September 16, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 160 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H4476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EMERGENCY WILDFIRES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, 4 of the 10 largest wildfires in California 
history are currently burning as we speak--3 of which are in my 
district.
  For decades, our national forests have been mismanaged, turning them 
into tinderboxes that can ignite in an instant should lightning strike. 
As a result, there are more dead trees in the State of California than 
there are people.
  This is a serious problem with serious consequences. If there is a 
time for this body to pass a comprehensive forestry package, it is now.
  Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will 
consider the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act. This bipartisan 
bill, led by my colleague,   Jimmy Panetta, and I in the House, and 
Senator Feinstein and Daines in the Senate, take great steps to 
proactively manage our forests and minimize wildfire risk in the West.
  Mr. Speaker, over three million acres in California have burned this 
year as a result of disastrous wildfires. We have 150 million dead 
trees in California. It is critical that the House considers the 
Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act immediately.

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