By Owen Hart | National Association of Counties
On March 8, three lawmakers – Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) – introduced S.697/H.R.1450 – Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act. First introduced in the 116th Congress, this critical piece of bipartisan legislation would fully extend eligibility for the Good Neighbor Authority to counties and tribes and expand opportunities for cross-boundary treatments on our public lands.
“Good Neighbor Agreements strengthen the partnership with federal land management agencies and state, tribal and county governments. Standardizing the use of GNA resources will help counties support forest management projects and facilitate better land management decisions based on local impacts and needs. We applaud Senator Risch, Congressman Fulcher and Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez for introducing the Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act and urge Congress to swiftly pass this legislation,” said Matthew Chase, Executive Director of the National Association of Counties.
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Counties applaud Sen. Risch and Reps. Fulcher and Gluesenkamp Perez for taking steps to correct these flaws in the GNA and enhance the ability of counties and our federal partners to work together toward our shared land management goals. Counties will continue to work with our partners in federal agencies and Congress to pursue an approach to public lands management that will protect our natural resources and the communities that rely on them.
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