It is time for action. It is time to stop talking about principles and concepts, and start moving forward with specific legislative ideas.

So it is a budgetary constraint. You don't have enough money to do the projects, projects that you could do under the existing laws with no changes.

Desperation is setting in.

As the health of our forests continues to decline it is clear we must take meaningful steps to increase the pace of forest health treatments.

The timing is very important. I have a number of counties in Western Oregon that are on the brink of insolvency.

it is time for a change.

This is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

We will need a little more clarification about that, because I was very puzzled when I read the budget.

This experience can be brought to bear to help restore the health of our national forests.

But given the fact you have that tool, what is the greatest restraint on you conducting forest health fuel reduction projects?

The discussion draft is not a perfect bill. There are parts I would change.

In short, our bipartisan solution would designate younger, previously managed timber stands for sustainable timber production to be managed by a public board under Federal laws, as they apply to private and State forests.

If our goals are to protect homes and communities from wildfires, we should do that.

We need to provide for a sustainable solution that serves our forests, our communities, and our counties better.

When enacted, the proposal is expected to annually generate over $100 million for county governments, over 500 million board feet of timber and thousands of new jobs in hard-hit counties throughout western Oregon.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I thank the panel for sitting through a long day and traveling a long way to give your testimony.

These lands are unique and they require a unique solution.

Everything I have seen indicates that if we want to prioritize protecting homes from wildfires, we should start in the wildland-urban interface.

Yesterday we saw the President's budget, and they rhetorically extended the Secure Rural Schools payment.

Institutionalizes, meaning permanent protections?

This is an important and timely opportunity for the Oregon Delegation, for rural communities and counties in Western Oregon.

The discussion draft did not include the recent legislation introduced by Senators Wyden and Merkley.

The O&C Lands are legally unique and have been at the center of expensive and complex legal challenges.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks to you and Chairman Bishop for this opportunity by granting the request to myself, Representative Schrader, and Walden for a legislative hearing on the O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act discussion…

Why wouldn't we just say we want a royalty?