West Fork Fire Station Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McClintock and also Representative Hanabusa for their support on this important piece of legislation, which ultimately creates a win not only for the local community property rights, but also for our forest system, as well, in the event of a catastrophic wildfire breaking out.

West Fork is in a remote part of Dolores County, Colorado, surrounded by the San Juan National Forest. Emergency and fire response is a challenge in this part of the county because the closest fire station is currently 26 miles away. The West Fork Fire Station Act conveys approximately 3.6 acres of National Forest System land to Dolores County for the strict purpose of building and operating a fire station in the West Fork area.

In addition to creating emergency and fire response challenges, the lack of a dedicated fire station has created insurance challenges for homeowners in West Fork. In an area surrounded by national forest land, it is critical to have fire insurance for your home and other structures on your property. With no fire station in reasonable proximity to the area, it is near impossible for homeowners to obtain fire insurance in West Fork. My bill would help change that.

The West Fork fire station will be operated by a volunteer fire department, men and women who dedicate their time, talent, and often put the safety of their community and neighbors ahead of their own. I greatly appreciate their service to the county.

I also commend Dolores County for working along with local property owners and the surrounding fire districts to obtain necessary firefighting equipment for the volunteers who would serve the West Fork fire station.

Dolores County, Colorado, U.S. Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet, along with the U.S. Forest Service all support the West Fork Fire Station Act.

The bill passed out of the Natural Resources Committee with a unanimous vote. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues in the House to support this bill and the community of West Fork today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4609) to provide for the conveyance of a Forest Service site in Dolores County, Colorado, to be used for a fire station.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4609 would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to convey 3.61 acres of land to Dolores County, Colorado, for the purpose of building a fire station for the community of West Fork. Currently, area residents must rely on a fire protection district located 26 miles away to provide critical firefighting and emergency services to the community.

Frequent and devastating wildfires have ravaged the Western States, making it more vital than ever that every community is prepared to protect itself

against fire and other catastrophic events. H.R. 4609 will improve local fire and emergency services to the community of West Fork and will ensure that residents of the West Fork area will be prepared for catastrophic events without expending any new Federal dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I want to note the hard work that Representative Tipton has put into this bill, and I salute his efforts and leadership.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), the author of this measure and one of the leaders in the House on important issues facing the Western States.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4609 authorizes the conveyance of 3.61 acres of National Forest System land to Dolores County, Colorado, for the purpose of building a fire station. The language of this bill also allows the United States to regain ownership of the land if the county no longer uses it for its intended purpose.

During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing in February of this year, representatives from the Forest Service not only expressed their support for this conveyance, but went on to note the lack of non-Federal options for land suitable for building a fire station in the area.

We can all agree on the importance of public safety. It is our duty as Members of Congress to ensure that the brave men and women who serve as firefighters in their communities have access to the infrastructure they need to do their work.

Mr. Speaker, I support the adoption of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the adoption of this bill. It is a great bill. It protects our first responders and is something that we need to provide for them. As stated earlier, the Forest Service has no other use for this land.

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

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows:

Mr. BISHOP of Utah: Committee on Natural Resources. H.R.

4609. A bill to provide for the conveyance of a Forest

Service site in Dolores County, Colorado, to be used for a

fire station (Rept. 115-624). Referred to the Committee of

the Whole House on the state of the Union.

Mr. BISHOP of Utah: Committee on Natural Resources. H.R.

5133. A bill to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction

Facilitation Act, and for other purposes; with an amendment

(Rept. 115-625). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House

on the state of the Union.