News from the Committee on Resources
For Immediate Release

November 6, 2003

Contact: Brian Kennedy at 202-226

Washington, D.C. - Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert today named Resources Committee members Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA), Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), Rep. Scott McInnis (R-CO) and Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) as conferees to H.R. 1904, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. 

The urgency and need for the bill was apparent this morning on the House floor when Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) introduced a motion to instruct House conferees to the Healthy Forests bill to meet with Senate conferees as soon as possible and to file a final report no later than November 13th . The bipartisan motion was agreed to by voice vote. 

At a news conference this afternoon, Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo and Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte with Representatives Scott McInnis and Greg Walden also urged the Senate to appoint conferees immediately in order to move forward with negotiations. 

Chairman Richard W. Pombo : 

"The House and Senate versions of this bill are very similar. In fact, the goals are virtually identical. The only differences between these two bills are in our approaches to meeting those goals. As such there is no reasonable explanation for the Senate's refusal to appoint conferees and begin negotiations with the House other than partisan politics. It's time for the Senate to stop playing games and help us get this bill to the President's desk." 

Rep. Scott McInnis : 

"With the bicameral approval of the bill, the task to reconcile our positions has begun. Fortunately, our similarities far outweigh our differences, and with a little good faith, hard work, and dedication to finding our common ground, I am confident that we can deliver a meaningful bill to the President in the weeks ahead." 

Rep. Greg Walden : 

"The appointment of House conferees is a strong symbol of our eagerness to move forward with negotiations on the Healthy Forests bill. After waiting the entire summer to get to this point, we cannot pass up the opportunity to work out our differences and send a bill to the President before year's end. The health of our forests and the safety of our communities depend on our ability to work together, and I'm hopeful that the Senate will respond in a like manner and appoint conferees immediately." 

Rep. Rick Renzi : 

"I am encouraged by the swift action taken to name Conferees, the final step to complete the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver a bill that reflects the needs of our forested communities in rural Arizona. This long awaited legislation is poised to deliver significant results that will protect and preserve our forests for generations to come."