WASHINGTON, D.C. (MPG) - This week, the House passed H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, a strongly bipartisan piece of legislation focused on improving forest management and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The act promotes enhanced cooperation among federal, state, and tribal land managers while strengthening local restoration efforts.

Rep. LaMalfa (R-CA), released the following statement:

“The Fix Our Forests Act is a hard-fought bipartisan compromise that will begin getting the work we need done in our forests to reduce fuels and risk of major wildfire. This bill starts to peel back the bureaucracy and limit some of the lawsuits that have hampered so many good forestry projects.  I was happy to see my bill to increase the use of grazing on federal lands to reduce fire fuels, as well as my bill to provide greater setbacks near powerlines to prevent trees from falling into them and starting fires, were included. Fix Our Forests combined with the reforms in the bipartisan Farm Bill we are hoping to pass this fall will make a huge difference in finally addressing our forest management crisis,” said Rep. LaMalfa.

The Fix Our Forests Act streamlines the consultation process for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, preventing environmental groups from stalling projects or forcing unnecessary revisions to management plans. Additionally, the act mandates clearer reporting on hazardous fuels reduction efforts, addressing prior misrepresentation by federal agencies regarding the number of acres treated. It also explores the establishment of a Western headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service.

The bill also incorporates Rep. LaMalfa’s language to expand the clearance zone for hazardous trees around electric power lines, and his bill, H.R. 7666, was included as an amendment that directs the U.S. Forest Service to expand the use of livestock grazing in fuels management programs.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.