You have my pledge to work with you if I'm confirmed on all issues, but this is certainly an issue of importance.

Fairly shortly I plan to introduce legislation to move forest management on Federal lands in Oregon beyond a lot of these old conflicts.

I'm very much concerned that we now have the future decisions based on sound science.

I still have an obligation as a United States Senator to get some kind of sense of what's going to be done to go in there and as I told Secretary Salazar to drain the swamp.

It's an opportunity to create good paying jobs that take this wood waste and get it to the mills.

I thank my colleague. Let me join Senator Murkowski in thanking the three of you.

I believe you said, yes which I liked.

I plan to offer this legislation pretty soon. Can I have a pledge from you today to get back to us quickly and to work in a cooperative kind of fashion?

I very much appreciate your outstanding background and long history of public service.

I would just ask that you not miss this kind of opportunity for a bold change in Federal forestry policy.

Fifteen percent unemployment, lost a lot of family wage jobs.

We will protect the Leap.

I think the Arizona Senators, and this subcommittee, have a right to know when we will get the administration's complete comments on the bill.

I still don't understand how an economically depressed community with few resources is going to be able to compete with commercial developers.

These are important bills that we think are going to promote cultural history and economic development opportunities in rural Oregon.

I look at the Forest Service policies and I see those policies have contributed to a lot of the immense hurt that we are seeing there.

What plans do the Forest Service have to ensure that these unique architectural features and the cultural and historic aspects of the property are going to be maintained?

There are also environmental and cultural issues that need to be considered.

Does the company object to adding this sort of provision to the actual legislation?

So, can I take out of this hearing that, I mean, the fall, that sounds like, essentially, 90 days, that we can talk in terms of 90 days.

I have received statements of support from Governor Richardson, in New Mexico, our New Mexico State House of Representatives, from the Taos County Commission, from the pueblo of Taos, and numerous other businesses and organizations.

I look forward to working with you throughout this session on these bills.

We need, with respect to making sure we have a complete record.

Let me say, again, what a historic day it was a few weeks ago when we were at the White House, and the President signed that Public Lands package.

The subcommittee will come to order.