House Natural Resources Committee
National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee
Investing in Wildfire Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and Resilient Communities: Examining the Biden Administration’s Priorities for Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), signed by President Biden on Nov. 15, 2021, provides $28.1 billion to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to restore critical habitats, address drought, assist with wildland fire management, support communities, and help them prepare for extreme weather events. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) received approximately $5.5 billion.
This hearing will examine DOI’s and USFS’ implementation of BIL funding for wildfire management, with a particular focus on policies and investments that address climate change, support ecosystem restoration and reforestation, facilitate collaboration towards fire-adapted landscapes, and confront wildfire and public lands workforce needs.
Witnesses- Jeff Rupert, Director, Office of Wildland Fire, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Jaelith Hall-Rivera, Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Brian Ferebee, Chief Executive of Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture