In 2002, more than 88,000 wildfires burned 6.9 million acres and cost the federal government $1.6 billion to suppress those fires. The policy response by the White House to limit wildfires was to accelerate the environmental and judicial reviews of wildfire prevention projects-which include forest thinning and controlled burning-on 20 million acres of woodlands near populated areas and water supplies. Progressives viewed the Bush proposal with skepticism; in their view, the main purpose of the policy was to give timber companies greater access to federal lands by granting forest thinning projects. Also of concern to Progressives was a provision in the bill which would allow the felling of trees to prevent insect infestation; they worried that the provision could be interpreted broadly and thereby expand logging operations in forested areas. The subject of this vote was the rule governing debate on the legislation. Prior to House consideration, a rule drafted by the House Rules Committee must be adopted to set parameters for debate. Progressives opposed the rule because they were hesitant to grant timber companies additional access to forestland for purposes of "thinning". Republicans voted unanimously in favor of the rule and it was adopted on a 234-179 vote.