Nice to get started. This morning we will consider the president s budget request for the u. S. Forest service for fy 2021. Chief christiansen, its good to be able to welcome you back to the committee, thank you for being here. We say around here that the president s budget request is just that, it is a request. It does start the annual budget process. It gives us here in congress the opportunity to learn about the administrations priorities and how it would carry them out. But ultimately, it is up to us to determine what programs to fund and what levels. Although this years budget request is far from perfect, i agree that the priority must be on Wildland Fire Management and improving the health of our forests. Im encouraged that the administration is proposing to invest significantly in hazardous fuel reduction and other active Forest Management activities. We know such investments pay dividends in reducing the risk of severe wildfire. Hopefully we will see this important work planned and carried out without any disruptions thanks to our work on the consolidated appropriations act of 2018, which provided new Budget Authority to fight wildfires. The fire fix will be available for the first time in fy 2020 and this budget request would make use of it for fy 2021. The 2019 fire season was relatively mild in the lower 48, with a few notable exceptions. But in alaska, last summer is going to be going down in the history books. We had over 600 fires that burned over 2. 5 million acres. We had the nations costliest fire of the year, the swan lake fire on the kenai peninsula. Thousands of firefighters from across alaska, 46 states, canada, and even puerto rico fought fires in alaska last summer. Hazardous fuel reduction projects and fuel breaks provided effective help with firefighters as they beat back the fires and prevented them from spreading into communities. But it was a tough, tough summer for us. As more and more of our forests die off due to beetle infestations across alaska and elsewhere, this work becomes more urgent. We know that we need more of it. And chief, you certainly know that fires have no boundaries there, and what we can do to Work Together is important. I appreciate the Forest Service acknowledging its cooperative work with the state of alaska on the beetle infestation in its budget justification, but i am dismayed that this request proposes to cut the overall program, the Forest Health management on cooperative lands, and other state and private forestry programs. Even with the fire fix in place, wildfire will continue to consume a large percentage of the budget, so im pleased the Forest Service wants to invest in building capacity to more effectively use technology in Wildland Fire Management. That will help ensure we are smart as we fight the fires, always keeping firefighter safety at the forefront. I think we owe appreciation to senator gardner and senator cantwell for their work on the Wildfire Technology provisions in the dingell act, which was signed just about a year ago. Another area where i think we all know we need to do more is with recreation. Recreation is the single greatest use of our National Forests, but this request does not accurately reflect that in my view. In alaska, i routinely hear about the demand for new recreation uses and corresponding difficulties in getting permits for them. I was just in southeast this past week, and again heard that repeated. Last year we held a hearing on recreation and heard about the need for permitting reform. Im still hopeful we can Work Together to make some meaningful progress here in congress. Similar to recreation, i remain concerned that Agency Initiatives to create a positive workforce are not adequately articulated in this request. Time and again, i have urged Forest Service leadership to cultivate a Work Environment that is free of harassment and retaliation. Im also concerned by the increasing rate of suicide among wildland firefighters. These issues are a priority here on this committee, i think they are a priority for all of us, i look forward to hearing how the Forest Service intends to address them. In wrapping up, i think i would be remiss if i didnt mention the Forest Services work on roadless. The agencys statespecific rulemaking for the tongass has always been about reasonable access for every local stakeholder in the 32 islanded communities in southeast alaska. Not just timber, barely timber, if were actually being honest here, but also transportation, tourism, mining, and even renewable energy. So my thanks to you, chief, as well as secretary perdue and all who are working on this rule. I know it is not easy and i think that sometimes your good work is frequently mischaracterized. So i appreciate, again, all that youre doing with that. Let me turn to my colleague, senator manchin, for his comments. Thank you, chairman murkowski and want to thank you for computing the hearing today on the forest of the budget request for fiscal year 2021. Id also like to welcome chief christiansen to our committee and her staff for being here, and i had a nice conversation with you yesterday at a look forward to coming back and will make sure you see some special areas. I saw from being beautiful, like most of West Virginias forest is truly a working for us. It provides fish and caper sportsmen, timber for our mills, recreational opportunities for the hikers, jobs in our communities and serves as watershed for four back states. Forest Service Lines across the country are managed sustainable for multiple uses including supporting local economies, providing timber and conserving special areas for future generations to