News Release
USDA Forest Service
Washington, D.C.
|
![Forest Service shield image](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117092314im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/common/images/shield_black.gif) |
FS-0203 |
Contact: Heidi Valetkevitch,
202-205-1134 |
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117092314im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/common/images/i_spcr01.gif)
FOREST SERVICE RECEIVES $4.1
BILLION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2001 -- President Bush yesterday
signed the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation
Act for fiscal 2002, which includes the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Services budget of $4.1 billion. The Forest Service
received increases for research and development as well as recreation,
heritage and wilderness programs.
Restoring forest and rangeland health, making lands accessible
to the recreating public and protecting lives and communities from
wildfire are our top priorities, said Forest Service Chief
Dale Bosworth. Forest Service employees will spend these dollars
wisely and efficiently in maintaining and restoring the health,
diversity and productivity of Americas national forests and
grasslands.
The Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act passed Congress by votes of 380-28 in the U.S. House and 95-3
in the U.S. Senate Oct. 17. While the Forest Service is now an agency
under USDA, it was once under DOI. When the agency was moved from
DOI to USDA in 1905, its funding mechanism remained attached to
DOI.
The largest increase of almost $25 million went to the Forest Services
capital improvement and maintenance program to decrease its maintenance
backlog. Monies will be used to improve the agencys infrastructure,
including the construction and restoration of buildings and the
maintenance of roads.
The measure also increases funding for Forest Service recreation,
heritage and wilderness programs by more than $15 million; forest
and range research by more than $12 million; forest products by
$11 million; and vegetation and water management by almost $9 million.
The bill fully funds the Presidents request for implementation
of the National Fire Plan while adding more than $50 million for
rehabilitation and restoration of burned lands, plus additional
$200 million to pay for unanticipated fire suppression costs.
###
|