Val Hoyle (CD #4) voted against Fix Our Forest Act

Monique DeSpain Scorches Val Hoyle Over No Vote To Fix Oregon’s Forests
Hoyle Votes NO on Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce and Prevent Annual Wildfires, Produce Healthy, Resilient Forests
By Monique DeSpain for Congress campaign,

Eugene, OR – Fourth District Candidate for Congress Monique DeSpain scorched incumbent Congresswoman Val Hoyle for her vote against the bipartisan H.R.8790 Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA), a transformative piece of legislation designed to produce more resilient, healthy forests and reduce wildfire severity and promote the prevention of the annual wildfires plaguing Oregon and many other western states with health hazardous persistent smoke. FOFA is the only forest management legislation to advance out of committee during the current Congress, passing with a strong bipartisan majority 268-151 with the support of 55 Democrats, including former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but not Val Hoyle.

“While Oregonians are in the midst of a 2024 fire crisis of epic proportions, the worst in recorded history, a record 1.9 million acres burned, including all the creatures that lived there, and while entire communities of people around our state choke on third world levels of smoke, as property, domestic animals, and wildlife are incinerated, our Oregon Representative, corrupt career politician Val Hoyle, voted against the strongest bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act presented in years.  FOFA presents real solutions that transform our failed federal forest management system and provides workable plans to reduce and prevent future horrific wildfires and devastation,” stated DeSpain. “In the last 24 hours, I’ve been hearing from outraged members of our community about how shocked and frustrated they are at this betrayal by our current Congresswoman. It’s no wonder voters are telling me that they don’t feel listened to – clearly, Val Hoyle does not listen, does not care, and is willing to betray Oregon repeatedly.  Actions speak louder than words, and certainly, her congressional votes tell us exactly where the problem lies.  Clearly, Congresswoman Val Hoyle is part of the problem in Oregon’s forest management crisis.”  “I vow to work diligently for positive measurable progress and I will seize every opportunity to reach consensus and deliver results for the people and precious forests of Oregon.”

In August, Congresswoman Hoyle announced that she was skipping the Democratic National Convention in order to remain in Oregon because “Wildfires are getting worse out here and working this is her priority right now.” Oregon’s Fourth District contains 2,384,737 acres under National Forest Service management.  “Clearly, Hoyle’s interests lie in half-measure attempts to extinguish raging fires, year after year, rather than preventing them,” stated DeSpain.

“Our district is 85% forestland, of which half of it, or 2.3 million acres, is federally-managed and where so many of these fires burn out of control every year. Val Hoyle has failed, once again, to stand up for the people of the Fourth District. It’s obvious that her radical policies, not wildfire prevention, are her real priority. She talks about working across the aisle but doesn’t deliver when it truly matters,” added DeSpain. “Thank God this meaningful, transformative bill has passed the House despite Val Hoyle voting against it.  Let’s wait and see what our U.S. Senators Merkley and Wyden deliver to us on this critical issue that affects our health, food supplies, economy, workforce, precious green forests, and wildlife.”

“As a retired Air Force Colonel, a fighter for crime victims, and the mother of twin sons, I will be an independent voice and work with anyone of any party, and any President, to achieve bold, bipartisan solutions in D.C.,” said DeSpain. “I will lead us to a better future where we manage and access our forests, prevent wildfires, and adequately fund our local public services – instead of breathing our timber as smoke every year. Deploy me to Congress, and let’s make it happen.”

H.R.8790 Fix Our Forests Act is comprehensive, bipartisan legislation designed to restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, and protect communities by expediting environmental analyses, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. The Act presents desperately needed solutions that would expedite progress under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes.

Monique DeSpain is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, mother of twin boys, and public policy advocate who resides in Eugene, Oregon. She is the Republican nominee for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, running to unseat incumbent Congresswoman Val Hoyle in 2024 and bring about a safer, more prosperous Oregon. Her campaign website is www.MoniqueForCongress.com