Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1045) to amend the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 to require the establishment of an additional Institute under that Act.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1045
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL INSTITUTE.
(a) In General.--Section 5(b)(2) of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) the State of Utah.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 5(e)(1) of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``and Colorado'' and inserting ``Colorado, and Utah''.
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Mr. STAUBER. 1045, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1045, the Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025, offered by Representative Kennedy of Utah.
Across the West, and particularly in Utah, wildfire risk is increasing. In 2024, more than 90,000 acres burned in the State. Along the Wasatch Front, the number of fire weather days has grown by 15 since 1973, meaning fires now have a longer window to ignite and spread. This is exacerbated by the accumulation of hazardous fuels, caused by a century of fire suppression and a lack of active management.
In 2004, Congress created the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes, or SWERI, in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico to advance wildfire research and promote science-based forest management. These institutes have been invaluable partners to Federal and State land managers, producing peer-reviewed research, improving forest health, and helping reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the West.
Despite facing the same wildfire threats as its Four Corners neighbors, Utah is the only State in the region without a SWERI center. Representative Kennedy's legislation corrects this oversight by authorizing an additional institute in Utah, allowing the State to expand research, strengthen watershed restoration, and develop innovative fuel-reduction strategies.
We know that forest management is the single most crucial factor in determining wildfire severity. This bill builds on a proven model and will bolster Utah's ability to confront wildfire risks head-on.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Kennedy and the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Lee, for their leadership on this issue. Their legislation has broad support in the State of Utah, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it today.
House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, September 3, 2025. Hon. Glenn Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 1045, the ``Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural Resources on July 23, 2025.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture will not formally consider H.R. 1045 and agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill and will include such letters in the committee report on H.R. 1045. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation. Sincerely, Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, September 3, 2025. Hon. Bruce Westerman, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 1045, the ``Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025.'' Thank you for collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over any subject matter contained in this or similar legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you support such a request. We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 1045 and request a copy of our letters on this matter be published in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. Sincerely, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation is straightforward. It builds on the proven success of the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico by finally extending this important program to Utah.
Establishing a SWERI in Utah will expand wildlife research, strengthen collaboration with land managers, and provide new tools to improve forest health and reduce catastrophic wildfires. I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kennedy's bill.
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