OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN LARRY COMBEST

The purpose of today's hearing is examine how roads, both construction and reconstruction, are financed on the National Forests. In reviewing this issue, the Subcommittee hopes to gain a better understanding of the National Forest Road Program and its financing, and determine whether the Purchaser Road Credit Program, one method of financing National Forest roads, contains a subsidy to companies that purchase Forest Service timber.

I am Chairman of the Forestry Subcommittee, but I have to confess that I have a town in my District called, "No Trees." So forestry is a very new issue to me, but one that I have begun learning about.

I just returned from a forestry tour in northern California where there are some of the most heavily timber dependent communities in California. I can attest to the concern these folks feel. Attacking the road credits, as unfounded as this report says that it is, is just one more way of attacking the industry and ultimately those communities. We ought to recognize the reality here and let some common sense creep into this debate.

The roads of the National Forest System provide a for recreation, grazing, wildlife management, fire suppression, administration and forest management. In fact, the Number 1 recreational activity on the National Forests is driving the roads. People are able to enjoy the beauty and solitude of these precious resources as a result of a road system that provides access to areas that are frequently characterized by steep, rugged terrain.

Considering the many benefits and uses of a transportation network across the National Forests, it is difficult to understand why roads have been under siege in recent years. Most recently, there have been allegations that a financing mechanism called Purchaser Road Credits represents a subsidy to the timber industry.

When it comes to cutting the budget and reducing the deficit, I am as enthusiastic as any Member of Congress. It is our responsibility to identify and cut corporate pork programs. As Members of Congress we are equally responsible to understand and ensure that the programs we propose to reduce or eliminate will, in fact, result in a budget decrease and a corresponding deficit impact.

Splashy media events and corporate pork rhetoric do not assist us in understanding the issues that allow us to make informed, sound policy decisions. Cutting subsidies to industry is a laudable goal, but often, hasty decisions only succeed in solving the WRONG problem.

I would like to thank the witnesses for the time they have taken to prepare their testimony and appear before the Subcommittee. I look forward to the testimony and the discussion.