The Senate passed legislation extending Timber Payments as part of its Transportation Bill. It's now before a House committee. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is trying to push the House to pass it; through a letter signed by 25 Senators of both parties supporting the bill. “As we pursue policies for more active management , where we can get our folks working again, back in the woods, thinning out those overstock stands. And putting people to work in the private economy; we very much need those funds for schools and law enforcement and basic services and the Senate passed the measure I wrote with the Oregon delegation. And now we’ve got to – through this conference committee, and the bipartisan letter ought to help.” The bill would spent $109 billion for two years and would preserve just under 3-million jobs.