Issa Reintroduces Legislation “Direct Hire to Fight Fire”, Testifies On Urgent Need for Passage

Washington, DC – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) yesterday testified before the House Natural Resources Committee, urging the committee to adopt his recently reintroduced legislation to speed the hiring of essential firefighting roles at federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.  

“We must bring every tool to the table to be ready and able to fight devastating wildfires.  With federal control of hundreds of thousands of acres of land in and around San Diego and Riverside communities, my bill will grant these agencies the ability to streamline the hiring of essential firefighting roles so that no critical position is left unfilled due to bureaucratic red tape,” Issa said.

Issa recently reintroduced his “Direct Hire to Fight Fire,” H.R. 3499, legislation that grants permanent Direct Hire authority to federal firefighting agencies. A slow hiring process can mean critical positions used to defeat fires go unfilled. As the threat of fire to Southern California will not go away, neither should a common-sense streamlined federal hiring process.

Issa’s testimony as prepared is below:

Thank you for inviting me to testify today to address the devastating impact of wildfires on California, specifically in my District in southern California. Year after year, there have been a series of catastrophic fires that have ravaged our communities, leaving behind a trail of destruction and loss.

Wildfires have become an all-too-familiar menace in Eastern San Diego and Western Riverside Counties, including in the great Cleveland National Forest. The names of these infernos still echo in our memories – the Cedar Fire, the Harris Fire, the Witch Creek Fire, and the devastating Valley Fire, to name just a few. Such fires have scorched thousands of acres, consumed countless homes, and tragically claimed lives.

The severity and frequency of these blazes have reached unprecedented levels due to a convergence of factors. California's unique vulnerability is due in large part to the Governor’s weak leadership. With his lack of proactive forest fuel reduction or strategic shrubland management, Mr. Newsom has created a volatile environment primed for wildfires to spread rapidly.

Furthermore, a shortage of firefighters compounds the problem, as we struggle to mobilize the necessary resources to tackle these raging infernos effectively. Our brave men and women on the frontlines are stretched thin, battling against the unforgiving flames with limited manpower and resources.

Another one of the Governor’s ineffective “task forces” is not going to work. It is now up to Congress to do what we can on the federal level to pick up the slack. That is why I have introduced "Direct Hire to Fight Fires," a bill which seeks to provide the Forest Service with the critical Direct Hire Authority it needs to swiftly hire skilled personnel.

My bill empowers the Forest Service with expedited hiring capabilities, ensuring that skilled personnel are placed where they’re needed to protect our communities, forests, and natural resources from devastating wildfires. 58% of all California forestlands are owned and managed by the Federal Government – U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service. In 2022, a combined 2,122 wildland fires burned nearly 10,000 acres of land in our state. And yet, the Forest Service has limited ability to use Direct Hire Authority. In 2022, the Forest Service was able to hire 4,860 fire positions using DHA, but only able to hire 16 without it. It’s clear that Congress must delegate Direct Hire Authority to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to fast-track firefighter appointments.

Wildfire emergencies demand immediate action, and bureaucratic red tape should not hinder our ability to respond. By streamlining the hiring process and ensuring the availability of a competent firefighting workforce, we can bolster the Forest Service’s ability to prevent and combat devastating wildfires.

We owe it to our communities, our environment, and future generations to act decisively and pass this bill.

Thank you, and I yield back.

Northern California Congressman Doug LaMalfa joined as an original cosponsor.

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