2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Continuing
Appropriations To Curb Logging In Alaska's Tongass National Forest. In
June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the use of funds made available under
the bill to plan or construct, for the purpose of timber harvesting by
private entities, a forest development road in the Tongass National
Forest in Southeast Alaska." The vote was on adoption of the amendment.
The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 243-188. [House Vote 382,
6/20/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/20/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.438;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3055]
The Amendment Effectively Blocked The Trump Administration's
Proposal To Allow Logging In The Tongass National Forest.
According to the Washington Post, "The Trump administration [In
October, 2019] proposed allowing logging on more than half of
Alaska's 16.7 million-acre Tongass National Forest, the largest
intact temperate rainforest in North America. President Trump
instructed federal officials to reverse long-standing limits on tree
cutting at the request of Alaska's top elected officials, on the
grounds that it will boost the local economy." [Washington Post,
10/15/19]
Alaska's Entirely Republican Delegation Supported Expanding
Development In The Tongass. According to the Washington Post,
"Alaska's entire congressional delegation, which is all Republican
members, has also asked Trump to expand development in the Tongass
[...] 'As Alaskans know well, the Roadless Rule hinders our
ability to responsibly harvest timber, develop minerals, connect
communities, or build energy projects to lower costs --- including
renewable energy projects like hydropower, all of which severely
impedes the economy of Southeast,' said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
in a statement." [Washington Post,
10/15/19]
The Regulations, Known As The 'Roadless Rule,' Provided Critical
Protection To The Region's Salmon Fishery And Tourism Operations.
According to the Washington Post, "But critics say that protections
under the 'roadless rule,' finalized just before President Bill
Clinton left office in 2001, are critical to protecting the region's
lucrative salmon fishery and tourism operations." [Washington Post,
10/15/19]
Washington Post: Road Building Would "Fragment Critical Habitat"
And Logging Could Remove Trees That "Trap Sediment And Keep
Waterways Cool." According to the Washington Post, "scientists who
have worked in the area say the road building that would be required
to take out more timber could fragment critical habitat, and logging
could remove trees that trap sediment and keep waterways cool."
[Washington Post,
10/15/19]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Exempting Federal Forest Regulations
After Certain Disasters As Part Of Legislation Allowing Emergency FEMA
Funds To Go To Wildfire Disasters. In November 2017, Fitzpatrick voted
against legislation that would have, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "allow[ed] for a presidential declaration of a major
disaster with regard to wildfires, which would allow for the release of
funding from Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund
to fight major wildfires, and would modify the disaster cap under the
Budget Control Act to account for expected wildfire funding needs. It
would also [have] exempt[ed] various forest management activities
from filing environmental impact statements and would provide for
expedited timber salvage operations and reforestation activities after
catastrophic events. It would [have] prohibit[d] any court from
issuing restraining orders or injunctions against salvage operations or
reforestation activities undertaken in response to a large-scale
catastrophic event." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill
by a vote of 232 to 188. The Senate took no substantive action on the
legislation. [House Vote 598,
11/1/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/1/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2936]