thank you for scheduling a hearing on H.R. 2259.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity.

I haven't heard anyone object to your exemptions from any perspective.

This would be a python. This would be the tail of an alligator, where it burst through the python which attempted to devour it.

Our goal is both to safeguard the environment and public assets.

The BIA apparently claims it is not obligated to evaluate the obvious detrimental impact on Illinois.

So, I am trying to understand what the not detrimental to the surrounding community means.

You can imagine the surprise of these Illinois officials when your August 23, 2013 Secretarial Determination stated, at 45, fn. 322 'Lake County and Milwaukee County responded after the comment period had run and were therefore not…

I am concerned that the BIA does not give fair consideration to the concerns of nearby Indian tribes and surrounding communities.

Both the Administration and Congress has supported, even through declining budget cycles more stock assessments.

It seems that we are now pointing toward a needed statutory change because your own opinion has been found wanting by a court.

It seems to me that the interpretation of the court, if accurate, makes this very inflexible.

Magnuson-Stevens has made some tremendous progress, but I agree with you that the law, as currently written, particularly some of the amendments in 2006, have had some unintended consequences, and it does need review and potential revision…

So my intent here is not to overexploit the resource but my intent is that we develop something that works both for the resource and for those who are dependent upon it for a living.