Political speech, timestamped and in context

Alex Padilla: “This bill creates a narrow, targeted pathway specifically for prescribed fire while preserving existing air…”

Featuring: Alex Padilla, Democratic | U.S. Senate from California

Alex Padilla Praises Wildfire Prevention Bill That Would Help States Use Prescribed Fires

Published October 3, 2026

Right. By trying to do good and prevent fires or mitigate fires from a public safety standpoint, you're penalized on the air quality side of things. So This bill creates a narrow, targeted pathway specifically for prescribed fire while preserving existing air quality standards for other exceptional events. I want to thank my colleagues from Utah and Oregon for their partnership in this important bill, and kudos to Chairwoman Capito and ranking member Whitehouse on the committee who helped craft this measure as well. (02:05–02:17)

STATEMENT

Asserts that the bill creates a pathway for prescribed fires while maintaining air quality standards.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

See the main statements from Alex Padilla in this video

“While the EPA regulations have allowed prescribed fires to qualify as exceptional events since 2016, the agency has never actually approved one.”
Asserts that the EPA has not approved any prescribed fires as exceptional events since 2016.01:30-01:44
“The Wildfire Emission Prevention act is a result of more than a year of bipartisan negotiations and recently passed unanimously out of the Environment and Public Works Committee.”
Asserts that the Wildfire Emission Prevention act underwent bipartisan negotiations and passed unanimously in a committee.00:10-00:29
“Western states, including Oregon, California, and others, are confronting a crisis of wildfires that aren't just growing larger and larger every year, but more destructive every year and emitting massive amounts of toxic smoke.”
Asserts that wildfires in Western states are increasing in size, destructiveness, and smoke emissions annually.00:36-00:56
“Prescribed fires, experience tells us, and the data tells us prescribed fires, [are] one of the most effective tools in reducing hazardous fuels and preventing catastrophic wildfires.”
Asserts that prescribed fires are effective in reducing hazardous fuels and preventing catastrophic wildfires.01:02-01:17