Opposition to H.R. the Fix Our Forests Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, this week I voted against H.R. 8790. I support parts of this bill. For example, it would create a Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, in line with a recommendation from the non-partisan Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. It would also increase tribal inclusion in forest management.

But I cannot overlook the unfunded mandates in H.R. 8790. For instance, I strongly support creating a Community Wildfire Defense Research Program within the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) to provide research that would improve the wildfire-resistance of structures and communities. However, JFSP is already oversubscribed and the bill ignores the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission's recommendation to significantly increase the program's funding. H.R. 8790 would greatly expand JFSP's responsibilities without a corresponding increase in funding, resulting in less applied research being provided to land managers. This is not the way to address the wildfire crisis.

I am also concerned about what is not in H.R. 8790. Over 100 recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission were not addressed, including many recommendations to support and expand the workforce. You cannot talk about the wildfire crisis without talking about the firefighters who do body-breaking work to protect our forests and communities. It is unacceptable that Congress has not passed a permanent solution to the firefighter pay cliff. There should be no question that federal wildland firefighters deserve at least $15 an hour and a daily pay supplemental when they are working on long-duration wildfires, prescribed fires, or deployed away from their duty station to a high-risk fire area. I am a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5169, the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, which would finally ensure that these heroes are paid well for their work. This bill should have been included within H.R. 8790.

For these reasons, I do not believe H.R. 8790 is sufficient for the communities I represent that have been experiencing record-setting wildfire seasons and expect Congress to approach the issue with the seriousness it deserves.

I will be sending a letter urging Senate leadership to improve the bill and send it back for reconsideration in the House. I want to achieve a better outcome that can solve problems and make a difference in our forests. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve that goal.

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