Senate Hearing on the Wildfire Budgeting, Response, and Forest Management Act of 2016
January 1, 2018
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The Frame
The proposed legislation aims to change how federal agencies budget for wildfire fighting, which impacts how much funding is available for forest management and fire prevention activities on public lands.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The agency manages national forests and would be subject to new budgeting and management requirements under the proposed act.
U.S. Department of the Interior
The agency oversees federal wildland fire policy and would be impacted by changes to fire suppression funding.
Timber Industry
The industry is affected by changes to forest management policies that dictate timber harvesting and land use on federal property.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on June 23, 2016, by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- The committee reviewed a discussion draft of the 'Wildfire Budgeting, Response, and Forest Management Act of 2016'.
- The hearing included testimony from representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
- State-level officials from Washington and California provided testimony regarding forest management practices.
- Industry and conservation groups, including the Montana Wood Products Association and Defenders of Wildlife, provided input on the draft legislation.
- The hearing record includes various charts and maps regarding hazardous fuel treatment areas and timber impacts by state.
Why It Matters
The proposed legislation aims to change how federal agencies budget for wildfire fighting, which impacts how much funding is available for forest management and fire prevention activities on public lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift in Wildfire Funding Strategy
The hearing highlights a legislative attempt to move away from traditional wildfire suppression budgeting toward a more integrated forest management approach.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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