Lawmakers in the Senate and House have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to boost the use of prescribed fire in and around federal lands.
Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) proposed the “National Prescribed Fire Act,” S. 4424. A House version, H.R. 8557, is being led by Reps. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.).
The bill — which has appeared in varying forms for the past several years — would create prescribed fire accounts at the Forest Service and the Interior Department.
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It would create a collaborative prescribed fire program to help fund prescribed fire projects around the country in coordination with state and tribal governments and local prescribed fire councils.
