NAMIC Applauds Action, Urges Full Senate Vote on the Fix Our Forests Act

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies is urging Senate leadership to swiftly consider the Fix Our Forests Act after its approval by the Agriculture Committee today.

“Right now, wildfire season is ending in some parts of the country and just beginning in others, but recent history has shown us that massive, devastating fires aren’t limited to a single season anywhere in the country,” said Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for NAMIC. “The risk of wildfire can no longer be ignored or underestimated. We need action to start addressing it, and the Fix Our Forests Act is a vital step in doing so.”

The bill prioritizes treatment of forests at the highest risk of wildfire and coordinates grant programs for community mitigation efforts. It also promotes research on wildfire resilience and land management in the wildland urban interface and supports the adoption of fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards – proven methods to reduce losses. The House passed the bill Jan. 23 as California grappled with catastrophic wildfires, and the Senate Agriculture Committee today moved this meaningful bill closer to becoming law. Now, NAMIC is calling on Senate leaders to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote expeditiously.

“Over recent years, we’ve witnessed substantial growth of the wildland urban interface, where homes face escalating risks of devastating fire and the potential losses they can inflict,” Grande said. “The science is clear, and we know how to effectively manage our forests to reduce the damage from wildfires. We simply need our federally elected officials to stand up to powerful special interests and do the right thing to protect life and property from future harm. Our federal forest management and mitigation policies need to keep up with the science. The Fix Our Forest Act will promote modern science and research to make our forests healthier and our communities safer.”