During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing to receive testimony on a discussion draft entitled Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, noted that the ponderosa and mixed conifer pilot project, drafted under the Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016, describes eligible projects as "hazardous fuel reduction projects." He discussed the need for clarification in that draft to specifically underline prescribed fire and mechanical thinning. June 24, 2016.