Bipartisan House “Wildfire” Bill Undermines Environmental Regs, Doesn’t Acknowledge Climate Change

Last week, the House of Representatives voted 279 to 141 for the so-called “Fix Our Forests Act.” 64 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it.

So what exactly about forests is the bill “fixing”? That they have environmental protections.

In the floor debate about the bill, ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee Jared Huffman (CA-02) explained how the bill undermines science-based management and public engagement, does nothing to address climate change, co-opts emergency authorities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and undermines the Endangered Species Act. And anything helpful in the bill has no funding attached — meaning it’s just hot air.

As Huffman explains:

H.R. 471 uses the pretext of wildfire response to advance longstanding GOP goals of undercutting bedrock environmental laws and public health protectionsand dramatically limiting public input.This opens the door for Republicans to gut environmental reviews on all manner of polluting projects with devastating consequences for underserved communities. The so-called “Fix Our Forests Act”:

Fails to meet the greatest need vulnerable communities face in achieving fire safety and resilience: resources. The bill includes no funding for federal land management agencies or communities most at risk.

Rejects a permanent increase for federal firefighter pay.

Slashes public participation and judicial review for a broad range of forest management projects.

Enacts largescale industry-focused shortcuts of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Includes a reckless reduction of ESA protections, exempting the Forest Service from any requirement to consider new scientific discoveries, new species listings or new critical habitat designations once a forest plan has been approved — setting yet another dangerous precedent.

Does not address the main driver of catastrophic wildfires — climate change.

Ignores many of the consensus recommendations of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report about reducing community wildfire risk.

Here are the 64 Democrats: