Questionnaire lays foundation for hearings for all to weigh-in effectively August 12, 2002 – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) has asked state and national producer groups, agricultural economists, national farm groups, packers and the Secretary of Agriculture to respond to specific questions that will lay the foundation for hearings on the current state of livestock mar... Read more »
National Forest Fire Prevention Act extends "South Dakota Plan" for others July 25, 2002 – House Forestry Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Montana U.S. Representative Dennis Rehberg acted today to extend to other endangered forests South Dakota Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's special exception for his state to receive an expedited route around environmental regulations for remov... Read more »
Goodlatte decries unreasonable delays blocking restoration contracts, and ponders their future July 18, 2002 – Forestry Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) again pushed for reasoned approach to fulfill stewardship contracts that will clear away years of dead underbrush now fueling wildfires throughout the nation's forest lands. Goodlatte called on environmental advocates testifying before h... Read more »
House Ag Committee writes proposal to safeguard heartland and homeland July 11, 2002 – Responding to President Bush's call enlisting all available federal resources to protect the nation within a new Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture today recommended the means for using a specialized group of USDA inspectors for homeland security at U.S. ports of entry, main... Read more »
June 27, 2002 — Roadless areas in the Nation's forests are in desperate need of good management and stewardship to protect the special nature of our forests, members of the Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry were told Thursday morning. Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) convened the hearing to hear from forestry officials about the status of the Roadless Area Conserv... Read more »
National Fire Plan and Wildfire Outlook Examined Over 1.4 million acres burned so far this year June 13, 2002 — The 2002 fire season has produced fires that are burning earlier, growing faster and spreading with greater intensity than expected due to the combination of drought, fuel loads, and the increasing size of the wildlife-urban interface, members of the Department Operations, Oversight, Nut... Read more »
June 6, 2002 — During the recent Farm Bill negotiations, Rep. John Thune (R-SD) brought to the attention of the Conference an emergency situation developing in the Black Hills National Forest due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, storm damage, and drought. Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, (R-VA) convened a hearing on Thursday to add... Read more »
President Praises Legislation, Awaits Senate to Concur May 2, 2002 – U.S. House of Representatives 280 to 141 approval early Thursday afternoon of the 2002 farm bill negotiated by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) met prompt praise from President Bush, who urged the Senate to act promptly so he may sign the new farm bill into... Read more »
April 29, 2002 — In response to farm bill negotiations, Department Operations, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) issued the following statement: "Today, Senate Democrat Farm Bill Conferees put at risk millions of people who are facing the threat of catastrophic wildfire. Instead of reaching out to the communities at risk, the Senate Democrats reached out to ex... Read more »
April 18, 2002 – Late today, Senator Tom Daschle made the following statement hours after the House farm bill negotiators offered a compromise farm bill measure to Senators: "Any successful negotiation requires the cooperation of both parties. Despite our willingness to compromise on the spending within commodity programs, reforms in livestock markets, and common-sense payment limitations in the i... Read more »
