Benishek Works to Provide Access to Federal Forest Roads

Press Release

During the consideration of H.R. 2822 - FY16 Interior & Environment Appropriations yesterday evening, Dr. Dan Benishek submitted an amendment to encourage the US Forest Service to shift their focus to opening forest roads for public use. In practice, the amendment would reduce spending from the National Forest Systems Vegetation and Watershed Program by $2 million, and transfer those funds into Capitol Improvement and Maintenance Fund. The prior program is used when a road is considered for closure by the Forest Service, and the latter program is utilized when the Forest Service is looking to open and maintain roads for the public. In addition, this amendment was estimated to save the taxpayers $1,000,000 in the coming year by the Congressional Budget Office.

"Many Northern Michigan residents and visitors to the area arrive to our local federal forests to find that the road to their favorite fishing spot or hiking trail or ORV path has been closed by the Forest Service with no warning and no input from the local community. My amendment is an opportunity to demonstrate to the Forest Service that their focus should be on making our forests more open and accessible to the American people," noted Dr. Benishek. "These forests are important to our economy and way of life in Northern Michigan, and I am committed to ensuring that they stay open and accessible to all citizens."

Dr. Benishek's amendment was accepted without opposition on the House floor, and was included in the final version of the Interior Appropriations bill that will come for a vote in the coming weeks. Michigan's First District is home to three Federal Forests, the Ottawa, the Hiawatha, and the Huron. The outdoor economy contributes over 5.5 billion in wages and 194,000 jobs to Michigan, most of which are in the First District.

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