HR 471
· 119th Congress
· Public Lands and Natural Resources
Fix Our Forests Act
Sponsor
Latest action
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.
Action timeline
Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.
Mar 06, 2025
committee
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.
Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology Subcommittee
Jan 28, 2025
introduced
Received in the Senate.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 53. (consideration: CR H312-335)
Jan 23, 2025
floor
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.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 53 and Rule XVIII.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Dale W. Strong to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 471.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
DEBATE - 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.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
DEBATE - 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.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 471.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Jan 23, 2025
passed
The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
POSTPONED 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.
Jan 23, 2025
floor
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H346-347)
Jan 23, 2025
passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)
Jan 23, 2025
passed
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)
Jan 23, 2025
passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 21, 2025
committee
Rules 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.
Jan 16, 2025
introduced
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
introduced
Referred 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.
Natural Resources Committee · Agriculture Committee · Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Text versions
Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.
CRS summaries
Plain-English summaries written by the Congressional Research Service — neutral, nonpartisan staff who summarize bills as they advance through stages. The authoritative description of what each version of the bill does.
00
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 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 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.
via Congressional Research Service · published through congress.gov
Changelog
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
ⓘ
How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.
ih/is— Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.rfh/rfs— Referred to a committee for review.rh/rs— Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).pcs/pch— Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.eh/es— Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.rdh/rds— Received by the other chamber.eah/eas— Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.ath/ats— Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.enr— Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.pl— Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.pp— Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.
Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.
Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.
+56
−47
54 unchanged
--- Introduced (House)
+++ Engrossed (House)
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[H.R. 471 Introduced in House (IH)]
+[H.R. 471 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
@@ -7,37 +7,9 @@
1st Session
H. R. 471
-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.
-
_______________________________________________________________________
-IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
-
-January 16, 2025
-
-Mr. Westerman (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Panetta, Mr.
-Stauber, Mr. Whitesides, Mr. Collins, Mr. Vasquez, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Costa,
-Mr. Zinke, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr.
-Bera, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Thompson
-of California, Mr. Begich, Mr. Correa, Mr. Crank, Mr. Golden of Maine,
-Mr. Ezell, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr.
-Valadao, Mr. Gray, Mr. Barr, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms.
-Pettersen, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Walberg, Mr.
-LaMalfa, Mr. Gosar, Ms. Boebert, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Issa, Mr. Fong,
-Ms. Hageman, Mr. Fry, and Mr. Amodei of Nevada) introduced the
-following bill; which was referred 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
-
-_______________________________________________________________________
-
-A BILL
+AN ACT
To expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and
improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands,
@@ -114,6 +86,7 @@
Sec. 306. Keeping forest plans current and monitored.
Sec. 307. Container Aerial Firefighting System (CAFFS).
Sec. 308. Study on pine beetle infestation.
+Sec. 309. Fire safe electrical corridors.
Subtitle B--White Oak Resilience
Sec. 311. White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition.
