NCBA and PLC secure House passage of key land management billsNCBA and PLC secure House passage of key land management bills
NCBA and PLC hailed the House passage of two significant land management bills strongly supported by America’s livestock producers: the ACRES Act and the Fix Our Forests Act.
January 23, 2025
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) hailed the House passage of two significant land management bills strongly supported by America’s livestock producers: the ACRES Act and the Fix Our Forests Act.
“Devastating wildfires throughout the West have shown that the federal government needs to step up their protection of western landscapes and that starts by supporting the farmers and ranchers on the ground whose hard work helps reduce wildfire risk,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “NCBA has worked hard to secure approval of these bills and their passage in the U.S. House is a testament to this association’s strong representation of cattle producers in Washington, D.C.”
Together, these bills increase the West’s resiliency against wildfires and strengthen accountability for federal agencies. The ACRES Act, introduced by Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), requires the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to accurately report their activity on reducing hazardous wildfire fuels. Recent investigations have shown that the U.S. Forest Service overcounted the number of acres where they reduced wildfire fuels, leading to incorrect information. The Fix Our Forests Act, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), would support livestock grazing as a valuable tool for reducing wildfire risk, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and supporting other measures to protect the West from catastrophic wildfires.
“Scientific research has continuously shown that grazing prevents wildfires,” said PLC President Tim Canterbury, a Colorado rancher. “For us in the West, the threat of wildfires is a very real and terrifying risk. I am grateful that Congress is working on solutions that support livestock grazing and help us manage our Western lands to remove fuels and reduce fire risk.”
Both bills passed the U.S. House of Representatives in bipartisan votes this week. The legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for approval. NCBA and PLC strongly urge Senators to vote in favor of this legislation so President Trump can swiftly sign it into law before the 2025 wildfire season.
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