Letter Supporting the Senate Fix Our Forests Act

Letter

Key Points

• NASDA Supports the Fix Our Forests Act: NASDA endorses the bipartisan bill for its efforts to improve forest management, reduce wildfire risks and enhance collaboration with states and local communities.
• Addresses Critical Needs: The bill includes provisions like establishing a Wildfire Intelligence Center, supporting prescribed burns, expanding livestock grazing for fuel reduction and streamlining permitting which align with NASDA’s priorities.
• Empowers States in Forest Management: With most U.S. forestland under state or private ownership, the bill strengthens the role of state foresters and agencies, recognizing their vital role in fire prevention and land stewardship.

Dear Senators Curtis, Hickenlooper, Sheehy, and Padilla:

Thank you for introducing S. 1462, the Fix Our Forests Act. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) supports your bipartisan bill, which takes necessary steps toward improving federal forest management practices, reducing catastrophic wildfire risk, and strengthening partnerships with states and local communities.

State Departments of Agriculture work daily to protect the health of our lands and the viability of rural economies. Forests and rangelands are increasingly threatened by devastating wildfires that destroy infrastructure, disrupt grazing and crop production, and degrade watersheds and wildlife habitat. These threats are further compounded by regulatory delays and resource constraints that inhibit effective action.

The Fix Our Forests Act includes several critical provisions that align with NASDA’s long-standing policy positions and the practical needs of our states. These include:

• Establishing a Wildfire Intelligence Center to improve coordination and response
• Supporting prescribed fire and other proactive fuel reduction tools
• Enhancing shared stewardship agreements to promote state-federal collaboration
• Expanding the use of livestock grazing as a tool for fuel management and post-fire recovery
• Encouraging replanting with fire-resistant species following burns; and
• Streamlining environmental reviews and permitting to accelerate urgently needed management activities.

With more than two-thirds of U.S. forestland held in state and private ownership, the Fix Our Forests Act acknowledges the crucial role of state agencies in forest health, fire prevention, and ecosystem restoration. We particularly appreciate your inclusion of reforms that improve local flexibility and strengthen the role of state foresters and agriculture agencies in managing risk.

Thank you for your leadership in advancing this thoughtful and timely legislation. We urge swift passage of the Fix Our Forests Act and stand ready to work with you to support its implementation.

Sincerely,

Ted McKinney
CEO
NASDA

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney

Fix Our Forests Act