In the latest in the series of videos introducing the Republican members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., underscores his commitment to restoring healthy forests and finding ways to address the ongoing drought throughout Arizona and other western states while supporting reasonable energy development.

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Sen. Flake outlines the work he has done to put in place active forest management measures, including his efforts to reauthorize and improve the stewardship contracting program, which will help restore healthy forests. With Sens. Barrasso, R-Wyo., and McCain, R-Ariz., Flake also cosponsored S. 508, the FLAME Act Amendments of 2015, that would prohibit fire borrowing and require the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to budget for 100 percent of their suppression costs using the most accurate budget forecast model available.

“Facing a drought throughout the West – and with Lake Mead approaching a shortage declaration – we must continue to look for opportunities to proactively address the water situation in Arizona and other Western states,” Sen. Flake says in the video. “When it comes to harnessing our nation’s rich energy resources, I support responsible energy development. That includes reducing barriers to domestic energy production by streamlining the permitting process for federal lands, and opening access to markets for crude exports and liquified natural gas.”