Glenn Thompson: “I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Mr. Gianforte for offering this important amendment for Montana and…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Mr. Gianforte for offering this important amendment for Montana and, quite frankly, for our National Forest System as a whole. Over the past several years, fires have had a devastating impact on our forest system lands, resulting in deteriorated landscapes. I have witnessed this firsthand across the country as the former chairman of the Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry. It is vital that the Forest Service has the right tools, the ability to restore these landscapes as quickly as possible to preserve habitat, clean air, and the significant impact that these incidents can have on clean water. Unfortunately, litigation stalls many of these projects. As Madison County, Montana, Commissioner Dave Schulz noted before the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee in May of 2015, due to the threat of litigation from outside groups refusing to meet or collaborate with the community, what started out as a consensus proposal for 100,000 acres of fire salvage and reforestation was reduced to less than 2,000 acres of salvage. ``Fear of litigation prevents the Forest Service from thinking big.'' In another quote, he offered, a ``significant factor in preventing responsible management of our Nation's forests.'' Mr. Chair, I certainly support this amendment. It has already passed the House. I urge my colleagues to do the same.”