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Hearing "Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest System"
house Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee · Jun 25, 2026 · Transcript · 40 transcript matches
SPEAKER_00 "that are going to have larger impacts on the land and less conflict at the end. Ms. Whitney. I think funding delays and staffing across the National Forest is delaying all proposed actions, regardless of whether it's water or what have you. And so I would say that, yes, undoubtedly that is happening. I don't have any particular instances on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that I can call out to say that that's actually happening, but I'm sure that it"
Hearing "For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. Forest Service"
house Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee · Jul 22, 2026 · Transcript · 30 transcript matches
THOMPSON, GLENN "including for invasive species management. All of these issues are critically important to the health and sustainability of national forests across the country, including in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest, which I have the privilege and the honor to represent. Chief, we look forward to your testimony and a fulsome discussion this"
Hearing Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests and Outlook for the 2026 Wildfire Year.”
house Federal Lands Subcommittee · Jun 4, 2026 · Transcript · 20 transcript matches
SPEAKER_05 "Would you agree, Chief Schultz, that the Forest Service relies on state and local law enforcement to maintain the rule of law in our national forests, and that this partnership is important to ensure national forests are a safe place to recreate? I've heard from sheriffs across our state that Forest Service has little to no"
CRS Report
The Alaska Roadless Rule: Eliminating Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) in the Tongass National Forest
Reports · Feb 3, 2021
Inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) are areas of the National Forest System (NFS) identified administratively by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS). IRAs are managed...
CRS Report
National Forest System Management: Overview and Issues for Congress
Reports · May 18, 2023
The 193 million acres of the National Forest System (NFS) comprise 154 national forests, 20 national grasslands, and several other federal land designations. Management of the NFS is one of the three...
CRS Report
National Forest System Planning: Legal Considerations
Resources · Dec 20, 2021
The United States Forest Service (FS) within the Department of Agriculture administers the National Forest System (NFS) and regulates activities on its 193 million acres of land, including 154...
CRS Report
Forest Certification Programs
Reports · Sep 8, 2011
The national forests have been the focus of controversy for many years. Reduced timber harvests, increased wildfire risks, degraded forest health, and disagreements among users and other stakeholders...
CRS Report
Forest Service Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs)
Reports · Aug 28, 2020
Inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) are areas of the National Forest System (NFS) managed according to regulations, known as roadless rules, that generally limit timber harvesting and road building....
CRS Report
Forest Service: FY2022 Appropriations
Resources · Sep 26, 2022
The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193 million acres of land in the National Forest System (NFS); conducting forestry research; and providing assistance to state, local, private, and...
CRS Report
Forest Service: FY2023 Appropriations
Resources · Feb 10, 2023
The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193 million acres of land in the National Forest System (NFS), conducting forestry research, and providing assistance to state, local, private, and...
CRS Report
U.S. Forest Ownership and Management: Background and Issues for Congress
Reports · Nov 24, 2021
The 765 million acres of forests across the United States provide many social, economic, and ecological resources and uses. A forest’s health—generally, the status of its ecological integrity and...
CRS Report
Legal and Practical Implications of the Ninth Circuit’s Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. U.S. Forest Service Decision Under the Endangered Species Act
Report · Aug 2, 2022
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; P.L. 93-205) generally requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)...
Hearing Business meeting to consider H.R.4550, to reauthorize the United States Grain Standards Act, S.1462, to improve forest management activities on...
senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee · Oct 21, 2025 · Request transcript
Testimony MCCLINTOCK, TOM
Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 1, 2026
"the opportunity to discuss this bill the Akerson Meadowland Interchange Act. The bill is a straightforward proposal to improve stewardship over Akerson Meadow in the Sierra Nevada. It would transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of national forest system land to Yosemite National Park and it would also transfer approximately 170 acres of park system land to be part of the Stanislaus National Forest. Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. We..."
Testimony JOHN CROCKETT
Hearings to examine S.1791, to designate certain special management ar...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"The Department supports both of these bills. H.R. 655, the Dalles Watershed Development Act, seeks to simplify the administrative requirements for the City of Dalles, Oregon, to operate its municipal reservoir. The City of Dalles Municipal Watershed includes the Crow Creek Dam and its reservoir, a portion of which is on the National Forest System land on the Mount Hood National Forest. Conveying this land would eliminate the City's need for a special use permit and the associated work for the..."
