Congress Engages on Wildfire Policy this September

Coming back to a busy legislative month, key congressional committees are gearing up to consider forest health and wildfire response. From likely Senate action on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to dual hearings in the House focused on oversight and active management, committee leadership is signaling that wildfire resilience remains a priority issue.

Here’s what to watch this month on wildfire:

A potential Fix Our Forests Act markup: The Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471/S. 1462) represents one of the most significant bipartisan legislative efforts this Congress to modernize federal forest management. Passed by the House in January, the bill would streamline environmental reviews, accelerate restoration in high-risk “fireshed” areas, and invest in proactive management tools such as prescribed fire and watershed protection.

A companion bill in the Senate introduced by Sens. Curtis (R-Utah), Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Padilla (D-Calif.), and Sheehy (R-Mont.) was the subject of a hearing earlier this year. The Senate Agriculture Committee is working towards a markup later this month.  

House Natural Resources Committee looks at forest health:  On September 9, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold an oversight hearing on “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests.” This hearing will provide a chance for the committee to examine the health of public forests and identify the barriers to restoration efforts. The Forest Service will be on deck to answer how wildfire management is going amid retirements, restructuring, and other roadblocks.

House Agriculture Committee considers active forest management policies: The following day, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture will convene a hearing titled “Promoting Forest Health and Resiliency Through Improved Active Management.” This hearing is expected to highlight the role of prescribed burning, thinning, biochar, and nursery capacity in strengthening forest ecosystems and reducing wildfire risk.

Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on prescribed fire: Next Wednesday, the Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing to consider the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act, which grants regulatory relief to states trying to enable prescribed fire under air quality standards. It’s a rare hearing on wildfire for a committee focused on air and water quality.

Taken together, these actions underscore that Congress is entering a pivotal moment on wildfire policy. These bipartisan bills and conversations demonstrate a cross-chamber and cross-party understanding that catastrophic fires require federal policy solutions. For stakeholders, this convergence means it’s an important opportunity to engage.