SR329: SR329 Georgia Forestry Commission; recognize

25 LC 112 3153 Senate Resolution 329 By: Senators Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th, Burns of the 23rd, Walker III of the 20th, Kennedy of the 18th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Georgia Forestry Commission for serving the State of1 Georgia as an emergency response agency; the Worth County Unit on being named the 20242 Unit of the Year for Service; the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit on being named the 2024 Unit3 of the Year for Community Engagement; Clark Rountree for being named 2024 Wildland4 Firefighter of the Year; and Kevin Lee for being named 2024 Forester of the Year; and for5 other purposes.6 WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has worked diligently toward its mission "to7 provide leadership, service, and education to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources"8 and its vision of "healthy and abundant forests that support a robust industry while providing9 social, environmental, and financial benefits to all of Georgia" since 1921; and10 WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has protected Georgia's forests and citizens11 from an average of 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per yea r and has responded to12 historic wildfire events, including catastrophic fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017; and13 WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission assists public and private landowners in the14 established practice of prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities15 S. R. 329 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3153 from extreme wildfires, minimize the spread of insects and diseases, and improve habitats16 for threatened and endangered species; and17 WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission are train ed to meet national18 standards as Firefighter Type 1 and Firefighter Type 2 or are P OST-certified law19 enforcement officers, undergoing specific and rigorous training and assignments to maintain20 qualifications to respond to wildfires and all-hazards incidents; and21 WHEREAS, the Worth County Unit was selected as the Georgia Fore stry Commission's22 2024 Unit of the Year for Service due to its outstanding accomp lishments in serving23 landowners through firebreak plowing, prescribed burn assists, and other services; and24 WHEREAS, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit was selected as the Georgi a Forestry25 Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement due to its exemplary26 outreach efforts, including Smokey Bear programs, educational p rograms, and other27 community initiatives; and28 WHEREAS, Clark Rountree was selected as the Georgia Forestry Co mmission's 202429 Wildland Firefighter of the Year in recognition of his outstand ing accomplishments in all30 areas of wildfire mitigation and suppression; and31 WHEREAS, Kevin Lee was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Forester32 of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments i n all areas of forest33 management; and34 WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission serve the citizens of the State35 of Georgia with dedication, heart, and determination, ensuring the safeguarding of36 S. R. 329 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3153 communities as well as the protection and conservation of our forest resources for the next37 generation.38 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body39 recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency.40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the Worth County41 Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Le e for their outstanding42 achievements and recognition as the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service, Unit of the Year for43 Community Engagement, Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Forester of the Year.44 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed45 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to State Forester John46 Sabo.47 S. R. 329 - 3 -