The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined the Boone and Crockett Club, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation to thank four senators for introducing the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA). Now, the organizations want to get it passed into law.
FOFA contains provisions that expedite active forest management treatments that reduce the risk of high intensity fires, enhance wildlife habitat and improve overall forest health. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, fires burned more than 1.15 million acres as of June 1, 2025.
“This legislation is consistent with the recommendations the American Wildlife Conservation Partners made in our Wildlife for the 21st Century volume 7 and reflect consensus solutions to complex land management challenges,” according to the jointly signed letter. “Your bipartisan deliberations maintain most of the essential forest management reforms that we believe will make a tangible difference in our forests.”
The Boone and Crockett Club, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation and RMEF are members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a consortium of organizations that represent millions of America’s hunters, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, wildlife scientists and researchers, conservation educators and those who cherish the outdoors.
See the full text of the letter below.
Dear Senators Padilla, Hickenlooper, Curtis, and Sheehy,
As organizations representing millions of sportsmen and women, conservationists, and natural resource professionals, we write to commend you on the bipartisan introduction of the “Fix Our Forests Act” (FOFA). This legislation is consistent with the recommendations the American Wildlife Conservation Partners made in our Wildlife for the 21st Century volume 7 and reflect consensus solutions to complex land management challenges. Your bipartisan deliberations maintain most of the essential forest management reforms that we believe will make a tangible difference in our forests. For this reason, we urge expeditious markup and passage so that land managers are better positioned for the next wildfire season.
The undersigned organizations strongly support provisions intended to streamline forest projects and operations, establish accountability within public land agencies, and reduce delays caused by frivolous litigation. Specifically, the expanded categorical exclusions, resolution of the “Cottonwood” decision, modifications to stewardship contracting and Good Neighbor Authority, and establishment of “strike teams” will facilitate a new era in forest management. We encourage continued dialogue with the U.S. Forest Service to ensure none of these measures conflict with reorganization efforts.
Thank you for your dedication to bipartisan forest management policy. We stand ready to partner with you in moving this legislation forward and once signed into law, look forward to working with public land agencies on implementation.
Sincerely,
Boone and Crockett Club
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
National Wild Turkey Federation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)