WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswomen Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) moving forward with its plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule:
“The Trump Administration’s latest move to roll back the Roadless Rule is a direct attack on our forests, watersheds, and the communities that depend on them,” said Rep. Ansari. “Protecting these wild places isn’t optional, it’s essential for clean water, wildlife, and the fight against climate change—it’s why I’m proud to have introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act with Congresswoman Salinas. #ProtectRoadless.”
“I am outraged by the Trump Administration’s continued attacks against the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, threatening nearly 60 million acres of our nation’s untouched wild forestlands, wetlands, and habitats,” said Rep. Salinas. “Despite what the Administration may claim, this repeal would increase the risk of wildfires, destroy our precious woodlands, and threaten endangered species. What’s more, USDA is providing a mere 21 days for public comment – not nearly enough time for the millions of affected Americans to weigh in. Once again, the Trump Administration is attempting to ram through a proposal to benefit large extractive industry’s bottom line at the expense of native communities, conservationists, recreationists, and people's health.”
Rep. Salinas continued, “Not only is this decision shortsighted, it is also deeply unpopular. The Roadless Rule enjoys strong public support, when the Roadless Rule was adopted 25 years ago, more than 1.6 million comments were submitted in favor of the rule – more than any other rulemaking in our nation’s history at the time it was adopted. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation that would enshrine the Roadless Rule into law. I won’t stop fighting until we can protect roadless areas for generations to come.”
In July, Representatives Ansari and Salinas, joined by 37 of their colleagues, wrote to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins urging her to reverse the decision to fully rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule and to reinstate full roadless protections. In June, Representatives Ansari Salinas, along with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced legislation to enshrine the U.S. Forest Service’s Roadless Rule protections into law.
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