Bruce Westerman

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan amendment offered by my colleague from New York (Mr. Molinaro), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Harder). This amendment ensures that each fireshed assessment required by the bill also includes consideration of a strategy to reduce the threat that wildfires pose to wildfire firefighters' health and safety. Specifically, the amendment requires that fireshed assessments analyze the effectiveness of fuel treatments that would improve both the efficacy of wildland firefighting and the safety of wildland firefighters. Fireshed assessments are a strategic tool for gauging or reducing the risk of wildfire in high-risk areas. By targeting treatments in the right areas, we can protect communities and put firefighters into winnable situations where they can effectively battle wildfires. This amendment focuses on a crucial dimension of the wildfire crisis; namely, the safety of the brave men and women who regularly put themselves in danger to combat raging wildfires. The amendment correctly identifies fuel treatments as a meaningful way to accomplish this goal, as proactively treated areas can slow the advancing wildfires and give firefighters precious time to safely combat an approaching blaze. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the bipartisan collaboration reflected in this amendment. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by Mr. Valadao of California. This amendment does require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an evaluation of the container aerial firefighting system to assess the use of such a system to mitigate and suppress wildfires. The Secretaries must conduct this evaluation in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board. As we attempt to combat the devastating wildfire crisis, it is essential that agencies like the U.S. Forest Service are utilizing all available technologies to suppress wildfires. The technology supported by this amendment involves disposable containers that are dropped with water or fire retardant, which could potentially decrease the response time to fires and increase the number of aircraft available for firefighting duties. While the technology is not new, the wildland firefighting agencies have not actively studied it. This amendment, therefore, would ensure that our wildland firefighting agencies are fully informed about both the effectiveness and potential cost savings of this important technology. Mr. Chair, again, I thank Representative Valadao for his work on this amendment. Throughout the drafting process, he has continually advocated for the interests of those in his district and correctly emphasized the importance of leveraging all available technology and resources to better protect vulnerable communities. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, it was insinuated earlier that my good friend, Mr. Peters, did not work with The Nature Conservancy. It begins by saying that: ``TNC, which has decades of experience in wildfire mitigation and resilience work, was at the table with Representatives Peters and Westerman to improve this bill from its initial draft form.'' They go on to say that they are not endorsing the bill because of some issues they have, but they also list several things that they approve of in the bill. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the Nature Conservancy statement. TNC New Statement TNC's position: TNC, which has decades of experience in wildfire mitigation and resilience work, was at the table with Reps. Peters and Westerman to improve this bill from its initial draft form, and while it has certainly improved since that point due in part to our advocacy, we are not endorsing the bill due to a remaining problematic provision in the litigation reform section that TNC believes could damagingly limit community engagement. However, we also believe there are beneficial provisions in the bill, such as the Good Neighbor Authority provisions, the inclusion of Tribal priorities in the fireshed management section, the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, and the Seeds of Success cross agency coordination.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for her efforts in helping make this a better bill. She knows all too well the devastation of catastrophic wildfires like what are happening in her district. Mr. Chair, I have no further requests for time, I am prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, I sincerely thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters) for his remarks and for his partnership on this legislation. As he mentioned, due to some procedural issues, we were not able to consider an amendment he was offering to make improvements to the bill's Fireshed Center. This is an effort that I support, and I regret we were unable to get this amendment made in order. I do look forward to working with the gentleman on incorporating the amendment in the future discussions with the Senate. I also thank Matt Weiner and the entire team at Megafire Action for working with us tirelessly on this important amendment and for their support of this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Tiffany), the subcommittee chair on Federal Lands.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman for his leadership on the subcommittee and for his work going into this bill to make the bill better and to add some of the things that he mentioned. When we talk about taking timber off of the forests, we are not talking about clear-cutting. It always gets misconstrued that we want to clear-cut the forests. I challenge anyone to show me where the U.S. Forest Service is clear-cutting because you won't find that. I have asked them: Is there any place you still clear-cut? And they said: No. What we are talking about is forest management, where we go in and we thin out, we create growing space, we allow these trees to be healthier, more vibrant. We allow them to have access to sunlight, access to soil moisture and nutrients, and it gives them an opportunity to grow. It also creates space when the fire comes through it can drop down to the forest floor where it can easily be put out if it needs to be put out. Some fire is beneficial to the forest, but certainly not fire that gets up in the crown of the trees and destroys everything in its path. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, as I stated earlier, if forest health was about spending more money, then we would have the healthiest forests we have ever had, as my friends across the aisle interjected $12 billion into the Forest Service budget through the IRA and the IIJA, but their own goal of managing 6 million acres a year is going down--not going up but going down. It shows us that money is not the problem. On the subject of firefighter pay, I think we can agree that our firefighters need higher pay. That is why, in the appropriations bill on the Interior, we had an increase in firefighter pay. There was only one Democrat who voted for that bill on the House floor. Republicans have voted to increase the pay for firefighters, but again, it is not about money. If it was about money, then my colleagues would support this bill because the CBO has said this bill would actually save money. If we are not spending all this money fighting forest fires, we will be saving money coming out of the Treasury that we can spend on proactive things, like management. Again, it is about the policy. This is good policy. It is bipartisan policy. We have worked hard to try to make it that. