House Passes Forestry Management Bill in Response to L.A. Fires

Bipartisan forest management legislation won passage in the GOP-led House Thursday with support from Democrats, boosting the bill’s odds of being considered in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The measure, sponsored by House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) would expedite environmental reviews for critical forest management projects and streamline judicial reviews.

The House passed it 279-141, with 64 Democratic votes for the bill.

The House passed the bill in the last Congress, but the Democratic-led Senate didn’t act on it. Sen. Steve Daines, who has been active in forest management efforts, said that with “President ...