Fix Our Forests Act

12/5/2024, 9:05 AM

Fix Our Forests Act

This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.

Specifically, the bill (1) designates certain firesheds at high risk for wildfires as fireshed management areas; (2) directs the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to jointly establish an interagency Fireshed Center that is responsible for duties related to assessing and predicting fire, including maintaining a fireshed registry on a publicly accessible website that provides interactive geospatial data on individual firesheds; and (3) makes other requirements related to reducing wildfire.

Next, the bill expedites the review of certain forest management projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and exempts certain activities from NEPA review. It also establishes intra-agency strike teams to accelerate the review and any interagency consultation processes under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also limits consultation requirements concerning threatened and endangered species under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Finally, it limits litigation involving fireshed management projects and limits remedies that courts may provide.

Additionally, the bill supports reducing community wildfire risks, carrying out forest restoration and stewardship activities, conducting biochar demonstration projects, and advancing technologies to address forest wildfires.

The Fix Our Forests Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 8790, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address the issue of forest management and wildfire prevention in the United States.

The Fix Our Forests Act aims to improve the health and resilience of the nation's forests by increasing funding for forest management activities, such as thinning and prescribed burns. This bill also seeks to streamline the permitting process for forest management projects and provide incentives for private landowners to engage in forest management practices.

Additionally, the Fix Our Forests Act includes provisions to address the growing threat of wildfires in the US. This bill allocates funding for wildfire prevention and suppression efforts, as well as for the rehabilitation of forests affected by wildfires. It also aims to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies in responding to wildfires. Overall, the Fix Our Forests Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to address the challenges facing the nation's forests and improve their health and resilience. If passed, this bill could have a significant impact on forest management and wildfire prevention efforts in the United States.
Congress
118
Number
HR - 8790
Introduced on
2024-06-18
# Amendments
16
Sponsors
+5
Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/24/2024
Text
PDF
XML

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
Passed in House
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Fix Our Forests Act

This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.

Specifically, the bill (1) designates certain firesheds at high risk for wildfires as fireshed management areas; (2) directs the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to jointly establish an interagency Fireshed Center that is responsible for duties related to assessing and predicting fire, including maintaining a fireshed registry on a publicly accessible website that provides interactive geospatial data on individual firesheds; and (3) makes other requirements related to reducing wildfire.

Next, the bill expedites the review of certain forest management projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and exempts certain activities from NEPA review. It also establishes intra-agency strike teams to accelerate the review and any interagency consultation processes under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also limits consultation requirements concerning threatened and endangered species under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Finally, it limits litigation involving fireshed management projects and limits remedies that courts may provide.

Additionally, the bill supports reducing community wildfire risks, carrying out forest restoration and stewardship activities, conducting biochar demonstration projects, and advancing technologies to address forest wildfires.

The Fix Our Forests Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 8790, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address the issue of forest management and wildfire prevention in the United States.

The Fix Our Forests Act aims to improve the health and resilience of the nation's forests by increasing funding for forest management activities, such as thinning and prescribed burns. This bill also seeks to streamline the permitting process for forest management projects and provide incentives for private landowners to engage in forest management practices.

Additionally, the Fix Our Forests Act includes provisions to address the growing threat of wildfires in the US. This bill allocates funding for wildfire prevention and suppression efforts, as well as for the rehabilitation of forests affected by wildfires. It also aims to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies in responding to wildfires. Overall, the Fix Our Forests Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to address the challenges facing the nation's forests and improve their health and resilience. If passed, this bill could have a significant impact on forest management and wildfire prevention efforts in the United States.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes.
Policy Areas
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Potential Impact
Administrative law and regulatory procedures•
Agricultural practices and innovations•
Alternative and renewable resources•
Building construction•
California•
Climate change and greenhouse gases•
Community life and organization•
Computers and information technology•
Congressional oversight•
Department of Agriculture•
Department of the Interior•
Ecology•
Emergency planning and evacuation•
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research•
Executive agency funding and structure•
Federal officials•
Fires•
First responders and emergency personnel•
Forests, forestry, trees•
Geography and mapping•
Government information and archives•
Government studies and investigations•
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances•
Horticulture and plants•
Indian lands and resources rights•
Intergovernmental relations•
Internet, web applications, social media•
Judicial procedure and administration•
Judicial review and appeals•
Land use and conservation•
Licensing and registrations•
Motor fuels•
Nevada•
Public contracts and procurement•
Public participation and lobbying•
Public-private cooperation•
Research and development•
Roads and highways•
Rural conditions and development•
Soil pollution•
State and local finance•
State and local government operations•
Technology transfer and commercialization•
Water use and supply•
Watersheds•
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats•
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Comments

Related

Committee:  
Natural Resources
Member:  
John S. Duarte
Member:  
Cliff Bentz
Member:  
James C. Moylan
Committee:  
Science, Space, and Technology
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1215 - undefined
Bill Update Alert:  
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3334) to provide for the imposition of sanctions on members of the National Communist Party Congress of the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8205) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide that Byrne grant funds may be used for public safety report systems, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8790) to expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1469) ensuring accountability for key officials in the Biden-Harris administration responsible for decisionmaking and execution failures throughout the withdrawal from Afghanistan; and for other purposes.
Bill Update Alert:  
ACRES Act
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1217 - undefined
Amendment Update Alert:  
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Amendment Update Alert:  
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Bill Update Alert:  
Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act
Bill Update Alert:  
Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1205 - undefined
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1207 - undefined
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1219 - undefined
Amendment Update Alert:  
118 hamdt 1208 - undefined
Amendment Update Alert:  
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Amendment Update Alert:  
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Amendment Update Alert:  
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Amendment Update Alert:  
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Amendment Update Alert:  
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Committee:  
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee:  
Agriculture
Vote Totals:  
118 2nd 448 - On Passage

Recent Activity

Latest Summary1/23/2025

Fix Our Forests Act

This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and imple...

Latest Action11/12/2024
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.