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President Bush Signs Healthy Forests
Restoration Act Into Law
 President
Bush signed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 into law
on December 3, 2003 (see photo on page 1). The law will help
reduce the threat of destructive wildfires while upholding
environmental standards and encouraging early public input during
review and planning processes. The legislation is based on sound
science and helps further the President's Healthy Forests
Initiative pledge to care for America's forests and rangelands,
reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to communities, help save the
lives of firefighters and citizens, and protect threatened and
endangered species.
The Healthy Forests Restoration Act
will also:
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Provide for protection of forests
from the spread of invasive species and insect attack
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Strengthen public participation in
developing high priority forest health projects
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Reduce the complexity of
environmental analysis allowing federal land agencies to use the
best science available to actively manage land under their
protection
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Provide a more effective appeals
process and issue clear guidance for court action against forest
health projects.
The Administration and a bipartisan
majority in Congress supported the legislation and were joined by
a variety of environmental conservation groups.
"This is the first significant forestry legislation to pass
Congress in a generation," Congressman Bob Goodlatte said. "This
bill creates the first real relief from bureaucratic gridlock
after over eight years of legislative effort. Final passage sends
the unmistakable message that the Congress favors results over
process, and that achieving forest management that protects our
communities, our watersheds, and the lives of countless people,
outweighs partisan wrangling." Goodlatte is Chairman of the House
Agriculture Committee.
"The Healthy Forest Restoration Act will give federal land
managers the opportunity to restore our forests to a more natural
balance, while maintaining important environmental requirements,"
Ranking Agriculture Committee Member Charlie Stenholm said. "I
commend Chairman Goodlatte for his bipartisanship and leadership
on this important issue."
Goodlatte applauded President Bush for his leadership in bringing
this about and encouraged him to continue to exert leadership in
this field to ensure that Federal land managers act aggressively
to implement this program as quickly as possible. He went on to
pledge vigilant oversight in the Agriculture Committee to ensure
that the Forest Service acts quickly to implement this program.
Thanks to all VFA members who responded to the request to contact
your Congressman about the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.
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