Crapo, Wyden, Risch Simpson, Acting USFS Chief Christiansen to Discuss New Fire Disaster Funding Program
Wildfire Disaster Funding Act ends “fire borrowing” and will save lives, property, habitat and public lands. Event also previews this fire season
Boise – The architects behind a new federal program that will treat the nation’s largest wildfires as natural disasters and better protect lives, property and public lands will meet Wednesday at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise to discuss the program going forward. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Congressmen Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) worked together more than five years to write the plan and worked with the White House and fellow members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives and others to gain support to pass the legislation in March.
The group will be joined by Acting U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and leadership from NIFC to discuss the outlook for this year’s fire season during the news conference.
The recently enacted law not only improves federal budgeting for wildfires by permitting disaster relief funds to be accessed when fire suppression expenditures exceed their 2015 10-year average, but also includes forest management reforms that will result in significant positive impacts on forest health. The law expanded the Good Neighbor Authority program to allow for needed road reconstruction. The Good Neighbor Authority has improved the federal government’s ability to partner with state foresters on restoration projects across state-federal boundaries.
News conference on passage and implementation of Wildfire Disaster Funding Act:
Wednesday, May 2
10:30 AM
National Interagency Fire Center
Jack Wilson Building Auditorium (off the front entrance)
3833 Development Avenue (check in at security gate)
Boise
Senator Mike Crapo
Senator Ron Wyden
Senator Jim Risch
Representative Mike Simpson
Acting U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen
NIFC Fire Director John Ruhs
NIFC Deputy Chief for Predictive Services Bryan Henry
Live phone link to the event is available at 10:30 AM Mountain / 9:30 AM Pacific Time
Call (877) 932-3878. Enter Passcode 4072674
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