Support Statement for the Fix Our Forests Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salem, OR – January 16, 2025 – Associated Oregon Loggers proudly endorses the Fix Our Forests Act, a forward-thinking, bipartisan measure that addresses the urgent need for increased forest management. With millions of acres of federal forests in Oregon and across the nation overstocked and increasingly vulnerable to wildfire, this legislation offers critical reforms to help forest operators and contractors do the work necessary to restore these lands to health and safety.

The Fix Our Forests Act directly addresses the barriers that hinder forest management efforts, including excessive environmental review timelines and frivolous litigation, which delay vital projects. By streamlining regulatory processes and expanding tools like Good Neighbor Authority, this legislation allows forest contractors to plan and execute projects more efficiently, creating jobs and delivering the forest treatments essential to increase forest health and community vitality. Provisions that promote the use of local expertise in restoration and prioritizing high-risk areas are particularly valuable to Oregon’s logging and contracting businesses, who know these forests best.

Active management is not only essential for reducing wildfire risks but also for revitalizing the forest economy. The Fix Our Forests Act prioritizes real, actionable solutions like increasing project sizes, using utility corridors as fuel breaks, and adopting advanced technologies to expand the pace and scale of forest restoration. These efforts align with the expertise and capabilities of our members, who are ready and able to perform this critical work. Associated Oregon Loggers urges Congress to swiftly pass this legislation to empower forest operators to restore our forests and protect Oregon’s rural communities.

For further information, please contact:

Amanda Sullivan-Astor, CF

Forest Policy Manager, Associated Oregon Loggers

Email: aastor@oregonloggers.org

Phone: 503-364-1330