Letter to the Honorarble Senator Ron Wyden, Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests

Press Release

Governor Schweitzer Sends Letter in Support of Tester's Jobs Bill

Governor Brian Schweitzer submitted testimony (letter) today to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests in support of Senator Jon Tester's S. 1470, known as the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2009.

"I support this legislation," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "It will help get millions of red, dead and dying trees to mills and create good-paying jobs."

In the letter, the Governor writes: I appreciate the opportunity to submit comments on Senator Tester's S. 1470, known as the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2009. Senator Tester has attempted to enact the work of a wide variety of Montanans to create jobs in Montana's forests, keep communities safe from wildfire, protect public water supplies, and safeguard Montana's hunting, camping, fishing, motorized, and quiet backcountry recreational traditions.

December 17, 2009

Honorable Senator Ron Wyden
Chairman, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
304 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Honorable Chairman Wyden and Members of the Subcommittee:

I appreciate the opportunity to submit comments on Senator Tester's S. 1470, known as the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act of 2009. Senator Tester has attempted to enact the work of a wide variety of Montanans to create jobs in Montana's forests, keep communities safe from wildfire, protect public water supplies, and safeguard Montana's hunting, camping, fishing, motorized, and quiet backcountry recreational traditions.

Like most Montanans, I am frustrated that we have millions of acres of dead and dying trees in our national forests, yet we haven't been able to harvest much of this timber for forest health purposes, vital wood products, or biomass energy production right here at home. Furthermore, we expend great resources and struggle mightily to protect our communities from the wildfire risk this situation presents.

I support S. 1470. For decades, in Montana and much of the West, the debate over federal forest management has been controlled by the extremes. People poked fingers at each other while the health of our forests declined, and Montana and other states continued to lose sawmills and jobs.

Several Western states lost completely their forest industry infrastructure. I am grateful that Senator Tester is not willing to sit idly while Montana loses what remains of its critical forest industry infrastructure. This legislation begins to move us beyond these tired fights of the past.

Montanans from the area encompassed by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, from the Seeley Lake area, and from the Yaak Valley have stepped forward to offer their solutions in S. 1470. These citizen groups have worked long and hard to build consensus in their communities, and have taken their case to statewide and now nationwide audiences. Senator Tester has worked very hard to craft a good compromise in S. 1470, and it has received widespread support from those who seek reasonable solutions.

Absolutists on both extremes who are willing to sacrifice the good in a quest for their conception of the perfect are likely to continue with the disappointment and lost opportunities of the last several decades.

Once again, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important legislation. I urge your support of S. 1470.

Sincerely,

BRIAN SCHWEITZER

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