As more dangerous wildfires threaten Southern California, lawmakers say reforms to forest management are desperately needed, and the country cannot wait any longer.

House Natural Resources Democrats, under new ranking member Jared Huffman, pushed Republicans on Wednesday to change panel rules for issuing subpoenas. The California lawmaker said Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) should submit subpoenas to a vote. Indeed, Huffman said Westerman supported subpoena power limits when he was in the minority.

The Fix Our Forests Act is just one piece of legislation expected to be introduced in response to the wildfires in California.

As wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) claimed that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) opted out of an opportunity to legislate federal protections to prevent them.

A bill to speed forest-thinning on federal lands is poised to pass the House later this week. Another forest-related bill passed easily Tuesday.

House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman said the Los Angeles disaster highlights the urgency of his forest management bill.

Ark., discusses a Forest Service briefing on the wildfires, the 'Fix Our Forests Act' returning to the House floor for a vote and President-elect Trump preparing energy dominance executive orders.

Some Republican leaders insist that before California can get disaster aid, there will be conditions attached.

USFS H.R. 471 Fix Our Forests Act Meeting on Tuesday in the U.S. House January 19, 2025 - The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) reports on January 16, House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04) and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50) announced the reintroduction of the Fix Our Forests Act,

California Democrats blocked a Republican amendment to add $1 billion in wildfire prevention funding to the state's $2.5 billion wildfire recovery bill during a simple procedural vote. Meanwhile in Washington,

A forest management bill is slated for House floor debate this week. Other wildfire bills have been introduced in the Senate.

With their party now in control of the U.S. Congress, Republicans are defending their record on Indian issues after Democrats sought changes to the rules on a key legislative committee.