Floor Speeches

Chairman Grijalva, Ranking Member Bishop and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to comment in support of H.R. 3923, The Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act of 2009.  This legislation is the result of a long-term effort by the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District, and I hope that this hearing and the bill’s eventual passage will be of great benefit to these volunteer fire fighters and the communities they serve.  

The Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District and the US Forest Service have always worked closely with each other since the Fire District’s inception in 1967.  At that time, the Fire District’s physical home was established in an existing building on US Forest Service land through a special use permit.  Three years later a second building was constructed under another special use permit, both in strategically important locations with access to the central roads in this mountainous area.  

While the US Forest Service and these special use permits have been incredibly valuable throughout the forty year history of the Fire District, it is now important that the Fire District have the autonomy to better self-direct its future and ensure the modernization of its facilities.  

Today you will hear the testimony of John Winchester, Battalion Chief with the Sugar Loaf Fire Department.  In his 20 years with the department, he has served four terms as Fire Chief, and I hope his expertise on this issue proves valuable to the committee’s consideration.  

In addition, this bill has been the subject of a subcommittee hearing in the Senate and was subsequently marked up with changes suggested in that hearing by the US Forest Service and the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District.  Specifically, the US Forest Service asked that the 120 day timeline in the legislation be expanded to one year in order to conform with existing laws, and that modifications to the structures wait until after the exchange has taken place.  These issues having been easily resolved, the Forest Service supported and spoke highly of the merits for this land exchange.  

As the bill’s sponsor, I hope to work closely with the US Forest Service, this committee, and the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District to easily resolve any similar needs, and ensure that this legislation will benefit the Fire District, the Forest Service, and the communities they both serve.  

Thank you again for the opportunity to speak to this committee today.