Democracy Rules

Carbon Sinks are areas that sequester, or absorb and store carbon dioxide, removing it from the air. Oceans, soils and vegetation are mediums for such storage. Forests are thought to be the most efficient and beneficial carbon sinks since they replace carbon dioxide with oxygen. In addition to providing habitats for animals and livelihoods for humans, forests also offer watershed protection, prevent soil erosion and mitigate climate change. Among other things, sustainable forest management involves removing underbrush and small, weak or dying trees to provide room, and water, for healthier growths to thrive. This process also creates small openings in the forest which help prevent large wildfires from spreading. Federal agencies like the US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the National Parks Service are responsible for the upkeep of federally-owned land. Ecologists claim many of our recent huge wildfires are likely the result of climate change. They say there is always plenty of fuel to burn, but most years it is too wet to catch fire. Because of this, thinning and prescribed burning won't change the wildfire hazard — although that doesn't mean poor forest management hasn't contributed to the current devastation in many Western forests. Given the importance of forests to the planet, advocates say sustainable management is essential to ensure society’s demands don’t compromise this resource.

Pending Legislation: H.R.188 - Proven Forest Management Act of 2022
Sponsor: Rep. Tom McClintock (CA)
Status: Passed committees 6/13/23, awaiting House Floor consideration
House Speaker: Speaker Mike Johnson (LA)

I oppose reforming current forest management policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
I support directing the Department of Agriculture to conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land by: 1.) Conducting such an activity on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including reducing forest fuels and maintaining biological diversity. 2.) Establishing any post-program ground condition criteria ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity required by the forest plan. 3.) Entering into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal lands and nonfederal lands. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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I support directing the Department of Agriculture to conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land by: 1.) Conducting such an activity on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including reducing forest fuels and maintaining biological diversity. 2.) Establishing any post-program ground condition criteria ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity required by the forest plan. 3.) Entering into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal lands and nonfederal lands. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.