Evergreen Forest County Group MOA Invoice

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Evergreen Forest County Group September 24,2020 Dear Commissioners/Council Members: ln what has to be the strangest year of our lives, I am pleased to report that during these unsettled times we are fortunate to be extremely well served by our County Representative in Washington, D.C., Bob Weidner. Bob has worked in our Nation's Capital since 1982 and has established countless relationships during that 38-year period; a fact that has proven invaluable during COVID-19. Anyone starting new in DC would have no chance in the continually changing dynamics of Congress and the Administration especially since the life span of Congressional staffers ranges from eight months in the U.S. House of Representatives to two years in the Senate. Under the direction of Washington's National Forest counties, Bob has remained laser focused on federal payments both SRS and PILT of which nearly Seo million dollars is owed to our state's counties and schools annually. Working through the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, Bob works cooperatively with like-minded groups including NACo, across the country promoting the interests of National Forest counties and schools. Our Congressional delegation serves us well, but to succeed we need help from other regions of the country so we can protect and promote our Washington state and Pacific Northwest interests. No one does that better than Bob weidner. For example, last week, Bob was in contact with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staffers in both parties asking why the Committee's SRS extension bill S. 430, which passed by 19-0 last December has not been enacted. Why? Because, without this bill being enacted, SRS payments which, thanks to Bob, are scheduled for next Spring will be reduced by another 5%andcounties will remain locked in a 20L2 distribution formula between Titles ll & lll. Moreover, S. 430 delegates RAC appointment authority to the Forest Service Regions away from the White House which is good for all. ln addition to our bread and butter county payments, Bob has worked closely with the Trump Agriculture and lnterior Departments to protect and promote economic development in and around our National Forests and with Democratic members of congress as well. Bob has helped craft active National Forest management legislation which remains our best choice to prevent fires and preserve job opportunities going forward. Bob has led the effort to educate eastern members of Congress in both parties about the linkage between SRS payments and plLT payments. Congress has responded and is on the verge of changing federal law to recognize the importance of establishing a permanent Trust Fund for National Forest Counties which in turn, protects plLT. Bob is working for us full time through COVID-19 and other distractions. I urge each rural county to continue to honor the commitment we made to work together to keep this effort in place as ingurance for all National Forest counties. Sincerely, Doug Engl Chairman, Chelan County County Group gfi _7 ,:iit]