Charles W. Stenholm: “Mr. Speaker, this motion is really very simple. It is basically intending to return this body to regular process. I know…”

“Mr. Speaker, this motion is really very simple. It is basically intending to return this body to regular process. I know this is a novel idea around here lately, but it requires the managers of the House to meet in open session with the Senate conferees, House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this motion. In addition, it requires the conferees to file a conference report no later than Thursday, November 13. The November 13 deadline is meant to highlight the imperative nature of the Healthy Forests legislation. However, we all recognize the time-consuming nature of conferences and the short time frame this will provide, but let me remind Members, we have been talking about this issue for years. I remember when it was chairman Bob Smith of the Committee on Agriculture, and the tremendous work he did all over this country in trying to reach out and find a compromise. It was turned down. If we are going to deal with problems as severe as what we have now witnessed in California, it means some strongly-held beliefs are going to have to be compromised in order to do things that some folks do not want to see done; but most people believe and will agree that they must be done if we are going to accomplish what is needed for our national forests.”