Big Sky Times

Wildfires burned through more than 8.7 million acres of land in the western states and climate experts predict the weather patterns that create such catastrophes will continue and potentially get worse in the coming years, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) said in a press release.

Daines and Gianforte, along with a bipartisan group of legislators, are calling on congressional leadership to help them protect their constituents by passing forest management legislation aimed at preventing wildfires, establishing jobs in the timber industry and protecting the public.

"Our 'Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act' would provide federal agencies with the tools they need to reduce hazardous fuel loads, protect communities and support forestry jobs and biomass development," Daines and others wrote in a letter Senate and House leaders.

More than 100 organizations support the proposed bipartisan legislation, Daines said. Legislators are calling for Congress to address the matter immediately.

"Each year that Congress delays in passing forestry legislation, we jeopardize the lives and homes of our constituents," Daines said. "We respectfully urge you to include provisions from S. 4431/H.R. 7978 in any end-of-year legislative package and support passage of this Western priority."

Other legislators that signed on to support the “Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act” include: Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), James E. Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and members of Congress: Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Greg Gianforte (R-MT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Josh Harder (D-CA) and Jim Costa (D-CA).