Jan 16, 2025

GOP may move forest bill soon responding to LA fires

Nick Sobczyk

Jan 16, 2025

Photo illustration of bare trees and two firefighters against an orange sky with abstract shapes. — Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photos: Frederic J. Brown, Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Rep. Bruce Westerman's bill to expedite environmental reviews for forest management projects could be among the first to move through the House this year.

Why it matters: Backers see the Fix our Forests Act as a way to mitigate risk for the kinds of fires that have erupted in the Los Angeles area.

Driving the news: Westerman and Rep. Scott Peters reintroduced the bill with a large group of bipartisan cosponsors Thursday morning.

Westerman told reporters Wednesday that he expects the House Rules Committee to set it up for floor consideration next week.

Zoom in: The legislation would expand categorical exclusions under NEPA for forest management projects in high-risk areas and put new limits on litigation.

It would also create programs to help communities detect and protect themselves from fires.

What's next: Fix Our Forests passed the House last Congress but never got taken up in the Senate.

Westerman said he's working on getting a bipartisan group of senators to sponsor a companion bill.

GOP may move forest bill soon responding to LA fires

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