Testimony JOHN CROCKETT
Hearings to examine S.1791, to designate certain special management ar...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 15, 2026
"to ensure accuracy and support implementation in the provisions. Finally, in regards to two of the bills on today's agenda, S. 1791, the Gunnison Outdoor Resource Protection Act, and S. 4458, the Caja del Lido Protection Act, the provisions of the bill specific to the Forest Service include significant and restrictive management designations that are contrary to the administration's priority on timber production and energy and mineral dominance. Both bills would mandate legislative requirements..."
Witness Mr. Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl
National Forest Foundation · 1 hearing
CRS Report
Timber Harvesting on Federal Lands
Reports · Oct 25, 2022
Congress has granted some federal land management agencies the authority to sell timber from federal lands. Two agencies, the Forest Service (FS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), conduct...
Testimony THOMPSON, GLENN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"including for invasive species management. All of these issues are critically important to the health and sustainability of national forests across the country, including in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest, which I have the privilege and the honor to represent. Chief, we look forward to your testimony and a fulsome discussion this"
Testimony THOMPSON, GLENN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"A lot of us don't deal well with change, even when it's the most righteous and the most needed. I much appreciate the President's executive order on timber and wood products, as well as the calls for increasing harvest levels across the national forest system. Can you update us on what actions the Forest Service is taking to increasing harvesting in the national forest system? Well, and thank you for those efforts. And I know that those will continue as you work in future years here of..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Would you agree, Chief Schultz, that the Forest Service relies on state and local law enforcement to maintain the rule of law in our national forests, and that this partnership is important to ensure national forests are a safe place to recreate? I've heard from sheriffs across our state that Forest Service has little to no"
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"And supply is definitely a component of that. National forest supply of what we consume in the U.S. is about 5% of the raw material that we consume from lumber is made from wood products, you know, from timber coming off the national forest. So we're a small player. Could we be more? You betcha we could. Yes,"
Testimony SPEAKER_00
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"that are going to have larger impacts on the land and less conflict at the end. Ms. Whitney. I think funding delays and staffing across the National Forest is delaying all proposed actions, regardless of whether it's water or what have you. And so I would say that, yes, undoubtedly that is happening. I don't have any particular instances on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest that I can call out to say that that's actually happening, but I'm sure that it"
CRS Report
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act: Background and Issues
Reports · Jun 6, 2023
Under federal law, state and local governments receive payments through various programs due to the presence of federally owned land within their jurisdictions. Some of these payment programs are...
Hearing Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming, as the...
house Federal Lands Subcommittee · Jul 1, 2026 · Transcript · 4 transcript matches
MCCLINTOCK, TOM "the opportunity to discuss this bill the Akerson Meadowland Interchange Act. The bill is a straightforward proposal to improve stewardship over Akerson Meadow in the Sierra Nevada. It would transfer administrative jurisdiction over approximately 160 acres of national forest system land to Yosemite National Park and it would also transfer approximately 170 acres of park system land to be part of the Stanislaus National Forest. Senator Padilla is carrying identical legislation in the Senate. We don't agree on much but we certainly agree on this. This legislation addresses a familiar problem in..."
CRS Report
The Federal Land Management Agencies
Resources · Oct 7, 2024
The Property Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3, clause 2) provides Congress the authority to acquire, dispose of, and manage federal property. Currently, approximately 640...
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.140, to address the forest health crisis on the National Forest System and public lands, S.332, to require a study...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jun 10, 2026 · Request transcript
CRS Report
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): History, Function, and Funding
Reports · Jan 17, 2017
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) was chartered by Congress in 1984 to aid in the conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems; many of its projects involve work with federal...
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Chairman Tiffany, Ranking Member Neguse, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me here today to testify. The USDA's Forest Service is the nation's foremost federal forestry organization. We have the privilege of managing 154 national forests, 20 national grasslands, covering 193 million acres. Since day one, my work as chief has been to refocus our efforts on the fundamental work that delivers the greatest good to the American people. Today, I'd like to share the priorities..."
CRS Report
Tribal Co-management of Federal Lands: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress
Report · May 18, 2023
In recent decades, congressional interest in federal-tribal collaboration, or co-management, on federal lands has grown, especially as some tribes have sought more input into federal land management....
Hearing Hearings to examine S.90, to prohibit the use of funds by the Secretary of the Interior to finalize and implement certain travel management plans...
senate Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee · Dec 2, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 16, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.365 and H.R.1729, bills to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to allow for...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Jul 29, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Hearings to examine S.1791, to designate certain special management areas, wildlife conservation areas, protection areas, recreation areas,...
senate Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee · Jul 15, 2026 · Transcript · 3 transcript matches
JOHN CROCKETT "The Department supports both of these bills. H.R. 655, the Dalles Watershed Development Act, seeks to simplify the administrative requirements for the City of Dalles, Oregon, to operate its municipal reservoir. The City of Dalles Municipal Watershed includes the Crow Creek Dam and its reservoir, a portion of which is on the National Forest System land on the Mount Hood National Forest. Conveying this land would eliminate the City's need for a special use permit and the associated work for the City and the Forest Service staff. The Department supports H.R. 655. S. 4200, the Douglas County..."
