Harder Announces Over $7.5 Million Heading to California to Support Wildfire Resilience

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Josh Harder announced that the Department of the Interior has invested over $7.5 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean 9,969 acres of federal land across California, drastically reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Rep. Harder helped negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alongside 30 Democrats and 30 Republicans as part of the Problem Solvers Caucus last year.

This funding is part of $103 million allocated by the Department of the Interior earlier this year to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate wildfire impacts, and rehabilitate burned areas. The additional funding will help complete wildfire risk reduction on nearly 2 million acres nationwide this year.

“The best way to fight catastrophic wildfires is to stop them before they can even start,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m proud to bring home this investment which will go toward cleaning almost 10,000 acres of at-risk land across our state. That means fewer fires, less smoke, and a healthier environment for all of us.”

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in wildland fire management in California will increase fuels treatment in areas with high wildfire hazard potential, helping to protect homes and businesses in the wildland-urban interface and public drinking water. These efforts will promote climate resiliency across landscapes and communities and will employ Tribal members, youth, and veterans.  

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