May 16, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues 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

Barbed Wire   |   federal budget   |   federal issues 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

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues USDA to Expedite $21 Billion in Previously Approved Disaster Assistance

On May 7, USDA Secretary Rollins announced plans to expedite the distribution of $21 billion in Congressionally-appropriated disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers impacted by recent natural disasters

May 08, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues 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

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues House Votes to Overturn California-Specific Environmental Waivers and Rules

This week, the House passed four Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions addressing environmental waivers and rules issued during the Biden administration, each tied to California-specific standards or policy

Apr 25, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues USDA Announces Disaster Assistance Funding Available to Rural Communities Impacted by Recent Disasters

On April 22, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced $340.6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster assistance to deliver relief to farmers, ranchers and rural communities impacted by natural disasters

Apr 25, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congress Members Urge FEMA to Restore BRIC Grant Program

Last week, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) led a letter with 26 other representatives opposing FEMA’s decision to terminate funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and urging

Apr 25, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Implements Emergency Permitting Procedures to Strengthen Domestic Energy Supply

In response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency, the U.S. Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and critical minerals. These measures are designed

Apr 11, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Bipartisan Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate to Create New Disaster Resilience Tax Credit for Communities Impacted by Natural Disasters

On April 8, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) introduced the Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability (FIREWALL) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at promoting community resilience

Apr 04, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act Reintroduced in the House

On April 2, U.S. Representatives David Valadao (R-Kings County) and Salud Carbajal (D-San Luis Obispo County) reintroduced the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act. This bipartisan legislation