CRS Report
Federal Wildfire Management: Ten-Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011-FY2020)
Reports · Oct 28, 2020
Wildfire management is a series of coordinated activities to prepare for, resolve, and recover from wildfire events. The federal agencies responsible for wildfire management include the U.S....
Testimony WESTERMAN, BRUCE
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"How does that make sense? It doesn't make sense. It's also created a doom loop for the health of our nation's forest and our nation's forest economy. Since 2000, approximately one-third of the total number of sawmills then in"
Testimony SPEAKER_11
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"First, when we had talked earlier, I had some concerns about the organizational realignment because the Humboldt-Tiobe, the largest national forest in the nation, although people go to Nevada, do they allow trees in Nevada? And yes, we do, where they're meritorious, we allow trees in Nevada, and we're proud of the few that we have. But historically, we'd been out of, what was it, ninth region or something in Ogden or whatever, and I thought that everything was going to New"
Hearing Hearings to examine S.462, to provide for economic development and conservation in Washoe County, Nevada, S.1349, to withdraw the National Forest...
senate Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee · Feb 12, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250”
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026 · Transcript · 2 transcript matches
GRIJALVA, ADELITA S. "public lands, cultural resources, and the natural heritage for generations to come. That commitment is especially important in Arizona, where public lands are woven into the identity of our economy. My state is home to some of the most iconic public lands in the country, including the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Ironwood Forest National Monument, along with countless other parks, wildlife refuges, forests, wilderness areas, and culturally significant landscapes. These places are more than a destination on a map. They are sacred places for..."
Testimony GRIJALVA, ADELITA S.
Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"public lands, cultural resources, and the natural heritage for generations to come. That commitment is especially important in Arizona, where public lands are woven into the identity of our economy. My state is home to some of the most iconic public lands in the country, including the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Ironwood Forest National Monument, along with countless other parks, wildlife refuges, forests, wilderness areas, and culturally..."
Testimony THOMPSON, GLENN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"and helping keep our communities and our firefighters safe. In addition to wildfire, we also have significant forest health needs across the national forest system, including in eastern forests that must be"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"and it's supposed to be updated every 15 years. There's been a lot of amendments to it, but just wanted to see what are the challenges Forest Service has in updating National Forest Plans, and are there opportunities for Forest Service to partner with local organizations or governments to update these plans? Thank you, Chief Schultz, and thank you, I yield"
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Sometimes that's a misplaced number. It's more important a lot of times the specific acres you treat to reduce fuels, not just the sheer number of acres. But what I would say the best indication is a report card looking at the health of the forest in terms of productivity. We can look at growth rates, and in many of the forests in the West, the national forests, we see negative growth rates. So what that means is we have more mortality than we have growth on the forest. And actually, for Mr...."
Testimony STANSBURY, MELANIE A.
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"These are the historic lands of our communities. Likewise, there's a proposal in front of the Forest Service to open the Pecos National Forest outside of Santa Fe to another international mining company. This is what it currently looks like. This is a place where tribal and Hispano communities have fished, hunted, and lived for centuries in New"
Testimony HAGEMAN, HARRIET M.
Markup of H.R. 9250 (Rep. Westerman), “Great American Outdoors Act 250...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 24, 2026
"Wyoming is home to many firsts. The first national park at Yellowstone, the first national forest at Shoshone, and the first national monument at Devil's Tower. Wyoming pioneered the creation of our public land system, and today I am proud to continue the tradition of caring for our most sacred landscapes by co-sponsoring and supporting the Great American Outdoors Act"
Testimony SALINAS, ANDREA
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"executive director of Cascade Forest Conservancy, who we will hear from today. In that role, she oversees the conservancy's work with local stakeholders to advocate for sustainable land management and participates in two forest collaboratives in the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest that directly participate in project planning with the Forest Service as well as tribes, timber interests, and other stakeholders. Ms. Whitney holds a bachelor's degree in environmental science with a focus in water..."
