[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 38 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E331-E332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL LAND ASSISTANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND 
                      ENHANCEMENT ACT (FLAME ACT)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Federal Land 
Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act, or the FLAME Act.
  Last year, our country saw the devastating effects of catastrophic, 
emergency wildland fires in southern California. For the past several 
years, we have witnessed tragic fire seasons that have put American 
lives and our

[[Page E332]]

treasured public lands in harm's way. Fire seasons are getting longer 
and more intense due to climate change, drought, and other factors.
  As a result, Federal fire suppression spending has increased 
substantially over the past 10 years and projections appear to indicate 
that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future.
  The dramatic rise in these costs is eroding other nonfire programs 
and impacting the core mission of the Federal land management agencies. 
In the case of the Forest Service, for example, wildland fire 
suppression activities now account for approximately 48 percent of its 
budget. This year's alarming and irresponsible budget request from the 
Forest Service, which cuts over half of the funding for State and 
private forestry, continues the sad trend: our Forest Service is 
turning into the fire service.
  Furthermore, both the Forest Service and the Department of the 
Interior have had to ``Rob Peter to Pay Paul'' by borrowing funds from 
other agency accounts to cover the escalating costs of wildland fire 
suppression. Last year, for example, the Forest Service spent $741 
million more than was budgeted for wildland fire suppression, and the 
Department of the Interior spent $249 million more than was budgeted 
for wildland fire suppression. And in the case of the Forest Service, 
the costs of catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression 
activities account for the vast majority of suppression expenditures, 
as 2 percent of fires account for 80 percent of costs.
  Madam Speaker, it is clear that something needs to be done to resolve 
this problem. That is why today I am introducing the FLAME Act.
  The FLAME Act establishes a Federal FLAME fund for catastrophic, 
emergency wildland fire suppression activities. The FLAME fund would be 
separate from the budgeted and appropriated agency wildland fire 
suppression funding and is to be used only for catastrophic, emergency 
wildland fires. The Federal land management agencies will continue 
to fund anticipated and predicted wildland fire suppression activities 
within their annual budgets.

  The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior may 
declare catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression activities 
eligible for the FLAME fund by issuing a Suppression Emergency 
Declaration. The declaration will evaluate the size, severity, and 
threat of the individual wildland fire incident.
  The FLAME Act continues our stewardship of all lands by making funds 
available for catastrophic, emergency wildland fire suppression 
activities on State and private land consistent with existing 
agreements. Funds will also be available for catastrophic, emergency 
wildland fire suppression on Indian lands.
  The FLAME Act also requires that the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of the Interior submit a long-overdue report to Congress 
containing a cohesive wildland fire management strategy. This report 
will improve efforts to prevent fires on our public lands. This report 
will address critical fire prevention issues such as identifying a 
system for assessing the level of fire risk to communities, and 
indentifying a system to ensure that the highest priority fuels 
reduction projects are being funded first.
  Madam Speaker, catastrophic, emergency wildland fires can cause 
tragic loss of life. and property. I am proud to be joined in 
introducing the FLAME Act today by my colleagues Mr. Norm Dicks and Mr. 
Raul Grijalva. I look forward to working together to ensure that our 
country has the necessary tools to combat catastrophic, emergency 
wildland fires.

                          ____________________