Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced a bipartisan agreement to increase the budget allotment for the National Fire Plan by $500 million above the original Chairman’s Mark of the budget, totaling a $900 million increase above the President’s request. Wyden won approval of an amendment to increase FY2004 budget authority for the National Fire Plan from $2.6 billion to $3.1 billion, which would allow appropriations enabling additional firefighting efforts and projects to implement other objectives of the National Fire Plan. Wildfire suppression is one part of the National Fire Plan, which also covers restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, fire research and real, on-the-ground collaboration with states and localities to help them improve their environment and protect themselves from catastrophic fire. Co-sponsors of the Wyden amendment included Senators Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

“Improving this country’s ability to fight wildfires without shortchanging forest health and forest-based economies is a reachable, bipartisan goal,” Wyden said. “This agreement to increase National Fire Plan funding proves that Congress can work together to do what’s best both for forests and our rural communities.”

In the severe 2002 fire season, the Congress provided almost $400 million for wildfire suppression, but the Administration needed to spend an additional $1.6 billion – nearly $2 billion total for suppression alone. To pay for firefighting efforts in recent years, funds have been taken from accounts meant for other National Fire Plan objectives, leaving those initiatives unfunded or underfunded as a result.

In seeking to increase National Fire Plan funding for FY2004, Wyden has received support from American Forests, Cascadia Wildlands Project, Institute for Sustainable Forestry, Sustainable Northwest, Society of American Foresters, Western State Foresters, New Mexico's Forest Trust, Society of State Foresters, American Forest and Paper Association, and in a joint letter from American Lands, Earth Justice Legal Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, and other environmental organizations.

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