Pombo Introduces Home Heating Assistance Act

Pombo Introduces Home Heating Assistance Act
Waives fee for firewood collection from national forests

Washington, DC - With home heating bills expected to rise more than 60 percent in some areas this winter, House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) introduced legislation today waiving fees for firewood collection in national forests. The legislation is aimed at helping families cope with the high costs of home heating during the winter months.

"Americans are going to face a harsh reality this winter when temperatures begin to drop and prices hit the attic," Pombo said. "Unfortunately, we have neglected our energy needs for so long in this country that there are no silver bullet solutions now. But every little bit helps. Conservation is an important part of any energy plan, but conservation doesn't heat homes - affordable energy does. That's why I have introduced this legislation."

The Home Heating Assistance Act waives the fees for the Forest Service's Self Help Firewood Program. Permits cost on average $10 to $15 for a stack of wood 4 feet long, 4 feet wide and 8 feet high. The legislation waives this fee for one year and up to a maximum of $1,000 per person. Individuals are still required to get the appropriate permits and are only allowed to remove wood from trees that are already dead and meet the specifications determined by the District Ranger.

"Rural American families who depend on firewood to heat their homes will be hit just as hard as those who use oil and natural gas," Pombo continued. "These family budgets are already stretched to the limit filling their cars up with gas to get back and forth to work. While my bill won't help everyone and we need to do more, this will make a difference to many families facing tight budgets as a result of high energy prices."

American families can expect to spend on average an additional $350 or more in some areas to heat their homes with natural gas this winter. In the northeast, heating oil is expected to rise an additional 30 percent or roughly $378 during the winter months.

As chairman of the House Resources Committee, Pombo has also advanced legislation to increase domestic supplies of energy from taxpayer-owned federal lands to lower prices for consumers.

The original cosponsors of the bill include Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Rep. John Peterson (R-PA), Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) and Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH).

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/releases/2005/1108firewoodbill.htm