WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 24, 2016) - During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing to receive testimony on a discussion draft entitled Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) continued his fight for wildfire funding reform and improvements to our nation's forest management system. The committee received testimony from U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie and U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Wildland Fire Director Bryan Rice.

The hearing comes as the U.S. Forest Service continues to fight the Dog Head Fire in New Mexico.

During his opening statement, Senator Heinrich underscored that the burning of the Dog Head Fire overlaps with a collaborative forest project, which includes partners like the Nature Conservancy, Isleta Pueblo, and Chilili Land Grant. After the Forest Service had given its approval to the project, it took two more years for the project partners to come up with funds to start the work, and still, only 7,000 of the 12,000 acres in the project were treated before the Dog Head Fire started. Senator Heinrich made clear that though project approval is only the first hurdle to getting work done to make our forests healthier, "without a robust and stable budget, all the process streamlining in the world doesn't get trees cut."

VIDEO: Heinrich opening statement on maintaining forest management [Download HD Video] [Download Audio]

During the hearing, Senator Heinrich highlighted that the U.S. Forest Service's fire program is consuming a large percentage of the overall forest budget every year. Last year, the Forest Service spent more than half its budget on fire activities, and in 2025, the fire program is expected to consume two-thirds of the Service's budget. This impacts non-fire related programs like recreation, personal use firewood permits, road and trail maintenance, forest restoration, and watershed health. Senator Heinrich discussed whether or not the drafted Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016 would address the growth in the 10-year-average.

VIDEO: Heinrich discuses wildfire budgeting shortfall [Download HD Video] [Download Audio]

Later in the hearing, Senator Heinrich noted that the ponderosa and mixed conifer pilot project, drafted under the Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016, describes eligible projects as "hazardous fuel reduction projects." He discussed the need for clarification in that draft to specifically underline prescribed fire and mechanical thinning

VIDEO: Heinrich underscored need for prescribed fire and mechanical thinning [Download HD Video] [Download Audio]