Westerman among forestland visitors

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., toured Sierra Nevada forestland last week, visiting the area with several lawmakers from the western United States.

Of California’s 53 House members, only seven are Republicans. Two of those, Tom McClintock and Doug LaMalfa, accompanied Westerman, according to a news release from Westerman’s office.

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., also participated. They were joined by Jim Hubbard, an undersecretary with the U.S. Forest Service.

LaMalfa and McClintock represent large, mountainous, largely rural districts, that touch the Nevada border.

In November, a wildfire swept through LaMalfa’s district, nearly obliterating the cities of Paradise (population 26,800) and Magalia (population 11,300).

At least 86 lives were lost, according to the Los Angeles Times. There was billions of dollars in property damage.

Westerman, who has a graduate degree in forestry from Yale University, is sponsoring legislation that would overhaul some federal forest practices.

Under the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019, it would be harder for environmentalists to derail development or revision of a forest plan.

Also, salvage plans produced in the wake of a “catastrophic event,” would be fast-tracked.

Even if successful in court, environmentalists would no longer be able to recoup legal fees when they challenge a forest plan.

The House supported Westerman’s legislation when Republicans were in the majority, but the measure stalled in the Senate.

Continuing inaction will have consequences, the lawmaker from Hot Springs warned Friday.

“By allowing pests, dead and decaying trees and brush to remain unchecked, we are opening up our nation’s forests to devastating wildfires and disease,” he said in the news release.