Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2492) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands, respectively, without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2492

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. PERMITS AND AGREEMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL UTILITIES.

(a) In General.--In any special use permit or easement on covered Federal lands provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary concerned may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with--

(1) any applicable land and resource management plan; and

(2) other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).

(b) Use of Proceeds.--A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.

(c) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).

(d) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Covered federal lands.--The term ``covered Federal lands'' means--

(A) National Forest System lands; and

(B) lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

(2) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' means--

(A) with respect to National Forest System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and

(B) with respect to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 2492, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2492, the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025, led by Representatives Carbajal and Valadao.

This legislation would allow the U.S. Forest Service to permit utility companies to fully remove hazard trees and other vegetation near power lines without requiring a separate timber sale. The legislation also includes provisions ensuring a fair return to the Federal Government when the timber is sold.

Currently, utility companies are allowed to fell hazard trees in their rights-of-way but are not permitted to remove them without going through the timber sale process. This unnecessary bureaucratic step leaves timber piled up in the rights-of-way for long periods, creating a significant wildfire risk, especially near communities in the wildland-urban interface.

Hazard trees near power lines have proven to be a serious fire threat. In fact, the largest single wildfire in California history, the Dixie fire, ignited when a tree fell onto electrical lines. As we enter into what is predicted to be another devastating fire year, it is more imperative than ever that we take every step to manage our forests and reduce wildfire risk.

In January, the world watched as communities in southern California were virtually leveled by catastrophic wildfires. In the wake of that tragedy, the House came together to pass the Fix Our Forests Act on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. The legislation we are considering today was included as part of the Fix Our Forests Act. Today is another opportunity for Congress to meet the moment and pass commonsense forest management policy.

I commend Representatives Carbajal and Valadao for their bipartisan collaboration on this legislation and on the Fix Our Forests Act. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, April 28, 2025. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 2492, the ``Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025.'' Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction.

The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support such a request.

We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 2492 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, April 28, 2025. Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding our mutual understanding of H.R. 2492, the ``Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025.''

I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture will not formally consider H.R. 2492 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.

I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, passing H.R. 2492 would be an essential step toward reducing the urgent threat that wildfire poses to communities nationwide. Once again, I thank Representatives Carbajal and Valadao for their leadership on this vital issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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