As shown by recent fires, our forests face an escalating crisis of catastrophic wildfires, intensified by years of fire suppression and climate change, which the Fix Our Forests Act aims to address through improved federal management.
This bipartisan legislation seeks to restore forest health, enhance resilience and protect communities by increasing the pace and scale of restoration efforts. It deserves support because it streamlines environmental reviews to expedite crucial fuel-reduction projects, strengthens community wildfire defense programs (including those for buildings and homes), and fosters collaboration among federal, state and tribal entities for a more unified approach to prevention and response. Passing the Fix Our Forests Act will allow land managers to proactively treat fire-prone lands, ultimately safeguarding our environment, water resources and local homes from devastating megafires.
It has already been passed by the House and we should urge California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla to pass this vital, common-sense reform.
— Chia Tan, Carlsbad