WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SMOKE

On 2026-07-16, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) delivered a floor speech titled "WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SMOKE" in the House.

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SMOKE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [House] [Page H4615] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SMOKE (Mr. WESTERMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Senate is fiddling while America burns, and when I say burns, I mean it in the literal sense. Mr. Speaker, 18 months ago, we sent a hugely bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act to the Senate. It has passed the Senate Ag Committee on a bipartisan vote. It is time for the Senate to send the Fix Our Forests Act to the President's desk. Nearly 50 uncontained fires are burning across the country, and our prayers are with the firefighters and the families of those whose lives have been taken by wildfire. We owe it to them to manage our forests and provide the tools needed to suppress fires. The Fix Our Forests Act does just that. It accelerates hazardous fuel reduction in our highest-risk forests. It strengthens State and local partnerships. It supports firefighters and their families by establishing a new Casualty Assistance Program. It does all this and much more. It is time to wake up and smell the smoke. Enact the Fix Our Forests Act so we can begin the process of forest health restoration to protect our communities, to protect our environment, and to protect against the loss of American lives. ____________________