Fix Our Forests for Affordable and Reliable Water and Power Supplies

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing on January 9, 2026, titled "Fix Our Forests for Affordable and Reliable Water and Power Supplies." The hearing focused on the impacts of forest mismanagement and fire suppression policies on forest health, water availability, and power reliability. Witnesses from family farming, municipal utilities, watershed science, and public power sectors testified about the critical need for proactive forest management, including mechanical thinning, prescribed burns, and streamlined federal permitting processes. They emphasized the importance of the Fix Our Forest Act, legislation aimed at improving forest health, reducing wildfire risk, and protecting water and power infrastructure. Key procurement-related discussions included the need for increased and sustained federal funding for forest restoration programs, support for landscape-scale restoration projects, and the removal of bureaucratic barriers such as lengthy permitting processes that delay hazard tree removal and post-fire recovery efforts. The witnesses also highlighted the economic impacts of wildfires on utility rates and insurance costs, urging Congress to pass the Fix Our Forest Act to enable more efficient forest management and infrastructure protection. The hearing underscored bipartisan support for legislative and funding measures to enhance forest and watershed resilience, with a focus on collaboration among federal, state, and local partners.