Environment (Forestry)

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2025

HR 4412: Joint Chiefs Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill amends the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program to expand its scope and improve coordination. It adds wildfire recovery and soil/water resource enhancement as eligible project purposes, requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service to coordinate with the Forest Service on science and management plans, and extends the program's authorization through 2031. The changes apply directly to federal agencies administering the program, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Forest Service, and affect projects managed under the partnership. Key provisions include updated wildfire risk assessments and alignment with state forest action plans. The bill makes concrete adjustments to existing program rules without creating new funding or altering core program eligibility.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands program to include wildfire recovery and soil/water resource enhancement, requires interagency coordination for environmental management, and extends authorization through 2031.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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passed · United States · House Oct 27, 2025

HR 1612: Flatside Wilderness Additions Act

HR 1612, the Flatside Wilderness Additions Act, designates approximately 2,212 acres of land in the Ouachita National Forest as part of the Flatside Wilderness, renaming it the "Flatside-Bethune Wilderness." This bill amends the 1984 Arkansas Wilderness Act to formally add this specific area to the protected wilderness designation. The bill clarifies that the Secretary of Agriculture retains existing authority under the Wilderness Act to address fire, insects, and diseases in the newly designated area, without altering current management practices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill designates 2,212 acres as protected wilderness, conserving natural resources and strengthening environmental protection under the Wilderness Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Mar 28, 2025

HR 1943: Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act of 2025

This bill establishes special base pay rates for wildland firefighters employed by the Forest Service or Department of the Interior, increasing their base pay by specific percentages (from 1.5% to 42%) based on their grade. It creates "incident response premium pay" at 450% of hourly rate for firefighters deployed to respond to qualifying wildfire incidents, with a yearly maximum of $9,000. The bill also provides for paid rest and recuperation leave following wildfire incident response. These provisions replace temporary pay increases that were previously authorized under other legislation and directly affect wildland firefighters who perform duties related to wildland fires.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases firefighter pay and response incentives for wildfire incidents, directly supporting effective wildfire management and protection of natural resources from environmental damage.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases base pay (1.5%-42%) and premium pay (450% of hourly rate) for wildland firefighters, plus paid rest leave, directly advancing worker compensation and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Aug 1, 2025

HR 4853: Saving the Forest Service's Workforce Act

This bill prevents the Forest Service from initiating or implementing layoffs until after full-year funding for fiscal year 2026 is secured. It specifically stops reductions in force and involuntary separations for most Forest Service employees (including competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive roles), except for misconduct, poor performance, or delinquency. The moratorium applies to all personnel actions under the Secretary of Agriculture’s authority until FY2026 appropriations are enacted. This directly affects Forest Service workers and ensures their job stability during the budget process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates full-year funding before layoffs, protecting Forest Service workforce funding and preventing defunding of government programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPrevents layoffs in Forest Service, an agency responsible for managing national forests and conservation, maintaining capacity for environmental protection efforts.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents layoffs for Forest Service workers, protecting job security and workforce stability per bill's moratorium on involuntary separations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Employees

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in committee · United States · House Jan 8, 2026

HR 435: Direct Hire To Fight Fires

HR 435 ("Direct Hire To Fight Fires") creates a direct hiring authority for wildland firefighting and support positions within the Forest Service and Department of the Interior, allowing agencies to bypass standard federal hiring rules for specific roles like Forestry Technicians (GS-0462) and Aircraft Operations (GS-2181). It requires agencies to streamline hiring processes to reduce time-to-hire, eliminate redundancies, and improve retention, while mandating annual public reports detailing staffing needs, vacancies by state, and progress on hiring goals. The bill directly affects federal wildland firefighters and support staff in both agencies, focusing on accelerating recruitment for critical firefighting roles. Agencies must implement these changes within one year of enactment and publish reports annually.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill streamlines hiring for wildland firefighting, protecting forests and natural resources from wildfire damage, a core environmental concern.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 3889: National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025

The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 aims to increase the use of prescribed fire (intentionally set, controlled burns) on federal lands to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health. The bill allows federal land management agencies to use up to 15% of their hazardous fuels management funds for prescribed fire projects, requires a 10% annual increase in acres treated with prescribed fire, and establishes a Collaborative Prescribed Fire Program to fund large-scale, landscape-level projects. It streamlines environmental reviews through landscape-scale planning, addresses liability protections for fire managers, and mandates annual reporting on prescribed fire activities. The bill directly affects federal land management agencies (Interior and Agriculture), states, tribes, and local entities working on fire management.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes prescribed fire to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health, directly advancing conservation and ecosystem protection through funded projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Natural Disasters Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 21, 2025

HR 588: Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act

Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act This bill protects and preserves approximately 225,504 acres of federal land and waters in a specified area in the Rainy River Watershed of Superior National Forest in Minnesota from certain mining, such as sulfide-ore copper mining. (The area is upstream from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.) Specifically, the bill withdraws those acres from  entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws. However, the Forest Service is authorized to permit the removal of sand, granite, iron ore, and taconite from national forest system lands within such area if the removal is not detrimental to the water quality, air quality, and health of forest habitat within the Rainy River Watershed. Land or interest in land within such area that is acquired by the United States must be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill protects 225k acres from sulfide-ore mining pollution, preserving wilderness and preventing environmental damage per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Jan 8, 2026

HR 1110: Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act

HR 1110, the Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, directs the USDA Forest Service to develop strategies using livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risks on federal lands. It specifically requires expanding grazing opportunities during droughts or disasters on vacant permits, promoting targeted grazing, issuing temporary permits for fuels reduction, and using grazing for postfire recovery. The bill affects livestock permit holders and federal land managers by modifying how existing grazing authorities are applied for wildfire risk mitigation. It focuses on concrete policy changes to utilize current grazing programs as a proactive fire prevention tool, without altering permanent grazing rules.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill uses livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risks on federal lands, protecting ecosystems and natural resources from fire damage per its explicit purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2740: To modify the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest, and for other purposes.

HR 2740 modifies the boundaries of Talladega National Forest to include specific land shown on a map dated September 6, 2024. The bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire this land through voluntary means - such as purchase, donation, or exchange - using existing land acquisition authorities like the Weeks Law, and requires funds to be used without undue delay. The newly acquired land must be managed as part of the National Forest System under applicable laws and regulations. This change directly affects the forest's geographic scope and landowners within the designated boundary who may sell or donate property.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands protected forest area under National Forest System, conserving natural resources per conservation authorities like Weeks Law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House May 13, 2025

HR 3361: Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025

HR 3361 reauthorizes the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program through 2034, doubling its annual funding cap from $4 million to $8 million. It directly affects collaborative groups working on forest restoration across federal, state, tribal, and private lands. Key changes include expanding eligible projects to address wildfire risk reduction across multiple land ownerships, enhance watershed health, and improve monitoring standards. The bill also requires federal staffing plans for supporting these collaboratives and adds new mechanisms like conservation finance agreements for implementation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReauthorizes and doubles funding for forest restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and watershed health - directly advancing environmental protection through increased resources and expanded project scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Water Quality

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