ICYMI – Congressman Issa Joins California Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Assist Wildland Firefighting Efforts

Today, Congressman Darrell Issa joined California Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) in introducing H.R. 3300, the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025, which ensures essential aerial fire retardant is available for U.S. Forest Service wildfire suppression efforts without permitting delays. 

“We know that regulatory ‘green tape’ blocks our firefighters from battling deadly blazes once they start, as well as preventing the wildfires we know will occur. Even though my home state of California faces the devastating threat of wildfires every year, bureaucrats in Washington and Sacramento continue to handcuff our heroes,” said Rep. Issa (CA-48). “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act, which will streamline the essential aerial suppression efforts of our wildland firefighters as they take on and take down our nation’s wildfires.” 

In a Congressional testimony last year, the U.S. Forest Service stressed the critical importance that aerial retardant be integrated into the nationwide wildfire response strategy. H.R.3300 clarifies that federal, state, local, and tribal firefighting agencies do not need a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to use fire retardants from aircrafts when responding to active wildfires. 

Congressman Issa’s district includes portions of the Cleveland National Forest, as well as other federally and state-managed lands with significant wildfire risks. 

Additional co-sponsors include  Reps. David Valadao (R-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), Adam Gray (D-CA), and Jim Costa (D-CA). 

Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. 

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