Testimony MALOY, CELESTE
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"And you've talked about being prepared, but given Utah's emergency conditions, how's the Forest Service prioritizing hazardous fuels work in Utah National Forests before the fires"
Testimony SPEAKER_15
Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026
"Good morning. Thank you so much, Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today and travel to the historic hot springs to celebrate the success of the Great American Outdoors Act and the ideas and the continued work for addressing the mounting deferred maintenance across America's extraordinary public lands. My name is Chris French. I serve as the Associate Chief of the USDA Forest Service, and across..."
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"You're right. There's a role for the forest to produce and create certainty for investment off the national forest. But, again, most of the production in this country comes from private"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The U.S. Forest Service workers have a big responsibility in managing our national forests, and different constraints can limit their ability to respond to events. I do want to bring attention to the fact that the Teller County, Colorado, Teller County Sheriff's Office has spent over $500,000 on natural resource protections in Pike National"
Testimony SPEAKER_07
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"I've seen that work great, and I really appreciate that. So earlier this year, the state of Montana entered into a landmark 20-year shared stewardship agreement with the Forest Service to help manage the Flathead, Kootenai, and Bitterroot National Forests. And I'd like to thank you for your support in brokering this critical partnership with our"
Testimony SPEAKER_04
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Thank you, Chairman Newhouse, Ranking Member Salinas, and members of the committee. My name is Tracy Glover. I am the Sheriff in Kane County, Utah, the President of the Utah Sheriffs Association, as well as the President of the Western State Sheriffs Association, who I represent here today. Our association of Western states covers 19 Western states and over 1,100 sheriffs. As you know, the U.S. Forest Service manages about 200 million acres of land and national treasure. These lands deserve..."
Testimony VASQUEZ, GABE
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"visiting just last week. Families lost homes, ranchers lost grazing land and fencing worth thousands and thousands of dollars. Communities were displaced and left facing years of recovery. In New Mexico, catastrophic wildfires are our major disasters. Yet as we desperately need the resources to prepare for fire and mitigate its impacts, the Forest Service is carrying out the largest reorganization in its history while cutting staff across the nation. Now, I've personally met with laid-off..."
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"important management work in our forests. The Forest Service is trying to do just that by identifying more than 100 million acres of national forest land for treatment in the coming years. As you know, this will be no easy task, given the acreage and the"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"when you lose the know-how, when you lose the equipment, you lose your ability to manage forests. And that's what's happening in a huge part of the West, not just the Pacific Northwest, but the West. And we've seen examples of this. We've seen examples in states, unfortunately, as my colleagues, where they reside in Utah and parts of Southern California and New Mexico and Arizona that have completely lost their forest products industry infrastructure. And when you do that, you see the..."
Testimony SALINAS, ANDREA
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"the work and the capacity of the Forest Service and what it really needs to successfully deliver for the American people. But before we begin, I want to acknowledge the two Forest Service employees who were recently taken hostage while serving the public in California's Shasta Trinity National Forest. We are grateful for their safe"
Testimony SPEAKER_03
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"McClintock, for his questions. Thank you. Mr. Schultz, my district comprises the Sierra Nevada of California, and I've often commented about the marked difference between the health of the private timberland in the Sierra and that of the public timberland. You can literally tell where the boundary lines are between the public and private lands by the condition of the forests on each side. The private timberland is healthy, green, properly spaced, fire resilient. The public land is morbidly..."
Testimony SPEAKER_04
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"The cost of a Ford F-150 truck in 1985 was about $15,000. Today, it's about $70,000 to Today it's about $70,000 to get it fully equipped. With U.S. Forest Service staffing shortages and special assignments, fire details, etc., sheriffs are being asked to do more and more on national forests, which we embrace to a We respectfully ask that this committee review the program and bring it up to a 2026 funding standard. And with that, I appreciate your time, and I look forward to answering any..."
Testimony SPEAKER_00
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Yeah, we are definitely seeing some changes on the ground, definitely delays and things slowing. For example, our team has been working to move forward a project where CFC actually secured outside funding outside the Forest Service or the federal government, and this project focused on aquatic habitat restoration that would be beneficial to the national forest and create employment for local contractors. But due to severe and unexpected staffing shortages and a lack of clarity on current..."
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"and protect our most vulnerable communities. On top of that, we've seen a dramatic decline in timber harvest in the national forest system, which negatively impacts both forest and rural economic health, as well as important support for local counties and public schools. It is for these many reasons that I am thankful for the initiatives shown by the administration and the Forest Service over the last year and a half to increase the scope and scale of hazardous fuels reductions across the..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Some places you can. Some places you can't. For example, wilderness areas. You can't go into a wilderness area after the fact and use mechanical treatments and replant that forest in a wilderness area. That's restricted under the 1964 Wilderness Act. The roadless rule has restrictions about what you can and can't do on the land base. The Northwest Forest Plan in the Pacific Northwest that governs 24 million acres tells you where and what you can't do on national forests. So yes, a vast majority..."
