Environment (Forestry)

in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8688: Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act

This bill, known as the Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, allows the Bureau of Land Management to skip certain environmental reviews for specific small-scale forest treatments. It designates tree density modification projects under 5,000 acres as exempt from preparing environmental assessments or impact statements, provided they do not involve clearcutting or converting forests into non-forest vegetation. The exemption covers activities like selective tree removal, chipping, and burning fuel piles, which may include building up to five miles of new permanent roads or temporary access routes. To ensure environmental protection, the bill requires agencies to document how these projects address concerns such as erosion, soil compaction, and the preservation of snags and riparian areas.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts small-scale forest treatments from environmental reviews, weakening regulatory protections and reducing oversight on potential ecological impacts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8682: Accelerating Forest Management Act

The Accelerating Forest Management Act streamlines the environmental review process for salvage harvesting on Bureau of Land Management lands by categorically excluding certain actions from requiring an environmental assessment or impact statement. This change applies specifically to the removal of dead or dying trees caused by natural disturbances like fire or insects, provided the work stays within specific acreage limits and follows existing land use plans. The bill also permits the construction of limited new permanent roads, maintenance of existing roads, and the building of temporary roads for harvest operations, while mandating that operators disclose how they address environmental concerns such as erosion, soil compaction, and invasive species. Additionally, the legislation extends the funding period for the Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund from 2020 to 2033 to support these management efforts.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill weakens environmental protections by categorically excluding salvage harvesting from environmental reviews, effectively deregulating standards for forest management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 7695: To provide that the final rule titled "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation" and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.

This bill would cancel a 2001 federal rule that restricted road building on National Forest System lands and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to construct new roads on those lands. The legislation specifically nullifies the Roadless Area Conservation rule and prohibits the Agriculture Department from creating any similar restrictions in the future. Under the bill, the Forest Service must build permanent and temporary roads to support forest restoration, reduce wildfire risks in at-risk communities and municipal watersheds, replace roads harming forest health, and fulfill the intent of the 1897 Forest Management Act. The changes directly affect federal land management decisions and would impact communities and organizations that rely on forest access and wildfire prevention efforts.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill cancels roadless area conservation rule and mandates new road construction, weakening environmental protections and increasing development on National Forest lands.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates construction of new roads on National Forest lands and removes restrictions on road building, directly advancing transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Roads & Highways

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4194: Limiting Liability for Critical Infrastructure Manufacturers Act

HR 4194 would shield manufacturers of critical infrastructure equipment from lawsuits related to wildfires caused by their products, unless they intentionally caused harm through willful misconduct. This law applies to companies defined as critical infrastructure manufacturers under existing federal law (per the Cyber Incident Reporting Act of 2022). It creates legal immunity for these manufacturers against both federal and state lawsuits regarding wildfire-related losses, but requires proof of intentional wrongdoing to override the protection. The bill directly affects companies producing essential infrastructure equipment like power grid components and communication systems.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill shields manufacturers from wildfire liability lawsuits, potentially reducing accountability for environmental damage from critical infrastructure products.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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signed · United States · House Apr 27, 2026

HJRES 140: Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.

HJRES 140 is a procedural resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule published in the Federal Register (88 Fed. Reg. 6308, January 31, 2023). The resolution targets Public Land Order No. 7917, which proposed withdrawing federal lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota. If passed, this resolution would block the BLM rule from taking effect by invoking the disapproval process under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code. It directly affects the implementation of the land withdrawal proposal but does not alter the underlying land status or create new policy.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to disapprove a BLM rule withdrawing federal lands, which would prevent conservation of natural resources and limit environmental protection in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Water Quality

in committee · United States · House Jun 10, 2025

HR 1655: Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act

The Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act exempts specific communication infrastructure projects in wildfire-affected areas from standard environmental and historic preservation reviews. It applies to projects replacing or improving damaged facilities within five years of a federal, state, or tribal declaration of a wildfire emergency or disaster. The bill removes the need for these projects to undergo reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This directly benefits local governments, tribal authorities, and communication providers working to restore connectivity after wildfires.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expedites communication infrastructure in wildfire areas, indirectly supporting energy grid resilience and reliability by reducing outage risks during emergencies.75% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts wildfire-affected infrastructure projects from NEPA environmental reviews, weakening standard environmental protections by removing required assessments.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpedited communication infrastructure rebuilding in wildfire areas directly expands internet access by removing regulatory delays, aligning with support indicators for internet access restoration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Natural Disasters Broadband Access Telecommunications

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passed · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HR 4090: Critical Mineral Dominance Act

HR 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, aims to boost U.S. production of hardrock minerals (like rare earths, base metals, and gemstones) to strengthen domestic supply chains and national security. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a 90-day report analyzing the economic impact of mineral import reliance, prioritize expedited permitting for mining projects on federal land, and review regulations to remove barriers to mineral development. The bill also mandates annual reports identifying federal lands with mineral potential and accelerates geologic mapping to locate new deposits. These provisions directly affect mining companies, federal land managers, and supply chain security efforts, focusing on concrete policy actions rather than outcomes.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prioritizes mining expansion by removing regulatory barriers, weakening environmental protections to accelerate mineral extraction.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2025

HR 2298: Reducing Barriers for Broadband on Federal Lands Act of 2025

HR 2298 exempts certain broadband infrastructure projects on federal lands from requiring environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and historic preservation reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act. It applies specifically to wireline or wireless broadband installations (like fiber lines or cell towers) by broadband providers on federal rights-of-way, such as areas adjacent to roads or highways. The bill removes the need for agencies to conduct full environmental assessments or historic site reviews for these projects, streamlining approvals. This directly affects federal land managers (like the BLM or Forest Service) and broadband providers seeking to expand service on public lands. The key change is eliminating specific regulatory hurdles for qualifying broadband projects on federal rights-of-way.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts broadband projects from NEPA environmental reviews, weakening protections by removing required impact assessments.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRemoves regulatory barriers for broadband infrastructure deployment on federal lands, directly expanding internet access and advancing technology infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Broadband Access Telecommunications

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 480: Timber Harvesting Restoration Act of 2025

S 480, the Timber Harvesting Restoration Act of 2025, requires forest supervisors managing National Forest System units where timber sales are below two-thirds of the maximum allowable volume to create plans to increase sales. Within 180 days of enactment, supervisors must submit reports identifying actionable steps, after consulting with industry, tribes, states, and other stakeholders. The Secretary of Agriculture will review progress one year later; if sales reach 75% of the allowable volume, no further reports are needed, but if not, supervisors must submit new plans and may receive additional resources like staff or expedited environmental reviews. This directly affects National Forest units with low timber sales volumes, aiming to boost timber harvests through structured reporting and performance tracking.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates increased timber harvesting (75% of allowable volume), prioritizing industry over forest conservation, weakening environmental protections by focusing on sales targets rather than ecological preservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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in committee · United States · House Feb 28, 2025

HR 774: PASTURES Act

The PASTURES Act prohibits federal agencies from penalizing livestock owners for grazing on specific federal lands without existing fences. It directly affects ranchers and livestock owners (cattle, bison, horses, sheep, goats) who graze on National Forest System lands, Fish and Wildlife Service lands, or public lands bordering private property where grazing was previously permitted but later prohibited. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture or Interior to cover all costs for constructing or maintaining fences meant to prevent grazing on these lands. This changes the financial responsibility from landowners to the federal government for fence-related expenses on designated "covered lands."

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves grazing restrictions on federal lands, potentially weakening ecosystem protections to prioritize livestock industry over environmental regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands Wildlife

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