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understand the logging industry's need for wood and appreciate the changes that have 

 occurred in their industry in the last several years. We also understand the environmental 

 perspective and the repercussions our actions could have on our national forests and 

 recreational lands. 



Third, we believe any policy affecting trade should be based on sound science. These 

 regulations provide a legal platform to apply sound science to the regulation of timber 

 products. 



We are fortunate to enjoy a very positive and productive partnership with the Forest 

 Service. We continually rely on their expertise in technical forestry issues, and their 

 assistance with this issue has been invaluable. 



EFFECTS AND BENEFITS 



Before coming here today, I took a quick poll of the programs we are coiKJucting 

 around the country and I discovered that we have a major pest or disease eradication 

 program imderway in almost every State represented by this subcommittee. Many of the 

 States represented here currently have infestations of gypsy moth. Other states represented 

 here recently have been forced to deal with the pine shoot beetle and the effects it has had on 

 the Christmas tree industry and other forest resources. These are jtist two of the pests we 

 must address by enforcing restrictions and guidelines on the importation of foreign 

 agricultural commodities. 