Testimony STAUBER, PETE
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"They're also supported by the local communities along with the local forest management, but after years, they are still waiting in limbo. What is the Forest Service doing to reform the administrative land transfer and land conveyance process to ensure this backlog is dealt with across the national forest system and ensure it doesn't take half a decade or more to complete an administrative land transfer or conveyance? The late Winnie"
Testimony SPEAKER_02
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"I've got other tribes very interested in stepping up where they're actually managing the National Forest System lands. We've done 20 agreements with some tribes, whether it's in forest management, whether it's in recreation. I mentioned previously in my comments, in the Black Hills, we have the Great Sioux Nation is managing the wilderness areas within the Black Hills National Forest. So tribes have a lot to directly"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"the potential is limitless. That's the exciting part, and that's also where Congress comes in, right? We're not oblivious to all of the challenges that are in front of the Forest Service right now. So, we're asking Congress to zoom out, to look at the current system of how we manage national forests. We need to rethink our approach. What outcomes do we want from a national forest? And how do we align and modernize our approach, our laws and regulations to deal with 21st century challenges to..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Travis Joseph. I'm the President and CEO of the American Forest Resource Council. We have the privilege of representing the forest product sector. Many of the mills, the loggers, the truck drivers, the contractors, and the supply chains that actively manage and steward our national forests that belong to all Americans. We are critical partners of the Forest Service, and we have been since the agency's founding 120 years ago. We want to be partners to..."
Testimony STANSBURY, MELANIE A.
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Yield back, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Chief Schulz, welcome back to the Natural Resources Committee, we're grateful that you're here. I know there's been a lot of focus today on forest management overall and wildfire risk and the reorganization of the Forest Service, and certainly we're very concerned about that in New Mexico, but I want to focus today in particular on the protection of our national forests, which are important to our communities and the cultures of New Mexico,..."
Testimony SPEAKER_00
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"These forest collaboratives are stakeholder groups that provide feedback throughout the Forest Service project planning to develop well-balanced, publicly-supported projects and iron out conflicts without slow, costly litigation. The Cascade Forest Conservancy also partners with the Forest Service to implement restoration projects including aquatic habitat restoration, beaver relocations, volunteer programs, and we support an initiative that connects local high school students to paid summer..."
Testimony HUFFMAN, JARED
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"Trump's playbook of corruption. Michael Boren, the Undersecretary at USDA that oversees the Forest Service, appears to have planted his own yes-men in the agency to give him a clear path to influencing decisions that impact his own properties in the Sawtooth National Forest, despite ethics guidance. He has used his wealth to silence his detractors by relaunching a dormant slap-suit"
Testimony SPEAKER_04
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"We are here today to ask this committee to work with sheriffs to arrive at a solution to one such issue, the criminal prohibitions rule. A little bit of background, in 2011, the Forest Service law enforcement folks reached out to our association with their intent to institute this criminal prohibitions rule. It would dramatically increase the stance of federal law enforcement and their authority on federal national forests. After some difficult discussions, negotiations, and meetings, we pushed..."
Testimony SPEAKER_16
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"at disproportionately higher rates despite being cooler and moister. 25 years later, the Forest Service and USDA report that 28 million acres of inventoried roadless areas, nearly half of the total lands that the Forest Service has, are now at high or very high wildfire hazard potential. Over 8 million acres have burned since 2001. In your view, what impact has the roadless rule had with regard to wildfire risk in our national forests and for sure. And how does the roadless rule conflict with..."
Testimony TIFFANY, THOMAS P.
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"in accordance with Committee Rule 3, Parent O. Without objection, so ordered. I'll now recognize myself for an opening statement. Thank you, Chief Schultz, Chief Tom Schultz, for being here with us today. I know that our members are eager to hear you discuss the challenges facing our federal forest and learn more about our efforts to restore forest health, protect American communities, and ultimately return the Forest Service to its core multiple-use mission. This is no small task, and your..."
Testimony SPEAKER_14
Oversight hearing titled “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests an...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 4, 2026
"special political senior advisors appointed to advise the Forest Service, including Mr. Ken Verheyen, who appears to have no background in forest management or federal government service. And while Mr. Verheyen does have, what he does have, is a close personal connection to Undersecretary Boran. He is Mr. Boran's neighbor and a member of the Sawtooth Conservation and Recreation Alliance, an organization Mr. Boran helped create made up of wealthy landowners in the Sawtooth National Forest that..."
