The Boone and Crockett Club today thanked Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) for including a strong forest restoration title in the proposed infrastructure bill pending in the Senate. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Senator Manchin with Senator Barrasso as the ranking member, marked up the legislation and passed it out of committee today. Following is a statement by the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Schoonen:

“The Boone and Crockett Club applauds the work of Senator Manchin and Senator Barrasso for including $5 billion for active forest management on our National Forests in the infrastructure bill passed by the committee today. This funding will help to reduce the risk of severe wildfires, improve big game habitat, and support jobs in rural communities. The Club also supports the efforts of Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to make important amendments to the bill that would allow the Forest Service to get the job done more quickly with the new funds.”

In April, the Club called for a significant investment in active forest management in order to help improve the health of our federal forests. Activities such as harvesting trees, thinning dead and dying trees, creating fuel breaks, prescribed and managed burns, and creating defensible spaces are all effective tools to reduce wildfire threats while also improving wildlife habitat and helping to sequester carbon.