Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Wildfire Mitigation Through Wildlife Grazing

WASHINGTON, DC– Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and James Lankford (R-OK) in introducing the bipartisanWildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act, legislation to promote research on how grazing can support wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction, and post-fire recovery.
“As the people of Lahaina continue to recover from the devastating wildfires in 2023, we recognize just how necessary it is to pre-emptively reduce wildfire risk,”said Senator Hirono.“As wildfires occur with increasing frequency across the country, this legislation is a crucial step to help strengthen community resilience by studying the implementation of grazing as a strategy for reducing vegetation that can fuel wildfires. I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing this important bill to help prevent wildfires and protect our communities.”
Several states have implemented pilot programs in which animals like goats and cattle, called “ungulates,” have grazed on prescribed areas of land containing highly flammable grasses and shrubs to mitigate fire risk. These pilot efforts have successfully reduced vegetation that can fuel rapid fire growth. However, limited scientific research has been conducted on optimal grazing land management techniques that also protect against other environmental harms. To address this critical research gap, theWildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Actwould add the “Grazing for Wildfire Mitigation Initiative” to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s High-Priority Research List.
Specifically, theWildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Actwould:
This legislation is endorsed by the Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy.
The full text of the legislation is availablehere.
Following the devastating Maui wildfires, Senator Hirono has worked to support Lahaina in their recovery and rebuilding efforts, while also strengthening Hawaii’s natural disaster response. In May 2024, Senator Hironoannouncedthat the U.S. Forest Service is awarding more than $5.6 million to help plan for and prevent wildfires in Hawaii. The announcement follows aletterSenator Hirono sent to U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore in November 2023 in strong support of Hawaii’s applications for CWDG funding. In March 2024, Senator Hirono led the Hawaii Congressional delegation inurgingthe Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, Danny Werfel, to extend the 2023 federal tax filing and payment deadlines for individuals and businesses impacted by the Maui wildfires. In January 2024, Senator Hirono joined a group of her colleagues inintroducingbipartisan legislation to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness. TheEmergency Vehicle and Community (EVAC) Planning Actwould direct the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to develop and publicly disseminate guidance and best practices for states, territories, Tribes, and local governments to utilize when conducting transportation infrastructure planning.
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