WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-NM) has introduced the Wildfire Prevention and Drought Mitigation Act, legislation which will help prevent catastrophic wildfires in drought-affected forest communities. 

“There is a wildfire crisis going on in New Mexico and the greater West," said Rep. Herrell. "This wildfire crisis is in part being fueled by the drought that has gripped the region for the last decade. The Wildfire Prevention and Drought Mitigation Act would protect drought affected forest communities from catastrophic wildfire by streamlining the environmental review process for active forest management projects aimed at protecting watersheds, wildlife habitat, snowpack, and improving water quality. I look forward to working with many of my colleagues to address the wildfire crisis and therefore protect our forest communities.” 

More information on the bill can be found here.

“This year’s wildfire season has only just begun, and it’s already wreaking havoc on the American West," said Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. "Exacerbated by extreme drought conditions, forests have become tinderboxes for the smallest stray spark to turn into a raging inferno. This is untenable. Congress must take action, and Representative Herrell’s Wildfire Prevention and Drought Mitigation Act is a critical first step. By improving watershed health, restoring water quality and adapting forests to drought conditions, we can take action against wildfires before they begin. I’m grateful for her leadership on this issue and look forward to moving this important bill through the legislative process as part of the larger Resilient Federal Forests Act.” 

The Wildfire Prevention and Drought Mitigation Act is cosponsored by Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI). 

The legislation has been endorsed by the Federal Forest Resource Coalition, American Forest Resource Council, Intermountain Forest Association, American Forest & Paper Association, New Mexico Forest Industry Association, and American Loggers Council.