On behalf of the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), I would like to thank Chairman Dicks and Ranking Member Tiahrt for the opportunity to appear before the Committee today. The National Association of State Foresters represents the directors of the state forestry agencies of all fifty states, eight territories, and the District of Columbia. State Foresters manage and protect state and private forests across the US, which encompass two-thirds of the nation’s forests.

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:  My name is Kirk Rowdabaugh and I am the State Forester of Arizona.  Last year, I represented the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) on the strategic issues panel, chartered by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, which recently completed an in-depth study of wildland fire cost containment issues. 

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is pleased to provide testimony on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget request for Fiscal Year 2007.  Representing the directors of state forestry agencies from all fifty states, eight U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, our testimony centers around those program areas most relevant to the long-term forestry operations of our constituents:  Research, Education, and Economics, as well as Natural Resources and Environment.  We believe the USDA budget for FY 2007, which offers opportunities for advancing the sustainable management of private forestland nationwide, can be strengthened through our recommendations.

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is pleased to provide testimony on the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) budget request for Fiscal Year 2007.  Representing the directors of state forestry agencies from all fifty states, eight U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, our testimony centers around those program areas most relevant to the long-term forestry operations of our constituents.