Rob Bishop

I continue to work with Rep. Walden, Rep. Schrader, the Governor, and the Oregon Delegation on many outstanding details.

I look forward to presenting my proposal to the Committee in more definitive form.

As was indicated by my colleague here, at one time, 80 percent of America was owned by the Federal Government.

It would create new jobs, strengthen rural economies, promote healthier forests, reduce the risk of wildfires, and decrease our reliance on foreign countries for timber and related products.

It would save the federal government money and provide a net benefit to the American taxpayer.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify this morning.

Counties are united in their desire to move away from direct annual SRS payments.

This morning we will look at two pieces of legislation that represent a much-needed and important paradigm shift in federal lands policy.

the United States is in breach of its agreement.

What we tried to do in the first bill, the National Forest County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act, which deals with SRS, Secure Rural Schools, as we know, is to give the Forest Service some direction and ability to actually manage a portion…

States rights are key to the strength of our nation.

A lot of decisions that affect our daily lives are made by faceless bureaucrats who are thousands of miles away.

Ultimately the goal of this bill is to protect jobs.

Now once more, importantly, it is significant that legislative functions should reside with the Legislature, not the Executive Branch.

Unfortunately, this authority is too easily abused.

With the stroke of the pen, 500 high-paying jobs in a rural Utah county disappeared.

We need to protect our state from anymore surprises like the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

The land that we were promised in other areas has yet to be given to the State of Utah over a decade later.

America is in the midst of a recession with elevated unemployment, yet the Obama Administration continues to push a 'wilderness agenda' that competes with our national priorities of job creation and domestic energy independence.

That is why it is essential that the bills we are discussing today pass and the Congress be given the ultimate say on which areas will become national monuments.

The Antiquities Act has been abused by Presidents, unfortunately, of both parties.

With a stroke of the pen 500 high paying jobs in a rural Utah county disappeared.

I do appreciate the first thing you said saying that the cause/effect relationship is no way proven by any of the data you have.

Wilderness is attainable, but it is also to be considered with other factors in the use of the land in mind.

It is those of us in the West who suffer the brunt of these practices.