House adopts conference report on stimulus package; Senate vote imminent

The House adopted the conference report on a $787.2 billion economic stimulus package today, sending the measure to the Senate for final congressional action. The bill contains $500M for wildland fire management, $250M of which is for state and private forestry activities including hazardous fuels reduction, forest health and ecosystem improvement activities on state and private lands. The funds will be allocated using all Forest Service State and Private Forestry authorities delivered by State Foresters and are not subject to matching or cost share requirements -- two important conditions that NASF urged Congress to include to give state agencies the flexibility needed to create as many jobs as possible.