During House floor remarks on Thursday, Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) slammed firings of forest service personnel.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute.
00:05Madam Speaker, I stand to rise the alarm about the Trump administration's reported plans to fire nearly 7,000 workers in the U.S. Forest Service.
00:14These illegal firings could have devastating consequences for Oregon.
00:19Wildfire season is just around the corner, and there's concern that the Forest Service won't actually have enough staff and resources to fight these deadly blazes,
00:27putting countless Oregonians at risk.
00:30Fewer workers also means less people to care for our public lands and less money coming into our local economies.
00:37And yes, it means taxpayer dollars, whose dollars go to recruit and train these highly skilled individuals, will lose out on their investment.
00:46That's why my colleagues and I sent a letter to Secretary Rollins and President Trump demanding the reinstatement of all Forest Service personnel who have been illegally fired.
00:56Luckily, our letter resulted in some workers being reinstated, but the threat of more terminations remain.
01:04Our public servants deserve better.
01:06The American people deserve better.
01:09I won't be silent as the administration continues to wreak havoc on our country, on our forests, and on our people.
01:16With or without my Republican colleagues, I will continue to fight for our vulnerable communities.
01:21Thank you, and I yield back.
01:22Thank you very much.