Testimony MALOY, CELESTE
Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 1, 2026
"Congress, she was a respected leader on this committee where she chaired the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources and championed the responsible management of our nation's natural resources. Representative Cuban also led the legislation that established the center in 1998. Renaming the center she helped create is a fitting tribute to her enduring legacy and will continue to highlight the story of America's westward expansion in the Equality State. Representative McClintock's H.R. 8454..."
Testimony MCCLINTOCK, TOM
Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 1, 2026
"administrative jurisdiction. It also appropriately maintains federal responsibilities for hazardous cleanup and other obligations. This bill reflects a principle that should guide federal land policy. A management decision should be based on the realities of the landscape, not simply on boundaries drawn on a map decades ago. Our national forests and parks serve many purposes. They preserve wildlife habitat to protect watersheds, provide recreation, and support rural economies. A balanced..."
Testimony BEN BURR
Legislative hearing on: • H.R. 1693 (Rep. Hageman), To redesignate the...
house Natural Resources Committee · Jul 1, 2026
"decide any permit. What it adds is coordination, a lead agency, a published timetable, deadlines that line up, and a public dashboard so everyone can see where a project stands. It's voluntary, and it doesn't require a project to be huge. There's a pathway with no dollar threshold for any project complex enough to need a full environmental study or require approval from more than two agencies. These discretionary pathways could be used to benefit a broad range of recreation projects. Let me..."
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"Today we will hear the expert testimony of the chief of the Forest Service, the head of a government agency tasked with the immense responsibility of carefully stewarding nearly 200 million acres of public lands located within the National Forest System. Long ago, the Organic Administration Act of 1897 established that no national forest shall be"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"It was founded with both things in mind. And since the agency has always been multifaceted, or in other words, our national forests have always been intended for multiple use purposes. Benefits to watersheds and forests stands in one part of the country can easily impact the quality and availability of critical commodities far from the forest, which makes me even more grateful for the foresight that our nation had when the agency was founded so many years"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"frivolous litigation, growing maintenance backlogs, and decisions to take vast swaths of public lands out of both management and active production, all of which have contributed to the generational decline in the overall health of the national forest system. As a result, many regions, particularly in the West, where national forests are more"
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"Last year, we completed the highest level of reforestation in more than 25 years, reforesting almost 287,000 acres, the highest level since 1998, while improving stands on another 165,000 acres. National forests receive more than 160 million visitors annually. That is a remarkable public benefit and brings economic benefits to gateway communities. We're working to expand recreational access and improve visitor experience for the millions of Americans who enjoy their national"
Testimony THOMPSON, GLENN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"I have been working closely with U.S. Forest Service for 18 years in my time serving here in Congress. I have a stake in the game with the Allegheny National Forest, but my work as a member of Congress has really been looking across the country, visiting damaged areas, devastated by wildfire. And I think this reorganization, I appreciate the fact you noted this started under"
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"increase over the next 10 years the volume that we're selling by 250 million feet a year, and we're on target to do that. I know sometimes that seems alarming to people. To put this in context, what this means, we have every national forest has a forest plan. If we just implement every forest plan across the country, which is what most people advocate for, implement your forest plan, if we just implement forest plans, that would be somewhere between 6.5 and 7 billion board feet a year. So what..."
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"So you go back to 1944, there was a sustained yield unit law passed. We haven't done anything with that in years. We adopted a sustained yield unit in Montana that goes across six national forests, which is going to keep those wood products produced locally. We're doing 20-year agreements. We've done those basically in Nevada. We've looked at those in Oregon, where we're doing 20-year agreements, not just with"
Testimony COSTA, JIM
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"It goes on. Bureau of Reclamation, Indian Affairs, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Let me tell you the impacts to our national forest, our parks, our wildlife, and our refugee rain lands. They are a source of drinking water for millions, habitat for fish and wildlife, grazing lands for ranchers, economic lifeblood of rural communities. You know that. I don't have to tell"
Testimony CARBAJAL, SALUD O.
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"I have the privilege of representing California's Central Coast, one of the most beautiful places in our country, truly paradise on earth. I hope you've had an opportunity to visit. And the Los Padres National Forest is one of the crown jewels of our region. The Los Padres National Forest supports recreation, tourism, and our local communities. The Los Padres National Forest supports recreation, tourism, and our local"
Testimony CARBAJAL, SALUD O.
