H.R. 471 · 119th Congress

Fix Our Forests Act

Introduced on Jan 16, 2025 by Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4). 56 cosponsors, 17 of them from another party. Latest action (Mar 6, 2025): Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.

Stage
Passed one chamber
Introduced
Jan 16, 2025
Cosponsors
56
17 from the other party
Policy area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. 4Passed both chambers
  5. 5Sent to the President
  6. 6Became law

Official title

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.

Subjects

  • 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
  • Data collection, sharing, protection
  • 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
  • Supply chain
  • Technology transfer and commercialization
  • Water use and supply
  • Watersheds
  • Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
  • Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Jan 16, 2025). Public domain.

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.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

Bruce WestermanR-AR-4Sponsor

Democrats · 17

Independents · 1

Republicans · 38

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

  1. On Passage
    Jan 23, 2025· House· Passage· Passed 279–141

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Jan 16, 2025Introduced in House
  2. Jan 16, 2025Introduced in House
  3. Jan 16, 2025 · HouseReferred 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.
  4. Jan 16, 2025 · HouseReferred 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.
  5. Jan 16, 2025 · HouseReferred 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.
  6. Jan 21, 2025 · HouseRules 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.
  7. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 53. (consideration: CR H312-335)
  8. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseRule 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.
  9. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseHouse resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 53 and Rule XVIII.
  10. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseThe Speaker designated the Honorable Dale W. Strong to act as Chairman of the Committee.
  11. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseGENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 471.
  12. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseDEBATE - 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.
  13. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseDEBATE - 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.
  14. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseThe House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 471.
  15. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  16. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseThe House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
  17. Jan 23, 2025 · HousePOSTPONED 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.
  18. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H346-347)
  19. Jan 23, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)House · Roll call 25
  20. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 279 - 141 (Roll no. 25). (text: CR H321-333)House · Roll call 25
  21. Jan 23, 2025 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  22. Jan 28, 2025 · SenateReceived in the Senate.
  23. Mar 6, 2025 · SenateCommittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Who lobbied on it

Organizations whose lobbying reports (LD-2) name this measure. Spending is what they reported for those quarters on all issues, not on this measure alone.

  1. AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION15 reports
    $9.4M reported (all issues)
  2. PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.12 reports
    $600K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY$189.1K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  3. AMERICAN FOREST RESOURCE COUNCIL10 reports
    $300K reported (all issues)
  4. OroraTech GmbH9 reports
    $340K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: ORORATECH USA INC.$1.8M in contracts, FY2026AI match · 94%
  5. Vibrant Planet PBC9 reports
    $170K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: VIBRANT PLANET, PBC$75K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  6. Earth Force Technologies, Inc.8 reports
    $320K reported (all issues)
  7. FUND FOR A BETTER FUTURE8 reports
    $170K reported (all issues)
  8. SAZERAC COMPANY, INC.8 reports
    $1.3M reported (all issues)
  9. AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION7 reports
    $1.1M reported (all issues)
  10. EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE7 reports
    $13.7M reported (all issues)
  11. Grand Canyon State Cooperative Association7 reports
    $70K reported (all issues)
  12. Overwatch Aero7 reports
    $140K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: OVERWATCH AERO LLC$1.7M in contracts, FY2026AI match · 99%
  13. Pacific Forest Trust7 reports
    $80K reported (all issues)
  14. Partnership of Rangeland Trusts7 reports
    $155K reported (all issues)
  15. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation7 reports
    $18K reported (all issues)
  16. SEMPRA7 reports
    $5.4M reported (all issues)
  17. Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership7 reports
    $312K reported (all issues)
  18. White Oak Initiative Government Policy Committee7 reports
    $350K reported (all issues)
  19. AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FED6 reports
    $1.8M reported (all issues)
  20. AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION6 reports
    $4.1M reported (all issues)
  21. American Association for Justice6 reports
    $9.2M reported (all issues)
  22. BLACK HILLS CORPORATION6 reports
    $228K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: BLACK HILLS SERVICE COMPANY, LLC$33.7M in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  23. CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY6 reports
    $428.1K reported (all issues)
  24. CMS ENERGY CORPORATION6 reports
    $1.5M reported (all issues)
  25. CONTINENTAL CASUALTY COMPANY6 reports
    $1.9M reported (all issues)
  26. Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A.6 reports
    $107M reported (all issues)
  27. Citizens' Climate Lobby6 reports
    $85K reported (all issues)
  28. Climate and Wildfire Institute6 reports
    $155K reported (all issues)
  29. County of Fresno6 reports
    $119.5K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: COUNTY OF FRESNO CALIFORNIA$104K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  30. County of Tulare6 reports
    $120K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: COUNTY OF TULARE$152.5K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  31. DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE6 reports
    $740K reported (all issues)
  32. INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS OF AMERICA, INC.6 reports
    $1.3M reported (all issues)
  33. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS6 reports
    $220K reported (all issues)Federal contractor: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS, INC.$187.9K in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  34. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS6 reports
    $1.2M reported (all issues)Federal contractor: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS$5,280 in contracts, FY2026AI match · 100%
  35. ITC HOLDINGS CORP.6 reports
    $1.5M reported (all issues)
  36. Liberty Mutual Group6 reports
    $4.7M reported (all issues)
  37. NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FOREST OWNERS6 reports
    $2.1M reported (all issues)
  38. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES6 reports
    $2.8M reported (all issues)
  39. NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION (NRECA)6 reports
    $5.5M reported (all issues)
  40. Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA)6 reports
    $200K reported (all issues)

Reports filed in 2025, 2026.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 7, 2026 · loaded Oct 7, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 7, 2026 · loaded Oct 7, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.
  • Money and votes are shown side by side; neither explains the other.