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As fires in the Los Angeles area continue to rage, California could see more activity aimed at reducing wildfire risks in the future under legislation passed with strong Democratic and Republican support in the House Thursday.

By 279 to 141 vote, lawmakers approved a bill that could lead to increased activities such as forest thinning. But the measure also raised concern among state environmental groups about potential adverse effects on ecosystems and vulnerable species. The Senate will now consider the bill.

A House Democratic caucus pilloried President Donald Trump’s first set of executive actions, accusing him of working to “gut our bedrock pollution and environmental protections.”
But in a multipage letter filled with both bullet points and outrage, the leaders of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition offered something of an olive branch.
 

"We are committed to working with your Administration" to "protect Americans from harm, to grow the middle class, and to make our government work for the average American," they wrote.
 

House Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said during the panel’s Wednesday organizational meeting that Republicans are “prepared to put the country on a new course” from the Biden administration’s approach “where we close the digital divide and make sure everyone can enjoy the exciting technological developments that have only just begun.” Guthrie is among congressional GOP leaders open to clawing back $42.5 billion allocated to the BEAD program.