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"Thank you. Mr. Schultz, I recently met with employees at the Los Padres National Forest, who have told me that more than half of the Forest Service housing units in this area are uninhabitable, while employees have remained on housing waiting lists for"
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"It's an issue across the country. Many areas where national forests are, those are high cost of living areas. So employee housing is challenged. We don't always have employee housing"
Testimony CARBAJAL, SALUD O.
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"Thank you. As I mentioned, I recently heard from employees at the Los Padres National Forest, and they have also reported that some Forest Service facilities lack backup generators during public safety power shutoffs, resulting in communication outages. Has the Forest Service assessed whether critical facilities in high fire risk areas have adequate backup power, and what resources are available to address those"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"You also mentioned this is something very important throughout the West. You mentioned in your testimony that grazing is a central component of the agency's multi-use mission and that you are working to ensure that it continues to support both the landscape and the communities nearby. Could you elaborate on how the Forest Service is utilizing grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on our forest system lands? Do you believe that there are further opportunities for more grazing to help reduce..."
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Mr. Chairman, currently, grazing is the most permitted use across the national forest. About 40% of the national forest and grasslands are permitted for grazing, more than any other use that we have. About 40% of the national forest and grasslands are permitted for grazing, more than any other use that we"
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"So with the existing infrastructure that we have, we could actually produce more lumber in this country without even building new mills. The problem we have is where we have some areas where we know we need to treat the ground, particularly national forests, where that infrastructure does not exist. Yeah. Right? So what we want to do is we want to retain the facilities and the infrastructure we have, and then we want to look for areas where the Forest Service can at least step up and say, we..."
Testimony TOM SCHULTZ
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"is the Wild Turkey Federation. They do a lot of work to encourage and improve habitat across the country on national forest system lands, the Wild Turkey Federation. So it's all over the place in terms of people doing this work. But there's a lot of ideas out"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from Chief Tom Schultz, U.S. F...
house Agriculture Committee · Jul 22, 2026
"It's clear to me that you are trying to do much to improve how the agency operates, so thank you for that. And you're doing a lot of thinking about the many challenges that face our national forest system, and all of us appreciate that"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Welcome and thank you for joining today's hearing. We've got it entitled Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest System. After some brief opening"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to this Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee hearing entitled Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest System. This morning, we will hear from an expert panel of stakeholders on various issues before the National Forest System, and we'll be reviewing how partners work This morning, we will hear from an expert panel of stakeholders on various issues before the National Forest System, and we'll be reviewing how partners"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"and how regulations from the top down impact their work day to day. Our national forests have been undermanaged for decades, and because of that, we are seeing a corresponding"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"With that, I'm looking forward to hearing from our witnesses today about how they work with the agency and support the critical management of the national forest system, and, this is probably most"
Testimony NEWHOUSE, DAN
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"I think I can speak for everybody that Doug is sorely missed. He was a true champion of our national forests and of our rural communities. He was a fellow farmer, so we had a lot in"
Testimony SALINAS, ANDREA
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"can prevent and combat wildfires without irreparably damaging the habitat and ecosystems we rely on to survive or harming the private and industrial forests intended for harvest. Partnerships are imperative to the success of active forest management. Tribes, states, local governments, universities, and private landowners all bring unique tools and expertise. Programs like Good Neighbor Authority, Service First Agreements, and Shared Stewardship show what's possible when we do work together...."
Testimony SPEAKER_08
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Good morning, Chair Newhouse and Ranking Member Salinas and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the National Association of Counties, or NACO. My name is Ned Koh. I serve on the Modoc County Board of Supervisors, and I am second vice president of NACO's Western Interstate Region. Modoc County is the third least populated county in California, with 70-plus percent being federally owned. National forest management is not an abstract issue for us...."
Testimony SPEAKER_08
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"archaeological and botany wildlife surveys, supported NEPA work, maintained campgrounds, and assisted in public education programs. The third level is partnership with formal standing in federal planning and decision making. Modoc County, we have a standing coordination committee with the Modoc National Forest. Each month, two members of the Board of Supervisors, our Natural Resources Advisor, and our Farm Advisor meet directly with forest leadership. These meetings help ensure local input..."
