Curtis, Cortez Masto Legislation to Reduce Wildfire Risk Unanimously Clears Key Senate Hurdle

WASHINGTON—Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) to reduce the risk of wildfires unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). TheStrategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Actnow heads to the Senate floor for a vote.
Historic drought across the West has led to devastating fires that grow in scale and intensity every year. This legislation would direct the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to collaborate with grazing allotment holders, states, Tribes, and fire departments to create a strategy to use targeted grazing to manage hazardous fuels.
“Last year, Utah saw nearly 165,000 acres burned by wildfires—the most acreage burned since 2020,”said Senator Curtis. “Pilot programs have shown that strategic grazing and use of public lands for fire mitigation can reduce hazardous fuels and slow the spread of wildfires. As we face this year’s fire season, I’m proud to see our bipartisan legislation to empower local officials and fire crews to develop targeted strategies like these advance in the Senate.”
“Nevada’s use of strategic grazing to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires has been a proven success,”said Senator Cortez Masto.“Now, we have the opportunity to extend this valuable tool throughout the West. I am glad to see my legislation pass through committee with bipartisan support, and I urge Senate leadership to immediately bring it to the floor for a vote.”
Pilot programs have shown that the use of strategic grazing can reduce hazardous fuels and slow the spread of a wildfire. TheStrategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Actdirects federal agencies to consider the following in the development of the strategic grazing framework:
Read more about the legislationhere.