@@ -1764,22 +1737,19 @@
the covered Secretaries shall give priority to entering into
partnerships with eligible entities that submit proposals to
carry out biochar demonstration projects that--
-(A) have the most carbon sequestration potential;
-(B) have the most potential to create new jobs and
+(A) have the most potential to create new jobs and
contribute to local economies, particularly in rural
areas;
-(C) have the most potential to demonstrate--
+(B) have the most potential to demonstrate--
(i) new and innovative uses of biochar;
(ii) market viability for cost effective
biochar-based products;
-(iii) the ecosystem services created or
-supported by the use of biochar;
-(iv) the restorative benefits of biochar
+(iii) the restorative benefits of biochar
with respect to forest heath and resiliency,
including forest soils and watersheds; or
-(v) any combination of purposes specified
-in clauses (i) through (iv);
-(D) are located in areas that have a high need for
+(iv) any combination of purposes specified
+in clauses (i) through (iii);
+(C) are located in areas that have a high need for
biochar production, as determined by the covered
Secretaries, due to--
(i) nearby lands identified as having high
@@ -1788,8 +1758,8 @@
of feedstocks; or
(iii) a high level of demand for biochar or
other commercial byproducts of biochar; or
-(E) satisfy any combination of purposes specified
-in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
+(D) satisfy any combination of purposes specified
+in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(4) Use of funds.--In carrying out the program established
under paragraph (1)(A), the covered Secretaries may enter into
partnerships and provide funding to such partnerships to carry
@@ -1840,13 +1810,10 @@
grasslands used for grazing activities,
including grazing activities on
National Forest System land and public
-land;
+land; and
(V) environmental remediation
activities, including abandoned mine
-land remediation; and
-(VI) other ecosystem services
-created or supported by the use of
-biochar;
+land remediation;
(ii) the effectiveness of biochar as a co-
product of biofuels or in biochemicals; and
(iii) the effectiveness of other potential
@@ -2287,6 +2254,28 @@
report that includes the results of the study required under
paragraph (1).
+SEC. 309. FIRE SAFE ELECTRICAL CORRIDORS.
+
+(a) In General.--In any special use permit or easement on National
+Forest System land provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary may
+provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from
+within the vicinity of distribution lines or transmission lines without
+requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is
+consistent with--
+(1) the applicable land and resource management plan; and
+(2) other applicable environmental laws (including
+regulations).
+(b) Use of Proceeds.--A special use permit or easement that
+includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a)
+shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility
+sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement,
+the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary, acting through
+the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale,
+less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.
+(c) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of
+any material removed under a permit or easement that includes
+permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).
+
Subtitle B--White Oak Resilience
SEC. 311. WHITE OAK RESTORATION INITIATIVE COALITION.
@@ -2640,4 +2629,24 @@
(6) Any other relative (order of precedence to be
determined in accordance with the civil law of descent of the
deceased former member's State of domicile at time of death).
-<all>
+
+Passed the House of Representatives January 23, 2025.
+
+Attest:
+
+Clerk.
+119th CONGRESS
+
+1st Session
+
+H. R. 471
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+AN ACT
+
+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.
Lobbying activity
Organizations whose LDA filings reference this bill, ranked by filing count. Position not disclosed — LDA does not require lobbyists to report support / oppose / monitor. Bill-number references can be stale (lobbyists sometimes copy text year-over-year), so verify against the filing description.
10
filings · 2026 Q3
7
filings · 2026 Q3
COUNTY OF TULARE
NAT
7
filings · 2026 Q3
PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
ENGENVNATUTI
6
filings · 2026 Q3
6
filings · 2026 Q3
6
filings · 2026 Q3
6
filings · 2026 Q3
COUNTY OF FRESNO
BUDCAWNATTRA
6
filings · 2026 Q3
SEMPRA
NAT
5
filings · 2026 Q3
5
filings · 2026 Q3
via Senate LDA · self-reported quarterly. Filing count = filings mentioning this bill (no position required), not money spent on it. Click a client to see all bills they've filed on.
Cosponsors (55)
Members who signed on to support this bill.
Peters D
Amodei R
Panetta D
Stauber R
Whitesides D
Collins R
Vasquez D
Kim R
Costa D
Zinke R
Harder D
Johnson R
Bera D
Kiggans R
Tiffany R
Maloy R
Thompson D
Begich R
Correa D
Crank R
Golden D
Ezell R
Mullin D
Hurd R
Lee D
Valadao R
Gray D
Barr R
Hoyer D
Carter R
Pettersen D
Joyce R
Obernolte R
Walberg R
Gosar R
Boebert R
McClintock R
Issa R
Fong R
Hageman R
Fry R
Garamendi D
Bentz R
Hunt R
Wied R
Kiley I
Suozzi D
Wittman R
Newhouse R
Calvert R
McDowell R
Messmer R
Kennedy R
Hill R
Sessions R