Fire funding big issue this year
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July 12, 2013 |
By U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador
During this year’s fire season, there will
likely be many wildfires throughout the western
states, including right here in Idaho. In recent
years, we have seen fires of unprecedented size
and intensity that have caused tremendous
damage, and we should be prepared for similar
fires this year. There might be one difference,
though.
While in previous years, news stories have
focused on the size of the fires and the extent
of the damage, this year there might be a new
issue – a political issue that shouldn’t be an
issue at all: funding for fire suppression.
In May, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
visited the National Interagency Fire Center in
Boise, where he stated that the Forest Service
will have fewer firefighters and fewer fire
engines for this year’s fire season because of
across-the-board spending cuts approved by
Congress known as the “sequester.”
Additionally, he stated that the Forest Service
has been forced to cut funding for thinning and
hazardous fuels reductions near communities to
ensure the agency can pay firefighters. These
comments are being echoed by other federal
agency officials throughout the country. The
only problem is that it isn’t true.
First of all, it’s important to remember that
the “sequester” only cut the growth in
government spending; it didn’t actually cut
spending.
This fiscal year, the federal government will
spend $3.7 trillion, which is about $150 billion
more than last year.
Second, the main reason we’ve been experiencing
these devastating fires in recent years – and
will likely experience them again this year – is
because our forests have been poorly managed,
leading to historically high fuel loads.
Over the past 25 years, the Forest Service has
dramatically reduced the scope of its management
activities in the national forests, mainly
because of the increase in litigation over
proposed management actions. According to the
most recent inventory data, in 2007 the Forest
Service harvested 2 billion board feet of timber
from National Forest timberlands, or less than
20 percent of what was harvested two decades
ago. These timber removals are equivalent to
only 6 percent of the new forest growth added in
2007, while at the same time dead and dying
timber was equivalent to about 36 percent of the
new forest growth.
Last year, the Forest Service stated the need
for “accelerated restoration” and active
management of at least 65 million acres of
National Forest System land, of which, 12.5
million acres need to be thinned with logging
equipment before prescribed fire can be used as
a tool. This restoration work is crucial to
protect communities from wildfire and to support
local economies by putting people to work with
jobs in the woods, on the roads, and in
sawmills. And yet almost nothing is being done.
The issue isn’t one of money. In 2012, the state
and federal government spent nearly $214 million
on firefighting activities in Idaho, most of it
on federal lands. Even so, approximately 1.7
million acres of land burned in Idaho,
destroying millions of dollars of property and
costing a young firefighter her life. This is on
top of the 9.3 million acres which burned
nationwide last year, a modern record.
The truth is, the problem is one of policy, not
federal largesse. Our forests are unhealthy
because current federal law and regulations
prevent the Forest Service and other federal
agencies from properly managing the land. That
is why it is so important that the Forest
Service set higher goals and work with Congress
to improve the management of our national
forests. Additionally, Congress must closely
examine current laws and regulations and, where
needed, amend those laws and regulations that
prevent proper forest management.
Americans want healthy forests. We deserve
healthy forests. They provide clean air, clean
water, and habitat for wildlife. In addition,
they do not pose a fire risk to neighboring
communities. Unfortunately, we do not have
healthy forests today because of misguided
federal policies. As a result, we will continue
to spend upwards of $2 billion per year fighting
wildfires, instead of creating more resilient
and healthy forests that can provide the goods
and services people expect from them.
This summer, should you hear that any fires –
and the devastation they bring - are caused by
congressional budget cuts, remember to watch
your wallet. The problem isn’t bean-counters in
Washington, it’s the excessive amount of fuels
in our forests due to improper management.
That’s why it’s so critical that we focus on
improving forest management, instead of playing
political blame games. Our forests, and our
country, will be stronger for it.
On another subject, in case you missed it,
please read this article in The Daily Caller,
Raul Labrador Takes on Entire MSNBC Panel on
Immigration. As the article explains, “On
Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s ‘NOW with Alex
Wagner,’ Idaho Republican Rep. Raul Labrador
went head-to-head with the show’s entire
left-leaning panel over the issue of
immigration.” To watch the full interview – and
you’ll definitely want to, I know I enjoyed it -
click here. |
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