Congressman Panetta Pushes for Increased Funding for Proactive State and Private Forest Management

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), along with Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4), successfully incorporated an amendment to H.R. 268, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019, to increase funding for proactive forest management. This provision will provide $10 million in additional funding for the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private Forestry account, not only aiding recovery from the 2018 fires but also providing communities more resources to improve the health of our forests. Funds from this account are used to facilitate collaborative forest management between federal agencies and state and private landowners. The bill passed the House on a vote of 237 to 187. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

"Wildfires don't stop at property lines, so neither should our federal efforts to combat wildfires and better manage our forest land," said Congressman Panetta. "Funds from this account will help ensure federal, state, and local property owners can collaborate on forest management efforts to best protect our local communities from fire and to improve the health of our forests."

Congressman Panetta represents the central coast of California, where in 2016 the Soberanes Fire burned over 130,000 acres, destroyed homes and structures, and resulted in casualties. At the time, it was the most expensive wildfire in U.S. history. Unfortunately, that record has been easily eclipsed every year since then. Congressman Panetta is committed to passing this bipartisan amendment for proactive forest management and the underlying legislation to help communities across the country recovering from disaster.

H.R. 268, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019, provides relief and recovery assistance for Americans affected by recent hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, and other natural disasters. The legislation totals $12.14 billion in emergency spending. It includes $2.96 billion for infrastructure and economic and community development, $2.54 billion for resiliency funding to mitigate damage from future disasters that are accelerating in number due to climate change, $1.86 billion in assistance to farmers and rural communities, $1.46 billion for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to repair and reconstruct damaged facilities, $720 million to repay non-fire accounts for wildland fire activities, $662 million for nutrition and Medicaid assistance to Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas, Guam, and American Samoa, and $555 million for social services, mental health, education, and dislocated worker activities.