What They Are Saying: House Republicans Slam Poor Management of Canadian Forests, Leading to Wildfires Causing Toxic Smoke Across the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smoke from Canadian wildfires has caused high levels of unhealthy air quality across the United States, prompting House Republicans to criticize Canada for failing to take meaningful action to prevent and mitigate these catastrophic wildfires and causing a public health crisis.

House Republicans have passed legislation aimed at clarifying the Clean Air Act and protecting states, energy producers, and manufacturers from being penalized for air pollution originating outside the United States. Republican Study Chairman (RSC) August Pfluger’s (TX-11) FENCES Act would help eliminate costly and unnecessary compliance requirements caused by factors beyond energy producers’ control, such as foreign wildfires or dust storms. 

Representative Gabe Evans’s (CO-08) FIRE Act takes on the problem by giving states the tools to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires before they start. The bill allows states to conduct prescribed burns, one of the most effective tools for mitigating wildfires and their emissions, and directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct regional analyses when multiple states are affected by the same wildfire event. 

Together, the FENCES Act and FIRE Act give states the ability to manage their own forests and ensure they are not punished for pollution or emissions they did not create. 

Here is what House Republicans and Members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) are saying: 

“Canada let its forests burn out of control, and now American communities are paying the price. That's exactly why the FENCES Act makes sure Americans never get penalized for pollution they didn't create. Representative Evans is meeting this challenge from the other direction, and his FIRE Act ensures states have the tools to get ahead of these fires before they start. Together, these bills hold Washington to its part of the bargain. It's time our neighbors to the north held up its end too,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11). 

“Once again, communities across Colorado and the country are being directly impacted by the smoke and contamination coming from Canadian wildfires at our Northern border. Under current law, states like Colorado face costly federal air quality penalties for pollution that is ultimately beyond their control. That’s exactly why I introduced my bipartisan FIRE Act—to bring common sense back to the Clean Air Act, cut unnecessary red tape, lower costs for families, protect jobs and our economy, and ensure states aren’t punished for emissions they didn’t create. The House has done its job and passed this crucial legislation, I urge my Senate colleagues to do the same!” said Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08).

“Commonsense forest management and proactive wildfire mitigation are essential to preventing catastrophic fires and the suffocating smoke they send across our border. Americans shouldn’t have to struggle to breathe because of Canada’s continued policy failures,” said House Energy Action Team Chairman Troy Balderson (OH-12).

“America shouldn’t have to pay the price for other countries' failures. Poor forest management in Canada has led to massive wildfires which have significantly impacted air quality across our nation. Here in the U.S., states should be responsible for pollution within their borders. That’s why the House passed the FENCES Act to ensure federal air quality standards don’t punish states unfairly for foreign polluters,” said Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05).