Rep. Crane’s Amendment to Expedite White Sage Fire Recovery Unanimously Passes U.S. House

In response to the devastating White Sage Fire, which burned nearly 60,000 acres in Northern Arizona, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) introduced an amendment to expedite recovery efforts in the impacted areas. This morning, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted his proposal as part of the 2026 Farm Bill.

Modeled after the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, the amendment grants the U.S. Forest Service emergency contracting authorities to bypass unnecessary red tape and reduce bureaucratic delays. These flexibilities apply to forest management, rebuilding, planning, design, and other recovery activities within the areas of the Kaibab National Forest affected by the White Sage Fire.

The amendment also requires detailed reporting to Congress every 180 days to increase transparency regarding expenditures, contractor performance, potential conflicts of interest, and any issues related to waste, fraud, or abuse throughout the recovery process.

Additionally, Rep. Crane signed on as the sole cosponsor of an amendment led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) to remove pesticide liability protections from the underlying bill. He also cosponsored an amendment introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to reform the evidence standards used when compensating ranchers for livestock losses caused by Mexican wolves. Both amendments passed the House with strong bipartisan support.

"Page, Fredonia, the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, and other impacted communities were dealt a setback due to the devastating White Sage Fire. In response, I'm honored to have introduced and passed an amendment to help pave the way to a full and timely recovery," said Rep. Crane. "I'm also grateful for the leadership of Representatives Gosar and Luna, who successfully passed provisions that assist our ranchers and help protect our food supply. These results advance critical priorities for rural Arizonans, and I'm thankful for the positive outcomes."