Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Joe Neguse introduce bill to restore landscapes, protect water supplies and reduce wildfire risk

Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse have introduced the Joint Chiefs Reauthorization Act of 2023 alongside other western state legislators in effort to better support forest and grassland restoration projects across public and private land.

This bipartisan legislation would reinstate the United States Department of Agriculture’s Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Initiative, which was initially codified in 2021 as an amendment to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The legislation would extend appropriations for the program, expand activities to address wildfire recovery and natural resource concerns across boundaries, and improve agency coordination and outreach.

“An increase in climate-induced disasters are impacting communities across the West — having damaging impacts on public and private lands across Colorado, including the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland,” Neguse said. “Our bill will support state, local, and federal partnership for large-scale conservation efforts in Northwest Colorado and throughout the country. I am proud to be leading the effort in Congress to extend the authorization of this highly successful program.”

Legislators are looking to reauthorize the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership between the chief of the U.S. Forest Service and chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. According to lawmakers, the revival of this partnership will improve the health and resilience of forest landscapes and grasslands across federal and non-federal land.

Under this act, $90 million will be annually allocated for the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership with at least 40% of this money going to the USFS and another 40% or so to the NRCS. The remaining funds may also be used for technical assistance, project development or local capacity.

It seeks to promote and support voluntary activities and projects across public and private land that reduce wildfire risk, protect water supplies, aid wildfire recovery, enhance soil and water resources and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species. Lawmakers plan to prioritize projects that reduce wildfire risk in municipal watersheds or the wildland-urban interface and increase forest business and workforce opportunities.

The act would require the USDA to perform outreach, provide public notice and make information on the program available to landowners, tribes, states and local governments. 

Additionally, legislators are looking to improve accountability by requiring a review of program delivery, data, and outcomes, and establish annual reporting requirements to Congress with this legislation. 

“Our Western forests, grasslands and watersheds are as important to our economy as the Lincoln Tunnel is to New York — but they are under threat from a changing climate and consistent federal underinvestment,” Sen. Bennet said in a statement. “This legislation builds on years of engagement and broad bipartisan support to ensure the Joint Chiefs Partnership can continue to protect watersheds, mitigate wildfire risk and restore landscapes for years to come.”

The National Association of State Foresters also have voiced their support for the act. 

In 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture launched the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Initiative to support forest and grassland restoration projects across public and private land. Since its creation, the initiative has supported 93 projects in 40 states and Puerto Rico to treat 300,000 acres of hazardous fuels, restore 29,000 acres in priority watersheds and enhance 200,000 acres of wildlife habitat.