"Nearby, I also saw forests that remained largely intact, thanks to wise forest management policy," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

"Fire professionals and forest and park rangers agree, by thinning overgrown forests, we will reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and restore the health of forest ecosystems," he added.

Bush seeks to reduce the risk of fires by thinning trees and undergrowth. Opponents see it as a way for timber companies to gain easier access to forests.

The legislation passed the House of Representatives in May and the Senate is expected to take it up in the fall.

It eases procedural and judicial requirements for removing small underbrush and trees on 20 million acres of forest susceptible to wildfires. In 2002 more than 7 million acres went up in flames.

"We're cutting through bureaucratic red tape to complete urgently needed forest-thinning projects. We are speeding up environmental assessments and consultations required by current law," Bush said.

Bush also used his radio address to tout his nearly $2.9 billion commitment to improving national parks, and called on Congress to free up a total of $5 billion over 5 years.