House Proceeding on Mar 26th, 2009 :: 0:58:30 to 1:18:30
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0:57:25 to 0:58:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ed Pastor

1:01:26 to 1:01:47( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: the amendment is agreed to. the chair: it is now in order to consider amendment number 10 printed in house report 111-52. for what purpose does the gentleman from west virginia rise? mr. rahall: on behalf of mr. matheson of utah, mr. chairman, i offer his amendment, number 10. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 10 printed in house report 111-52 offered by mr. rahall of be

1:01:35 to 1:01:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Nick J. Rahall

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Nick J. Rahall: west virginia. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 2 from west virginia, mr. rahall, and a member opposed, will now control five minutes.

1:01:56 to 1:02:16( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: the chair recognizes the gentleman from west virginia. mr. rahall: this is a simple amendment, mr. chairman. it would allow the national guard to participate in the fighting of wildfires. i reserve the balance of my time. mr. hastings: will the gentlema mr. rahall: i'll yield to the gentleman. mr. hastings: this will direct

1:02:00 to 1:03:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ed Pastor

1:02:17 to 1:02:38( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: better coordination of the national guard to fight wildfires. we think it's a good amendment. we will accept it. i yield back. mr. rahall: i yield back. the chai the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from west virginia. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

1:02:39 to 1:03:00( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: the amendment is agreed to. the chair has been notified that amendment number 11 will not be offered. it is now in order to consider amendment number 12 printed in house report 111-52. for what purpose does the gentlelady from arizona rise? mrs. kirkpatrick: mr. speaker, i have an amendment at the desk.

1:03:01 to 1:03:12( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 12 offered by ms. kirkpatrick of arizona.

1:03:13 to 1:03:33( Edit History Discussion )

-- mrs. kirkpatrick of arizona. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 281, the gentlelady from arizona, mrs. kirkpatrick, and a member opposed, will each control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlelady from arizona. mrs. kirkpatrick: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: the gentlelady is recognized. mrs. kirkpatrick: i want to

1:03:34 to 1:03:54( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: amendment the definition of fire-ready community. the overall bill is of great concern to my district where six million acres of national forest provide access to unique natural resources. but also pose a great risk of fire. we are just a few short weeks fromhe official beginning of

1:03:40 to 1:06:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ann Kirkpatrick

1:03:55 to 1:04:15( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: wildfire season in the state of arizona. in fact, there was a report in the "prescott daily occur yor" -- "prescott daily courier" of a wilire. more than 7,000 professional firefighters and countless volunteers will be on constant

1:04:16 to 1:04:36( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: alert. we have already begun fighting fires just miles from the site of the rodeo fire that devastated arizona's first district seven years ago and we're expected to be tested throughout the district very soon. the drought that has been

1:04:37 to 1:04:57( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: ravaging arizona for many years makes us even more vulnerable to wildfires than we once were. just last year in yava pike county, which is in my district, we lost 9,000 acres and nearly lost the community

1:04:58 to 1:05:18( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: of crown king when a hiker stted a small signal fire. and that was just one of the 1,850 wildfires that ranged over our state burning 85,000 acres. and that was a mild wildfire season. our firefighters have bravely

1:05:19 to 1:05:40( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: contained fires year in and year out doing outstanding work to keep our citizens safe. they have risked their lives combating wildfires in arizona and across the country. with some of the best training in the world available at the wildfire academy in prescott, which was started with the

1:05:41 to 1:06:01( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: efforts of my cousin, corey kirkpatrick, i have no doubt they will come into this wildfire season as well prepared as ever to protect our homes and communities. but with the millions of acres of national forest for them to were protect in the first district of arizona alone and the state forestry division

1:06:02 to 1:06:24( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: responsie for more than 22 million acres, bravery and readiness may not be enough. they need our assistance to partner with local communities for the implementation of a community wildfire protection plan. along with the provision of training, education and equipment.

1:06:25 to 1:06:35( Edit History Discussion )

Ann Kirkpatrick: that is whi have offered this amendment which changes the definition of fire-ready community. the cities and towns that will receive firefighting capability

1:06:36 to 1:06:56( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: grants. under my amendment, cities that have taken good faith steps to prepare for wildfire and are in regions considered high priority will be eligible for these grants. with so much at stake we should be making it easier for towns

1:06:40 to 1:07:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Doc Hastings

1:06:57 to 1:07:17( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: to receive the help they need to prepare and protect against devastating wildfires. to that end, i urge support of my amendment. i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from washington. mr. hastings: thank you, mr. chairman.

