Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities: Striking a Better Balance for Public Land Management

The Pacific Northwest is true timber country, blessed with an abundance of forests that provide rich natural resources and recreation in Central Washington.

The health and management of public forests like Okanogan and Gifford-Pinchot National Forests are closely tied to job growth and economic opportunity for neighboring rural communities.

Too often, however, local communities feel left out when federal decisions are made regarding public land. In Congress, I am committed to addressing that imbalance.

The federal government often falls woefully short at effective public forest management, and...