WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Local landscapes and forests continue to play a vital role in Western agriculture, as lawmakers and industry leaders highlight growing support for federal land management reform.
Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) joined us on Champions of Rural America to discuss the growing support for the Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to give rural communities additional tools to improve forest and land management.
In his interview with RFD News, Curtis said the bipartisan legislation would return forest management decisions closer to local communities, emphasizing that those nearest to the land are best positioned to manage it effectively. He also pointed to backing from Western governors and said the goal is to shift the focus toward preventing wildfire conditions rather than reacting after fires begin.
He added that the bill would streamline regulatory processes, reduce legal delays, and support rural economies by improving access to forest resources and creating local job opportunities tied to land management and logging.
The Fix Our Forests Act also drew support from rural electric cooperatives, which say wildfire risk continues to threaten power infrastructure. Industry leaders note that utilities need better access to manage rights-of-way and remove hazard trees near power lines to reduce fire risk and maintain reliability.
The issue was a key focus during this week’s electric cooperative fly-in to Washington, where leaders also emphasized the need to modernize the electric grid and expand infrastructure to meet growing rural energy demand while continuing to deliver reliable power across rural America.
