A key Senate committee passed legislation that may lead to more active forest management. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry approved the Fix Our Forests Act by a bipartisan vote of 18 to 5, sending the measure to the full Senate floor for a final vote.

“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation strongly supports the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said RMEF President and CEO Kyle Weaver. “This vital policy reform supports responsible management of our forests, sagebrush and grasslands by expediting and streamlining the review of forest management projects, strengthening the Good Neighbor Authority and removing the duplicative procedural requirements stemming from the Cottonwood decision. It reduces needless litigation and increases effective management to protect people from wildfire and supports a healthy future for elk, mule deer and other big game.” 

Senators John Curtis (R-UT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) sponsored the measure.

Prior to the hearing, RMEF submitted a letter (see below) to committee members from the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a coalition of hunting and conservation organizations that advocates for conservation, ethical hunting and responsible wildlife management.

There is no word yet when the full Senate may debate the legislation, but it will require 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster. RMEF urges its supporters and other sportsmen and women to contact their senators to urge them to vote in favor.

In a bipartisan showing this past January, the U.S. House passed the Fix Our Forests Act by a vote of 279 to 141. Should the full Senate pass its version, a House-Senate conference committee will need to negotiate the differences, and both houses will need to pass the bill again before sending it to the president for signature into law.American Wildlife Conservation Partners letter

Dear Senators Padilla, Hickenlooper, Curtis and Sheehy,

As organizations representing millions of sportsmen and women, conservationists and natural resource professionals, we write to commend you on the bipartisan introduction of S.1462 the “Fix Our Forests Act” (FOFA). This legislation is consistent with the recommendations the American Wildlife Conservation Partners made in our Wildlife for the 21st Century volume 7 and reflect consensus solutions to complex land management challenges. Your bipartisan deliberations maintain most of the essential forest management reforms that we believe will make a tangible difference in our forests. For this reason, we urge expeditious markup and passage so that land managers are better positioned for the next wildfire season.

The undersigned organizations strongly support provisions intended to streamline forest projects and operations, establish accountability within public land agencies, and reduce delays caused by frivolous litigation. Specifically, the expanded categorical exclusions, resolution of the “Cottonwood” decision, modifications to stewardship contracting and Good Neighbor Authority, and establishment of “strike teams” will facilitate a new era in forest management. We encourage continued dialogue with the U.S. Forest Service to ensure none of these measures conflict with reorganization efforts.

Thank you for your dedication to bipartisan forest management policy. We stand ready to partner with you in moving this legislation forward and once signed into law, look forward to working with public land agencies on implementation.

Sincerely,

American Sportfishing Association

American Woodcock Society

Archery Trade Association

Boone and Crockett Club

Camp Fire Club of America

Catch A Dream Foundation

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Dallas Safari Club

Delta Waterfowl

Houston Safari Club

Mule Deer Foundation

National Association of Forest Service Retirees

National Deer Association

National Shooting Sports Foundation

National Wild Turkey Federation

Orion: The Hunters Institute

Pheasants Forever

Professional Outfitters and Guides of America

Public Lands Foundation

Quail Forever

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Ruffed Grouse Society

Safari Club International

Safari Club International Foundation

Sportsmen’s Alliance

Whitetails Unlimited

Wildlife Forever

Wildlife Management Institute

Wildlife Mississippi

(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation/Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry)