raven
03-17-2004, 11:07 AM
http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=77122
He says the new role will help him influence issues of local interest.
MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press
March 16, 2004
WASHINGTON _ Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., was named Monday to head a House subcommittee that oversees forest policy and the U.S. Forest Service.
Walden said he was thrilled at his new role as chairman of the 19-member House Resources subcommittee on forests and forest health.
“It’s hard to overstate how important forestry policy is to the people of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” he said. “As the representative of a district that includes 11 national forests, few issues are as important to me as ensuring the sound management of America’s forestlands.”
Walden, 47, of Hood River, is in his third term representing the 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses nearly two-thirds of the state in rural Central and Eastern Oregon.
He replaces Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., who is retiring from Congress in January. McInnis stepped down from his subcommittee post Monday.
Walden and McInnis co-sponsored the Healthy Forests Restoration Act adopted last year. The law is aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires by speeding approval of projects to remove small and diseased trees and brush in overgrown forests. The measure limits appeals and environmental reviews.
Walden said much work remains to be done to eliminate the combined threats of wildfire, insect infestation and disease and said his top priority will be to ensure that the $760 million forest law is fully funded.
His new post also should allow him to influence a number of issues of local importance, he said, including efforts to sell the Bend Pine Nursery to the city of Bend’s park district, establish a $25 million Western forest research center in Prineville and reauthorize the County School and Roads bill.
Walden said he was grateful to Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., the House Resources chairman, who leapfrogged Walden over several more senior colleagues to appoint him chairman.
Pombo said Walden had demonstrated expertise on forest issues and would be an effective communicator on forest policy.
While McInnis “will be sorely missed, I can think of no better replacement” than Walden, Pombo said in a news release. “In fact, I do not believe that (the healthy forests act) would be law today if I didn’t have Greg’s help every step of the way.”
He says the new role will help him influence issues of local interest.
MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press
March 16, 2004
WASHINGTON _ Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., was named Monday to head a House subcommittee that oversees forest policy and the U.S. Forest Service.
Walden said he was thrilled at his new role as chairman of the 19-member House Resources subcommittee on forests and forest health.
“It’s hard to overstate how important forestry policy is to the people of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” he said. “As the representative of a district that includes 11 national forests, few issues are as important to me as ensuring the sound management of America’s forestlands.”
Walden, 47, of Hood River, is in his third term representing the 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses nearly two-thirds of the state in rural Central and Eastern Oregon.
He replaces Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., who is retiring from Congress in January. McInnis stepped down from his subcommittee post Monday.
Walden and McInnis co-sponsored the Healthy Forests Restoration Act adopted last year. The law is aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires by speeding approval of projects to remove small and diseased trees and brush in overgrown forests. The measure limits appeals and environmental reviews.
Walden said much work remains to be done to eliminate the combined threats of wildfire, insect infestation and disease and said his top priority will be to ensure that the $760 million forest law is fully funded.
His new post also should allow him to influence a number of issues of local importance, he said, including efforts to sell the Bend Pine Nursery to the city of Bend’s park district, establish a $25 million Western forest research center in Prineville and reauthorize the County School and Roads bill.
Walden said he was grateful to Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., the House Resources chairman, who leapfrogged Walden over several more senior colleagues to appoint him chairman.
Pombo said Walden had demonstrated expertise on forest issues and would be an effective communicator on forest policy.
While McInnis “will be sorely missed, I can think of no better replacement” than Walden, Pombo said in a news release. “In fact, I do not believe that (the healthy forests act) would be law today if I didn’t have Greg’s help every step of the way.”