Curtis, Romney support preemptive wildfire recovery efforts in new bill

U.S. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) on Tuesday introduced the companion bill to one offered recently by U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) that would take forward-thinking, faster steps for wildfire recovery in an effort to better support communities. 

“While federal cleanup programs have been a significant recovery tool, administrative delays and backlogs too often lead to extra work and unnecessary cost overruns,” Rep. Curtis said. “Communities need the flexibility to begin cleanup activities as soon as possible.” 

Rep. Curtis on March 21 sponsored the bipartisan Making Access to Cleanup Happen (MATCH) Act, H.R. 1670, with original cosponsor U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 with respect to pre-agreement costs of emergency watershed protection measures, according to the congressional record bill summary. 

“As Utahns know, the impacts of a wildfire do not end when the fire is put out. Without quick action to rehabilitate and restore the land, it is left open to additional damage,” said Rep. Curtis. “To that end, I am proud to introduce the MATCH Act, which will allow communities to begin certain rehabilitation activities immediately following a disaster while saving local funds and taxpayer dollars.”

Sen. Romney on March 9 sponsored the same-named S. 757 alongside original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).

“In the aftermath of a wildfire, many Utah communities face delays in receiving necessary funds to begin recovery efforts in a timely manner,” Sen. Romney said. “Our legislation would help local communities cut through burdensome red tape, expediting the cleanup process and the start of restoration projects.”

If enacted, the MATCH Act would direct the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop a list of watershed rehabilitation activities for potential Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program sponsors to carry out prior to project approval, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

The measure also would direct the NRCS to establish a procedure for potential EWP sponsors to consult with state NRCS offices about additional pre-approval watershed rehabilitation work, and would ensure that those activities count towards the program’s required 25-percent sponsor match, the summary says.

The bill is supported by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; Utah County Commissioner Brandon Gordon; Woodland Hills (Utah) City Council Member Kari Malkovich; and Draper City (Utah) Mayor Troy Walker.