1:07:18 to 1:07:35( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: i ask unanimous consent to claim time in opposition although i'm not opposed to the amendment. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. hastings: this amendment makes it easier for communities to qualify for grants. these funds will be well spent if they actually go towards real fire reduction. neither taxpayers nor communities in harm's way of

1:07:36 to 1:07:56( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: potential wildfires can afford to have funds merely to nibble around the edges, avoiding tackling the real buildup. i support this amendment if the gentlelady is ready to close i'll yield back my time. mrs. kirkpatrick: thank you. mr. hastings: i yield back my time. the chair: the gentleman from washington yields back his time.

1:07:40 to 1:08:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ed Pastor

1:07:57 to 1:08:17( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: the gentlelady from arizona. mrs. kirkpatrick: i yield to the gentleman from west virgia. mr. rahall: i commend the gentlelady for her excellent amendment. i yield back. mrs. kirkpatrick: i yield back. the chair: the question is on the amendment offered by the gentlelady from arizona. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it.

1:08:18 to 1:08:39( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: the amendment is agreed to. mrs. kirkpatrick: with that, mr. chairman, i ask for a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlelady from izona will be postponed. it is now in order to consider amendmt number 13 printed in house report 111-52. for what purpose does the gentleman from vir mr. goodlatte: mr. chairman, i

1:08:40 to 1:08:40( Edit History Discussion )

Ed Pastor: have an amendment at the desk.

1:08:41 to 1:09:02( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the cl printed in house report 111-52. offered by mr. goodlatte of virginia. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 281, the gentleman from virginia, mr. goodlatte, and a member opposed, each wil control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from virginia.

1:08:50 to 1:11:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Goodlatte

1:09:03 to 1:09:23( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: mr. goodlatte: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield myself three minutes. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. goodlatte: thank you, mr. chairman. i commend chairman rahall for addressing this important issue over the last two years, the wildfire funding problems for the forest service are some of the most challenging issues the agency faces today. wildfire funding costs have skyrocketed overhe last

1:09:24 to 1:09:44( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: decade and are consuming the forest service's budget, which means there's less funding for other forest service needs. we will continue to see high costs and more damage to our forests and communities unless we take steps to reduce fire risk in our federal forests. we must provide the fire service additional tools to get our forest service in a more healthy and fire resistant

1:09:45 to 1:10:06( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: condition. i support the underlying purpose of this legislation, although this does not done enough of the additional costs of fighting fires, that is the unhealthy conditions of the forests. my amendment will address these problems that will ultimately leave our forests in a healthier condition and will

1:10:07 to 1:10:28( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: yield a savings for the tax mearspayers. my amendment has a new contracting tool to -- taxpayers. my amendment has new contracting tools to contract with states to reduce wildfire risks across boundary lines. this practice is commonly known as good neighbor authority and has been tested in states like colorado and utah where it has proven to be effective.

1:10:29 to 1:10:49( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: currently h.r. 1404 contains no such tool for the forest service. the significance of this measure is that it will encourage both federal and state agencies to work together to address unhealthy conditions in federal forests. fires know no boundaries. they can start on federal land and easily spread to state and private forest land. my amendment provides a more comprehensive approach to

1:10:50 to 1:11:10( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: preventing dangerous fires and fighting them when they happen. i'm pleased that my amendment has the support ofeveral forestry groups including the society of american foresters, the council of state foresters, the forest foundation and other forestry groups. i've also spoken with the forest service and they have told me they have no objections to this amendment. let me be clear.

1:11:11 to 1:11:23( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Goodlatte: this amendment is meant to protect our forests from catastrophic fire. like everyone else, i want to see our treasured national forests protected from fires by allowing federal and state

1:11:24 to 1:11:44( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: agencies to work to ruce hazardous fuels. protected for generations to come. i ask my colleagues to support this amendment. i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from west virginia rise?

1:11:25 to 1:14:30( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Nick J. Rahall

1:11:45 to 1:12:05( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: mr. rahallmr. chairman, i take the time in opposition to the amendment. the chair: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. rahall: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. rahall: mr. chairman, i rise in opposition to the the amendment would provide expansive new contracting authority to state foresters to perform so-called good neighbor

1:12:06 to 1:12:26( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: projects on national forest system lands. my concern here is not with these type of projects in and of themselves but the way the amendment would allow these type of projects to proceed. in effect, the amendment represents ap unwarranted authority -- an unwarranted authority which could undermine provisions in the law that will protect interests, rights and would ensure environmental review for activities occurring on

1:12:27 to 1:12:47( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: some supporters of this proposal are seeking to use the pending legislation to make wholesale changes in federal forest managem specifically, the amendment would eliminate existing requirements on public notification and advertising of timber sales. it would eliminate requirements separating the planning of projects from those with a

1:12:48 to 1:13:08( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: financial interest in the project. the transfer of contracting authority from the federal government to the states also has impacts on federal worker protection laws. under existing law, the forest service must ensure the contracts adhere to federal labor standards. these contract labor laws

1:13:09 to 1:13:29( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: provide fair wage rates and compensation for overtime. these federal labor standards do not apply to contracts issued to individual states. as such, wage standards and overtime requirements that are required for any federal contract would not apply under this amendment since the state would be the contracting agent.

