Not Looking For A Bailout, Just A Fair Shake

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. It has been 68 days, Mr. Speaker, since the United States Forest Service approved a notice to proceed with oil and gas production on the Allegheny National Forest.

Why is this cause for concern? Well, we are talking about a relationship between the Forest Service and private landowners that has existed for 86 years without a disruption of this magnitude. We are talking about jobs. Without permits to proceed, companies continue to lay off employees, and the local economy suffers.

Take Michael Hale's company, for example, a constituent of mine from Bradford, Pennsylvania, who recently wrote:

``As an owner of an excavating company during tough difficult times, I am discouraged by the recent actions by the Forest Service in delaying processing of notices to proceed for oil and gas extraction in the Allegheny National Forest.

``For the first time in our 26-year history, we have had to make adjustments to our workforce due to an inability to work. Currently, 35 percent of our field workers have been laid off and the remaining workers have had their hours reduced by 25 percent.

``We are not asking for a handout or a bailout of any kind, we just want to be able to work.''

It's companies like Michael Hale's that are the fabric which holds this economy and many of our rural communities together. They're not looking for a bailout, just a fair shake.

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