Sens. Cantwell, Murray, Colleagues Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to Be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release:

This week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D, CO-02), and a bicameral group of lawmakers in sending a bicameral letter t- House and Senate leadership requesting that funds for wildfire risk mitigation and recovery efforts be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.

"A record 2020 wildfire season forced thousands of evacuations, threatened air and water quality, and destroyed homes and businesses across the West," the members wrote. "Communities that have been fighting the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 are now als- now beginning the long journey of recovering from catastrophic wildfire. Congress has the power t- not only help these communities recover, but als- t- make federal investments in sustainable forest management t- ensure they are better prepared for the next season. We urge you t- consider the timely need for wildfire mitigation, suppression, and recovery in the next COVID-19 stimulus package."

The 2020 wildfire season has been one of the worst in more than tw- decades. According t- the most recent Incident Management Situation Report from the National Interagency Coordination Center, this year's wildfires have burned a total of 9,539,554 acres.

The members' letter calls for:

* Local economic relief t- assist cash-strapped cities and towns originally excluded from the CARES Act in order t- ensure firefighters and first responders can remain on payroll and have access t- needed staff and resources;

* Investments in fire risk mitigation, such as establishing a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps t- restore forest health and making investments in vital Forest Service programs that assist with forest management, such as the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program;

* Federal support for fire response efforts, including investments in FEMA's Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants, increased funds for late-season interagency hotshot crews, and increased pay and benefits for federal wildfire personnel; and

* Investments in fire recovery efforts t- support the work being done by local, state, and federal officials t- revitalize the environmental health, water quality, and economy of communities impacted by wildfires.

Senators Cantwell and Murray have forcefully pushed for the State of Washington and communities across the West t- receive assistance responding t- and recovering from this year's devastating fire season. Just this week, the senators were joined by the entire Washington state congressional delegation in a third letter urging President Trump and FEMA Administrator Gaynor t- support Governor Inslee's request for a statewide federal emergency disaster declaration in response t- this year's wildfires. Last month, Cantwell and Murray asked the National Guard for a report on its readiness t- help states prepare for and fight wildfires. And in September, Cantwell and Murray urged President Trump t- provide additional federal assistance t- states, Tribes, and communities grappling with wildfires and their aftermath. The senators have been congressional leaders on wildfire management for years, and in September Senator Cantwell introduced legislation t- support pre-fire season controlled burns.

In addition t- Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, and Neguse, the letter was als- signed by U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Mast- (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tom Udall (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D, OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), Salud Carbajal (D, CA-24), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Raul Grijalva (D, AZ-03), Jared Huffman (D, CA-02) R- Khanna (D, CA-17), Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-02), Barbara Lee (D, CA-13), Jerry McNerney (D, CA-09), Grace Napolitan- (D, CA-32), Tom O'Halleran (D, AZ-01), Jimmy Panetta (D, CA-20), Katie Porter (D, CA-45), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D, CA-40), Brad Sherman (D, CA-30), and Mike Thompson (D, CA-05).

* * *

December 8, 2020

To: The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, United States Senate, S-230 U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, H-232, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, United States Senate, S-221, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives, H-204, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510

Dear Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy:

As you consider an additional stimulus package t- address the impacts of COVID-19 on our nation, we urge you t- include emergency support for communities recovering from devastating and historic wildfires. A record 2020 wildfire season forced thousands of evacuations, threatened air and water quality, and destroyed homes and businesses across the West. Congress must provide support for these communities as they recover from the fires, and, given that many of these fires burned on federal land, Congress must invest in land management agencies t- prevent further catastrophic wildfire.

Investments in the following initiatives would support the short and long-term recovery of local communities impacted by both COVID-19 and a historic wildfire season:

- Local Economic Relief: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed int- law on March 27th, provided stabilization funds for Tribes, states and larger communities. Many of the communities that were denied direct support through the CARES Act were impacted by the historic wildfire season. In the aftermath of these natural disasters, it is imperative that we ensure all communities are provided the economic support they desperately need. Unfortunately, the CARES Act capped localities able t- receive direct support at those with populations of over 500,000. This excludes towns, cities, and rural counties that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak and fire and should be corrected. Provisions such as those included in The Coronavirus Community Relief Act, which provides $250 billion in stabilization funds for Tribes, local communities, cities and towns across the United States that are struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, would support communities that were excluded from economic relief in the first COVID stimulus package.

- Investments in Fire Risk Mitigation: The severity of wildfires experienced across the western United States was likely exasperated by both climate change and unfulfilled forest management priorities. Many wildfires grew uncontrollable under a combination of conditions: unseasonably warm temperatures, high winds, and extreme drought. However, in many instances, forests where these fires occurred were als- overgrown and had dense underbrush. We must both address the causes of climate change while investing in our land management agencies. Achieving this requires investments in programs such as the following. One hundred million dollars should be added t- each fund.

- 21st Century Conservation Corps: By making investments in qualified land and conservation corps, Congress can increase job training and hiring specifically for resources management jobs. This funding will help restore forest health and address the rise in unemployment due t- COVID-19. By scaling up the existing network of Service and Conservation Corps, a revitalized 21st Century Conservation Corps will help employ hundreds of thousands of young Americans and complete necessary project work on public lands and in communities across the country.

- USFS and BLM - Hazardous Fuels: Investments in the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Hazardous Fuels programs for projects that are shovel ready, environmentally reviewed, and best for fire-risk reduction is a key tool for restoring forest health and reducing wildfire risks. Given increased drought risk and the damaging respiratory effects of COVID-19, there is an urgent need t- increase the pace and scale of our restoration projects, and the Hazardous Fuels program is a linchpin in that effort.

