SACRAMENTO – Frustrated at the Newsom administration’s refusal to participate in the Wildfire Prevention and Forest Resiliency hearing and the hearing’s cancellation, the Assembly Republican Wildfire Working Group hosted an informational forum on the barriers, challenges, and solutions to preventing catastrophic wildfires.
During this legislative session Republican lawmakers asked for the following resources:
• $500 million to the California Climate Initiative to be split between Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants.
• An exemption for all projects funded by the $500 million from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Making SB 901 (2018) commitments continuously appropriated through 2028-29
This year, the fast burning Caldor Fire and California’s second largest Dixie Fire have ravaged Northern California communities, many represented by the attending lawmakers. With over one million acres burned in the First Assembly District alone, the state is on track to suffer the most devastating wildfire season in recent history.
Today, healthy forestry experts traveled to the State Capitol to provide testimony before lawmakers on best practices to prevent wildfires. Foresters spoke on opportunities to improve firefighting operations, wildland fire mitigation, recovery services, and measures to prevent wildfires and improve forest health.
“Today’s expert witnesses confirmed what we already knew. The Newsom administration has completely failed to provide desperately needed budget funding and regulatory streamlining for forest health projects that are ready and waiting. The Wildfire Caucus has collected statewide data on over $400 million in unfunded, shovel-ready projects that are stalled due to lack of funding. What could be more important than entire communities being burnt to the ground year after year?”
“Our governor can no longer be all talk and no action. California’s majestic forests must be treated, not regulated into further destruction. It is time for his administration to provide real resources on the ground to fund efforts to manage our forests, combat catastrophic wildfires, and assist wildfire victims in rebuilding.”
“For years Republicans have been saying that combatting wildfire and the effects of climate change begins with sustainable forestry management practices. Yet year after year we have been ignored, our policies shunned, our legislation shot down and we have been at the mercy of special interest groups who would rather watch the state burn than work together to implement good environmental public policy.”
“In the last eight years, Senator Brian Dahle and I have hosted over 125 members of the California State Legislature in our districts, to educate them on sustainable forestry management practices that protect our environment and climate from unnecessary carbon emissions.”
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
During this legislative session Republican lawmakers asked for the following resources:
• $500 million to the California Climate Initiative to be split between Fire Prevention and Forest Health Grants.
• An exemption for all projects funded by the $500 million from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
• Making SB 901 (2018) commitments continuously appropriated through 2028-29
This year, the fast burning Caldor Fire and California’s second largest Dixie Fire have ravaged Northern California communities, many represented by the attending lawmakers. With over one million acres burned in the First Assembly District alone, the state is on track to suffer the most devastating wildfire season in recent history.
Today, healthy forestry experts traveled to the State Capitol to provide testimony before lawmakers on best practices to prevent wildfires. Foresters spoke on opportunities to improve firefighting operations, wildland fire mitigation, recovery services, and measures to prevent wildfires and improve forest health.
“Today’s expert witnesses confirmed what we already knew. The Newsom administration has completely failed to provide desperately needed budget funding and regulatory streamlining for forest health projects that are ready and waiting. The Wildfire Caucus has collected statewide data on over $400 million in unfunded, shovel-ready projects that are stalled due to lack of funding. What could be more important than entire communities being burnt to the ground year after year?”
“Our governor can no longer be all talk and no action. California’s majestic forests must be treated, not regulated into further destruction. It is time for his administration to provide real resources on the ground to fund efforts to manage our forests, combat catastrophic wildfires, and assist wildfire victims in rebuilding.”
“For years Republicans have been saying that combatting wildfire and the effects of climate change begins with sustainable forestry management practices. Yet year after year we have been ignored, our policies shunned, our legislation shot down and we have been at the mercy of special interest groups who would rather watch the state burn than work together to implement good environmental public policy.”
“In the last eight years, Senator Brian Dahle and I have hosted over 125 members of the California State Legislature in our districts, to educate them on sustainable forestry management practices that protect our environment and climate from unnecessary carbon emissions.”
Assemblywoman Megan Dahle represents the 1st Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Butte and Placer counties, along with Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, and Siskiyou counties.