enjoy. All this can all be accomplished if the Forest Service has the funding it needs. Rural communities all across the country support and demand our National Forest and we owe it to our constituents to deliver responsible budget. Some of the budget this a session has proposed would do just that but much of it doesnt. Doesnt. For example, im glad to see the steps are proposed to take with regards to firefighting. They would significantly reduce risk spending and on the other hand, do not support the proposal to zero out funding for the land and Water Conservation fund. I appreciate the special exhibit you include in your budget trying ending year 2019 elsa wf was used to acquire 19,550 acres of specific transfer access for hunting, fishing and shooting in National Forest. Just last to the public lands package was signed into law. Securing from authorization. I followed up a reducing by parts of the which many of my colleagues have signed onto and 52 cosponsors, to be exact which would require permit and full funding for lwcf and 90 million. And remains to this day when my top priorities. I was also proud to join many of my college on the committee to cosponsor the restore our parks act. This would provide over 6 billion to the National Park service is to address its deferred maintenance backlog. The Fourth Service pack load as you know is over 5 billion. Similar in size to the National Park service. I wanted to the president budgets request includes a nearly identical proposal except that it would direct 10 of the funding to the Fourth Service to address its deferred maintenance backlog. While im glad to see the administration is thinking about the problem, im very disappointed to see at the same time the budget proposes a a reduction in annual maintenance funding. Thats something we cant have happen. Reductions in maintenance funding are what caused the maintenance backlog and it will just grow worse. Inadequate funding needs be built into the budget we need to find yourselves in an over situation. Last thing i want to consummate the cheat on her ambitious goal for timber harvesting. I know the Forest Service will conduct these harvests in a Sustainable Way as required by our environment allows and i am pleased you are partnering with states to help get this work done. As a former governor i can tell you the partnerships you are forming with states make your agency stronger and able to do more than you can do by yourself. With that i look for to hearing about your priorities and discussing investments that we need to make in our National Forests, and what to thank you, madam chairman, look forward to hearing from chief christiansen. Thank you, senator manchin. Cheap, teddy back before the committee. We welcome your presentation here this morning. If you would like to proceed, then will have an opportunity for some questions, but thank you. Thank you, madam chairman, Ranking Member manchin, and members of the committee for inviting me back to testify on the president s 20 21 budget for the Forest Service. Today i will share details on hard choices that were made in our budget request and focus on three key areas. Our progress to employ tools, authorities and funding to confront threats to forests, and support communities. The work in front of us and the challenges that we must overcome and are steadfast efforts and progress to champion a strong workforce and healthy workplace. We thank the congress for approving the 2020 budget here with putting funds, new authorities and tools to good use. Trendlines point upward as we treat more forests, acres, reduce hazard fuels, support rural economies. We are on track to meet our timber target, and so far we are outpacing last years work to reduce hazardous fuels. Our shared stewardship approach is gaining momentum, in spirit and new agreements. We are working across to do work at the right scale in the right places. We have signed 12 agreements with states, and one with the western governors association. 26 agreements are in progress. Weve executed 245 Good Neighbor agreements in 38 states, and doubled number volume. We aim to build on our progress in 2021. The president 7. 38 billion budget emphasizes our critical work. It focuses work to reduce wildland fire risk, improve forest conditions, increased access, and contribute to local economies. And it advances are shared stewardship approach, but it does reflect tough choices and tradeoffs. In addition, we are seeking solutions and innovations to overcome obstacles that slow our work. We are nearing completion of the reforms that will ease process burdens and reduce costs. This spring we will finish new rules that streamline decision processes, the environmental responsibility, and get more work done. Efforts to modernize budget processes increase efficiencies in firefighting, integrate science, and improve internal systems, put us into position to better deliver our mission. We also appreciate your help in addressing challenges of the cottonwood ruling. It has delayed work on the ground and an ending analysis and redundant consultation. We are also seeking ways to maintain a reliable infrastructure, and essential for groundwork and public access. With over 370 miles of road and 159,000 excuse me, thats 370,000 miles of road and 159,000 miles of trails, the Forest Service manages the largest Transportation System of all the federal Land Management agencies. These roads, trails and bridges to get the largest part of our 5. 