WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee held a hearing on Senator Ruben Gallego’s (D-AZ) Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act. The bill provides recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation across land ownership boundaries by identifying gaps and opportunities in current federal rules and regulations and supporting increased collaboration.
Watch Senator Gallego’s opening statement at the hearing HERE, and read excerpts below:
“This could not come at a more urgent time. This year, Arizona alone saw more than 200,000 acres burn across the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest. The Dragon Bravo Fire, one of the largest fires in Arizona history, destroyed iconic landscapes in the North Rim and devastated local businesses whose livelihoods depend on tourism,” Senator Gallego said at the hearing. “Arizona, like many western states, is a patchwork of state, federal, Tribal, and private land. If fires are moving across these lands faster than different levels of government can coordinate and prepare for them, the fire has the advantage. As our wildfire seasons grow longer and our wildfire landscapes change, we need stronger research and better coordination to manage these fires and keep communities safe. The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act would help get us there by improving the working relationship between federal agencies and their state, Tribal, and local counterparts.”
Witnesses also expressed their support for the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act as part of the hearing.
“The Forest Service supports the intent of this bill. The agency suggests broadening the focus beyond the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 as most of the agency’s wildfire mitigation efforts are conducted under other authorities. The agency anticipates learning from the outcomes of the study to improve wildfire mitigation efforts,” said hearing witness Christopher French, Associate Chief U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
“The Department supports the bill and its objective of identifying and addressing barriers to effective cross-boundary wildfire mitigation across both Federal and non-Federal lands,” said hearing witness Jon Raby, Nevada Bureau of Land Management State Director.
The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act was part of a bicameral package of bills Senator Gallego introduced to improve wildfire prevention, mitigation, and management. Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02) led companion legislation in the House.
The hearing also considered the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would codify the U.S. Forest Service’s Roadless Rule protections into law. Senator Gallego led this bill alongside Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06). Gallego also led the effort to protect the Roadless Rule during his time in the House.
12/2/25