U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted language included in the short-term bill to fund the federal government that ensures local communities receive payments in full from the Payments Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for FY 2015 and the federal government has funds available to cover fire suppression efforts from this summer’s wildfire season. Murkowski led the approval of these proposals as chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this year.

“Local communities who receive PILT payments and Forest Service firefighting efforts shouldn’t suffer just because Washington can’t operate on a budget,” Murkowski said. “In Alaska, and across the nation, we are seeing the devastating effects that wildfires are having on our local communities. By ensuring that funds are available for these programs, local communities will have the certainty needed to operate and the assurance that vital firefighting operations will be funded. It’s my hope that the House will approve these provisions as local communities across the nation can’t afford otherwise.”

The continuing resolution would appropriate $700 million in emergency funding for urgent wildfire suppression activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and ensure that local communities would receive $37 million in PILT payments set to be made on October 1, 2015.