U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman led an oversight hearing examining the U.S. Forest Service and called for Senate passage of the Fix Our Forests Act on June 2. The bipartisan legislation aims to mitigate wildfire threats and improve forest management.
In his opening statement, Boozman welcomed Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Tom Shultz as a witness and acknowledged the challenges facing national forests as fire season begins. “Thank you for being here today to share the work of the Forest Service to support our national forests, especially as fire season begins,” Boozman said.
Boozman highlighted that the Forest Service manages approximately 193 million acres nationwide, including nearly 3 million acres in Arkansas’s Ozark-St. Francis and Ouachita National Forests. He said these lands are important both economically and recreationally for local communities: “These National Forests not only support their local communities’ economies, but also provide recreational access to Arkansans.”
He referenced recent changes announced by USDA regarding relocating the agency’s headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, and shifting from a region-based structure to a state-based structure. “I understand the sentiment of moving people closer to the communities they serve,” he said.
Addressing wildfire concerns, Boozman stated, “As summer begins, the Forest Service’s capacity to fight wildfires is top of mind for many people… Last year, we saw over five million acres burned, with another 8.9 million burned in 2024.” He noted predictions indicate another active fire season this year.
Boozman expressed gratitude toward colleagues who supported FOFA legislation: “I am committed to working with leadership to get FOFA across the floor and to the President’s desk. FOFA will provide the Forest Service much needed streamlined authorities to reduce catastrophic wildfires and improve forest health.”
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee operates as a standing committee affiliated with the U.S. Senate; it includes 23 members—12 Republicans and 11 Democrats—and manages legislation on agriculture-related topics including forestry policy, according to its official website.
