Montana Senator Steve Daines on Sept. 16 stumped for legislation he helped draft, saying more forest management would protect communities from wildfires.
Republican Daines presented his Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020 to the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining.
He said the bill, which he wrote with Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, restores forest health and supports timber jobs.
“We have been working together on this important piece of legislation that addresses forest management. As we say in Montana, either we’re going to manage our forests or our forests are going to manage us,” Daines said.
The Montana Wood Products Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Northwestern Energy and Montana Logging Association voice strong support.
Meanwhile the Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club say the legislation fast tracks large logging projects without normal environmental, judicial and public review.
Daines and Feinstein are urging quick passage of their bill.