{"id":25097,"date":"2026-07-23T14:27:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=25097"},"modified":"2026-07-23T14:27:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:27:43","slug":"merkley-curtis-lead-bipartisan-wildfire-emissions-prevention-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/merkley-curtis-lead-bipartisan-wildfire-emissions-prevention-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkley y Curtis lideran la Ley Bipartidista de Prevenci\u00f3n de Emisiones por Incendios Forestales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bipartisan legislation removes regulatory burden on proactive forest management efforts to mitigate wildfires<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led their EPW colleagues\u2014including Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ)\u2014in introducing the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA).<\/em> The bipartisan legislation would streamline states\u2019 use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. It also promotes the efficient use of state air quality resources and provides certainty that states will not be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWhen the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over 600 miles and never once escaped the thick, dark smoke that blanketed our state. As Oregonians face yet another record-breaking fire season this year, we need to tackle this crisis at every stage,\u201d<\/strong> dijo el senador Merkley. \u201cOur bipartisan bill supports more prescribed fire on the landscape\u2014an essential forest management activity\u2014while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events. Climate chaos is fueling more severe wildfires, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to ensure Oregon and communities nationwide have the tools they need to protect public health and save lives.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf we’re serious about reducing the size and severity of wildfires, we need to stop punishing local authorities for doing the right thing to improve forest health and remove hazardous fuels,\u201d<\/strong> said Senator Curtis. \u201cBy removing unnecessary regulatory burdens on prescribed burns, our legislation helps ensure states and localities can take proactive measures to help keep our forests and communities safe from the threat of wildfires.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI am very proud to cosponsor this legislation, which will help reduce the impact of wildfires on our land, our air, and our people,\u201d<\/strong> said Chair Capito. \u201cWildfires have ravaged many parts of our country over the past several years, and change is necessary to ensure that states can successfully prevent the most dangerous and damaging fires. States should have the right to use known prevention practices, including prescribed fires, to mitigate potential catastrophes and care for their land. This bill gives states another tool in their toolbox, and will reduce barriers to successfully managing wildfires and protecting communities nationwide.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIn light of the devastating wildfires we now see far too often, Congress should do everything it can to encourage better forest management practices. Prescribed burns are an important way to prevent large-scale fires that threaten homes and property while damaging natural resources,\u201d<\/strong> said Senator Boozman. \u201cI am proud to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this legislation to ensure controlled burns do not generate an adverse Clean Air Act impact or penalize states taking proactive mitigation steps.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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“We know prescribed burns help prevent catastrophic wildfires and save lives,\u201d<\/strong> dijo el senador Padilla. \u201cThis bipartisan bill cuts red tape so California and the whole country can make greater use of this proven, cost-effective tool to protect communities before the next major wildfire. It’s a commonsense step that prioritizes prevention instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cArizona knows the damage catastrophic wildfires can do to our communities and forests. Prescribed burns are one of the best ways to reduce that risk before a fire gets out of control, and states shouldn’t be penalized for taking action,\u201d<\/strong> said Senator Kelly. \u201cThis bipartisan effort will help prevent larger, more destructive wildfires, keep our forests healthier, and better protect families from the smoke and pollution they leave behind.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act<\/em><\/a>\u00a0har\u00eda:<\/p>\n\n\n\n