SOCIETY NEWS
CAPITOL HILL UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE
DC Forest Policy Update for the
Week of 29 October, 2001
This Week in Congress
ON THE SENATE FLOOR
No forestry-related issues.
IN SENATE COMMITTEES
No forestry-related hearings though progress on a Senate version of the Farm Bill is
expected soon.
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
No forestry-related issues.
IN HOUSE COMMITTEES
Gridlock Hearing Rescheduled
IN THE ADMINISTRATION
GAO Blasts Forest Service for
Accounting Failure
LAST WEEK IN CONGRESS
Hearing on Northwest Forest Plan
Canceled
Senate Passes Agriculture Spending Bill
ON THE SENATE FLOOR
We do not expect the Senate to discuss forestry-related issues on the floor this week.
IN SENATE COMMITTEES
There are no forestry-related hearings scheduled at this time, though we do expect progress on a Senate version of the Farm Bill which could result in a mark up in the near future.
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
We do not expect the House to discuss forestry-related issues on the floor this week.
IN HOUSE COMMITTEES
The House Resources Subcommittee on Forests & Forest Health rescheduled a hearing on national forest 'gridlock' from last Thursday to this week. The hearing will consider how conflicting laws and regulations in national forests are hindering the Agency's management of the national forests. Witnesses include Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth and former Forest Service Chief Jack Ward Thomas.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 1, time and location TBA. You can check on the status of this hearing on the Subcommittee's web site at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/schedule.htm.
IN THE ADMINISTRATION
GAO Blasts Forest Service for Accounting Failure
The U.S. General Accounting Office released a report to the media criticizing the Forest Service for its timber sales program accounting methods. The report states that the annual costs of the Forest Service's timber sales program are unreliable.
When the report is available, you can download it at the GAO website at http://www.gao.gov/.
LAST WEEK IN CONGRESS
Hearing on Northwest Forest Plan Canceled
Due to closed Senate and House office buildings last week, the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands & Forests canceled their hearing on the science and implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan that was slated for October 24th. Witnesses scheduled to testify did meet with Senators and had in depth discussions about the implementation of the Plan.
You can check the Committee's web site for updates on hearings at: http://energy.senate.gov/schedule/schedule_frames.htm.
Senate Passes Agriculture Spending Bill
The Senate took up and quickly approved the Department of Agriculture's FY 2002 appropriations bill. The bill would provide $16.14 billion in spending (S. 1191, H.R. 2330) and passed Thursday night with a vote of 91-5. The House's version approves $15.7 billion, approximately $400 million less than the Senate.
The Senate adopted five amendments dealing with environmental programs. They include provisions to:
· authorize a watershed project for the
Natural Resources Conservation Service;
· restrict the import of certain types of catfish;
· clarify that emerging vegetation in water may be enrolled in the pilot
program for enrollment of wetland and buffer acreage in the conservation reserve program;
· provide funds for the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine migratory bird
harvest levels; and
· allow the purchase of conservation easements in Kentucky.
The Senate approved $985 million in discretionary conservation programs administered by USDA and increased the conservation operations account to $806 million. In doing so, the Senate also restored and increased current funding to the Forestry Incentives Program at $7.8 million. The House did not provide funding for FIP. The Senate provided full funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program at $200 million.
The Wetlands Reserve, Farmland Protection and Wildlife Habitat Incentives programs did not receive funding from the House, Senate or president's request because the programs have met their spending caps or acreage limits and need reauthorization.
If you read about a bill that you're interested in receiving more information about you can either contact SAF's policy department or visit http://thomas.loc.gov/. The Thomas website is a service of the Library of Congress that allows you to search for bills, the Congressional record, and other government information.
Please direct questions, comments, and suggestions
to Bill Cook, cookwi@msu.edu or 906-786-1575.
Editorial issues can be addressed to Eric Thompson.