Senate Introduction of Fix Our Forests Act Offers Path to Address Wildfire Risks to Forests, Communities

WASHINGTON (April 11, 2025) – Immediately, a bipartisan group of senators launched the Repair Our Forests Act, which gives route for enhancing administration of our forestlands to cut back wildfire danger, which in flip helps very important habitat for birds and native communities. Launched by Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT), the laws relies on the Repair Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), spearheaded by Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Scott Peters (D-CA) and which handed the Home of Representatives with bipartisan assist in January 2025.  

“Wildfires develop extra intense and damaging every year, abandoning immense devastation for our forests, wildlife, and communities,” mentioned Marshall Johnson, chief conservation officer on the Nationwide Audubon Society. “The bipartisan Repair Our Forests Act represents an necessary step in lowering wildfire dangers throughout forested landscapes. Audubon thanks Senators Hickenlooper, Curtis, Padilla, and Sheehy for working collectively to craft a invoice that units the stage for improved forest administration, and we urge Congress to dedicate the sources essential to make sure federal businesses are well-equipped to cut back wildfire dangers, steward our forestlands, and shield wildlife habitat.” 

In 2024, wildfires in america brought about greater than $250 billion in property injury, financial losses, and restoration and suppression prices. This quantity is just anticipated to develop if motion isn’t taken and sources aren’t devoted to higher shield the nation’s forests and grasslands, and in flip native communities, economies and the pure sources that wildlife and folks rely on. 

“Because the Senate strikes ahead with an amended Repair Our Forests Act, Audubon stands able to work in partnership with the Home sponsors on getting this laws signed into legislation with allotted sources to federal businesses to hold out this vitally necessary work,” Johnson added.