Rep. Baumgartner Statement on Fix our Forests Act

WASHINGTON – Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-5) released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act.

"I’ve heard my constituents' concerns about wildfires, especially after the recent tragedy in California, and this bill is a crucial step in preventing such disasters in the future," said Rep. Baumgartner. "As the son of a Washington State University Forestry professor, I know how vital it is to reduce fuel loads in our forests to protect against fire danger and create jobs in rural Eastern Washington. Supporting our logging industry is essential, and I applaud this commonsense bill that will improve fire safety and forest health. With 117 million acres of federal land at risk, this legislation gives agencies like the U.S. Forest Service the tools they need to better protect our forests and communities."

Background

H.R. 471 is aimed at restoring forest health and reducing wildfire risks, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. The legislation expedites environmental reviews and accelerates forest restoration efforts.

In California, forests that once had 64 trees per acre now have over 300, contributing to the death of 173 million trees in the past 20 years.

Across the country, 117 million acres of federal land are at high risk of wildfire. H.R. 471 provides federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management the tools they need to address these threats, improve forest health, and protect communities from catastrophic fires.