SW Arkansas Times

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 8790, known as the Fix Our Forests Act. This bipartisan legislation, sponsored by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), aims to promote active forest management in the United States and protect rural communities located in the wildland-urban interface.

“America’s forests are on life support after decades of mismanagement. The clock on these ticking time bombs is down to the final few seconds, and Congress must move swiftly to save our forests from imminent destruction. Today, the House took decisive action on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which will empower local land managers and agencies with tools to enact the most vital forest management projects. The time to fix our forests is now,” stated House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) commented, “Poor land management, senseless bureaucracy, and increasingly common wildfires pose severe threats to America’s forests. The Fix Our Forests Act creates responsible land management practices and encourages healthy, vibrant forests that our children and grandchildren will enjoy for generations to come. I commend Rep. Westerman’s leadership in protecting America’s natural beauty.”

U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) highlighted the urgency of addressing wildfire impacts: “Wildfires have already burned over 7.3 million acres across the United States in 2024. They release over 1.7 billion tons of CO2 every year, cost billions in property damage, and endanger millions through smoke exposure. These numbers cannot speak to the heavy weight borne by those who have lost their homes and loved ones. San Diego knows this pain all too well. Last year, we commemorated the 20th anniversary of the devastating Cedar Fire that killed 17 people, burned more than 3,200 homes and buildings, and caused $17 million of damage. We remember the terror and fear people felt when they had to evacuate. It is with the memory of those victims in mind that I introduced this legislation and fought for its passage in the House.”

The Fix Our Forests Act seeks to expedite environmental analyses for forest management projects, reduce frivolous lawsuits delaying essential projects, increase collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local entities, prioritize treatments for high-risk forests, adopt state-of-the-art science for federal land managers, improve infrastructure safety such as powerlines through active management, and strengthen tools like Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting.

The bill passed with a vote of 268-151 in favor and now awaits consideration by the Senate.

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