On November 19, 2024, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced that the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) advanced 10 bills he introduced to conserve California public lands, mitigate wildfire risk, expand the use of prescribed fire, strengthen drought resiliency, and support wildlife. The bills, which include the following, will now be considered by the full Senate.
Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act: The Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act, co-led by Senator Padilla, would allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees near power lines on federal forest lands without requiring a timber sale, thereby easing the removal of hazardous trees and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Three of the largest and most destructive wildfires in California history — the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Camp Fire, and the 2021 Dixie Fire — were started by electrical equipment. The legislation advanced as part of the Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2023 (S. 2867) led by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).
Sacramento RIVER Act: This bipartisan legislation (S. 5011) would support ecosystem restoration, drought resiliency, and water conservation in the Sacramento River watershed. This bill would authorize the Interior Department to create a federal leadership committee to strengthen federal coordination of ecosystem restoration among regional, local, and national stakeholders in the Sacramento River Basin, ensuring alignment on strategy, vision, and execution of habitat restoration projects to support a wide array of at-risk species. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Full text of the measure is available here.
National Prescribed Fire Act: The National Prescribed Fire Act (S. 4424), led by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and co-led by Senator Padilla, would support pre-fire season prescribed burns as an essential, science-based strategy to save lives and property. The bill would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns during cooler, wetter months. The legislation would create a technically skilled prescribed fire workforce and streamline smoke regulations during winter months to reduce catastrophic fires and smoke in the summer. Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) and David Valadao (R-CA-22) are leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Full text of this measure is available here.
Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act: This legislation (S. 4227) would expand Joshua Tree National Park by approximately 20,149 acres by amending the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s 1994 California Desert Protection Act, which originally established the park. The expansion is recommended by the National Park Service. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) is co-sponsoring the legislation. Full text of the measure is available here.
Mojave National Preserve Boundary Adjustment Act: This legislation (S. 4222) would expand the Mojave National Preserve, established by the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, by approximately 20,000 acres to encompass the existing Castle Mountains National Monument. Doing so would allow the National Park Service to more effectively safeguard land within the Mojave Desert and better conserve and protect the Castle Mountains. Full text of the bill is available here.
San Joaquin River Restoration Program Funding Cap Increase: To further support the ongoing implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP), this bipartisan legislation (S. 5005) would raise the cap on federal appropriations for the program by $500 million while increasing the authorization of appropriations for Friant Division canal improvements. The SJRRP is a comprehensive, long-term effort in the Central Valley to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River and restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river, while reducing or avoiding adverse water supply impacts from restoration flows. The legislation is cosponsored by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND). Full text of the bill is available here.