WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz on supporting timber production, livestock grazing on federal lands, allowing ranchers to use vacant allotments during natural disasters, and USFS collaboration with state agencies to combat wildfires.
Chief Schultz testified during today’s Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine President Trump’s budget request for the USFS for Fiscal Year 2027.
“Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Thanks so much for being here.
“I’m grateful for what you’ve been doing in terms of all of the issues in Wyoming.
“You’ve been to the state. You visited with people. You’ve been to Riverton, had meetings.
“All of these things have been tremendous. And I hear great, great feedback from the people of Wyoming on the work that you have been doing. So, thank you very much for that.
“I wanted to just talk about vacant allotments.
“I have a bill currently before the Senate, S. 211. It’s called the RANCH Act – Resiliency for Ranching and Natural Conservation Health Act.
“It allows for temporary use of vacant grazing allotments during extreme events and disasters. Especially on vacant allotments on our National Forest lands.
“This past wildfire season, you know, was one of the worst we have seen in the past decade.
“Thank you for coming today with the maps for all of us to see what’s going on in our own states with ongoing problems we’re having with moisture and the need for that.
“You clearly have a good assessment of the situation, which is greatly concerning to all of us.
“So, we’re anticipating this year is going to be a bad wildfire season.
“It’s more important now than ever that we provide the agency the authority to help ranchers in emergency situations.
“This RANCH Act is going to help ranchers and rural communities work with Washington – not against it.
“It passed the Senate last Congress unanimously.
“How would this piece of legislation help expedite the process for ranchers to utilize vacant allotments in disaster situations?”
“I want to talk next about grasslands grazing. Another one of my bills in front of the Senate, S. 2878. It’s called the Grasslands Grazing Act.
“Livestock grazing on federal lands has a strong tradition in Wyoming and certainly across the West.
“Federal grazing is a necessary tool for wildfire prevention and for promoting rangeland health.
“It is widely used by both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
“The Forest Service manages the national forests and national grasslands. Livestock grazing is done on both of these.
“So, I was pleased that Congresswoman Hageman from Wyoming was able to get the House companion to my bill included in the Farm Bill that just passed the House last month.
“Does this legislation still have your agency’s support?”
“Then, in terms of collaborating with the states, already this year we have all seen fires. And they’ve been in Wyoming, as well. We’ve talked a little bit about that.
“Just last month, the Bighorn Recreation Canyon saw a large fire.
“It took a joint federal response to help control the burn.
“Rural communities in the West are bracing for what will likely be another devastating wildfire season.
“As more incidents start and suppression resources are spread thin, federal and state agencies, I believe, need to work together.
“How is the Forest Service engaging state, local and private partners to ensure we can effectively respond to wildfires?”
Follow-up:
“Kelly Norris is terrific. She’s been here to testify on a couple of occasions. So, thanks for pointing out how closely you’re working with her.”
“I want to talk about timber production.
“The Forest Service has been following the new Executive Orders to increase timber production.
“So, I’m supportive of the steps the Trump Administration has been making to improve timber production since the last Administration hindered so many timber plants and timber operations.
“Can you give us an update on how the agency has been managing an increase in timber production?”
###