Yuba-Sutter Times

This week, the House passed H.R. 8790, known as the Fix Our Forests Act. The legislation aims to improve forest management and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires through enhanced cooperation among federal, state, and tribal land managers while bolstering local restoration efforts.

Rep. LaMalfa (R-CA) released a statement regarding the passage of the act:

"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, aiming to prevent environmental groups from stalling projects or forcing unnecessary revisions to management plans. Additionally, it mandates clearer reporting on hazardous fuels reduction efforts, addressing previous misrepresentations by federal agencies regarding treated acres. The act also explores establishing a Western headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service.

The bill includes language proposed by Rep. LaMalfa to expand clearance zones for hazardous trees around electric power lines and incorporates his bill H.R. 7666 as an amendment directing the U.S. Forest Service to expand livestock grazing in fuels management programs.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa represents California’s First Congressional District, which includes Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Tehama Counties.

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