The top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee proposed legislation Wednesday to block the Biden administration’s plan to protect old-growth areas of national forests.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said the proposal — which hasn’t yet spelled out any forest management actions in detail — represents a top-down approach that exceeds the U.S. Forest Service’s authority.
“The people who live and work on the land are the best stewards of the land. This misguided proposal from the Biden administration ignores local input and will make it harder for Wyoming to keep our forests healthy,” said Barrasso, who introduced the measure in tandem with his Republican Wyoming counterpart, Sen. Cynthia Lummis.
Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and James Risch (R-Idaho) also joined on the bill.
