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Urging Action to Reduce Severity of Wildfires

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 30, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Natural Resources

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Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge farm bill negotiators to include critical forest management reforms in the new farm bill.

I am encouraged that the new farm bill is forthcoming, but it should include reforms on how we manage our forests.

Mr. Speaker, the Camp fire in California has tragically claimed the lives of 88 people and hundreds remain missing. It has left more than 13,000 families without homes.

Last year in Montana, more than 1.2 million acres burned, creating dangerous air quality. Congress must act now. Our communities can't afford to wait any longer.

Senate Democrats should put the health and safety of our communities first and include commonsense forest management reforms in the farm bill. Meaningful forest management reforms will reduce the severity of fires, improve air quality, boost the health of our forests and wildlife habitats, as well as create good-paying jobs.

Mr. Speaker, with devastating wildfire seasons over the last couple of years, it is urgent that Congress act now.

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