May 16, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship U.S. House Passes Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act

On May 13, the House passed the bipartisan Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act (H.R. 2492) by voice vote. This bill would allow the U.S. Forest Service to

May 16, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship House Agriculture Committee Advances SRS Reauthorization by way of Reconciliation Bill

On May 14, the House Agriculture Committee voted 29-25 along party lines to advance its reconciliation bill. While the measure contains many impactful provisions, perhaps the most notable is the inclusion of reauthorization language for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Until now, SRS reauthorization has been stalled in the House of Representatives, despite significant bipartisan support in the Senate

May 08, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship USDA Announces Grants to Boost Timber Production, Reduce Wildfire Risk

On May 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $23 million in grants through the Forest Service’s Hazardous Fuels Transportation Program to support the transport of low-value wood and dead trees

May 08, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship U.S. Forest Service Testifies in Support of Fix Our Forests Act

On May 6, Acting Associate Chief of the Forest Service, Christopher French, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee during its legislative hearing on the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which aims to reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and improve forest health through expanded management tools and interagency coordination

May 02, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship America the Beautiful Act Introduced to Extend and Expand National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund

On Thursday April 30, Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) unveiled bipartisan legislation, the America the Beautiful Act, which would reauthorize and expand the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. This measure would increase the legacy restoration fund created

Apr 11, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Update

RCRC continues to advocate for passage of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization bill, a top priority for rural counties in California and around the nation.  The last SRS reauthorization

Mar 14, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Legislation Introduced to Expand Smith River National Recreation Area to Include Oregon

On March 12, California’s U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla joined Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden in introducing the Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act, which would expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres. This legislation should help boost the local fishing and recreation industries

Mar 14, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship EMBER Act Reintroduced as Part of Larger Congressional Package

On March 11, Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Riverside County) reintroduced the Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act, which would reduce the threat of wildfires along the southern border and protect

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship President Trump Issues Executive Order on Timber Production

On March 1, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order to stimulate U.S. timber production. The order directs

Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship USDA Forest Service Leadership Transition

On March 3, the USDA Forest Service (USFS) experienced a significant leadership transition. Chief Randy Moore has retired after a tenure of four and a half decades with the Forest Service. Moore is succeeded by