A bipartisan group of Senators from western states have introduced a bill to expand the use of stewardship contracts for national forests by simplifying the process for federal agencies.  The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), would give land managers more flexibility to partner with the forest products industry on long-term stewardship work.  Made permanent by last year’s Farm Bill, stewardship contracting allows agencies to enter into 10-year agreements with commercial loggers in order to responsibly trade commercial logging with noncommercial thinning and other restoration activities.  A similar measure was passed last year by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.