President s budget request is just that. It is a request. It does start the annual budget process and gives us here in congress the opportunity to learn about the administrations priorities and how it carry them out. But ultimately its up to us to determine what kinds of programs to fund and what levels. This years budget request is far from perfect i agree the priority must be on Fire Management and improving the health of our forced. Im encouraged the administration is proposing to invest significantly and hazardous fuel reduction and other active Forest Management activities. We know such investments pays dividends hopefully well see this important work plan and carry it carried out without any disruptions. Thanks to our work on the consolidated preparations after 2018 which provided new Budget Authority to fight wildfires. And this budget request would make use of it for fy 2021. The 2019 fire season was relatively mild in the lower 48 with few notable exceptions, but in alaska, la
Go nats. Were here today talking about good things, reclation. And im going to keep my comments bereave because i know colleagues have been very engaged in this and a couple of you want to make some opening comments as well. But we have three pieces this morning that were kring, s 1665 which is sim pli fooigs access act. Senator hien lak calls it the sore act. I like the acronym. S1723, the ski area fee retention. We all love skiing. Already. Extraordinary. Cant wait. S1967, the reclation not red tape act from senator widen. This hearing is building off one that we held in march where we focused on improsk access ichb structure and permitting to meet the demand on our federal lands. The proposals that were looking at today i think are a good start in addressing those issues. Senator hien wick and widen have put forward legislation to streamline the systems in place to process permits for our outfitters, guides and nonprofits. Senator gardners bill would help facilitate the private inve
Morning, everyone, the committee will come to order. Happy halloween. Happy world series. Everybody stayed up late watching the game. Kind of exciting. Kind of exciting. So we are here to talk about good things, recreation, and im going to keep my comments brief because i know colleagues have been very engaged in this and a couple of you want to make some opening comments as well but we have three pieces this morning that were considering, s1665, which is the simplifying Outdoor Access for recreation act. Senator heinrich calls it the s. O. A. R. Act. I like the acronym there, pretty good. S1723, the ski area fee retention act from senator gardner. We all love skiing, or we love skiing. I cant wait. S1967, the recreation not red tape act from senator wyden. This hearing is building off one that we held in march where we focus in improving access, infrastructure and permitting to meet the increasing demands to provide highquality recreation opportunities on our federal lands. So the pro
During his remarks, chief mere also talked about chief moore also a talked about efforts to mitigate wildfires for parts of the western United States with. This is an hour and 25 minutes. [inaudible conversations] committee will come to order to. This morning were here to discuss the president s fiscal year 2025 budget request for Forest Service. Id like to begin by thanking chief randy moore and the Forest Service budget director for being with us this morning. Thank you both. I look forward to hearing about the justification for the 366 6. 5 increase requested. Although may would normally be just the start of the fire season, weve already had recordbreaking wildfires as is becoming all too common. In february while it was still snowing, over 1 million acres in texas burned killing 2 people and burning 1300 poems homes 130 homes. I me my colleagues from wen states are on pins and needs. Our committee has considered several bills that would support and improve Wildfire Response network
This morning we are here to discuss the president s fiscal year 2025 budget request. I thank chief randy moore and the budget director mark licken stein for being with us this morning. Thank you both. I look forward to hearing about the justification for the 6. 5 increase requested over fiscal year 2024 enacted appropriations. Although may would normally be just the start of the fire season, we have had record breaking wildfires as is becoming all too often. In february, wile it was still snowing, over one million acres in texas burned. Killing two people and destroying 130 homes. All signs point to a very active fire year in the u. S. I know my colleagues from western states are on pins and needles watching the next ignition that could devastate their communities. Our committee has considered several bills that would support and improve Wildfire Response network from increasing the use of technology for wildfire detection to integrating the local communities, loggers, and volunteer fi