Ranking Member Pingree Statement at the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request Hearing for the U.S. Forest Service

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Ranking Member of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the U.S. Forest Service:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chief Moore, thank you for being with us this morning. We are pleased to talk with you and hear your thoughts on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the Forest Service.

It's hard to believe it took us until just last month to finish the fiscal year 2024 bills. While I am glad that Congress was finally able to reach agreement, I am frustrated that it took so long. We were forced to make difficult reductions in the Interior bill, and I understand that those cuts will have impacts to Forest Service programs.

Your budget also takes a constrained approach to stay within the budget caps. So, I hope that during today's hearing you will help us better understand what resources are necessary to ensure Forest Service is able to meet its mission.

The administration's commitment to supporting wildland firefighters and their families is commendable. Your budget continues and expands the pay reforms that were first funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Providing equitable competitive compensation is essential to improving firefighter recruitment and retention.

In the recently enacted bill, we provided additional funding necessary to continue pay supplements for firefighters, but unfortunately, language authorizing pay reforms was not included. I hope that we can make more progress on that in fiscal year 2025.

I look forward to discussing the importance of these investments.

Thank you again for being with us today. I yield back.