"A package of 48 bills related to wildfire, forest management and drought will reach House floor in one giant measure next week as Democrats try to push through their version of how best to tackle the climate crisis on public lands.

The bill, called the “Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act,” H.R. 5118, would boost pay and benefits for wildland firefighters, help the Forest Service fill gaps in fire management staff and promote bigger forest management projects to reduce hazardous fuels — but without the exceptions from long environmental reviews that congressional Republicans say are necessary to make a difference.

The Rules Committee takes up the bill tomorrow, setting the parameters for floor debate and determining which amendments may be considered."

Marc Heller and Jennifer Yachnin report for E&E News July 21, 2022. [2]