House Approves Measure Sought by Luetkemeyer, Missouri Colleagues Demanding Answers from Forest Service

Press Release

In an effort to preserve the health and sustainability of the Mark Twain National Forest, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment co-authored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) that would place a moratorium on the use of prescribed fires in the Mark Twain National Forest until the Secretary of Agriculture submits a report to Congress on the economic impacts of the burns.

The amendment to the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act was passed after the U.S. Forest Service failed to respond to an August letter from Luetkemeyer and four other members of the Missouri congressional delegation calling for an an evaluation by Sept. 1 of recent and current management practices at Mark Twain. Also signing the letter were U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (MO-8); U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6); U.S. Rep. Billy Long (MO-7); U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler; and U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2).

"We have heard from numerous constituents who are extremely concerned about the results of the controlled burns that have been conducted in the Mark Twain National Forest and following the failure of the Forest Service to respond to our concerns, we felt it imperative to pass this amendment," Luetkemeyer said. "I want to thank Congressman Smith and the other members of our delegation for their efforts on this very impotant issue. It is our hope that this measure will not only shine light on the controlled burns in question but will also compel the Forest Service into addressing our concerns and answering our questions."

The Forest Service has gradually increased prescribed burns while reducing harvests on national forests by 80 percent over the last 30 years. During this same period, tree mortality rates on natoinal forests increased dramatically. Harvesting is a proven method of healthy forest management that once contributed to $1 billion in revenue for the Forest Service, which now spends two dollars for every one dollar is produces.

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