Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after his no vote on the Fix Our Forests Act in Committee:
“Colorado’s national forests underpin our economy and Western way of life. They protect critical water supplies, support agriculture and outdoor recreation, and sustain diverse wildlife habitats.
“I have long fought in the Senate alongside local and state partners to improve forest health and address our state’s wildfire crisis. That work has included passing bipartisan legislation to end fire borrowing, expedite hazardous fuels reduction projects, and create new avenues for states to carry out forest restoration projects. We also secured $10.5 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act for forestry work, including over $160 million for Colorado.
“Our forests face unprecedented threats from prolonged drought and a changing climate. Congress has a responsibility to find bipartisan solutions. Many Coloradans have voiced serious concerns that the current version of the Fix Our Forests Act eliminates opportunities for public and Tribal participation, and dramatically limits the ability of communities to ensure those projects follow the law. I share those concerns. Tribes and local communities are crucial partners for forestry projects in Colorado, and their early engagement in project development often accelerates projects, rather than slows them down. As I have said from Day 1, their voices must be included in this process.
“To fully address the wildfire crisis in the West, Congress must also prioritize the on-the-ground staff and fully fund the Forest Service. Since January, the Trump administration has taken a chainsaw to the Forest Service workforce, making life harder for Coloradans and gateway communities across the West. The Fix Our Forests Act provides no resources to implement any wildfire risk reduction projects nor does it restore land management agency staff.
“Although I voted against the Fix Our Forests Act in Committee today, I am committed to working on a bipartisan basis to improve this bill. We must protect public comment and Tribal consultation while providing the necessary funding for important forest management projects. With these changes, I hope to be able to support the bill when it comes before the full Senate.”
Senator Bennet continues to push for the funding, personnel, and policy tools to accomplish the transformative forestry work the West needs, including through his Protect the West Act, Tim’s Act, Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act, Joint Chiefs Reauthorization Act, Watershed Protection and Forestry Recovery Act, and Headwaters Protection Act.
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