2 billion maintenance backlog. We need function roads and bridges to treat forests, fight fires, and reduce fire risk. Rural americans need function roads and bridges for their daily use, for Outdoor Activities and emergency response. Lastly, our Missions Success depends on a highly skilled, motivated workforce. We will continue our work to end Sexual Harassment and retaliation. We are making progress, and more resolute than ever in our commitment to provide a safe, harassment free, respectful workplace. Weve taken actions. We are improving. But we must go further to permanently change our culture to one that is based on dignity, equality, and respect for all. Our strong workforce is key to our aim to create a Gold Standard for Public Service and mission delivery. It ensures we make good on investments of this congress, and provide the services and sound stewardship this nation deserves. Thank you. Id be happy to answer questions. Thank you, chief. Appreciate your quick review here. Well have an opportunity to build in with more questions. I want to start off with a couple of alaska specific issues. You have mentioned that come to my colleague, senator manchin, also acknowledged that the administration is proposing its highest National Timber target in decades here. But that goal as you probably know just really doesnt extend to us in alaska. Were at the lowest point that we have seen in our States History since weve been logging they are. Certainly among the lowest in the nation here. Only 5. 6 million board feet were sold in alaska in 2019. This would be. 14 of this years goal. Again, recognizing that this coming from our nations largest National Forest. So again, i just came from southeast. I was down in ketchikan, in juneau, and sitka obviously discussion about the roadless, but really a broader concern about whether or not were going to be able to get any reliable volume out at the tongass, even what we are seeing. What steps can you share with me is the Fourth Service taking to reverse this trend on the timber in alaska . Thank you, senator. I hear you loud and clear. I too have concerns and i deck pretty deep into the uniqueness and alaska myself. Took the time to come up the summer and speedy we appreciate it. What i can assure you is that we do remain committed to a reliable and continuous supply of timber for southeast alaska. Its a part of economy and way of life. We really do get that. And im pushing our folks to really work innovatively on how we can address the multiple challenges, quite frankly, in doing business in this island communities. There are it often has a more logistical challenges. It is more expensive and we need to really be smart and we need to be coordinated. In addition, theres significant market variability. I think you know that right now the market is very soft. The 30 million board foot sale that was a Good Neighbor sale for the state of alaska is on hold right now because of market conditions. Its compounded by some retaliatory tariffs in china. And you know, there is a significant amount of controversy and lawsuits in alaska. And its not that we dont have those challenges other places, senator. So we really looked hard on how we as the Forest Service, this too would of come as you, the largest National Forest, we can be a convening capacity to bring multiple interests together to look at the watershed fisheries, recreation values in addition to the timber values, find the Common Ground, and have enough available cleared environmentally cleared product that we can be responsive to the different market changes. As you know, we took a large landscape approach, the first with the prince of wales large landscape project, brought a lot of collaborative capacity, a lot of Common Ground by many interests were brought together. Unfortunately, its been enjoined and so thats the biggest reason why we couldnt offer the amount of timber we intended to do. Were looking at the situation there, and were trying to adjust accordingly, and were committed to continue to work on this to be flexible and meet the needs of alaska. That chief, i have not interrupted. I have allowed you to try to give me as fulsome a response as you can, but you need to know that i view this as wholly unsatisfactory. Instead of moving forward, instead of actually seeing some results translate on the ground, we are going backwards, which i didnt think possible. I dont believe it is because you dont support the work or the opportunity that remains in the tongass. But what is happening is exactly what those who would seek to shut the tongass down, it is happening that the industry is unable to hold on. You will be visited by a group of alaskans this week who will not only share with you their concern about, again, this downward trend that has gone so low that we could not have even imagined that it would be this bad. But theyve also been hit with a double whammy that you referenced with regard to the chinese tariffs. That came out of left field. But i think you have a situation here where, through policies, through litigation, you have managed to eliminate an industry and an opportunity for people who live in the nations largest National Forest. And so in deference to my colleagues here, and their opportunity to ask questions, i will conclude my statement, but know that the response that you have provided that your committed, committed on paper is one thing, and ive got all the materials and the statistics, but its not translating on the ground. Its not translating indies communities, and that is not an acceptable solution. Let me turn to senator manchin. Thank you, madam chairman. Chief christiansen, december of last year myself and the chairman and members of this committee worked diligently to enact a twoyear extension on the secure rural schools program. Over to a 90,000 West