2. Accomplishments
• FS New Business Model
• Appropriations
• Performance Measures
• Biomass
• Stewardship Contracting
• Collaboration
• Wildfire Cost
• Farm Bill
Containment
• Forest Restoration &
• Workforce & Labor
Community Capacity
Building
3. Western Week in Washington
• 2 trips (April and June)
• 20 organizations participated
• Over 100 meetings held with congressional,
agency and interest group leaders
4. Forum on Working Conditions
for Forest Workers
• 5 RVCC participating groups collaborated with DOL and
FS on event
• About 100 members of the public attended
• More than 30 forest workers provided oral testimony
• Forum conducted with
simultaneous translation in
English/Spanish
• Generated media interest
5. Workforce & Labor
• Influenced issuance of
FS guidance on how
to use best value
contracting authorities
for restoration and
fuels reduction, and
monitoring service
contracts, with
particular focus on
community benefit
criteria
7. Appropriations
Economic Action Program
• Kept Congress informed of value of service delivered by
EAP
• Organized an action alert to get Senators to sign “Dear
Colleague” letters supporting EAP
• Chairman of the House
Natural Resources Committee
Rep. Rahall stated his
support for renewed funding
for EAP at $52.6 million for
the FY08 budget
10. Biomass
• RVCC member testified on • Provided comments to
integrating woody biomass congressional offices on
issues with larger energy and legislative language
climate change issues at a ensuring community
congressional oversight benefit from biomass
hearing production tax credits
• Provided language on biomass
utilization that was included in
Section 309 of the Energy
Policy Reform and
Revitalization Act of 2007
– Developed and distributed
press release in support of
Section 309
11. Farm Bill
• Worked with Senator Crapo's
staff on biomass issue in Farm
Bill resulting in his decision to
make biomass one of top five
Farm Bill issues
• Developed sign-on letter in
support of establishing
Community Forest and Open
Space Conservation Program
• Encouraged inclusion of
Community Wood Energy
Program
12. Performance Measures
• RVCC member provided testimony at
oversight hearing on Wildfire Preparedness
• recommended measurement criteria and
performance measures to ensure funding and
assistance for wildfire preparedness applied in
an equitable way
13. New Business Model
• Invited to participate in advising Forest
Service on initiative development and
implementation