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), the chairman of the Western Caucus.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, you know, I hate to spend time in debate laying out how the procedures of the House work, but, number one, the majority doesn't determine what is germane. The Parliamentarian determines what is germane. Number two, wildland firefighters actually support our bill. We gave our friends across the aisle an opportunity to vote for a pay increase for wildland firefighters that is in an appropriations bill. This is an authorization bill. It is not an appropriations bill. They chose to vote against the increased pay in the appropriations bill, but again, we are working on an authorization bill, and it does meet House floor protocol. There is not a CutGo because we are not cutting. Actually, the only thing we are cutting are expenses to the Federal Government. I just wanted to clarify those few things. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Duarte).

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, if the minority truly were concerned about carbon in the atmosphere, their number one priority would be to keep forests healthy, to keep massive amounts of carbon dioxide from going up in wildfires, and to keep dead and decaying wood from being digested by microorganisms and being released as methane into the atmosphere. If we want to make less carbon in the atmosphere and if we want to keep it in the trees, then we should utilize the greatest carbon capture and sequestration device ever known to man, and that is a tree. It is on a wide scale a low-cost and economical way to capture and sequester carbon. However, when we let our forests become subject to bug and infestation attacks and to catastrophic wildfire, then we are going in the opposite direction. If somebody wants to make the argument that we need healthy forests for a better climate, then they should vote for this bill because that is what this bill would do. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 8790.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8790, the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan forestry package that I am proud to lead with my good friend and colleague from California (Mr. Peters) and which passed out of the Natural Resources Committee earlier this year by voice vote. This comprehensive package is the product of many months of hard work and bipartisan collaboration. This bill was not formulated in Washington, D.C. From field hearings in the shadow of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park to site visits to Tribal reservations in New Mexico, we have traveled the country to hear from experts and find consensus on the best approaches to improve the management of our Nation's forests. I may be the only licensed forester in Congress, but you don't need a forestry degree to understand that our Nation's dire forest health crisis demands our immediate attention. This year alone, wildfires have burned more than 7.3 million acres nationally. In the past 10 years, wildfires in the U.S. have burned over 73 million acres, roughly the same area as the State of Arizona. Catastrophic wildfires are much more than just statistics. They destroy lives. They destroy property. They degrade our air and water quality, turn abundant wildlife habitat into moonscapes, and create billions of dollars in economic damage. One of the most tragic consequences of the wildfire crisis is seeing entire communities in the path of uncontrollable megafires leveled year after year. The 2018 Camp fire in California destroyed the towns of Paradise and Concow, burning over 18,000 structures and killing 85 people. In 2020, the North Complex fire completely engulfed and demolished the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls, wiping out over 2,300 structures. Just last year, I saw firsthand the immediate aftermath of the devastating wildfire in Maui that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, causing untold damages. Behind these examples are real people who are left to pick up the pieces and communities that will never be the same again. With over 1 billion acres at risk for wildfire across the country, we sadly know these tragedies will persist without intervention. In fact, the Forest Service has identified more than 70,000 communities and 44 million homes that are at risk of experiencing a catastrophic wildfire in the wildland-urban interface. The good news is that we know what needs to be done. We must increase the pace and scale of scientifically proven forest management to restore health and resiliency to our Nation's forests. The Fix Our Forests Act will restore forest health, increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, and protect vulnerable communities. Right now, it takes 3 to 5 years to begin work on a forest management program. This bill simplifies and streamlines cumbersome and costly environmental reviews so that, if enacted, land managers could go into our forests the next day and begin the work we know needs to happen. H.R. 8790 empowers States, Tribal, local, and private partners to get more work done on the ground by strengthening the Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting. This bill also creates a framework for prioritizing treatments in our most at-risk areas. By encouraging the adoption of innovative science and technology, we can improve wildfire suppression capabilities, lower costs, and protect communities. The best part is that we will save a pound in cure by investing a penny in prevention. The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that reducing the risk of wildfires will lower wildfire suppression costs, allowing us to invest more in proactive, preventative forest management. If you believe that money is the only thing that will fix this problem, then you should vote for the Fix Our Forests Act because the bill will free up financial resources to invest in critical forest management work. This is a good bill that will help us finally turn the tide against the historic forest health crisis. I thank Members on both sides of the aisle who have contributed their input and ideas to this bipartisan product. I am proud to support even more bipartisan amendments offered by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle today. They say the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The next best time is today. While we can't reverse the decades of inadequate forest management that have led us to this dire juncture, we can take a positive step today that will ensure healthier forests and communities for our children far into the future. Mr. Chair, I support the bill and reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, September 3, 2024. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 8790, the ``Fix Our Forests Act''. Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction. The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support such a request. We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 8790 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Panetta), who is a cosponsor of the bill and has been a tireless advocate on improving forest health.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan amendment offered by the gentleman from California, Representative Garamendi, and the gentleman from Texas, Representative Fallon. This is a thoughtful amendment that will enable special districts to participate in the biochar research and development program established in section 301 of the bill. This amendment would also make special districts eligible to participate in the Good Neighbor Authority. Across the Nation, there are over 39,000 special districts and political subdivisions within States, such as resource conservation districts or water districts. Both the biochar and Good Neighbor Authority sections of this bill already allow participation from States, Tribes, and local governments. Providing eligibility for special districts is a commonsense change to ensure more non-Federal partners can participate in these vitally important programs that promote forest health. I particularly support expanding access for special districts to the biochar projects authorized by section 301 of the bill. Biochar is an emerging technology that has shown enormous potential as an additive to improve soil health and as a significant carbon sequestration tool, and it also helps the water retention ability of soil. A key barrier to expanding active forest management is a lack of market access for low-value hazardous fuels that must be removed from overgrown Federal forests. Biochar is an innovative solution that could create new markets for these low-value materials, thus increasing the pace and scale of forest management. I also support adding special districts to the Good Neighbor Authority. Since 2014, there have been 490 Good Neighbor projects in 34 States, and every year, over 273 million board feet of timber is being sold. Adding special districts to this program creates new opportunities for even more forest management projects that could further increase Good Neighbor Authority for forest management activities. I thank Representatives Garamendi and Fallon for their efforts to improve this legislation by thoughtfully including special districts. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the bipartisan amendment offered by Representatives Obernolte of California and Pettersen of Colorado, which supports the use of thermal, midwave, infrared-equipped, low-Earth orbit satellites. It is a mouthful, but it is a good addition to the Fix Our Forests Act, and it shows that we are trying to incorporate the latest technology. We are trying to incorporate AI technology and more remote sensing technology so that we can be on the cutting edge of the fight against wildland fire. Again, I commend my colleagues for their dedication and willingness to work together to ensure that the best solutions can be brought to bear on addressing the wildfire crisis. I urge everyone to support the amendment and the underlying bill.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this bipartisan amendment being offered by Representatives Costa and Valadao of California. The Committee on Natural Resources held a field hearing this Congress in Representative Valadao's district on the importance of water, and this amendment is a bipartisan, good faith effort to help address concerns raised at that hearing. This bipartisan amendment would expand public and private forestry and watershed management partnerships and reduce redundancies under the existing Water Source Protection Program. Representatives Costa and Valadao's amendment includes good governance changes to the Water Source Protection Program. It expands the number of eligible lands and entities under the program and reduces duplicative application materials and red tape for existing watershed restoration action plans. Finally, this amendment establishes clear program priorities that help align the program to its core mission. These changes align with the spirit of the Fix Our Forests Act. Oftentimes, we hear calls for more funding to solve a problem. However, oftentimes, by focusing on a program's priorities and reducing red tape, the cost goes down and funding can be shifted away from bureaucracy and toward getting work done on the ground. Again, I commend Representatives Valadao and Costa for reaching across the aisle to work together on this amendment. I have had the pleasure of working with both of these gentlemen on the Save Our Sequoias Act. Mr. Chair, I encourage support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to it.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7370, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 440.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, government market mandates are contrary to the very founding principles of America. Mandating EV purchases are especially egregious and fall short of the hopped-up environmental benefits supposedly driving the logic behind the mandate. First, I have nothing against EVs. They are innovative technology. They will be part of our transportation future, and they are actually fun to drive if you can afford them. However, EVs are not selling, especially in rural America, where they are unreliable, unaffordable, and can't even be purchased with the massive taxpayer-funded subsidies that are available right now. EVs are not the savior of the environment nor the climate. The EPA and DOE's own data clearly show this. First off, the United States is responsible for 13.49 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. It is another topic, but China is more than double that. The entire transportation sector in the United States makes up 29 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions. Light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles make up 57 percent of transportation. The rest of it is planes, trains, and automobiles. Finally, 40 percent of U.S. electrical production comes from noncarbon-emitting sources. When you do the math, the claims that EVs are going to save the climate and save the planet fall far short. Emissions in America equal 13.49 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Twenty-nine percent comes from U.S. transportation, all forms of transportation. Fifty-seven percent of transportation comes from light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles. Forty percent of our energy or electricity comes from noncarbon-emitting sources. If you multiply that out, the maximum potential if every passenger car and light-duty truck in America were made an EV overnight, you reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 0.9 percent. Madam Speaker, figures don't lie, but sometimes liars figure. Americans are being force-fed EVs, and they are being force-fed a lie, saying that driving an EV is going to save the planet. It is not going to help one iota. While we are forcing people to drive EVs, China is building a new coal-fired plant every week. I encourage passage of this resolution.

