Today, FOX News ran a segment on the mountain pine beetle, an insect that has killed over 40 million acres of pine trees throughout the West within the last ten years. The groves of dead trees caused by the mountain pine beetle epidemic leave forests and surrounding neighborhoods susceptible to wildfires.

In July, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public lands held a field hearing in Hill City, South Dakota on the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01) and Rep. Kristi Noem (SD-At large) attended the hearing and heard from government officials, local industry and private land owners who testified to the ravaging effects of the mountain pine beetle and the resulting impacts on local businesses and the tourism industry. The subcommittee is looking for ways to control and eradicate the spread of the beetle in order to prevent wildfires and the death of more trees. You can read more about the hearing and witnesses testimony here.