WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Walden today responded to the unveiling of the proposed rule for roadless areas on U.S. National Forest lands:

"This is another in a series of top-down regulations from Washington that will tie up our national forests in endless litigation. The real losers today are Oregon families who live in communities near national forests, where unemployment is frequently high and further forest lock-ups are a serious blow to any hope of economic stability. We need to keep our forests open to responsible use and management to make both the forests and our rural communities healthy," Walden said.

Congressman Walden represents the Second Congressional District of Oregon, which includes the 20 counties of southern, central and eastern Oregon. Rep. Walden is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, The House Committee on Resources and the House Committee on Government Reform.

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