At Klobuchar’s Urging, Forest Service Retains Minnesota Research Facilities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced that forest research facilities in Ely, Grand Rapids, and St. Paul will remain open after an initial announcement that the Ely and Grand Rapids facilities would be evaluated for closure. “I repeatedly pressed the U.S. Forest Service to protect Minnesota’s three Forest Service research facilities, and I am glad they will remain open. These facilities support local economies, perform world-class research, and help protect our natural resources both in Minnesota and across the country,” said Klobuchar. “I continue to be concerned that the U.S. Forest Service’s reorganization will undermine critical research.” The Forest Service has stated that it will close 23 research facilities across the country. After the initial list of proposed facility closures was published in March, Klobuchar led 36 colleagues in directly raising concerns about Forest Service office closures. She also joined 16 colleagues in urging the Forest Service to improve transparency and consider the benefits of research services provided to surrounding communities and what research services would be lost with facility closures. Klobuchar also raised the importance of the Grand Rapids and Ely research facilities with Chief of the Forest Service Tom Schultz during the Senate Agriculture Committee’s oversight hearing. ###