The House of Representatives has passed the Fix Our Forests Act to provide for healthier forests and increased wildfire protection.
All Central Valley representatives co-sponsored the bill – which was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R–AR) and voted in support of it.
The big picture: The Fix Our Forests Act passed through the House by a 279-141 vote on Thursday.
- Representatives Jim Costa (D–Fresno), Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Adam Gray (D–Merced), Josh Harder (D–Tracy), Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove) and David Valadao (R–Hanford) all supported it.
Why it matters: The Fix Our Forests Act will expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects, enhance grant programs and new research and stop frivolous litigation and consultations that delay forest management activities.
- It also establishes strike teams to accelerate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.
- Consultation requirements surrounding threatened and endangered species will be limited under the act as well.
- The bill also supports forest restoration, biochar demonstration projects and advancing technologies to address wildfires.
Zoom in: Along with the forest management part of the bill, the Fix Our Forests Act also includes the Headwaters Protection Act, which was introduced by Costa.
- The Headwaters Protection Act increases eligibility for public entities such as local water districts for funding under the Water Source Protection Program, which assists local groups with ensuring clean drinking water.
What they’re saying: “Over 117 million acres of our nation’s forests are dangerously overgrown and fire-prone, putting lives and communities at risk,” Valadao said in a statement. “The Fix Our Forests Act takes critical steps to address the growing wildfire crisis by streamlining forest management, prioritizing prevention, and adopting new technologies to fight forest health threats. I’m proud to have joined my colleagues in passing this bill and want to thank House Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Bruce Westerman, for his leadership on the issue.”
- Costa spoke on the House floor ahead of the bill’s passage, arguing for its necessity.
- “This bill will better help us maintain our forests by prioritizing the treatment of hazardous fuels and fire-prone areas and expanding wildfire resilience,” Costa said.