HomeMy WebLinkAboutSecure Rural Schools DocsSTATEMENT
BY THE
Partnership for Rural America Campaign
An Initiative of the
NATIONAL FOREST COUNTIES AND SCHOOLS COALITION
On the
NATIONAL FOREST COUNTY REVENUE, SCHOOLS AND JOBS ACT OF 2011
The Partnership for Rural America Campaign supports the key concepts
underlying the "discussion draft" of the bill that is the subject of the September 22,2011
hearing scheduled by the House Natural Resources Committee. The discussion draft is a
good ftrst step in the process towards an acceptable long-tenn solution to the National
Forests management and schools and counties funding conundrum.
The Coalition, since its inception, has supported a return to more active
management of our National Forests, in part to assure that timber and other resource sales
receipts to be shared with schools and counties are adequate, and dependable. It is also
critically important for ftre resiliency and overall forest health. The Coalition has also
continuously advocated for renewal of the recognition by our Federal government of the
central role that resource based industries play in rural communities throughout the
Country. The discussion draft bill meets these twin standards for Coalition and
Partnership support, by offering both an assured revenue stream to counties and schools,
and required timber harvest levels to support local industries.
The Partnership is also supportive of the bridge funding provision in the
discussion draft. It is imperative that support for rural schools and county services
continue until increased forest management provisions are fully implemented. In addition
we request that Counties be given total local control in how the county's share of the
National Forest County Revenue, Schools and Jobs Act of2011 may be expended.
The Partnership is impressed with the work of the House Natural Resources
Committee to date and looks forward to the further development of the discussion draft
into a ftnal bill which is ready to be addressed by Congress. The Partnership urges the
Committee and all interested members of Congress to proceed with all deliberate speed to
conclude work on development and adoption of a long tenn solution.
Partnership for Rural America Campaign
To: Individuals communicating with the House Natural Resources Committee post
September 22, 2011 Hearing
From: Marc Kelley, Partnership for Rural America Campaign
Re: Process for Communicating with the Committee and Members of the Committee
Date: September 27, 20 II
Following the Hearing on Thursday oflast week, we have ten business days (including
the day of the Hearing) to respond in writing to the Discussion Draft that was released at
the Hearing. That means we have until close of business Wednesday, October 5th to
submit our comments.
The format for communication will need to be as follows:
I. Use your own letterhead
2. Use word formatting
3. Address correspondence to Chairman Rob Bishop and Ranking Member Raul
Grijalva. (The draft letter attached provides a format for addressing the Chair and
Ranking Member.)
4. Send letter to the email addresses of staff for the Chair and Ranking Member. In
the case of the Chair Bishop the letter should be sent to:
Tyler Hamman tyler.hamman@mail.house.gov
In the case of Ranking Member Grijalva please address to:
David Watkins david.watkins@mail.house.gov
5. Carbon copy to, at a minimum, the member or members of the Committee you
know are aware and interested in this issue. For members that are not on the
committee please feel free to carbon copy to them as well. We will leave it in
your competent hands to determine the staffer to receive those e-mails.
6. Blind carbon copy me:
Marc Kelley policy@marckelley.com
Also please find attached a copy of the Campaign's position on the Draft Legislation that
was presented to the Committee and is now a part of the formal record. If you have
questions, do not hesitate to contact me. This is a real chance for the Campaign to
provide assistance to the House Natural Resources Committee.
Board of Coun Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200· Bend, OR 97701-1960
[541] 388-6570· Fax [541] 385-3202
www.co.deschutes.or.us
board@co.deschutes.or.usOctober 3,2011 Tammy Baney
Anthony DeBone
Alan Unger
The Honorable Rob Bishop, Chair
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Bishop,
We want to express our gratitude to the Committee for holding a second hearing on
the critical issue of public forest land management and the relevance of
reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
We strongly believe that there must be adjustments to Forest Service land
management practices to ensure much-needed job creation and a sustained revenue
stream to counties from all environmentally sound activities on these lands.
