H-0584.2                  _______________________________________________

                                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4001

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Kessler, Jones, Riley, Basich, Kremen, R. Meyers, Sheldon, Holm, Johanson, Finkbeiner, Campbell, Linville, Jacobsen, Quall, Chappell, Rayburn, Leonard, Fuhrman, Cothern, Long, Brumsickle, Thibaudeau, Springer, Miller, Morton, Wood, Ogden, Morris and Locke

Read first time 01/18/93.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

Requesting a Northwest forest summit.

          TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The economy of Washington is heavily dependent on timber harvesting and forest products production; and

          WHEREAS, There is a fundamental need to protect old growth forest ecosystems through comprehensive forest management on federal lands; and

          WHEREAS, A severe forest management crisis exists in the Pacific Northwest affecting the lives of thousands of timber workers, families, and communities; and

          WHEREAS, A solution to the forest management crisis must balance economic needs with ecosystem protection; and

          WHEREAS, The Economic Recovery Coordination Board support a bipartisan Pacific Northwest forest summit proposed by President Bill Clinton as the most reasonable solution to the forest management crisis; and

          WHEREAS, The Northwest congressional delegation should support a bipartisan Northwest forest summit as a means of resolving the ongoing forest management crisis; and

          WHEREAS, The summit should be held as soon as possible once the Clinton administration takes office; and

          WHEREAS, The summit conferees obtain input from all interested parties on the forest management issue and the actual summit decisions should be determined by the conferees consisting of representatives from the new administration, the Northwest congressional delegation, and the governors of the affected states only; and

          WHEREAS, The outcome of the summit should result in an outline for legislation that will:

          (1) Maintain and diversify the economy of timber communities;

          (2) Assure continuation of essential local government services and community stability;

          (3) Provide a stable and predictable supply of timber and a reasonable level of jobs in the forest industry; and

          (4) Provide protection for fragile forest ecosystems and biodiversity;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Northwest congressional delegation and other interested members of congress should refrain from introducing legislation concerning federal forest management pending the outcome of the summit.  The summit should serve to develop legislation.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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