On Thursday, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) announced that the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, of which he is chairman, will hold a hearing on S. 1784, the Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands Act of 2013 (O&C). The hearing will be held February 6.
As currently written, S. 1784 only pertains to the unique situation in Western Oregon regarding forests owned and managed by the federal government. However, any discussion about Oregon’s O&C issues invites a more thorough conversation regarding federal forestry reform for a number of states, particularly those in the western part of the country. RCRC’s federal lobbyists will be monitoring this hearing and will be following up with key Senate staff to ascertain Senator Wyden’s next options. Late in 2013, the House of Representatives adopted comprehensive forestry reform. That legislation, authored by Representative Doc Hastings (R-Washington), awaits consideration in the United States Senate where it is unlikely to move forward.
For additional information on federal matters, please contact RCRC Senior Legislative Advocate Paul A. Smith at 916.447.4806 or psmith@rcrcnet.org.