Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8790, the bipartisan Fix our Forests Act.
Included in this package is the Wildfire Tech Demonstration, Evaluation, Modernization, and Optimization (DEMO) Act (H.R. 4235), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (CA-40) that allows private entities to partner with federal land management agencies to test wildfire technologies alongside ongoing hazardous fuels mitigation activities and training.
Watch Rep. Kim speak on the floor in support of the bill HERE.
“Southern California wildfires, including the Airport Fire in our area, are a pressing reminder of the importance of wildfire response. Our first responders need all available tools to keep our communities safe and combat the ever-changing threat posed by wildfires,” said Rep. Kim. “The DEMO Act will help us more quickly develop and deploy emerging technologies for wildfire response. I am thrilled this important initiative to update wildfire response tools is included in the Fix our Forests Act and will keep fighting to get this done.”
In addition to the DEMO Act, Rep. Kim has been working tirelessly to improve wildfire mitigation efforts through efforts such as:
- Helping introduce the Cross Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act (H.R. 9703) to help inform recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation;
- Helping introduce the Fire Weather Development Act (H.R. 4866), which passed the House and includes bipartisan bills Rep. Kim worked on to enhance wildfire detection capabilities and improve communications and information sharing efforts between first responders and community members;
- Introducing the Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety (ROUTES) Act (H.R. 6994) to prioritize, streamline, and improve maintenance of federal trails, roads, campgrounds, and recreation sites damaged by certain natural disasters;
- Securing funding in FY22 appropriations for the City of Yorba Linda Water District to install an additional heli-hydrant and for the City of Chino Hills’ fuel reduction project for areas susceptible to wildfires;
- Increasing resources for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue Response System (US&R) task forces, which are deployed to respond to natural disasters in California and across the nation; and,
- Adding language to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2024 directing U.S. Forest Service to address deferred trail maintenance issues.
