Peters, Whitesides, Crank Urge Inclusion of Forestry Bill in Annual NDAA Package

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA), George Whitesides (D-CA), and Jeff Crank (R-CO) led 28 House Members on a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chair Mike Rogers (R-AL), and HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) to urge the inclusion of the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), or any other must-pass vehicle, to ensure it becomes law this Congress.

The Members stated that the rising frequency and severity of devastating wildfires demand immediate action. In 2026 alone, roughly 66,000 fires burned through more than 9 million acres, or 132% and 141% of the 10-year average, respectively. At the same time, over 1,600 firefighters and support personnel are still assigned to catastrophic incidents across the country.

The Members explained that the crisis is a "significant - and growing - hazard to our military readiness and national security, endangering the safety of the American people, as well as the National Guard, Reserve forces, and other service members across the country." They noted that by including FOFA in the 2027 NDAA, it could become law by the end of this Congress.

The Members highlighted several stark instances of the impact of recent wildfires, including those around key military installations in Washington and Arkansas that threaten weapons and munitions. These fires also force critical units like the National Guard to divert man-hours to firefighting. Additionally, the Members noted the economic toll as wildfires cost the U.S. between nearly $400 billion and almost $900 billion annually.

Preventing wildfires before they occur would save $3.75 in prevented damages for every $1 spent, and the "Fix Our Forests Act represents our best chance to realize those savings while improving forest health, streamlining wildfire mitigation, and defending communities across the country," the Members continued. "It is the only package that is bipartisan, bicameral, and has undergone a comprehensive committee process in both chambers of Congress. It represents thoughtful legislation that will meaningfully address the wildfire crisis."

Read a full copy of the letter here.

Background:

Rep. Peters has been a vocal advocate for bipartisan, bicameral forestry and wildfire legislation, a priority for his constituents in San Diego, which is highly vulnerable to climate-driven wildfires. For the past two Congresses, Rep. Peters has been the House lead of the Fix Our Forests Act to establish requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities. The House passed this bill in January 2025. Prior to launching Fix our Forests, Rep. Peters has led the Save Our Sequoias Act to protect California's giant sequoias from wildfire as one-fifth have been destroyed since 2015. Without faster, proactive forest restoration, more of these ancient trees will be lost. This bill would help federal, state, tribal, and local land managers accelerate critical forest restoration projects and strengthen the resilience of sequoia groves. The House passed the bill in March 2026.

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