OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Wildfire Firefighter Pay

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 10, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Schrier for her leadership on this critically important issue to her State, my State of Arizona, and the entire United States of America. I also thank Assistant Leader Neguse for hosting this special hour.

Prolonged drought and extreme heat are causing wildfires across the West. In my home State of Arizona, things are only getting worse. Last year, more than 150,000 acres burned in Arizona. This year, it is more than 250,000 acres, and the fire season is not yet over.

This isn't and shouldn't become the new normal, but wildfires are now breaking records every year, becoming more frequent and more destructive. We need a bold approach to protect lives and livelihoods.

That is why I am proud to support the bipartisan Modernizing Wildfire Safety and Prevention Act, legislation to combat firefighter shortages, including retaining expert wildland firefighters and improving fire response times with updated technology. It also takes steps to address the public health crisis caused by wildfire smoke by establishing a nationwide, real-time air quality monitoring and alert system.

Containing wildfires is priority number one, but post-fire risks are incredibly dangerous, as well. Burn scars after a blaze can lead to life-threatening mudslides and flooding, particularly in rural communities and on Tribal lands.

One Northern Arizona University study predicted devastating economic losses from post-fire flooding. Even a small fire, when coupled with a typical summer thunderstorm, could cost local governments and the Federal Government more than $500 million and, under severe weather events, up to $3 billion in evacuation costs and lost property values.

That is why I worked with Congressman Doug LaMalfa from northern California to introduce the bipartisan Wildfire Response Improvement Act. This bill would update FEMA's fire management assistance grant and help communities responding to and recovering from wildfires.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward