Healthy Forests

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Forest Service announced it will be issuing $248 million in Secure Rural Schools payments for 2025. These payments contribute to the support of public schools, the maintenance of local roads, the enhancement of wildfire preparedness, and the provision of other essential services in rural communities. Below are our Members statements on… Read more »

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) led the effort in the House of Representatives to pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, which reauthorizes Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments to rural counties in Northern California and across the country. This legislation passed by a vote of 399 to 5 and is the first time in… Read more »

Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released the following statement supporting the secretarial memorandums from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum outlining reforms to the National Wildland Fire System to improve wildfire response efforts across the United States.   “Today’s orders by Secretary… Read more »

Restoring Communication in Wildfire Country Key to Saving Lives By Vice Chair Cliff Bentz (OR-02)  When you are deep in the forest and a wildfire is racing toward you, a warning sent to your cell phone can save your life. But what if environmental laws and regulations have delayed repair, replacement, or improvement of the very infrastructure needed to send that warning to… Read more »

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Vice Chair Ryan Zinke (MT-01) released the following statements supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) action to rescind the Roadless Rule. This rule prevented road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvesting on almost 59 million acres of the National Forest System.   “I want to thank Secretary… Read more »

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Western Caucus Vice Chair Tom Tiffany (WI-07) reacted to the Trump Administration’s wildfire prevention and response Executive Order.   “As peak wildfire season continues, President Trump is continuing to take decisive action to increase preparedness to… Read more »

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Vice Chair Dan Newhouse (WA-04) celebrated passage of S. 160, the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025. Vice Chair Newhouse introduced the House companion legislation.   “During peak wildfire season, Western Caucus Members strongly support boosting all available assets to combat these disasters,” said Chairman… Read more »

Today, Representative Vince Fong (CA-20) was joined by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and 26 additional bipartisan members in re-introducing the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act. This bill will enhance interagency coordination, accelerate forest restoration efforts, and provide important resources to land managers to guard ancient sequoia trees from further… Read more »

Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) applauded U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Secretarial Memo on promoting healthy forests and increasing timber production.   “Catastrophic wildfires are devastating the West, while frivolous regulations and endless lawsuits routinely bog down and block forest management projects,” said Chairman… Read more »

Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released a statement supporting President Trump’s Executive Order to expand American timber production.  “President Trump’s action to immediately boost timber production is great news for the American economy,” said Chairman LaMalfa. “This move will uplift our domestic timber industry and lessen the need for imports… Read more »