Baumgartner Releases Healthy Forests Incentives Act to Reduce Wildfire Risk

Baumgartner Releases Healthy Forests Incentives Act to Reduce Wildfire Risk November 02, 2026 | Press Releases WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) released the text of his Healthy Forests Incentives Act of 2026 , legislation to reduce wildfire risk by connecting long-term forest stewardship with targeted incentives for businesses that put removed wood to productive use. “Today, many of our Western forests have up to 7 times thicker tree density than they did 100 years ago,” said Congressman Baumgartner . “These levels of unhealthy fuel loads contribute to extreme fire risk, particularly in forested areas near residential areas. My legislation creates incentives and a pathway to clear out these dangerous forests by harvesting timber in targeted areas. We must take action now to reduce risks for the next, possible catastrophic forest fire. We lost more than 700 homes this summer, I don’t want us losing another 700 next year,” he said. “By connecting long-term stewardship in high-risk areas with incentives for businesses that use the wood we remove, this bill makes prevention a sustained economic activity—not just a series of isolated federal projects,” Baumgartner continued. Over the past 10 years, Congress appropriated $64.7 billion in wildfire-specific funds, with more than half directed toward response and only 17 percent toward mitigation. “My bill seeks to better target federal resources toward preventive restoration in high-risk landscapes, while reviving forest economies across the west with more energy, jobs and cutting-edge building materials,” Baumgartner concluded. The Healthy Forests Incentives Act would: Focus stewardship on high-risk forests. Direct USDA to establish long-term stewardship management strategies on National Forest System lands within designated firesheds; Encourage private investment in forest restoration. Target biomass investment and production tax incentives toward facilities using material removed from priority firesheds; Support forest economies. Expand federal grant programs to commercialize biomass from priority firesheds. This will expand productive uses for wood removed during restoration, including sawmill upgrades, biomass energy, and innovative products such as cross-laminated timber; Strengthen accountability. Require the Government Accountability Office to examine the Forest Service’s reporting of timber production and treatment accomplishments, performance under funded stewardship agreements, and reliance on emergency wildfire.