Pisgah National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time, and I offer my support to my colleague from North Carolina for the bill he has put forward.

I rise today to speak on issues of forestry, and specifically to House Resolution 81 which recognizes the importance and sustainability of the U.S. hardwoods industry.

My rural district in Pennsylvania is comprised of sprawling forest lands and the Allegheny National Forest. For generations, the economic engine of this region has been oil and gas production and the harvesting of some of the finest hardwoods in the country.

American hardwoods are valued here and around the world for their natural beauty, long life, sustainability, and many applications from furniture to flooring to musical instruments.

There are more than 100 privately owned businesses in my district. Most are family owned, whose well-being and the well-being of their employees are dependent upon the American hardwoods. More than a billion dollars in hardwoods and hardwood products are exported from the United States each year. Even with this growing market demand, the supply of hardwood resources has continued to grow as forests, both public and private, are managed for growth and harvest.

In addition to the enormous economic benefits which the timber industry has on our rural economy, timber harvesting in Pennsylvania is an essential part of forest health and management efforts. For example, when decaying timber or wood waste is removed from the forest floor, it creates a much fuller and more vibrant forest in the long run. Forest management helps to create a stronger carbon sink than an unmanaged forest.

In addition, the U.S. Forest Service spends $2 billion per year, half their

budget, fighting wildfires. I believe that better and increased management will help to reduce the regularity and severity of these all-too-frequent disasters. In short, the timber industry is an important component in forest management and health.

As a cosponsor of the legislation, House Resolution 81, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on that piece of legislation and honor an industry which benefits our economy and our forest health.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1002, the Pisgah National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2009. I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their hard work and their support.

This bill would simply extend the current boundary of the Forest Service to include 213 acres of land that is already owned and maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, as well as 88 acres currently owned by a regional nonprofit land trust.

This bill has bipartisan support from the entire North Carolina delegation, for which I am very grateful.

This bill will help the Federal Government meet several objectives. First, it will clarify the boundary that identifies parcels of land that are already owned by the Forest Service. Secondly, it will help to guarantee the conservation of pristine acreage that promotes water quality as well as tourism in the region of western North Carolina. Third, it will help thousands of visitors each year access Catawba Falls, a uniquely beautiful cascade that is already on Forest Service property.

H.R. 1002 explicitly protects the rights of private property owners. This bill will preserve the natural treasures and make sure that the public has adequate access to publicly owned land. In addition to being cosponsored by the entire North Carolina delegation, this bill has received unanimous and bipartisan support in the House Committee on Agriculture.

I am grateful to all of my colleagues for their support, as well as to the staff of the Committee on Agriculture for all of their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1002) to adjust the boundaries of Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1002 was introduced by Congressman Heath Shuler of North Carolina. This bill would authorize the Forest Service to purchase privately held land and modify the boundaries of the Pisgah National Forest in McDowell County, North Carolina. This will improve access to Catawba Falls, a prime recreational and tourist site in the region. The Forest Service has already purchased adjacent land for preservation, and this purchase would allow for parking and trailhead expansion in the falls area. A fiscal year 2010 appropriations request was made for the funds needed to purchase this land, and the money was included in the Interior appropriations bill that passed the House on July 7.

H.R. 1002 has the bipartisan support of the entire North Carolina congressional delegation, as well as the support of the U.S. Forest Service, and I support its passage today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the legislation from North Carolina, Mr. Shuler.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 1002. This bill expands the boundary of the National Forest in North Carolina. The expanded boundary will make it possible for the Forest Service to purchase a privately owned parcel of land for the purpose of creating a parking area and trail access. As my colleague has noted, the Forest Service supports this bill and funding is included in the fiscal year 2010 Interior appropriations bill to purchase the land. The bill passed out of committee unanimously. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. Speaker, having no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.