OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Date: July 9, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Environment

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Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chair, I rise to discuss Title IX of H.R. 2647, the ``Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015.''

Each year, several hundred small wildfires occur within the State of Indiana. Most of these fires are extinguished by our local fire departments. While the Hoosier State does not experience the devastating effects of wildfires that the West does, I understand and support the need to ensure that wildfires on Federal lands are treated similar to other major disasters so that they have access to funds outside the discretionary budget caps. It is important that the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service, which manages the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana, have access to sufficient funding to suppress wildfires on Federal lands whenever they occur.

Earlier this year, the Committee held a hearing and received testimony that made clear that wildfire funding is an issue that needs to be addressed. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, which has jurisdiction over the Robert T. Stafford Act Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), I think it is appropriate to amend the Stafford Act to ensure similar treatment for wildfires on Federal lands.

Some may have concerns that amending the Stafford Act will afford the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service with access to programs and funds intended for other disasters. I agree that these agencies should not be eligible for other Stafford Act assistance programs nor should these agencies have access to funds provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for other types of major disasters. But I am confident that the Stafford Act may be amended to treat wildfires on Federal lands as a major disaster without affecting other programs and funding. It is simply a matter of establishing a dedicated funding stream specifically for wildfires on Federal lands to ensure that these agencies have access to funds outside the discretionary budget caps. It is my understanding that this is the intent of Title IX.

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