SW Arkansas Times

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Fix Our Forests Act with a significant bipartisan vote of 279-141. The legislation aims to reform forest management practices in response to devastating wildfires, particularly those recently affecting Southern California.

"Congress is once again coming together and passing long overdue reforms to bring commonsense back into forest management," stated House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.). He emphasized the urgency for action following recent wildfires, highlighting the need for science-based tools to restore forest health and mitigate future disasters.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) supported the bill, criticizing current California leadership for prioritizing climate policies over effective wildfire prevention. "Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Westerman, the House is governing by common sense so we can restore the health of our forests and make communities more resilient to these disasters," he said.

U.S. Representative Scott Peters (D-Calif.) underscored the human impact of fires in Los Angeles and advocated for policy changes that could prevent or limit fire spread. "Our bill will help us protect where nature meets homes, pre-position firetrucks and other resources in high-risk areas, and build homes more resistant to fire," he urged his Senate colleagues to act swiftly on this legislation.

The Fix Our Forests Act proposes measures such as expediting environmental reviews for forest projects, enhancing community resilience through better coordination of grant programs, promoting collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local entities, deterring litigation that delays projects, and adopting advanced scientific techniques for land management.

Additionally, it seeks to improve infrastructure safety concerning powerlines and supports wildland firefighters by ensuring continuity in casualty assistance programs. With its passage in the House, attention now turns to potential Senate action on this comprehensive package aimed at tackling wildfire crises effectively.