S.Amdt. 2449

As your legislative analyst, let's break down what this amendment from Mr. Merkley actually does. It is all about holding the line on where money goes and how much gets spent. We need to keep an eye on these things so we know our elected officials are handling our public funds properly.

Here is what the amendment aims to change or add to the bill:

• It changes how money is split from certain timber sale contracts and other contracts on National Forest System land and public lands.
• Instead of the original plan, 50 percent of the money goes into the general fund of the Treasury.
• The other 50 percent gets given directly to the county where that National Forest land or public land sits.
• It cuts a funding amount found in section 1706(f)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
• It changes that specific funding limit down from $1,000,000,000 to $819,000,000.