Representative Mike Garcia (R-CA) introduced the Protecting and Restoring Our Trees by Enhancing Conservation and Treatments (PROTECT) Act, which would help improve forest management by allowing for more flexibility for federal land managers to utilize active forest management methods, like prescribed burns, to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

“Decades of forest mismanagement have left our federal forests to become overstocked tinderboxes waiting to burn and have resulted in the recent increase in catastrophic wildfires in California and across the West. I’m proud to introduce The PROTECT Act, which would streamline our ability to utilize active forest management tools and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. It is past time to listen to the science and implement active forest management tools that will protect our communities and the environment,” said Rep. Garcia. 

Garcia’s bill removes burdensome regulations to allow for active forest management, which is primarily through brush clearing and prescribed burns. Additionally, a recent Stanford study found that utilizing prescribed burns to reduce forest fuels could better protect communities from deadly wildfires. 

The PROTECT Act is co-sponsored by House Natural Resources Republican Leader Bruce Westerman (R-AR), House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry Republican Leader Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Western Congressional Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (R-WA), House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife Republican Leader Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Representatives Devin Nunes (R-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Matt Rosendale (R-MT). 

“In recent years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of record-breaking wildfires in the West. We’ve gotten to a point where we can’t even call them historic fires anymore because they’ve become so commonplace. Why? Because decades of mismanagement have led to brush and timber buildup in many of our national forests. Congressman Garcia’s PROTECT Act will address this systemic issue by providing important streamlining tools, allowing the Forest Service to better manage hazardous fuels and remove dead and dying trees. I am thankful for Congressman Garcia’s leadership in introducing this legislation and for his support of the Resilient Federal Forests Act. Because of it, we will be able to keep our forests healthy for generations to come,” said House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman.

“NEPA regulations and resulting delays are devastating to local communities throughout rural America. Categorical exclusions are an important tool that allow land managers to effectively care for our lands and forests. Rep. Garcia’s legislation will go a long way to improve the way we manage our forests, collaborate between government and private partners, and protect communities throughout the West from catastrophic wildfires,” said Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus Rep. Dan Newhouse.

“As fires burn across California, it is clear that Congress needs to act now to address wildfires. Our forests are overgrown with fuels making the trees vulnerable to insects, disease, and drought, which in turn makes wildfires more deadly. Rep. Garcia’s bill, the PROTECT Act, tackles this issue head on making it easier for the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to remove dead or dying trees to create safer healthier forests. This will be better for the forests, the wildlife, our watersheds, and our rural communities that bear the brunt of the devastation caused by wildfires,” said House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry Republican Leader Doug LaMalfa.

"I am proud to cosponsor Congressman Garcia’s PROTECT Act. There are 70 million people currently impacted by drought in the American West, and more than 2.5 million acres in the western United States have already been destroyed by wildfire just this year. It is absolutely essential that we find ways to reduce bureaucratic stone walling and that federal agencies work collaboratively and in the regular course of their functions to properly manage our forests, support life-sustaining water infrastructure, and protect native species from insects and disease. This bill helps achieve that outcome by making it easier for environmental and infrastructure projects to be implemented faster – reducing costs for taxpayers, supporting communities, and potentially saving forests, lives, and property," said House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife Republican Leader Cliff Bentz.

“This bill is common-sense legislation that will eliminate senseless regulations that result in devastating California wildfires. These measures will protect the environment, allow for responsible forest management, and most important, they will save lives,” said Rep. Nunes. 

“The best way to address our catastrophic wildfire issue is by implementing comprehensive wildlife management strategies on our natural lands. The PROTECT Act will give our federal land managers the flexibility they need to stop wildfires, prevent the release of additional carbon into the atmosphere, and keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Obernolte.

“As wildfires ravage the West, we need to be looking for proven ways in which we can better manage our forests. The PROTECT Act would allow for important categorical exclusions to burdensome NEPA regulations to allow for critical forest management activities to mitigate beetle kill, remove hazardous ladder and surface fuels, and remove deadwood. I am proud to stand with Rep. Garcia and cosponsor this important legislation,” said Rep. Rosendale. 

"As South Dakota and much of the Midwestern plains face drought conditions, the risk of wildfire has increased. A managed forest is a safe forest – environmental regulations shouldn't stand in the way of forest managers and interest working in a collaborative way to improve the health and protection of their land," said Rep. Johnson. 

The PROTECT Act would authorize a 10,000 acre categorical exclusion under NEPA to address insects and disease, reduce hazardous fuels loads, protect municipal water sources and increase water yield, improve critical habitat and facilitate native species restoration, and remove dead or dying trees. The legislation would incentivize collaboration by allowing categorical exclusions of up to 30,000 acres for collaborative projects. 

Garcia’s legislation is endorsed by the Federal Forest Resource Coalition, Missouri Forest Products Association, Colorado Timber Industry Association, Associated California Loggers, Louisiana Forestry Association, Minnesota Forest Industries, American Forest Resource Council, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Michigan Forest Products Council, Black Hills Forest Resource Association, Intermountain Forest Association, Associated Contract Loggers & Truckers of Minnesota, American Loggers Council, Montana Wood Products Association, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Associated Logging Contractors—Idaho, Associated Oregon Loggers, American Forest & Paper Association, American Walnut Manufacturers Association, and the Hardwood Federation.