Luján, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Wildfire Prevention is Conducted by Trained, Local Experts

Bipartisan Legislation Also Included as One of Luján's Four Amendments to the Fix Our Forests Act

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, alongside U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), introduced the Local Employment Access for our Forests (LEAF) Act of 2025 to require the U.S. Forest Service to give preference to local contractors for hazardous fuel mitigation projects and help prevent wildfires. This legislation would help boost local economies by prioritizing local contractors and ensure we keep jobs, expertise, and recovery dollars in the communities most impacted by wildfire.

The Local Employment Access for our Forests (LEAF) Act of 2025 also requires the U.S. Forest Service to issue an annual report on the number and percentage of wildfire mitigation contracts awarded to local contractors. A local contractor is defined as an entity that has its principal place of business and at least 26% of its total workforce residing within the same state as the project or an entity which is working on a project within 60 miles of the state.

"In New Mexico and across the country, wildfires have wreaked havoc on communities in recent years," said Senator Luján. "I'm proud to introduce my bipartisan LEAF Act with Senator Daines that will prioritize hiring trained, local experts - who know their communities the best - for wildfire mitigation projects and help ensure we keep recovery dollars in the communities most impacted by wildfires. We must continue to work to prevent wildfires before they occur, and the inclusion of this bill - as well as my three other amendments to the Fix Our Forests Act - is a positive step."

"Every season, Montana deals with catastrophic wildfires that can have a devastating impact on our communities. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Luján that will help local businesses work with USFS to manage our forests and remove hazardous materials, so we can mitigate the root causes of wildfires and keep our communities safe," said Senator Daines.

The Local Employment Access for our Forests Act of 2025 was also included as an amendment to the Fix Our Forests Act, which was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry by a vote of 16-5. Further, Senator Luján secured three additional amendments to the Fix Our Forests Act, double the number any other senator was able to secure:

1. Senator Luján secured an amendment to open additional funding streams for seedling centers. Senator Luján's amendment would allow a seedling center to be an allowable claim under the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and certain Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act programs. This amendment is based on Senator Luján's bipartisan Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Act.
2. Senator Luján secured an amendment to boost wildfire research and create regionally focused wildfire research centers at institutions of higher education across the country. This amendment is based on Senator Luján's bipartisan Regional Leadership in Wildland Fire Research Act.
3. Senator Luján secured an amendment to make it easier for public land management agencies to access cutting-edge wildfire technology. This amendment allows staff with technical procurement expertise to assist land management agencies with accessing cutting-edge wildfire AI technology.

The Local Employment Access for our Forests (LEAF) Act of 2025 is endorsed by Megafire, the American Conservation Coalition, the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, and Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO).

Endorsement quotes can be found here.

Full bill text available here.

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