2021 California Monument Fire - Engine crew battles flames
Credit: USDA

October 26, 2023 - Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) urged Congress to fund state-of-the-art firefighting equipment, create new training programs, and support recovery efforts for communities impacted by wild and rangeland fires by passing her Western Wildlife Support Act.

“This summer, I spoke to firefighters across Nevada who are combating increasingly frequent and dangerous wildfires,” said Senator Cortez Masto at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee hearing. “We need to be doing more to support these brave men and women and help keep our communities, businesses, and families safe. And we need to take a meaningful, holistic look at how we combat the growing and longer wildfire seasons. My bill will do just that – it will address efforts from all angles:  wildfire prevention, suppression, and recovery.

Cortez Masto went on to emphasize the importance of comprehensive pre-fire planning and post-fire recovery efforts for combating the wildfire crisis. Experts from the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service agreed, highlighting how the senator’s bill will help them work with state, local, and federal agencies prevent fires from sparking and protect at-risk communities.

 Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts to support Nevada firefighters and combat the wildfire crisis in the West. In addition to her comprehensive legislation to prevent wildfires, she’s pushing for permanent pay raises for federal firefighters. She secured billions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support wildfire risk reduction, including $8 billion for wildfire prevention, suppression, and restoration activities and $10 million for wildfire detection equipment.
Source: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto