Congress Missed Opportunity to Act on a Fire Funding Solution, Coalition Says

SAF joined the Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus, a diverse set of international, national, tribal, and local organizations interested in sustainable land management, in sharing its disappointment that Congress did not act on a comprehensive fire funding solution before adjourning for the year. 

A fire funding fix was included in most final drafts of the energy bill, but the House of Representatives concluded its business for the year without acting on the bill. 

Last month, groups signed a letter asking House and Senate leaders to ensure a comprehensive fire funding solution. 

“Thank you to the many members of Congress who worked so diligently to explore opportunities to address the wildfire funding problem this year,” said Clark Seely, president of the Society of American Foresters. "While disappointed that an agreement was not reached, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and work with Congress and the new Administration on a comprehensive budgetary fix that enables federal land management agencies to spend their valuable time and resources achieving management goals rather than planning for how and when money will be diverted to the ever-growing wildfire suppression budget.” 

See the below for the statement of the Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus.