OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Fix Our Forests Act

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 23, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. FONG. Mr. Chair, I rise today as a cosponsor in support of the critically needed Fix Our Forests Act. As wildfires continue to threaten communities in southern California, including now a new fire near Castaic that borders my district, it is even more urgent that our Nation prioritizes preventing these catastrophic tragedies through proactive forest management.

In the past 5 years, my district has seen over 600,000 acres burned by wildfires. I have seen the devastation that it leaves behind. Our State has seen millions of acres burned and with preventive forest maintenance, these fires could have been extinguished much sooner and saved countless lives, homes, and businesses.

These out-of-control mega-fires need to be greatly mitigated before reaching the point of complete destruction. Expediting environmental reviews and prioritizing active management of our Nation's forested wildlands will be critical and essential to saving lives and communities.

Mr. Chair, I am grateful for the leadership from Chairman Westerman, who has traveled and visited the forests in my district. I am grateful to the Natural Resources Committee and the House by immediately enacting this bill into law.

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Mr. FONG. Time is of the essence to prevent the next catastrophic wildfire.

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