[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 181 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9063-S9064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Crapo):
  S. 1875. A bill to provide for wildfire suppression operations, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Budget.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wildfire 
Disaster Funding Act of 2013 to end the destructive cycle of 
underfunding wildfire prevention and then having to spend even greater 
amounts fighting wildfires than if our forests were properly managed.
  For some time now, our country has witnessed tragic wildfire seasons 
that have put American lives and our treasured public lands in harm's 
way. Sadly, this year 19 firefighters lost their lives fighting the 
Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona. Due to climate change, drought, and other 
factors, the risks from these infernos are likely to increase in the 
future.
  Federal fire suppression spending has increased substantially over 
the past 20 years. In the case of the Forest Service, the proportion of 
their budget devoted to wildland fire management has increased steadily 
from 13 percent of the total budget in 1991 to 41 percent of the budget 
in 2013. Most recent fire seasons have cost upwards of $1 billion, 
compared to $200 million in the 1990's. This leads to an unfortunate 
new reality: our Forest Service is turning into the Fire Service.
  In 8 of the past 10 years, the Forest Service has exceeded its budget 
for wildfire suppression, requiring the agency to conduct what is known 
as ``fire borrowing'' to cover wildfire suppression costs. ``Fire 
robbery'' would be a more accurate term because in many cases, the 
borrowed funds are never repaid. These transfers are incredibly 
disruptive and are undermining the core mission of the Forest Service.
  What is worse, in order to fund the costs of fighting these infernos, 
the agencies responsible for fighting fires are underfunding the very 
programs designed to prevent fires. The 2013 President's Budget Request 
included significant cuts to hazardous fuels treatments for both the 
Department of the Interior, 50 percent cut, and the Forest Service, 30 
percent cut.
  Studies confirm that hazardous fuels treatments are effective at 
reducing fire risk and lowering costs. For example, a recent study 
published by Northern Arizona University's Ecological Restoration 
Institute concluded that treatments ``. . . can reduce fire severity . 
. .'', and ``. . . successfully reduce fire risk to communities.''
  It is clear that our Nation needs a new path forward on fire 
budgeting to make sure that there is adequate funding for fire 
prevention work. For much of 2013, I have been urging the Office of 
Management and Budget, OMB, to help the Congress develop a new path 
forward through oversight hearings, letters, and numerous discussions.
  Therefore, today I am introducing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act 
to provide a better path forward on wildfire funding and fire 
prevention.
  This bill will establish parity for wildfire funding to how the 
Federal Government funds other major natural disasters such as floods 
and hurricanes. Specifically, the bill would move any spending above 70 
percent of the 10-year rolling average for fire suppression outside of 
the agencies' baseline budget by making these additional costs eligible 
to be funded under a separate disaster account.
  Based on Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture 
analysis, 1 percent of wildland fires represent 30 percent of costs, so 
in essence my legislation would be moving the true emergency fire 
events to be funded under disaster programs, and the routine wildland 
firefighting costs--would be funded through the normal budgeting and 
appropriations process.
  Most importantly, this legislation would free up as much as $412 
million in discretionary funding to fund hazardous fuels projects and 
make sure urgently needed work is done in the forests to prevent 
wildland fires.
  I am pleased to be joined by Senator Crapo in introducing the bill 
today. This legislation also has the support of Secretary of 
Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. I 
look forward to working towards enactment of the Wildfire Disaster 
Funding Act in the 113th Congress through any possible avenue. 
Together, the Congress and the Administration must work to guarantee 
that

[[Page S9064]]

our country has the necessary tools to both combat and prevent wildland 
fires.

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