WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 471 · 119th Congress

Fix Our Forests Act

Passed HousePublic Lands and Natural Resources
IntroducedJan 16, 2025
Passed HouseJan 23, 2025
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

What it does

Sourced

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 (including watershed protection and restoration), conducting biochar demonstration projects, advancing technologies to address forest wildfires, and assisting wildland firefighters and their families.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 16, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2025-03-06Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.Senate
  2. 2025-01-28Received in the Senate.Senate
  3. 2025-01-23Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  4. 2025-01-23On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333) Roll call recordHouse floor actions
  5. 2025-01-23Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333) Roll call recordLibrary of Congress
  6. 2025-01-23Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H346-347)House floor actions
  7. 2025-01-23POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 471, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Peters demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.House floor actions
  8. 2025-01-23The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.House floor actions
  9. 2025-01-23The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.House floor actions
  10. 2025-01-23The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 471.House floor actions
  11. 2025-01-23DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 53, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Carbajal amendment No. 2.House floor actions
  12. 2025-01-23DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 53, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perry amendment No. 1.House floor actions
  13. 2025-01-23GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 471.House floor actions
  14. 2025-01-23The Speaker designated the Honorable Dale W. Strong to act as Chairman of the Committee.House floor actions
  15. 2025-01-23House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 53 and Rule XVIII.House floor actions
  16. 2025-01-23Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.House floor actions
  17. 2025-01-23Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 53. (consideration: CR H312-335)House floor actions
  18. 2025-01-21Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 53 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 471 and S. 5. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 471 under a structured rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of S. 5 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate and one motion to commit.House floor actions
  19. 2025-01-16Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
  20. 2025-01-16Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
  21. 2025-01-16Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
  22. 2025-01-16Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  23. 2025-01-16Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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Cosponsors

  • Rep. Mark E. Amodei R-NV-2
  • Rep. Andy Barr R-KY-6
  • Rep. Nicholas J. Begich R-AK-At Large
  • Rep. Cliff Bentz R-OR-2
  • Rep. Ami Bera D-CA-6
  • Rep. Lauren Boebert R-CO-4
  • Rep. Ken Calvert R-CA-41
  • Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter R-GA-1
  • Rep. Mike Collins R-GA-10
  • Rep. J. Luis Correa D-CA-46
  • Rep. Jim Costa D-CA-21
  • Rep. Jeff Crank R-CO-5
  • Rep. Mike Ezell R-MS-4
  • Rep. Vince Fong R-CA-20
  • Rep. Russell Fry R-SC-7
  • Rep. John Garamendi D-CA-8
  • Rep. Jared F. Golden D-ME-2
  • Rep. Paul A. Gosar R-AZ-9
  • Rep. Adam Gray D-CA-13
  • Rep. Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
  • Rep. Josh Harder D-CA-9
  • Rep. J. French Hill R-AR-2
  • Rep. Steny H. Hoyer D-MD-5
  • Rep. Wesley Hunt R-TX-38
  • Rep. Jeff Hurd R-CO-3
  • Rep. Darrell Issa R-CA-48
  • Rep. Dusty Johnson R-SD-At Large
  • Rep. John Joyce R-PA-13
  • Rep. Mike Kennedy R-UT-3
  • Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans R-VA-2
  • Rep. Kevin Kiley I-CA-3
  • Rep. Young Kim R-CA-40
  • Rep. Doug LaMalfa R-CA-1
  • Rep. Susie Lee D-NV-3
  • Rep. Celeste Maloy R-UT-2
  • Rep. Tom McClintock R-CA-5
  • Rep. Addison P. McDowell R-NC-6
  • Rep. Mark Messmer R-IN-8
  • Rep. Kevin Mullin D-CA-15
  • Rep. Dan Newhouse R-WA-4
  • Rep. Jay Obernolte R-CA-23
  • Rep. Jimmy Panetta D-CA-20
  • Rep. Scott H. Peters D-CA-50
  • Rep. Brittany Pettersen D-CO-7
  • Rep. Pete Sessions R-TX-17
  • Rep. Pete Stauber R-MN-8
  • Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
  • Rep. Mike Thompson D-CA-4
  • Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany R-WI-7
  • Rep. David G. Valadao R-CA-22
  • Rep. Gabe Vasquez D-NM-2
  • Rep. Tim Walberg R-MI-5
  • Rep. George Whitesides D-CA-27
  • Rep. Tony Wied R-WI-8
  • Rep. Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1
  • Rep. Ryan K. Zinke R-MT-1