- USFS- Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program: The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) funds large-scale, community-driven restoration projects with the goal of reducing the risk of megafire, supporting jobs in rural communities, and enhancing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities across the nation.

- USFS - Vegetation and Watershed Management: This program ensures the productive and sustainable use of National Forest System lands by improving the growth and health of timber stands, reducing the risk of severe flooding and erosion in forests affected by severe fire, and helping keep water clean.

- USFS - Water Source Protection Program: This program which was established in the 2018 Farm Bill t- encourage partnerships between agricultural producers, businesses, cities, and the U.S. Forest Service. These partnerships will improve forest health, benefit downstream communities, and bring in new investments from non-federal partners. However, the program has not yet received dedicated funding. As climate change continues t- stress our forests and watersheds, investments in local, collaborative programs like WSPP are critical.

- USFS - Landscape Scale Restoration: The Landscape Scale Restoration program is a competitive grant program that funds priority projects identified in State Forest Action plans. Additional funding will help states get ahead of wildfire risk by treating priority acres in the Wildland Urban Interface, ultimately reducing risks and costs associated with wildfire.

- USFS - National Fire Capacity (previously State Fire Assistance): The National Fire Capacity program administers the Firewise program, and helps the Forest Service support and assist State Foresters and local communities in building capacity for the prevention, mitigation, control, and suppression of wildfires on non-Federal lands. The program helps State agencies create more fire-adapted communities by implementing pre-fire prevention and mitigation programs described in State Forest Action Plans.

- FEMA - Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program: The BRIC program supports states, local communities, tribes and territories, as they undertake hazard mitigation projects reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. Investments in BRIC will help protect homes and businesses from fire risks, and ultimately reduce the cost of responses t- natural disasters, including wildfire.

* Federal Support for Fire Response Efforts: In addition t- investments in our land management agencies, investments that support our wildland firefighting workforce are critical t- ensure communities are properly equipped for fire season. We encourage investment in programs such as:

- FEMA - Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants: The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program was created t- provide funding directly t- fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations t- help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. Further investments in these grants will enhance local fire departments' abilities t- comply with staffing, response and operational standards.

- Interagency Hotshot Crews: We must make investments t- address the demand for Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHC) as wildfire season grows longer each year. Many of the most intense wildfires burned at the end of the traditional season in 2020, when many IHC crews had already completed their contracts or were about t- lose their funding, which greatly limited the available resources. Less than a third of the Hotshot Crews wh- were working at the beginning of the season were still working in October, even though there was still a need for these resources. Increasing available funding for those operations and for additional Hotshot Crews are desperately needed as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense.

- Increasing Pay and Benefits for Wildland Fire Workforce: Firefighting personnel make sacrifices every day t- keep our communities safe. As fire seasons grow longer, we must expand the benefits they receive, and ensure they are fully supported, compensated, and cared for. We encourage you t- direct, through the appropriate report language, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture t- coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management t- review and increase the pay scale for all federal wildland firefighters, and t- consider reclassifying seasonal federal firefighter positions as permanent. The pay scale used t- compensate these individuals should reflect the hazardous conditions they endure and extensive training that is required of them. The Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture should ensure that this pay scale is competitive with other wildland firefighting opportunities outside of the federal government. A wage increase, paired with greater job stability in permanent positions will als- help t- fill vacancies as the wildfire season grows longer. Additionally, the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture should consider waiving the annual salary cap restrictions for fire personnel wh- exceed the GS pay ceiling while working overtime on wildfire emergencies.

* Fire Recovery Efforts: We must support the work being done by local, state, and federal officials t- revitalize the environmental health, water quality, and economy of communities impacted by wildfires. Congress should consider investments in the following programs:

- USDA - Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program: Congress created USDA's EWP Program in 1973 t- help communities protect their watersheds and mitigate damage after a natural disaster. EWP is funded on an as-needed basis, but as of August 25, the USDA had less than $43 million left t- spend on EWP projects. Without supplemental funding, the USDA may not have the funds t- partner effectively with local governments and private property owners as they recover from natural disasters. Additionally, given that states and local governments are still feeling the economic impacts of COVID-19, which may make it difficult t- meet the local match requirements typically required for EWP projects, we encourage providing direction that would allow the USDA t- cover up 100% of EWP project costs.

- Long Term Investment in the U.S. Forest Service: The National Interagency Fire Center estimates that over 47,000 fires burned more than 8.5 million acres. Over two-thirds of the affected acreage is on federal land and almost 4 million, or 45 percent, is Forest Service land. Because significant wildfires affected Forest Service land in Colorado, Oregon, Utah, California, and elsewhere, states continue t- struggle t- t- restore land, water, infrastructure, and ecosystems. The Forest Service will be an important partner in long-term recovery efforts and must be able t- invest in rehabilitation on National Forest System lands, including reforestation, repairing trails and facilities, restoring habitat, and other measures. While both the Department of the Interior and the Forest Service fund short-term burned area stabilization, the Forest Service has limited ability t- fund burned area rehabilitation activities. Therefore, Congress must provide sufficient funding and direction t- support long-term wildfire recovery and rehabilitation on Forest Service land.

Communities that have been fighting the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 are now als- now beginning the long journey of recovering from catastrophic wildfire. Congress has the power t- not only help these communities recover, but als- t- make federal investments in sustainable forest management t- ensure they are better prepared for the next season. We urge you t- consider the timely need for wildfire mitigation, suppression, and recovery in the next COVID-19 stimulus package.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

See signatories here: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Wildfire%20COVID%20Stimulus%20Letter.pdf