House Passes Renzi Bill to Protect Arizona from Threat of Wildfire

Measure Gives Land Managers Tools to Restore Public Lands WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives passed HR 4200 on May 17, 2006, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, co-sponsored by Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) by a vote of 243 to 182. The bill, which had 147 bipartisan cosponsors, will give land managers the tools they need to promptly restore and reforest public lands. It will assist with forest rehabilitation following catastrophic events, like Arizona's Rodeo-Chediski fire, as recommended by the scientific community. "The Healthy Forest Restoration Act passed by Congress was a good first step and the law is now helping to protect communities and restore the habitat health of national forests," Congressman Renzi said. "Now the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act will help communities provide restoration and clean up efforts after a catastrophic forest fire." Renzi said current red tape often forces federal agencies to wait years before properly managing destroyed areas filled with dead and dying trees. Renzi also said that this increases the risk of environmental damage, increased difficulty for successful recovery and any potential economic value of dead timber rots away. The Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act would allow land managers to quickly start restoration efforts in National Forests in order to increase the long-term health and recovery of the forest. H.R. 4200 is supported by the National Federation of Federal Employees, the Society of American Foresters and the National Association of Counties. "A recent study reveals that the number of acres burned annually by wildland fires from 2000-2005 was 70% higher than the annual average from the 1990's," said Congressman Renzi. "These statistics are staggering."