Rep. Schrier’s Priorities to Help Farmers, Firefighters, Improve Forest Roads and Prevent Wildfires Included in Build Back Better Bill
ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that several of her priorities were included in the House's Build Back Better legislation. The House Agriculture Committee is holding a meeting today to pass its sections of the bill, which would bring hundreds of millions of dollars to Washington state to prevent wildfires and jumpstart rural development and job creation.
In her remarks Rep. Schrier said, "I am so glad that this bill includes significant funding for forest management, wildland firefighting and mitigation, and agriculture research. All of these are vitally important to Washington state and our economy. As we face the increasing threat of climate change, these significant investments will allow for better wildfire preparedness, support for our firefighters, and new research that is critical for the success of our specialty crop farmers."
The Agriculture Committee is expected to advance a proposal to provide major assistance to wildfire prevention, firefighter assistance grants, and forest road mitigation, all priorities of Rep. Schrier. The Build Back Better legislation will include:
- $450 million for Legacy Roads and Trails program. Rep. Schrier introduced bipartisan legislation and led Congressional efforts to fund this program
- $14 billion for Hazardous Fuels Treatment on Federal lands that includes thinning and prescribed fire. Rep. Schrier's bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act calls for a similar significant investment in prescribed fires as wildfire prevention
- $10 billion specifically reserved for the Wildland Urban Interface
- $250 million for State and Volunteer Firefighter Assistance Grants
- $1 billion for Wood Innovation Grants, which could support efforts in Chelan County to develop a small-diameter sawmill
The bill also contains significant assistance for farmers, agriculture research, and rural development, including:
- $3.6 billion for the Research Facilities Act for Agriculture Research Infrastructure. Rep. Schrier recently led a letter to Congressional leadership advocating for the inclusion of this funding
- $200 million for Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Since March 2019, Rep. Schrier has been a major champion of SCRI funding to support specialty crop producers and researchers
- $3.8 billion for a new grant program to promote rural economic development
Other House Committees will be reviewing their sections of the Build Back Better legislation over the coming days, including Rep. Schrier's other committee, Energy and Commerce, on Monday, September 13th. The House is expected to vote on final passage of the legislation later this fall.
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Rep. Schrier's general remarks begin ~1:35 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSVK_SqeyIs