{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/energy-committee-passes-wyden-eastside-forest-bill", "Energy Committee Passes Wyden Eastside Forest Bill", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bill Creates Jobs, Protects Trees More than 150 Years Old, Promotes Sustainable Restoration Harvests\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 19, 2013\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that would boost timber harvests while protecting and restoring old growth forests in Oregon.\r\n\u201cThe eastern part of my state is down to only a small handful of surviving timber mills,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cYet without them, there\u2019s going to be no restoration of Oregon\u2019s eastside forests, and none of the jobs \u2013 none of the jobs \u2013 that they provide in rural communities. That\u2019s why focusing on projects that stakeholders can agree need to be done and provide greater certainty of timber supply is so important.\u201d\r\nWyden\u2019s Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act\u00a0(S. 1301), creates a pilot program for the forests on the east side of Oregon to increase timber harvests and improve the health of old growth forests and watersheds. It is the first legislative protection for trees older than 150 years. It also requires a large-scale environmental impact assessment for projects with similar characteristics and sets targets for the number of acres to be restored.\r\n\u201cSenator Wyden\u2019s Eastside forest bill represents a lifeline for the struggling forest economy of eastern Oregon and the families and businesses that rely on it,\u201d John Shelk, president of Ochoco Lumber Co. in Prineville, said. \u201cThrough his efforts to find common ground on how to improve our forests and keep our mills operating, the Malheur National Forest has quickly become a model for what can be achieved under his bill.\u201d\r\nWyden introduced the bill in July and the committee held a hearing on the bill later that month. The bill now goes to the full Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/energy-committee-passes-wyden-eastside-forest-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4029769226908684, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}