The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) was encouraged by the dialogue on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today over the need to address the ever-increasing impact of emergency fire suppression costs on the USDA Forest Service and the Department of Interior's (DOI) constrained budgets. Unfortunately, the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement (FLAME) Act, as passed by the House, falls short of achieving a comprehensive fix for the federal funding challenges of wildfire suppression.

Wildfire season is a year-round reality in the United States, and now, with more than 1 million acres burned by wildfires already this year - more than double the amount burned by this time in 2007 - fire officials are preparing for a devastating summer. 

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) applauds the introduction of the FLAME Act and urges swift Congressional action on a sound solution that assures the health of America's forests and the safety of our communities.

The NASF Forest Fire Protection Committee has reviewed all resolutions from the years 2000 and 2002 that fall under the jurisdiction of the Committee. The Committee has reviewed each of the following resolutions and found them to be out-of-date or no longer relevant and recommends they be retired.

To achieve better controls over wildland fire suppression costs, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) asked Congress today, in testimony given by Kirk Rowdabaugh, Arizona's State Forester, to direct the federal agencies to make collaboration on all four goals of the 10 year Comprehensive Strategy for reducing wildland fire risks and cost controls one of the highest priorities.