Source: United States Senator for Montana Steve Daines
Introduces new legislation to reduce wildfire risk
U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today introduced legislation that would increase active forest management to prevent deadly wildfires in Montana. This legislation is in addition to several other forest management and wildfire prevention measures Daines is working to get signed into law.
“Montana is battling yet another catastrophic wildfire season. We must do everything we can to manage our forests to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and protect Montana families and communities from the deadly flames,” Daines said. “This bill would allow Governors to work with the Forest Service on prioritizing areas at the highest risk of wildfire and expediting treatment to reduce this risk. The ‘FIRESHEDS Act’ responds to the crisis in our forests by cutting bureaucratic red tape and providing land managers the tools they need to better manage our forests.”
As Montana faces a catastrophic wildfire season, Daines is continuing his work to pass commonsense forest management reform. Active forest management is a top priority of Daines’ and can reduce the risk of deadly wildfires while supporting good paying jobs.
Read the full text of the bill HERE.
The “Forest Improvements through Research and Emergency Stewardship for Health Ecosystem Development and Sustainability (FIRESHEDS) Act,” would:
- Allow Governors to enter into joint agreements with land management agencies to designate areas at highest risk of wildfire as fireshed management areas.
- Expedite hazardous fuel reduction projects in fireshed management areas, and
- Prevent these high priority projects from further delay by prohibiting court-issued injunctions.
Background:
On July 14, 2021, Daines advanced two key forest management reforms out of a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources which will expedite fuel breaks to protect communities in the Wildland Urban Interface and streamline post-disaster salvage and restoration work. Daines also secured provisions to support our wildland firefighters.
On April 20, 2021, Daines introduced a bipartisan bill to support wildland firefighters.
In 2020, Daines introduced a major, bipartisan forest management reform bill with Senator Dianne Feinstein.
For more information on Daines’ work on forest management issues, click HERE.
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Contact: Katherine McKeogh, Katie Schoettler