House Passes ACWA-Supported Wildfire Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Fix Our Forest Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 23 and is advancing to the U.S. Senate. ACWA supports the bill and organized a coalition letter supporting legislation aimed at improving forest health and reducing the intensity of catastrophic wildfires.

The bill enjoys strong bipartisan support and is co-authored by U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), who is Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Signatories on the coalition letter include the American Farm Bureau, The American Forest Resource Council, The California Farm Bureau, the Family Farm Alliance, the Federal Forest Resource Coalition, the National Association of Counties, the National Water Resources Association and the Washington State Water Resources Association.

"Forest management resources included in the Fix Our Forests Act are crucial to help control and reduce the severity of wildfires to enhance air quality, wildlife habitat, and more," the coalition letter reads. "For example, this legislation would improve water supply sources such as drinking water and rivers, improve water quality by decreasing runoff, pollutants, and erosion, and save costs by reducing infrastructure repairs to reservoirs, pipelines, and treatment plants."

ACWA's advocacy effort supporting the legislation was led by ACWA Director of Federal Relations Ian Lyle. Shaping federal policy in relation to preventing catastrophic wildfires is a major focus in ACWA's advocacy on headwaters health, which is one of the association's priority issues. ACWA's Headwaters Workgroup, in coordination with the Federal Affairs Committee, guides this advocacy. The Headwaters Workgroup was led for many years by Chair Willie Whittlesey, General Manager of Yuba Water Agency. Last month, Joel Metzger, General Manager at Utica Water and Power Authority, was named Chair.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the Fix Our Forests Act would improve forest management activities and increase wildfire resiliency by: improving federal agency collaboration; authorizing targeted environmental streamlining authorities; providing litigation reform; expanding good neighbor authorities; and investing in research and technology aimed at improving forest health.