TONGASS TIMBER REFORM ACT 



THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1996 



House of Representatives, Committee on Re- 

 sources, JOINT WITH the Subcommittee on Re- 

 source Conservation, Research, and Forestry of 

 THE Committee on Agriculture, 



Washington, DC. 



The committees met, pursuant to call, at 1:03 p.m., in room 1324, 

 Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Don Young (Chairman of 

 the Committee on Resources) presiding. 



The Chairman. I want to welcome you to this joint hearing today 

 for the Agriculture Committee and the Resources Committee on the 

 Contract Extension Act of 1996. I'd like to introduce, representing 

 the Agriculture Committee in Congress from the State of Colorado, 

 Wayne Allard. 



STATEMENT OF HON. WAYNE ALLARD, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM COLORADO 



Mr. Allard. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure to hold 

 this joint hearing with you. Today's hearing should be interesting 

 and informative to those who have never had the opportunity to 

 visit the Tongass National Forest. 



As the largest national forest in the United States, it is unique 

 in its natural diversity and beauty. However, with most issues in- 

 volving our national forests, tensions exist between those who 

 value that diversity and beauty and those whose livelihood is de- 

 pendent on the wise use of its resources. However, between Under 

 Secretary Lyons and Chairman Young, I am sure a solution to 

 these tensions can be quickly found. 



The specific subject of today's hearing is Chairman Young's legis- 

 lation to extend by 15 years the contract between the pulp com- 

 pany and the Forest Service for timber from the Tongass. The leg- 

 islation would also make several modifications of the contract that 

 are designed to make it more economically viable for the pulp com- 

 pany. The larger question surrounding the details of today's hear- 

 ing are jobs and environment and is there a nexus between the 

 two. Of course there'll be questions that we have all been strug- 

 gling with for some time, but maybe today we can move closer to 

 achieving that goal. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to today's hearing. 



The Chairman. I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado. 



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