Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced the Tree Spiking Mitigation Act (TSM Act) to reduce the dangers posed by eco-terrorists to firefighters, loggers, and sawmill workers in rural America.
 
“Tree spiking is a heinous act of eco-terrorism that threatens rural communities,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Firefighters, loggers, sawmill workers, and land managers work hard to generate revenue for local economies, actively manage our lands, and protect our environment. They don’t deserve to face the threat of injury – or even death – because of extreme and dangerous eco-terrorists. The TSM Act will enable us to identify and eliminate tree spikes and protect forestry workers throughout the West and beyond.”
 
The Tree Spiking Mitigation Act will:

• Direct the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, within the Department of Interior, to work together to detect, identify, and mitigate tree spikes on National Forests and public lands; and
• Direct these agencies to, where appropriate, update safety guidelines and safety protocols to include the awareness, detection, identification, and mitigation of tree spikes.

The TSM Act was introduced with the support of Western Caucus Vice Chairs Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), and Pete Stauber (MI-08), as well as Reps. Cliff Bentz (OR-02), John Joyce (PA-13), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Don Young (AK-AL), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Lisa McClain (MI-10), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), David Valadao (CA-21), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Ken Buck (CO-04), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), and Gary Palmer (AL-06).

Senator John Barrasso (WY), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Senator Jim Risch (ID) introduced a Senate companion to the bill. Click here to read more.