(WNY News Now) – A crucial piece of legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s growing wildfire threat is one step away from becoming law after passing the U.S. House, with Congressman Nick Langworthy backing the measure once again.
Washington, DC – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) once again voted in favor of the lifesaving Fix our Forests Act that passed the U.S. House and will now head to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation passed last year with bipartisan support but died in the Senate.
Over 117 million acres of our nation’s forests are overgrown, fire-prone, and need active management. The Fix our Forests Act is aimed at restoring forest health, increasing resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, and protecting communities by expediting environmental analyses, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. Additionally, it makes communities more resilient to wildfire by coordinating existing grant programs and furthering new research, while adopting new and innovative technologies to address forest health threats and suppression methods. Finally, the legislation creates a new Casualty Assistance Program for wildland firefighters and their families.
“My heart goes out to the victims of the California wildfires and the brave first responders who are putting their lives on the line in extremely dangerous circumstances,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “This bill had bipartisan support when it passed last year, but the Senate refused to act, and we are now facing unprecedented catastrophic damages from fires that have ripped through more than 40,000 acres of land. This legislation is critical to preventing another fire of this magnitude, and I’m relieved we have a Senate and President who will make it law.”
Additional material on the Fix Our Forests Act, courtesy of the Natural Resources Committee, can be found here.
Congressman Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District of New York, including Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Tioga Counties, as well as parts of Erie and Niagara Counties. Visit langworthy.house.gov.
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