The Wildfire Prevention Act Protects Communities and Improves Forest Health

“My bill will set real standards to increase thinning, prescribed burns, tree removal, and grazing. It will allow agencies to sell more timber. It will cut unnecessary red tape and streamline management.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today highlighted how the Wildfire Prevention Act will reduce the risk of wildfires and restore the health of our federal lands in Wyoming and across the country. Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks. Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared: “Wildfire season is officially here. Across the West, wildfires are devastating our communities. This certainly includes my home state of Wyoming. “The past two wildfire seasons were some of the most destructive Wyoming has seen in decades. The drought we are experiencing makes conditions this year especially concerning. As summer continues, rural communities are bracing for another devastating wildfire season. “America is in a wildfire crisis. This crisis will not solve itself. “Our federal forests are in dire need of effective management. The federal government must manage our nation’s forests in a serious and credible way. For too long, the federal government ignored forest management. That approach failed to keep communities safe. “Today, tens of millions of acres of federal land are at severe risk of wildfires. Overgrown forests have become a tinderbox for large fires. Wildfires threaten our homes, our air quality, our watersheds, and our wildlife. Without proper forest management, we will continue to see costly wildfires. “We know active forest management works. That includes thinning overgrown forests. It includes using prescribed fires. It includes grazing. All of these are tools that measurably reduce the risk of wildfires. “Wyoming has led the way. We’ve shown that when you treat more acres, and work with local partners, you get healthier forests and safer communities. The rest of the country should follow our example. “At the federal level, we have seen the Trump Administration rightfully return to forest management policies that work. Still, federal agencies need help. That is exactly why I introduced the Wildfire Prevention Act . “The Wildfire Prevention Act will reduce the risk of wildfires for our communities. At the same time, it will restore the health of our federal lands in Wyoming and across the country. “My bill is pro-first responder. Our nation’s wildland firefighters risk their lives to protect our forests and our communities from wildfires. Hotshot crews are heroes in Wyoming. They are highly trained and highly specialized. Their courage and ability keep us safe. My bill gives them the tools and support they need to better prevent wildfires and to fight them effectively. “My bill also gives federal agencies the clear direction they currently lack to manage our forests properly. This is good for humans and good for wildlife. “Our proactive measures are designed to prevent wildfires. My bill will set real standards to increase thinning, prescribed burns, tree removal, and grazing. It will allow agencies to sell more timber. It will cut unnecessary red tape and streamline management. “These are basic, bipartisan protections. Every responsible landowner follows them. We should expect nothing less from the federal government. “It is also important for Washington D.C. to collaborate effectively with states to prevent fires before they happen. That’s why my bill includes an important update to codify the repeal of the so-called Roadless Rule. “The Roadless Rule was put in place twenty-five years ago. It was put in place by President Bill Clinton. It has been called a midnight regulation because it was done in January 2001. Clinton did it in the final week of serving as President. The Roadless Rule remains a one-size-fits-all Washington restriction that obstructs responsible forest management on a state-by-state basis. “I have opposed the Clinton Roadless Rule from Day One. The Trump Administration rightly repealed it. My bill makes the repeal permanent. At the same time, it protects the rights of each state to set their own rules. That is the right approach. That is the responsible approach. It will promote public access, healthy wildlife, and smart management. “Local control and local conditions should drive forest management decisions. We cannot allow a Washington mandate imposed on states a quarter of a century ago to continue to undermine forest management. Republicans and Democrats have talked about the need for better forest management for years. Both parties know we need to do better. “The Wildfire Prevention Act builds on what works. It gives federal agencies the tools they need to succeed. Our shared forests and our local communities deserve nothing less.” ###