Testimony SPEAKER_04
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"to working together with the agency to come to a more appropriate solution if we get the chance. Shifting gears, I want to touch just briefly on a different program called the Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreement Program. As many of you know, sheriffs across the country provide law enforcement services on our national forests under Cooperative Law Enforcement Agreements. A little context, in 1985, the program was funded at about $7.5 million nationwide, and in 1993, that amount dropped to $5..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"engineers, scientists, welders, mechanics, heavy equipment operators, IT professionals, accountants, lawyers, and drone pilots, just to name a few. We care deeply about our health and the resiliency of our national forests. The plight of our communities and our businesses are intertwined with the plight of our federal forests. It's where we hike. And as those who work in and near our national forests every day, we can tell you that the scale of our federal forest and health crisis is..."
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"We're problem solvers. We share common interests, managing our national forests and taking care of our communities. We have two pictures in front of"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"It's neglect, and it's wrong. That's one picture of one fire during one year on one national forest, and I'm sharing it with you because I want you to see where the status quo of federal forest management is taking us. Similar environmental catastrophes like this exist on national forests in all western states. Similar environmental catastrophes like this exist on national forests in all western"
Testimony SPEAKER_05
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"It can save property and infrastructure, taxpayer dollars, and most importantly, it can help save communities and lives. That's one picture of one partnership on one at-risk landscape on one national forest, and I'm sharing it because it represents what's possible. One forest products company or other forest products company and members of AFRC, we're doing amazing work like this all over the West. We need to do more, and we need to do it"
Testimony SPEAKER_00
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Our Forest Service's ability to plan, collaborate, and execute projects effectively is being critically compromised. On the Gifford-Pencho National Forest, there are vacancies in essential positions for project planning and timber sale administration and implementation. The interdisciplinary planning teams, which are vital to advancing projects with expert input, have decreased from three to one across the forest. As a result, the agency's capacity to move projects forward has declined, even as..."
Testimony SPEAKER_00
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"have been made to address Forest Service capacities with issues and partnerships like the Good Neighbor Authority. While GNA can serve as a useful tool, maintaining adequate Forest Service staffing remains a more efficient and accountable approach for carrying out forest management and restoration work on our federal public lands. Even for GNA to function at its intended capacity, the Authority still requires Forest Service personnel to lead planning, to provide oversight, and to ensure..."
Testimony SPEAKER_08
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"a county, it's vital for our roads. We had a number of road projects in process when SRS expired. In order to complete those projects, we had to suspend routine maintenance. That's delays in chip seal and repaving, which just further degrades the condition of our roads, which every access point to the National Forest in Modoc County is via a county road. Thank you, Congressman Costa, and good to see you"
Testimony SALINAS, ANDREA
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, welcome, Ms. Whitney and Mr. Joseph, both Oregonians. This is to Ms. Whitney. To start, could you please share some of what you are seeing on the ground regarding partnerships for management of the National Forest System? This is in light of the remarkable loss of staff at the Forest Service over the past year, alongside that 25 percent decrease in hazardous fuels reduction on the ground. Thank"
Testimony MOORE, BARRY
"Reviewing Partnerships to Enhance Management of the National Forest S...
house Agriculture Committee · Jun 25, 2026
"wildlife habitat, public access. The national forest in Alabama is about 667,000 acres. We have Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, Tuskegee, all those national forests. We have Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega, Tuskegee, all those national"
Hearing Legislative field hearing on a Discussion Draft of the “Great American Outdoors Act 250.” (10:00AM local time)
house Natural Resources Committee · Jun 12, 2026 · Transcript
SPEAKER_15 "Good morning. Thank you so much, Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today and travel to the historic hot springs to celebrate the success of the Great American Outdoors Act and the ideas and the continued work for addressing the mounting deferred maintenance across America's extraordinary public lands. My name is Chris French. I serve as the Associate Chief of the USDA Forest Service, and across the Forest Service, nearly 160 million visitors recreate our national forest each year. They visit..."
Hearing Oversight Hearing on "All in for America250: Public-Private Partnerships Supporting America’s Semiquincentennial on our Public Lands"
house Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee · Feb 10, 2026 · Request transcript
Witness: Mr. Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, National Forest Foundation
Hearing Hearings to examine S.1674, to modify the boundary of the Mammoth Cave National Park in the State of Kentucky, S.2498, to authorize the Secretary...
senate National Parks Subcommittee · Jul 21, 2026 · Request transcript
Hearing Hearings to examine options to reduce catastrophic wildfire, including H.R.471, to expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969...
senate Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources Subcommittee · Mar 6, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Business meeting to consider S.291, to establish an interest-bearing account for the non-Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River...
senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee · Dec 17, 2025 · Request transcript
Hearing Hearings to examine S.1462, to improve forest management activities on National Forest System land, public land under the jurisdiction of the...
senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee · May 6, 2025 · Request transcript