1:13:30 to 1:13:50( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: the obama administration has highlighted the risk to the taxpayer of the reliance of federal agencies on sole source contracting for which this amendment provides. a march 4 memorandum on government contracting states clearly that it is the policy of the federal government that executive agencies shall not

1:13:51 to 1:14:11( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: engage in noncompetitive contracts accept where appropriate safeguardsave been put in place to protect the taxpayer. we have seen what happens when the government turns over contracting to a sole source entity. the underlying measure before the house today is about ensuring firefighters have the resources they need to combat wildfires. we have had our fire drills on

1:14:12 to 1:14:30( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: forest management battles in the past. this is not the me or place to have another. i would note that this amendment is opposed by the allcio -- afl-cio. i would note that while the

1:14:31 to 1:14:53( Edit History Discussion )

Rob Bishop: gentleman from virginia as well-intentioned as he is in his efforts and noted that the forest service is not opposed to this amendment. of course they don't. they are not for the amendment either. of course they cannot be. so with that, mr. chairman. i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: t gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from virginia.

1:14:35 to 1:15:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Rob Bishop

1:14:54 to 1:15:14( Edit History Discussion )

Rob Bishop: . mr. bishop: thank you, mr. chairman. i appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of this amendment. this simply gives the secretary of agriculture some flexibility to work in relationship with state directors to try and solve prlems that exist. in 2007, my state of utah, there's half a million acres that were burned. 4/5 of that was on federal property. unfortunately fire being stupid

1:15:15 to 1:15:35( Edit History Discussion )

Rob Bishop: didn't know enough to stop at the federal line and it actually d impinge on private property. there has been too much private property loss. there have been too many young lives lost in those fires. we need to have a solution to that. the state of colorado and utah have been working on this program and it has been fective. it's been effective in saving lives. it's been effective in saving

1:15:36 to 1:15:55( Edit History Discussion )

Rob Bishop: property. it's been effective in eliminating the a fuel or time it hps our forest, life, and helps the environment and cleans the air. i thank the gentleman from virginia for presenting this amendment. in utah it works. in colorado it works. well. i yield back. the air: the gentleman yields the gentleman from west

1:15:56 to 1:16:16( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: virginia. mr. rahall: mr. chairman, i'm the last speaker ready to close on my side. the chair: the gentleman from virginia. mr. goodlatte: at this time i'm pleased to yield one minute to the ranking member, the gentleman from washington state, mr. hastings. the chair: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. hastings: mr. chairman, i thank the gentleman for yielding.

1:16:00 to 1:16:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Doc Hastings

1:16:17 to 1:16:38( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: this is an excellent opportunity with this amendment for us to insist that fire prevention activities be part of the overall wild land fire management equation. mr. goodlatte's program to encourage cooperative management across federal, state, and private forestlands is very simply a positive step. wildfires do not read maps and

1:16:39 to 1:16:55( Edit History Discussion )

Doc Hastings: they do not respect boundaries. so by taking advantage of the nonfederal fuel reduction efforts, we can in the long run leverage more protection of the the one thing this bill doesn't have enough of is production. th is a positive step in that direction.

1:16:56 to 1:17:17( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: i thank the gentleman for yielding. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from west virginia. mr. rahall: thank you, mr. chairman. i yield back the balance of my time. mr. chairman, i want to quote from the building and construction trade's letter to me in opposition to the pending amendment. they state their opposition to

1:17:00 to 1:18:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Nick J. Rahall

1:17:18 to 1:17:38( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: the goodlatte amendment to h.r. 1404, the flame act, because it will deprive employees of private contractors of federal labor standards protection. otherwise applicable to them while working on federal land. the protective labor standards and the service contract act and the davis-bacon act, which would otherwise apply if these

1:17:39 to 1:17:59( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: contracts are awarded by the u.s. forest service or the b.l.m. will not be applied to this work even though it will be performed on national forest system land for the benefit of the federal government. for this reason we are urge the house to reject the goodlatte amendment. a similar telecommunications this morning to our office from

1:18:00 to 1:18:21( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: united brotherhood of carpenters and joiners of america states that they are absolutely opposed to the goodlatte amendment, turning this work over to the state governments deprives the workers on these projects of federal labor law protections. this is something we would never support. that again is from the united brotherhood of carpenters. for these reasons and the reasons i stated in my previous

1:18:22 to 1:18:37( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: statement, mr. chairman, i would urge our colleagues to reject this amendment. the chair: does the gentleman reserve his time? mr. rahall: i yield back. the chair: does time? mr. rahall: y the chair: the gentleman from virginia has one minute remaing.