Wildfire season in Oregon is no longer just a summer concern — it is an ever-growing financial and environmental crisis. Across the state, Oregonians are facing soaring property insurance costs, expensive mandates to manage their land, and increased wildfire risk, all while the federal government neglects its own massive land holdings.

Nearly two-thirds of Oregon’s forests are federally owned. Much of it is unnaturally overstocked, with millions of dead and dying trees that provide fuel for future wildfires. If we are to protect our homes, forests, and communities, it’s time for the federal government to take responsibility by managing its lands. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act is a much-needed step in that direction.

Oregonians are paying a steep price for federal inaction. Skyrocketing property insurance rates reflect the increased wildfire risk. Meanwhile, individuals are expected to invest thousands of dollars in fire mitigation efforts on their own properties while unmanaged federal lands remain a tinderbox waiting for the next spark.

As fires rage through these overgrown forests, taxpayers foot the bill for ever-growing firefighting costs. Worse yet, these wildfires fill the air with toxic smoke, worsening respiratory conditions and driving up public healthcare costs. We cannot afford to continue down this path.

The Fix Our Forests Act is a pragmatic, bipartisan solution that restores balance to federal forest management. The bill, passed by the U.S. House with strong support from Oregon Republican and Democratic representatives, aims to restore forest health, reduce catastrophic wildfires, and protect communities. It does so by streamlining environmental analyses, curbing frivolous litigation, and accelerating the pace of forest restoration projects.

Following the devastating January wildfires in Los Angeles, which burned 40,000 acres and destroyed over 16,000 structures, Congress took action. On Jan. 23, the House approved the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471), a bill spearheaded by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA). Now, it’s up to the Senate to follow through.

For decades, environmental activists have fought against responsible forest management, arguing that thinning and controlled burns are merely disguised logging efforts. However, the results of this hands-off approach have been devastating. Since the 1990s, restrictions on logging — particularly in the wake of the Northern Spotted Owl crisis — have allowed federal forests to become dangerously overgrown. Has 30 years of forest non-management really worked for Oregonians, wildlife and our air and water resources?

The argument that thinning makes wildfires worse defies logic. Wildfires need three elements to burn: oxygen, heat, and fuel. While we cannot control oxygen or temperature, we can manage the fuel. Removing excess vegetation prevents small fires from turning into uncontrollable infernos.

The Fix Our Forests Act makes crucial reforms to ensure necessary forest management projects are not stuck in endless red tape. The bill simplifies environmental reviews while maintaining strong protections, ensuring that projects designed to safeguard forests and communities are not delayed by unnecessary bureaucracy or obstructive anti-forestry lawsuits.

Moreover, the legislation emphasizes science-based forest management and leverages tools like the Good Neighbor Authority and Stewardship Contracting to allow states, local communities, and tribes to actively participate in reducing wildfire risks. These proactive measures not only enhance forest resilience but also support local economies by providing jobs in forestry and land management.

Oregon’s federal lands should be an asset, not a liability. The Fix Our Forests Act is a lifeline for our forests, our communities, and our future. It is time for our leaders, including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, to step up and support this critical legislation.

If we fail to act, we will continue to see larger, deadlier wildfires, ever-higher insurance rates, and more devastation to our cherished landscapes. We need a new approach—one based on responsible management, not outdated ideology. The Fix Our Forests Act delivers that change, and it deserves our full support.

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