Thad Cochran

The Senate Appropriations Committee Nov. 20 released a fiscal year 2018 bill that addresses the issues including the U.S. Forest Service firefighting budget, the Environmental Protection Agency and certain threatened species. In a summary of the bill, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-MS, noted that it includes $5.8 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, including the full 10-year average for wildfire suppression costs as well increased funding for hazardous fuels reduction to help prevent catastrophic wildfires. The bill also includes $3.6 billion to fight wildland fire, representing fire suppression funding at 100 percent of the 10-year average and emergency suppression funds made available if regular suppression funding is insufficient to cover the costs of fighting wildfires, a committee statement said. …Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, D-VT, said the bill is not bipartisan.