10-28 IAT Fire Funding
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson ensured that critical wildfire suppression funding was included in must-pass legislation to avert a potential debt default and end the federal government shutdown. H.R. 2775 included vital funding—$600 million for the Forest Service and $36 million for the Department of the Interior—to restore wildfire suppression accounts that were emptied during the devastating 2013 fire season. Simpson oversees the budget for these agencies in his role as Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. I called Mr. Simpson’s spokesperson, Nikki Watts:
“David, you know as well as anyone that when we have catastrophic fires and no money to fight them that ‘fire borrowing’ occurs. Congressman Simpson is very frustrated with this process because it means funding is not available to remove hazardous fuels that will most likely create another catastrophic fire next season. That is why Congressman Simpson secured this vital funding for wildfire fighting. It will reopen the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise and allow land managers to do restoration and much needed fuel reduction work.
The funding in H.R. 2775 helps to address what is referred to as “fire borrowing.” When budgeted fire suppression funding is depleted, agencies are forced to take money from other non-fire accounts in order to continue fighting fires.
