DATE INTRODUCED:

S. 1462 - 04/10/2025

H.R. 471 - 01/16/2025

WHAT:

The bipartisan, bicameral Fix Our Forests Act is comprehensive legislation focused on improving U.S. forest health by addressing wildfire threats, streamlining environmental reviews, and supporting innovative forest management projects. This bill:

• Expedites the review of certain forest management projects covered under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and exempts certain activities from NEPA review;
• Establishes interagency collaborative programs and streamlines federal response and coordination to combat wildfires, including establishment of the Fireshed Center within the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey, that brings together 12 other federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense (DOD), National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
• Expands federal forest management research and development activities, including in the areas of: biochar innovation through collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior (DOI), Department of Energy (DOE) and wildfire prevention technologies through collaboration between DOI and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and
• Bolsters reforestation, seedling supply, and nursery capacity through the DOI, USDA and DOD interagency program Seeds of Success.

WHY IT MATTERS:

Across the U.S., wildfires are becoming increasingly destructive and expensive to contain. Since 1990, the total area burned each year has grown by nearly 60 percent. This surge in wildfire size and frequency is especially apparent over the past decade, with three of the five most severe fire seasons in the last 60 years occurring since 2015. Confronting this growing threat to communities and vital infrastructure demands a proactive, technology-based strategy focused on prevention and sustained management.

The same innovations that will reduce global energy emissions and enhance America’s competitiveness are also crucial in mitigating wildfire risks. Advances in forestry management and modernized electric grids play an essential role, as reflected in bipartisan measures such as the Fix Our Forests Act.

WHAT'S NEXT:

This legislation emphasizes the value of research, development, and deployment of active forest management technologies and streamlines regulations to increase the pace and scale of treatments aimed at addressing wildfire risks. The Fix Our Forests Act is an important step toward innovation that reduces wildfire risk while creating jobs and supporting resilient rural economies.

ORIGINAL SPONSOR:

S. 1462
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT)
H.R. 471
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

COSPONSOR:

S. 1462
Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Alex Padilla (D-CA)
H.R. 471
Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Nicholas Begich (R-AK), Ami Bera (D-CA), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Mike Collins (R-GA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jeff Crank (R-CO), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Vince Fong (R-CA), Russell Fry (R-SC), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Adam Gray (D-CA), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Josh Harder (D-CA), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Darrell Issa (R-CA), John Joyce (R-PA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Mike Kennedy (R-UT), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Thomas Tiffany (R-WI), David Valadao (R-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Tim Walberg (R-MI), George Whitesides (D-CA), Tony Wied (R-WI), Robert Wittman (R-VA) and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).

SUPPORT:

Alliance for Wildfire Resilience; American Property Casualty Insurance Association; American Conservation Coalition; Association of Firetech Innovation; Bipartisan Policy Center Action; C3 Solutions; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; California Department of Natural Resources; Citizens’ Climate Lobby; ClearPath Action; Climate & Wildfire Institute; Colorado Department of Natural Resources; Colorado State Forest Service; Environmental Defense Fund; Federation of American Scientists; Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors; International Association of Fire Chiefs; Megafire Action; National Audubon Society; National Wildlife Federation; Nature is Nonpartisan; Property and Environment Research Center; Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition; Tall Timbers; The Nature Conservancy; The Stewardship Project; Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Utah Farm Bureau Federation; Wildfire Alliance.

CONGRESS.GOV LINK:

S. 1462

H.R. 471

PRINTABLE SUMMARY:

Printable summary of S. 1462 & H.R. 5441