Last week at a Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation hearing, Republican Members stressed the need for the U.S. Forest Service to resume active forest management and discussed several proposals to improve forest health. A lack of forest management has deprived rural counties of revenue needed to fund schools, emergency services and infrastructure projects; caused a decline in timber production costing tens of thousands of jobs; and created unhealthy forests susceptible to deadly wildfires and bug infestation.

Today, Fox News’ Dan Springer took a look at the issue in Oregon’s Curry Country

In the piece, local elected leaders emphasize the need to cut federal regulations and red tape that prevent forest management projects, Susan Brown, Curry County Oregon Commissioner said "The answer is loosen the regulations, let us use what we have, quit trying to come down and scare us and terrorize our citizens, with taxes and impositions and taking over services and state involvement, that does not help."

Click here to learn more about House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings' proposal to address the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools program and renew the federal government's commitment to manage forest resources for the benefit of rural schools and counties.