Save Our Sequoias Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, that was a really good tour. I think it was about 4 years ago. As a dairy farmer, it is always interesting for us to learn the different parts of growing plants and animals and the impact they have.

Mr. Westerman's expertise on this piece of legislation specifically really shown through on those days when we were driving around and spending a lot of time with then-Speaker McCarthy and a bipartisan group of Members. We learned a lot.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for the Save Our Sequoias Act. For generations, the giant sequoias have stood as one of the most recognizable symbols of California. These trees are remarkably resilient to fire and were once considered virtually indestructible.

Today, they face a crisis of our own making. More than a century of fire suppression and forest mismanagement has allowed dangerous levels of fuel to build up around these groves, turning natural fires into catastrophic, high-severity wildfires.

Since 2015, these fires have caused unprecedented destruction. In just the last few years, nearly one-fifth of all giant sequoias have been lost. Without urgent action, we risk losing countless more. That is why I am proud to cosponsor the Save Our Sequoias Act.

This bill provides land managers with the emergency tools and resources they need to protect the remaining groves by strengthening coordination among Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners. It establishes a comprehensive assessment to prioritize wildfire risk reduction. It also streamlines reviews so critical forest management can move forward quickly, while maintaining strong scientific standards.

The Save Our Sequoias Act also encourages private partnerships to support restoration and establishes a comprehensive reforestation strategy to regenerate groves lost to recent wildfires.

Mr. Speaker, protecting the giant sequoias is about safeguarding a natural legacy for future generations. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank the chairman for his efforts on this legislation over the last few years.

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