Rep. Neguse Encourages Investments to Tackle the Rise of Western Wildfires & Restore Public Lands

October 31, 2023

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse submitted several amendments to increase support for the federal workforce responsible for tackling the western wildfires, restoring our lands and communities, and addressing climate change to the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriation Bills up for consideration on the House Floor this week. The proposals highlight the importance of protecting investments requested by the Biden-Harris Administration to support the National Park Service (NPS) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) in the FY’24 Interior and Environment and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development spending bills.

“As wildfires and other climate-induced disasters continue to impact Americans, it’s imperative that we invest in the hard-working individuals tackling western wildfires and restoring our lands and communities. Instead of doing this, House Republicans' spending proposals slash support for national parks and cut funding for critical programs,” said Congressman Neguse. “The amendments I have submitted to the appropriations bills on the House Floor this week push back against Republicans’ cuts and highlight the need for continued support for these vital programs.”

To tackle the western wildfires, restore our lands and communities, and address climate change, Congressman Neguse submitted the following amendments:

To highlight the funding level requested in the President's Budget Request for the National Park Service and the needed increase above House Republicans’ FY24 proposal;
To highlight the funding level requested in the President's Budget Request for the National Forest System lands and address staff capacity issues;
To highlight the requested amount for the Department-Wide Wildland Fire Management Programs with the intent that the funding will be used to maintain the 2021 pay increase for Federal Wildland Firefighters;
To increase funding available for the Forest Service Youth Conservation Corps to $10 million;
To increase funding for the Department of the Interior and USFS Wildland Fire Management Accounts by $2 million each;
And to provide increased funding to the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado to support staffing needs at the Sulphur Ranger District.

Congressman Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, has emerged as a leader among his colleagues in the fight for increased federal support for wildfire mitigation and land resilience. In July of last year, Rep. Neguse was able to secure passage of his monumental legislative package, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, through the House of Representatives. Rep. Neguse is also leading the effort to increase federal firefighter pay and promote additional pay and benefit improvements. He is the sponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2023 and Tim’s Act, a comprehensive firefighter pay and benefits legislation.

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