June 21, 2013

Celebration on passage of the forest roads amendment dampened as House fails to pass farm bill.

Wednesday in an overwhelming show of support, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the Farm Bill which preserved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 37 years of success regulating forest roads as nonpoint sources under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and mirrors the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act (H.R. 2026). FLA thanks the amendment’s sponsors Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and all those who worked for the passage of the amendment.

“To get the forest roads amendment passed and included in the House version of the Farm Bill, the forest community came together and utilized a strategy that leveraged traditional lobbying with grassroots calls to actions,” stated FLA CEO, Scott Jones.  “Thanks to the response of private forest landowners who called and emailed their representatives urging their support the amendment passed on voice vote. An indication of just how much support the amendment had.”

Unfortunately, that celebration was short lived, as the House unexpectedly defeated the farm bill resoundingly on a 195-234 vote Thursday afternoon.

“After promising significant support, Congressional

Democrats walked away from years of bipartisan work on the Farm Bill at the last minute,” said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel. “This is a sad day for bipartisanship, and for America’s farmers.”

It was not immediately apparent what will happen next. Leadership had warned conservatives that if a farm bill did not pass, an extension was likely that would not include reforms and savings conservatives support.

Focus will continue on Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act (H.R. 2026), which has has 49 cosponsors and is currently awaiting action by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.