Policy & Legislation

NAFO supports the bipartisan, bicameral Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026, which has been introduced in the House as H.R. 9827 and in Senate as S. 5087. The bill would make a targeted fix to the definition of “renewable biomass” in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), allowing qualifying forest material — including thinnings, slash, storm debris, and mill and manufacturing residuals — to serve as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and other advanced biofuels. By expanding markets for lower-value wood and residuals, the legislation would support active forest management, wildfire resilience, rural jobs, domestic wood supply chains, and new private investment without creating a new federal spending program.

NAFO supports the FIRE Act (H.R. 6387), which would improve how the Clean Air Act treats air-quality impacts from prescribed fire and other actions taken to reduce wildfire risk.  Using beneficial fire strategically can reduce excess fuels, support healthier forests, and help prevent more destructive wildfires. The bill would require EPA to revise how it evaluates air-quality data affected by wildfire mitigation activities. These changes would help remove regulatory barriers to getting more beneficial fire on the landscape while maintaining the Clean Air Act’s air-quality protections. 

NAFO supports the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2025 (S. 3044), which would improve how the Clean Air Act accounts for air-quality impacts from prescribed fire. The bill would recognize prescribed fire within the exceptional events framework and require EPA to revise how it handles air-quality monitoring data influenced by prescribed burns. By better distinguishing the temporary emissions from beneficial fire from other sources of air pollution, the legislation would help reduce regulatory barriers to an important tool for improving forest health, reducing hazardous fuels, and preventing more severe wildfire emissions. 

NAFO supports the American Dream Accounts Act (S. 4026 and H.R. 9895), which would create tax-advantaged savings accounts to help prospective first-time homebuyers save for a down payment and closing costs. By making it easier for families to meet these often-prohibitive upfront costs, the legislation would expand access to homeownership and the long-term financial stability and wealth-building opportunities it can provide.

At a critical stage in Congressional consideration, NAFO joined the National Housing Conference and more than 100 housing, business, and community organizations in urging Congress to pass the amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R.6644), helping demonstrate broad support for the bipartisan housing package. Enacted in July 2026 (Public Law 119-101), the law modernizes federal housing programs and reduces unnecessary barriers to development. These and other important reforms are intended to expand housing supply and improve affordability. Increased homebuilding strengthens markets for U.S. wood products and supports the rural communities sustained by private working forests.