Horsford Votes to Combat Wildfire and Drought

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) voted to pass H.R. 5118, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, to improve climate resilience, restoration, and mitigation efforts to protect communities in Nevada and across the country from the devastating effects of climate, wildfire and drought. This legislation makes strategic and targeted investments to protect frontline communities from the growing impacts of climate change by expanding science programs, modernizing data and technology, and ensuring a whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought issues.

“The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act will strengthen our electrical grids against extreme weather and natural disasters, improve our response to wildfires and drought, and provide assistance to families, communities, and businesses in Nevada when a disaster does strike,” said Congressman Horsford. “Lake Mead is now at record low levels since it was first filled in 1937. This legislation invests in making sure we can keep water levels at Lake Mead and other vital reservoirs at safe levels, and makes significant investments in water reliability for tribal lands.”

Climate change has made drought more severe and persistent, with parts of the western United States experiencing their driest conditions in over 1,200 years. As of mid-July, nearly half of the United States are in drought. Wildfires are now a year-round threat, burning larger areas with greater intensity, as climate change reduces soil moisture and converts living forest vegetation into dry fuels. Together, the effects of drought and wildfire cost the United States roughly $20 billion in 2021 alone.

To improve wildfire response, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act:

• Establishes new hiring authorities and a minimum basic pay rate (approximately $20/hour) for wildland firefighters, as well as mental health leave and hazard pay.
• Authorizes a 10-Year National Wildfire Response Plan for landscape-scale projects across the country. 
• Provides tools and resources to assist communities’ wildfire activities, including prescribed fires, and supports opportunities for Tribes and Conservation Corps in wildfire activities.

To improve drought resiliency, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act:

• Provides $500 million to prevent key reservoirs of the Colorado River from declining to unsafe levels.
• Invests in innovative drought-proof water infrastructure, including water recycling and desalination projects.
• Secures water reliability for Indian Country, by advancing tribal water rights settlements, investing $1 billion in tribal clean water access, and supporting technical assistance for tribal water needs.
• Supports the development of modern water management data and technology.
• Protects and restores important ecosystems and wildlife populations that have been impacted by drought and climate change.

To ensure a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to wildfire and drought, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act also:

• Improves wildfire-related programs at the Department of Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fire Administration and provides improved assistance and relief for communities that have been impacted by recent wildfires.
• Establishes the National Disaster Safety Board and directs the President to establish a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program. 
• Advances environmental justice for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by environmental discrimination and climate change-induced wildfire and drought.

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