As California burns, Westerman renews push on wildfire bill

By Marc Heller, Garrett Downs | 01/16/2025 06:50 AM EST

House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman said the Los Angeles disaster highlights the urgency of his forest management bill.

The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood on Jan. 7, 2025.

The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles last week. Ethan Swope/AP

House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman said he expects the House to act as soon as next week on a bill to step up forest management, confident that the Los Angeles-area wildfires are bringing fresh attention to the issue.

Westerman (R-Ark.), himself a Yale-educated forester, said he’s moving quickly on the soon-to-be reintroduced “Fix Our Forests Act,” including looking for Senate Democrats who might support the legislation on that side of the Capitol.

A version of the bill passed the House last September, gaining 55 votes from Democrats. Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) was a co-sponsor.

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Environmental groups opposed the bill’s proposed loosening of environmental reviews in areas deemed at high risk of wildfire, identified as “firesheds” by the Forest Service. The Biden White House said it strongly opposed the bill — although without a veto threat. And the Senate, then led by Democrats, didn’t take it up.

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