Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-09) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act, legislation that would implement reforms to facilitate active forest management and enhance interagency wildfire response capabilities:

“Arizonans are no strangers to deadly and destructive wildfires and those that are still burning in California are a heartbreaking reminder that the risk was known and, to a large degree, could have been prevented.

Sadly, the biggest obstacle to scientifically proven and responsible forest management through thinning forests and removing fuel is opposition by the forest-rabid environmentalists.

The Fix Our Forests Act simplifies and expedites environmental reviews to reduce costs and planning times for critical forest management projects, prioritizes the forests that are at the highest risk of wildfires and improves the health and resiliency of America’s forests, addressing overgrown areas prone to fires through active management.

This legislation is a much-needed step in managing our forests and reducing the threat of wildfires,” stated Congressman Gosar.