Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak on my bipartisan amendment to prevent any funding in this Interior appropriations bill from being used to close or transfer the operation of U.S. Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.

Fortunately, Mr. Chairman, after overwhelming concern expressed by a broad coalition of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the Capitol, I am pleased to report that the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, has listened to our concerns and informed us that the proposal to end the CCC program will be withdrawn.

Over the past several weeks, I have helped lead this coalition to tell the important story of our Civilian Conservation Centers and the value they provide in supporting rural communities and maintaining our public lands, actively managing our Nation's forests, and helping restore communities harmed by catastrophic wildfires.

I would like to thank Secretary Perdue for listening to the concerns of central Washington communities and for preserving the unique and important role these centers play in rural communities.

I look forward to working in partnership with the CCCs; the U.S. Forest Service; and our many local, regional, and Federal partners in strengthening these programs so they can continue to efficiently and effectively support the U.S. Forest Service motto of: Caring for the Land and Serving People.

Mr. Chairman, I intend to withdraw my amendment, but I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Chair, I thank my good friend and colleague from Maine, Ms. Pingree, as well as my good friend and colleague from Oregon, Mr. Schrader, for their comments.

In the weeks since this proposal had been announced to close the Forest Service Job Corps CCCs, I know my colleagues have, and I also have, received dozens of personal accounts and testimonials from men and women across my district whose lives were profoundly impacted for the better by the CCC program. I will quote a couple of those comments, Mr. Chair.

The first one: ``Job Corps saved my life.''

``The 10 months I spent at Fort Simcoe were the most beneficial months of my life.''

Another person said of the program: The CCC ``didn't just change my life but saved my life.''

``I am so grateful for Columbia Basin Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center. . . . If they hadn't accepted me, I would be in a different, much worse phase of my life.''

Mr. Chair, I would, again, like to thank the Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Perdue, for hearing the strong support expressed by my colleagues and myself on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service Job Corps CCC program.

Mr. Chair, I respectfully withdraw the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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