[Pages H1983-H1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

FIRE SAFE ELECTRICAL CORRIDORS ACT OF 2025

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2492) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior to permit removal of trees around electrical
lines on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management
lands, respectively, without conducting a timber sale, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 2492

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Fire Safe Electrical
Corridors Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. PERMITS AND AGREEMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL UTILITIES.

(a) In General.--In any special use permit or easement on
covered Federal lands provided to an electrical utility, the
Secretary concerned may provide permission to cut and remove
trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of
distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring a
separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is
consistent with--
(1) any applicable land and resource management plan; and
(2) other applicable environmental laws (including
regulations).
(b) Use of Proceeds.--A special use permit or easement that
includes permission for cutting and removal described in
subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, if the
applicable electrical utility sells any portion of the
material removed under the permit or easement, the electrical
utility shall provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds
received from the sale, less any transportation costs
incurred in the sale.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the
sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that
includes permission for cutting and removal described in
subsection (a).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered federal lands.--The term ``covered Federal
lands'' means--
(A) National Forest System lands; and
(B) lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) with respect to National Forest System lands, the
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the
Forest Service; and
(B) with respect to lands managed by the Bureau of Land
Management, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.

General Leave

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2492, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2492, the Fire Safe
Electrical Corridors Act of 2025, led by Representatives Carbajal and
Valadao.
This legislation would allow the U.S. Forest Service to permit
utility companies to fully remove hazard trees and other vegetation
near power lines without requiring a separate timber sale. The
legislation also includes provisions ensuring a fair return to the
Federal Government when the timber is sold.
Currently, utility companies are allowed to fell hazard trees in
their rights-of-way but are not permitted to remove them without going
through the timber sale process. This unnecessary bureaucratic step
leaves timber piled up in the rights-of-way for long periods, creating
a significant wildfire risk, especially near communities in the
wildland-urban interface.
Hazard trees near power lines have proven to be a serious fire
threat. In fact, the largest single wildfire in California history, the
Dixie fire, ignited when a tree fell onto electrical lines. As we enter
into what is predicted to be another devastating fire year, it is more
imperative than ever that we take every step to manage our forests and
reduce wildfire risk.
In January, the world watched as communities in southern California
were virtually leveled by catastrophic wildfires. In the wake of that
tragedy, the House came together to pass the Fix Our Forests Act on an
overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. The legislation we are considering
today was included as part of the Fix Our Forests Act. Today is another
opportunity for Congress to meet the moment and pass commonsense forest
management policy.
I commend Representatives Carbajal and Valadao for their bipartisan
collaboration on this legislation and on the Fix Our Forests Act. I
urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, April 28, 2025.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 2492, the ``Fire Safe Electrical
Corridors Act of 2025.'' Thank you for collaborating with the
Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our
jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further
consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing
consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over any subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support
such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 2492 and request a
copy of our letters on this matter be published in the
Congressional Record during Floor consideration.
Sincerely,
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC, April 28, 2025.
Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding our mutual
understanding of H.R. 2492, the ``Fire Safe Electrical
Corridors Act of 2025.''
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and
appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of
the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture
will not formally consider H.R. 2492 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained
therein.

[[Page H1984]]

I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to
consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of
letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman.

Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2492, the Fire Safe Electrical
Corridors Act of 2025, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr.
Carbajal).
This bill would authorize the Secretaries of Agriculture and the
Interior to permit electrical utilities to remove trees and vegetation
near power lines on National Forest System and Bureau of Land
Management lands without the need for a timber sale.
This bill addresses a critical public safety issue, preventing
wildfires caused by overgrown vegetation near electrical
infrastructure, particularly in high-risk areas of the West.
Current requirements for timber sales can delay essential maintenance
and fire prevention efforts. This legislation would streamline that
process while maintaining environmental safeguards under existing land
management plans and Federal law.
Importantly, the bill would ensure taxpayer fairness. If utilities
sell any of the removed material, they must return the net proceeds to
the Federal Government. Altogether, this bill provides a commonsense,
bipartisan solution to reduce wildfire risk, improve grid safety, and
enhance coordination between Federal land managers and utility
providers.
The bill respects environmental protections, avoids unnecessary
bureaucracy, and promotes responsible land stewardship. I thank
Representative Carbajal for his hard work on this bill. It will support
community safety in his district and throughout the country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am
prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal), the sponsor of this
bill.
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I extend my thanks to Chairman Westerman
and Ranking Member Huffman for their support in advancing my bipartisan
legislation, Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act, which I introduced
with Representatives Valadao, Costa, and Fitzpatrick.
My Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act is a commonsense solution to
help us reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. It simply allows the
United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to
approve the removal of hazardous trees or vegetation near power lines
on Federal land without the need for a timber sale.
Unfortunately, catastrophic wildfires continue to ravage the Western
United States, and we need commonsense solutions that balance
sustainable forest management practices with reducing wildfire risks.
My legislation strives to find that solution and that balance.
Currently, the United States Forest Service allows utility companies
to cut down trees and branches in existing utility corridors. However,
the dead vegetation cannot be removed from Federal land without a
timber sale. This has created unnecessary red tape and led to the
buildup of dry fuels around utility lines.
We cannot continue with the status quo. Inaction can be deadly. I
know because we have seen it. The 2017 Thomas fire, which created the
conditions for the deadly Montecito debris flow that killed 23 people
in my district. The 2018 Camp fire and the 2021 Dixie fire were all
started by electrical equipment. These fires were some of the largest
and most destructive fires in California's history.
If we can take action to help save lives and protect property, we
should. While there is more work ahead of us to continue to reduce the
risk of wildfires, this is an important step. I am glad to be able to
work with my colleagues across the aisle to get this done.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this important piece
of legislation.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, passing H.R. 2492 would be an essential step toward
reducing the urgent threat that wildfire poses to communities
nationwide. Once again, I thank Representatives Carbajal and Valadao
for their leadership on this vital issue.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2492.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________