House-Passed Wildfire, Drought Bill Faces Bumpy Path in Senate

The House Friday passed a mostly Democrat-led package of 49 bills aimed at addressing escalating wildfire and drought in the West, but the measure faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

The wildfire portion of the legislation (H.R. 5118) would authorize additional investments beyond the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law (Public Law 117-58) for the federal government’s 10-year strategy to prevent and mitigate wildfire. It would also require a minimum of $20 per hour for federal firefighters, along with other benefits and hiring authorities for the Forest Service.

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), the lead Democrat on the ...