From our perspective, it is difficult to overstate the value of the draft legislation's
current language that documents the importance that resource-based industries play
in the employment and viability of rural communities across the country as well as
the role they play in the protection of our nation's watersheds and wildlife habitat.
The draft legislation also makes it clear that a new approach to forest management
is vital for fire resiliency and overall forest health. Thank you!
We further appreciate that the legislation recognizes the need for bridge funding so
that counties and schools can continue basic and vital services while revised forest
management plans are developed and implemented. We encourage you to include
a stated number of years and a funding amount for the transition payments the
Committee is recommending. We appreciate that the Committee understands that it
will take time to engage the US Forest Service in active land management.
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost-Effective Manner
Finally, we would offer two suggestions. First, we suggest that the Committee
consider modifying the definition of biomass relative to include biomass from
public lands so that biomass from slash piles and similar potential resources can
count towards renewable energy standards. This will provide the certainty that
private investors need to build biomass plants in counties near National Forest
lands.
Second, we would ask that you consider adding some flexibility language to
accommodate the need for counties to use their allocated dollars under Title I for
activities beyond the maintenance of county roads. As you are aware, when the
Act was originally conceived in the early 1900s, the primary and many times
exclusive responsibility of county governments was the maintenance of roads. In
today's world, that language is too restrictive since counties are responsible for
providing a wide variety of other services.
Once again, thank you for your continued efforts on our behalf. We are impressed
with the work of the House Natural Resources Committee to date and stand ready
to work with you in preparation of a final Bill that can be addressed by the
Committee and passed by the full House.
Sincerely,
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Tammy Baney, Chair
Tony DeB one, Vice Chair
Alan Unger, Commissioner
October 3, 2011
Board of Coun Commissioners
1300 I'JW Wall St, Suite 200· Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570· Fax (541) 385-3202
www.co.deschutes.or.us
board@co.deschutes.or.us
Tammy Baney
Anthony DeB one
Alan Unger
The Honorable Raul Grijalva, Ranking Member
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Ranking Member Grijalva,
We want to express our gratitude to the Committee for holding a second hearing on
the critical issue of public forest land management and the relevance of
reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
We strongly believe that there must be adjustments to Forest Service land
management practices to ensure much-needed job creation and a sustained revenue
stream to counties from all environmentally sound activities on these lands.
From our perspective, it is difficult to overstate the value of the draft legislation's
current language that documents the importance that resource-based industries play
in the employment and viability of rural communities across the country as well as
the role they play in the protection of our nation's watersheds and wildlife habitat.
The draft legislation also makes it clear that a new approach to forest management
is vital for fire resiliency and overall forest health. Thank you!
We further appreciate that the legislation recognizes the need for bridge funding so
that counties and schools can continue basic and vital services while revised forest
management plans are developed and implemented. We encourage you to include
a stated number of years and a funding amount for the transition payments the
Committee is recommending. We appreciate that the Committee understands that it
will take time to engage the US Forest Service in active land management.
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost-Effective Manner
Finally, we would offer two suggestions. First, we suggest that the Committee
consider modifying the definition of biomass relative to include biomass from
public lands so that biomass from slash piles and similar potential resources can
count towards renewable energy standards. This will provide the certainty that
private investors need to build biomass plants in counties near National Forest
lands.
Second, we would ask that you consider adding some flexibility language to
accommodate the need for counties to use their allocated dollars under Title I for
activities beyond the maintenance of county roads. As you are aware, when the
Act was originally conceived in the early 1900s, the primary and many times
exclusive responsibility of county governments was the maintenance of roads. In
today's world, that language is too restrictive since counties are responsible for
providing a wide variety of other services.
Once again, thank you for your continued efforts on our behalf. We are impressed
with the work of the House Natural Resources Committee to date and stand ready
to work with you in preparation of a final Bill that can be addressed by the
Committee and passed by the full House.
Sincerely,
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
Tammy Baney, Chair
Tony DeBone, Vice Chair
Alan Unger, Commissioner