Pulaski Times

The Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology convened a hearing to discuss the Fix Our Forests Act and strategies to mitigate catastrophic wildfires. Subcommittee Chairman Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) delivered an opening statement highlighting the urgency of addressing wildfire risks.

Marshall expressed gratitude to the witnesses for their participation in reviewing the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), which was passed by the House with a significant majority in January 2025. He emphasized that wildfires disregard jurisdictional boundaries and have caused extensive damage to both rural and urban areas. Recent fires in the Carolinas, as well as historical incidents like the 2018 Camp Fire in California and recent fires in Southern California, underscore this issue.

Marshall outlined a comprehensive approach to tackling wildfires, involving modernizing federal tools for risk assessment and early response, alongside enhancing public-private partnerships across various jurisdictions. He stressed that effective forest management could prevent small sparks from escalating into destructive fires.

He noted that Kansas has also faced wildfire challenges, citing the Four Counties Fire of 2021 as an example where strong winds and dry conditions led to grassland fires. While management methods differ between grasslands and forests, proper landscape management remains crucial.

The Fix Our Forests Act aims to equip agencies with improved tools for fire management while ensuring sustainable stewardship of federal lands. The act proposes increased acreage limitations for Categorical Exclusions available to forest managers based on agency analysis showing no significant environmental effects.

Marshall explained that FOFA directs federal efforts toward identifying high-risk firesheds over the next five years to allocate resources effectively. It also addresses litigation delays by adopting reforms used by previous administrations and strengthens Good Neighbor Authority to enhance collaboration between local partners and the Forest Service.

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