WASHINGTON D.C.-- Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) released the following statement after H.R. 471, the “Fix Our Forests Act,” passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 279-141.
“After the devastating wildfires that have been ravaging through the West this month, it is clear we must intensify our efforts in forest management to avert the catastrophic wildfires that are desolating our communities. Decades of poor forest management, radical environmental lawsuits, federal bureaucracy, and an emphasis on funding for suppression as opposed to active management have caused this crisis. The Fix Our Forests Act provides commonsense solutions that will provide safety and stability to communities and increase the health of our nation’s forests throughout the West and Colorado. I urge the Senate to take up his critical legislation immediately,” said Congresswoman Boebert.
Background, courtesy of the House Natural Resources Committee:
Across the United States, 44 million homes are at risk of wildfires in the wildland-urban interface. The recent wildfires in California demonstrate the need to take immediate action to prevent future devastation. This comprehensive legislation increases resiliency to catastrophic wildfires by simplifying and expediting environmental reviews, coordinating resources for communities, and reducing frivolous lawsuits that delay forest management projects.
- Wildfires continue to pose a serious threat to landscapes and communities in Western states. Since the House passed the Fix Our Forests Act in September 2024, an additional 1.5 million acres have burned across the United States. Tragically, in California, recent wildfires have claimed the lives of 28 people and destroyed over 15,000 structures.
- Research shows that active forest management, including mechanical thinning and prescribed burning, significantly reduces wildfire severity. However, land managers struggle to increase the pace and scale of forest management due in large part to a mixture of bureaucratic red tape, onerous regulations, and frivolous litigation.
- In particular, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) creates a major roadblock in improving the health of our nation’s forests. Forest management projects are often delayed or canceled as land managers divert time and resources from management activities to NEPA document requirements, circular consultations with other agencies, and combating obstructionist lawsuits.
- The Fix Our Forests Act overhauls the way forests are managed and supports active and responsible management of federal lands with the best available technology to protect our communities and counter wildfire threats. Specifically, this legislation:
- Simplifies and expedites environmental reviews to reduce costs and planning times for critical forest management projects.
- Promotes federal, state, tribal, and local collaboration by creating a new Fireshed Center and codifying the Shared Stewardship initiative.
- Stops frivolous litigation and endless agency consultations that delay needed forest management activities.
- Hardens utility rights-of-way against wildfire by encouraging more active management and removal of dangerous hazard trees.
- Revitalizes rural economies by strengthening tools such as Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting.
- Gives agencies new tools to restore watersheds, protect communities in the wildland-urban interface, and prevent forest conversion.
- Supports wildland firefighters and their families through the creation of a new Casualty Assistance Program.
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