Mr. WESTERMAN

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Montana for yielding. I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my dear friend and colleague, another Representative from Arkansas for joining me here at the well. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to honor and remember the remarkable life of my constituent, Jennifer Ann Morton, a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose life was senselessly taken far too young. While I did not have the opportunity to meet Jennifer myself, I understand she was a warm-hearted woman with unwavering principles. Born and raised in central Arkansas, Jennifer attended the University of the Ozarks for her undergraduate education. She later attended UAMS, where she obtained her license in respiratory therapy to pursue her passion for taking care of children as a respiratory therapist in the Infant Toddler Unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Her dedication to her work and her love for the children she cared for were unparalleled. For nearly 20 years, Jennifer was a loyal supporter of the Texarkana Baptist Children's Home. The team at Baptist Kids knew Miss Jennifer as a compassionate and empathetic contributor to their mission, someone who never hesitated to support Arkansas children. With each donation, whether monetary or gifts for the kids, she always sent a personal and intentional letter to express her gratitude and care for the folks at Baptist Kids. Her tender and caring heart was evident through her love for her nephews. She loved to spoil them. On every single holiday, she would always buy them matching pajamas. Friends, this was a woman who devoted her life to caring for children. Her dedication was such that she would often leave work after a long shift and go to the store to buy new clothes for her patients, ensuring they were always comfortable and cared for. However, above all, Jennifer always put God first. Everything else came second, no matter what. Just 10 days ago, at only 48 years young, Jennifer's life was tragically and senselessly taken. Early in the morning on September 8, an illegal immigrant crashed into Jennifer while recklessly driving drunk through Little Rock. Maynor Herrera, the man responsible for her death, was found fleeing the scene of the crash and was apprehended by the Arkansas State Police. He was charged with negligent homicide, DUI, driving without a license, weapons violations, and more. We later learned that he had already been deported from the U.S. in 2018. Due to our current chaotic immigration and border policies, there is no telling when he reentered, how he evaded Border Patrol, or how long he had been living in Arkansas. This tragedy should have never happened. He should have never been in our country to begin with. The Biden-Harris administration's open- border policies are allowing thousands of men like Maynor Herrera to enter our country every single day. We are failing our country. We need to step up, secure the border, and put an end to this chaos before any more innocent Americans lose their lives because of failed policies. Before I close, I would like to recognize the brave Arkansas State Troopers who quickly responded on the scene on September 8: Sergeant Dakotah Bailey and Trooper Hunter Glover were the first to arrive on the scene. Corporal Benjamin Ibarra and Trooper Chance Fortune also responded. Sergeant Bailey detained Herrera as he fled the crash, and Trooper Glover notified Jennifer's father, Jimmy, what had happened. I spoke with Jimmy just Monday, and he told me that Trooper Glover was kind, patient, and respectful in his actions that day, characteristics that the family will undoubtedly remember. Arkansans are blessed to have law enforcement officers who lead with respect and dignity above all else. Mr. Speaker, Jennifer Morton's legacy will never be forgotten. We will remember her as a God-fearing and compassionate woman who cared deeply for her family and dedicated her life to caring for children. May God bless Jennifer's loved ones as they mourn her loss, a life taken far too soon.