U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Daines today spoke with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. They discussed Daines’ provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to increase timber sales and improve forest management practices. Daines also stressed the urgent need to fix the disastrous 9th Circuit Cottonwood decision and end burdensome litigation that holds up important projects. The conversation focused on ensuring Montana’s forests are healthy, resilient, and protected — all while promoting good-paying timber jobs and safeguarding communities across the state.
Watch the full exchange HERE.
Daines discussed the implementation of the increased timber harvest goals:
Daines: ChiefSchultz on the 4th of July, President Trump signed into law the one Big BeautifulBill, and with it an extremely important provision for forest health. As youknow, the new law requires the Forest Service to nearly double annual timber salesby 2034. That would put Montana at approximately 250 million board feet and aboutfive billion board feet nationally. These numbers are more in line with our forestplans and will lead to stronger rural communities, better forest health, and reduce wildfire risk. Chief Schultz, will you prioritize implementation of this provision inthe one Big Beautiful Bill?
Schultz: Senator Daines, thanks for the question. Yes, we will be doing that.
Daines emphasized the need to fix the disastrous 9th Circuit Cottonwood decision and end needless litigation:
Daines: In Montana alone, there are 367 million board feet of timber projects tied up in litigation. This means less work done on the ground before fire season starts in Montana, and an increased risk of catastrophic wildfires for our communities. Chief Schultz, will you commit to working with me and this committee to get a legislative fix done so that the Forest Service can focus on getting fire mitigations completed rather than fighting endless litigation?
Schultz: Senator Daines, yes, we will do that.
Daines asked about Emergency Action Determinations:
Daines: I want to talk about emergency action determinations. In April, Secretary Rollins expanded the authorization for the Forest Service to use the emergency action authority that I authored. This authority reduces red tape, allows the Forest Service to expedite needed active forest management and prevent these catastrophic wildfires. No one can deny that our forests are in a crisis with beetle kill, drought, overgrowth, that are destroying the health of our forests. Chief Schultz, can you speak to the groundwork the Forest Service has been able to do with this expanded emergency authority?
Schultz: Senator Daines, yes, thanks for the question. So yeah, that authority expanded that. Previously, it was about 20 to 30 million acres have been identified. Now we’re looking at 112 million acres across the country that are at risk of catastrophic fire or insect and disease. So those authorities help us to get work done quicker on the ground.
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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins