Crapo: Forestries Bill Must Move Ahead

CRAPO: FORESTRIES BILL MUST MOVE AHEAD

Forests, local communities suffer from inaction on legislation

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined with President Bush this morning in the East Garden at the White House to support the Healthy Forest Initiative legislation moving through Congress. Crapo was one of four Senators invited to attend the President's speech.

Crapo said following the speech, "This bill is critically needed and I expect a strong vote in the House. We have a crisis in our forests today, one that has been caused by litigation paralysis. As a result of the litigation, we cannot manage our forests properly and that results in devastating fires and insect infestation. In turn, our communities and forests suffer.

"As the chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee over forestry issues, I am joining with Senator Larry Craig to hold the necessary hearings and develop the bipartisan solutions needed to get our forests healthy. The clear need is to solve the problem in our forests and allow for healthy forest management. That's what this legislation is aimed at doing and that's what we will accomplish here in the Senate."