U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, along with Senators Alex Padilla, Jerry Moran, and James Lankford, has introduced the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance research on using grazing as a method for wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction, and post-fire recovery.
Senator Hirono emphasized the importance of this initiative in light of recent wildfires: "As the people of Lahaina continue to recover from the devastating wildfires in 2023, we recognize just how necessary it is to pre-emptively reduce wildfire risk," she said. She highlighted that the bill is essential for strengthening community resilience by exploring grazing as a strategy for reducing vegetation that can fuel wildfires.
The proposed legislation seeks to fill a gap in scientific research regarding optimal grazing land management techniques that also consider environmental protection. The act would add the "Grazing for Wildfire Mitigation Initiative" to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s High-Priority Research List.
The bill outlines support for research at land-grant colleges and universities such as those within the University of California system, Kansas State University, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Oklahoma State University. It also promotes sharing information about wildlife grazing land management techniques with public and private stakeholders.
This legislation has received endorsements from organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy.
In response to past disasters such as the Maui wildfires, Senator Hirono has been actively involved in supporting recovery efforts and improving disaster preparedness in Hawaii. In May 2024, she announced over $5.6 million awarded by the U.S. Forest Service to help plan for and prevent wildfires in Hawaii. Furthermore, she has advocated for extended tax deadlines for those affected by these events and participated in introducing related emergency preparedness legislation.