Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02) to introduce the bipartisan Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act, which aims to evaluate and improve how wildfire mitigation efforts are coordinated across federal, state, local, and Tribal lands.
The bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive study of existing programs, rules, and authorities impacting cross-boundary wildfire mitigation projects, and to recommend ways to streamline and improve collaboration between different levels of government.
“Last fall, my district witnessed the devastating Airport Fire, which started in Trabuco Canyon and burned through 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties. As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity, our mitigation tools must keep pace,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Effective wildfire prevention requires seamless coordination, which is why we must ensure federal, state, and local first responders can share information as effectively as possible. This bipartisan bill will help identify barriers and unlock opportunities to ensure communities like mine can better prevent and respond to these disasters.”
“During my time in Congress, Colorado has experienced four of the five largest wildfires in our state’s history—meaning that my communities, along with the state and local agencies on the frontlines, have seen firsthand the increasing strain as these fires grow more frequent and severe. I’m proud to introduce legislation, rooted in the nonpartisan work of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, that invests in wildfire science and strengthens the long-term resilience of our communities to reduce the threat of future disasters,” said Congressman Neguse.
Read the bill HERE.
