Idaho First District Rep. Bill Sali last week led a national debate on forest fires, saying Congress needs to do more to actually prevent forests and rangeland from going up in flames – as is happening now across the country.

Sali, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, served as the Republican debate “manager,” allocating speaking time to his colleagues as they debated a bill to dedicate funding for wildfire suppression.

Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho) comments

The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, which is aimed at dedicating funds for suppressing large wildfires, passed on a voice vote. The Forest Service used to provide a source of revenue by managing federal lands and selling the harvested timber. Today, in most areas, active harvesting and forest management is non-existent resulting in less money while there are growing fuel loads on federally managed lands.

Meanwhile, Sali’s bill speeds up projects to reduce hazardous fuels and reduce risks from wildfire, insect damage and disease. The bill would allow a shortened environmental review process as allowed under the National Environmental Policy Act, and would keep in place the environmental safeguards stipulated in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.