FLA Applauds Unanimous Senate EPW Passage of Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Forest Landowners Association applauds the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for its unanimous passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA), bipartisan legislation that would help states and communities more effectively use prescribed fire as a tool to reduce wildfire risk and protect America’s forests.

“Forest landowners understand the importance of proactive forest management and the role prescribed fire can play in reducing hazardous fuels and protecting forests, communities, and natural resources,” said Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association. “WEPA recognizes that responsible prescribed burning is an important part of a comprehensive approach to wildfire prevention and should not be unnecessarily discouraged by regulatory uncertainty.”

FLA supports WEPA because it would provide greater certainty for states and land managers using prescribed fire while helping communities prepare for and mitigate the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires. Proactive management can help keep forests healthy, productive, and resilient while reducing the risks posed by accumulated hazardous fuels.

FLA thanks Senators John Curtis, Shelley Moore Capito, Jeff Merkley, John Boozman, Alex Padilla, and Mark Kelly for their bipartisan leadership on this important legislation and applauds the EPW Committee for advancing WEPA unanimously.

FLA looks forward to working with Congress to advance WEPA through the Senate and toward enactment. America’s forest landowners need practical, landowner-centric tools that support proactive management and help ensure our nation’s working forests remain healthy, productive, and resilient for generations to come.