Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting against the Fix Our Forests Act, which passed the House tonight by a vote of 268-151. 

“I support the goal of the bill to reduce wildfires and applaud provisions such as promoting shared stewardship agreements with Tribal governments and the creation of a federal Fireshed Center to better predict and suppress wildfires. However, this bill also includes Republican provisions that would severely weaken community input on Forest Service activities,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“The federal fireshed management plans covering over 390 square miles of forest could be done without community input or environmental reviews. I heard many voices from my district expressing concern about these provisions. ‘How can we rebuild trust with the Forest Service after the disastrous Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire if they don't have to communicate with the communities most impacted by forest activity?’ they said. We need more opportunities for input and communication to rebuild trust with the Forest Service, not fewer.”

“The bill also provided no authorizations for funding to the Forest Service to carry out its new activities. As written, the bill would only stretch the Forest Service thinner in its work. That is why, in Committee, I offered an amendment to fix this funding shortfall. Unfortunately, Republicans defeated my amendment.”

“We need a bill that keeps our communities safe from fire, strengthens opportunities for public input, and funds the necessary work to reduce the risks of wildfires—hopefully we will continue to work on legislation to achieve these objectives,” she concluded.

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“I support the goal of the bill to reduce wildfires and applaud provisions such as promoting shared stewardship agreements with Tribal governments and the creation of a federal Fireshed Center to better predict and suppress wildfires. However, this bill also includes Republican provisions that would severely weaken community input on Forest Service activities,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“The federal fireshed management plans covering over 390 square miles of forest could be done without community input or environmental reviews. I heard many voices from my district expressing concern about these provisions. ‘How can we rebuild trust with the Forest Service after the disastrous Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire if they don't have to communicate with the communities most impacted by forest activity?’ they said. We need more opportunities for input and communication to rebuild trust with the Forest Service, not fewer.”

“The bill also provided no authorizations for funding to the Forest Service to carry out its new activities. As written, the bill would only stretch the Forest Service thinner in its work. That is why, in Committee, I offered an amendment to fix this funding shortfall. Unfortunately, Republicans defeated my amendment.”

“We need a bill that keeps our communities safe from fire, strengthens opportunities for public input, and funds the necessary work to reduce the risks of wildfires—hopefully we will continue to work on legislation to achieve these objectives,” she concluded.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Leger Fernández released the following statement after voting against the Fix Our Forests Act, which passed the House tonight by a vote of 268-151. 

“I support the goal of the bill to reduce wildfires and applaud provisions such as promoting shared stewardship agreements with Tribal governments and the creation of a federal Fireshed Center to better predict and suppress wildfires. However, this bill also includes Republican provisions that would severely weaken community input on Forest Service activities,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández.

“The federal fireshed management plans covering over 390 square miles of forest could be done without community input or environmental reviews. I heard many voices from my district expressing concern about these provisions. ‘How can we rebuild trust with the Forest Service after the disastrous Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire if they don't have to communicate with the communities most impacted by forest activity?’ they said. We need more opportunities for input and communication to rebuild trust with the Forest Service, not fewer.”

“The bill also provided no authorizations for funding to the Forest Service to carry out its new activities. As written, the bill would only stretch the Forest Service thinner in its work. That is why, in Committee, I offered an amendment to fix this funding shortfall. Unfortunately, Republicans defeated my amendment.”

“We need a bill that keeps our communities safe from fire, strengthens opportunities for public input, and funds the necessary work to reduce the risks of wildfires—hopefully we will continue to work on legislation to achieve these objectives,” she concluded.

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