Communities in Eastern Washington are all-too-familiar with the devastating impacts of wildfires. That’s why I have long advocated for active forest management reforms to reduce our risk of catastrophic wildfires that decimate our carbon-capturing forests and emit toxic smoke into the atmosphere. 

Active forest management on federal forest land, state and local collaboration on management projects, and strong initial response to wildfires are the keys to protecting communities and making forests in the Pacific Northwest healthy again.

Projects like A to Z on the Colville National Forest should be the model for how public-private partnerships can achieve real results for forests and create economic opportunities in rural communities. I was proud to support the development of this project. 

In 2018, I helped usher permanent reforms into law to support partnerships at the federal, state and local levels to advance forest management projects and reduce the risk of these catastrophic wildfires. I also led in fixing “fire borrowing” at the U.S. Forest Service to correct budgetary issues and ensure the Forest Service has the resources it needs to fight fires and complete management projects.

I have also long been a leader in extending the Secure Rural Schools program, which provides funding for rural, timber-dependent counties to fund public and municipal needs like infrastructure, public schools, law enforcement and more. 

I am dedicated to encouraging active forest management on federal forest land, local collaboration and decision-making within national forests, and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to timber-dependent communities.