[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2524-H2525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
POST-DISASTER REFORESTATION AND RESTORATION ACT OF 2025
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 528) to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a
program for Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Program, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 528
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Post-Disaster Reforestation
and Restoration Act''.
SEC. 2. POST-DISASTER REFORESTATION AND RESTORATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Secretary, in coordination with the heads of the covered
agencies, shall identify covered lands requiring
reforestation and restoration following unplanned
disturbances that are unlikely to experience natural
regeneration without assistance.
(b) Priority Projects.--In consultation with the heads of
covered agencies, the Secretary--
(1) shall propose a list of priority projects for
reforestation and restoration for each fiscal year;
(2) may carry out priority projects through--
(A) competitively awarded grants;
(B) contracts;
(C) contracts established under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et
seq.); and
(D) cooperative agreements, to be awarded in accordance
with applicable requirements established by the Secretary;
and
(3) may support any grant contract or cooperative agreement
that may be necessary to ensure adequate and appropriate seed
and seedling availability to further the objectives of
priority projects.
(c) Outreach.--To fulfill requirements of this section the
heads of covered agencies shall conduct outreach to--
(1) Indian Tribes;
(2) States;
(3) territories;
(4) units of local government;
(5) Alaska Native organizations;
(6) Native Hawaiian organizations;
(7) institutions of higher education;
(8) Federal agencies with jurisdiction over Federal land
adjoining or proximal to priority projects; and
(9) other stakeholders as determined by the Secretary.
(d) Reports and Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant
Congressional Committees a report that includes the
following:
(1) An accounting of all covered lands requiring
reforestation and restoration.
(2) A list of priority projects and implementation progress
to address reforestation and restoration objectives
identified.
(3) An accounting of grants, contracts, and cooperative
agreements established in furtherance of priority projects.
(4) Outreach efforts by covered agencies to advance
priority projects.
(5) Assessments of, and recommendations relating to seed,
seedling, and implementation gaps to advance priority
projects and opportunities to establish dedicated funding
necessary to address any backlog of reforestation and
restoration needs.
(e) Sunset.--The authority provided under this section
shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means the
National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of
Reclamation, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(2) Covered lands.--The term ``covered lands'' means--
(A) any Federal land or interest in land administered by a
covered agency; or
(B) Indian Forest Land or Rangeland.
(3) Indian forest land or rangeland.--The term ``Indian
Forest Land or Rangeland'' means land that--
(A) is held in trust by, or with a restriction against
alienation by, the United States for an Indian Tribe or a
member of an Indian Tribe; and
(B)(i)(I) is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304
of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25
U.S.C. 3103)); or
(II) has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar
vegetation; or
(ii) formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that
is capable of restoration.
(4) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means any
Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village,
or community individually identified (including
parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of
the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to section 104 of
the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25
U.S.C. 5131).
(5) Natural regeneration.--The term ``natural
regeneration'' has the meaning given the term in section
(e)(4) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (U.S.C. 36 1601).
(6) Reforestation.--The term ``reforestation'' has the
meaning given the term in section (e)(4) of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (U.S.C. 36
1601).
(7) Restoration.--The term ``restoration'' means assisting
the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged,
or destroyed, including the reestablishment of appropriate
plant species composition and community structure.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(9) Unplanned disturbance.--The term ``unplanned
disturbance'' means any unplanned disturbance that disrupts
ecosystem structure or composition and may include a
wildfire, an infestation of insects or disease, or a weather
event.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 528, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 528, the Post-Disaster
Reforestation and Restoration Act, sponsored by Representative
Pettersen.
Madam Speaker, this bipartisan legislation, which is also part of the
Fix Our Forests Act, would create a post-disaster reforestation and
restoration program at the Department of the Interior.
Across the country, catastrophic wildfires are burning hotter and
more severely, turning once-pristine landscapes into charred
moonscapes. Hurricanes, windstorms, mudslides, and other natural
disasters can also leave behind millions of acres of land in need of
reforestation.
In many cases, if Federal land managers don't move quickly to replant
and restore scorched or uprooted lands, once-lush forests can
permanently decay into low-lying scrublands that are unproductive and
vulnerable to future fire and erosion.
When these forests disappear, they take with them clean water,
wildlife habitat, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on
them for recreation and employment. With millions of acres of forests
lost to catastrophic wildfires and other disasters, our Federal
agencies are bearing the strain of an enormous backlog of replanting
and restoration work.
In 2021, Congress passed legislation to partially address the Forest
Service's priority reforestation needs, although no similar authority
was included for the Department of the Interior. H.R. 528 offers a
straightforward solution to tackle the crisis and provides consistency
across all Federal land management agencies.
This bill directs agencies within the Department of the Interior to
identify priority landscapes most in need of reforestation and to
proactively partner with States, Tribes, local communities, and
institutions of higher learning to advance high-priority restoration
projects.
This bill is a practical, bipartisan way to prioritize vital
restoration work that requires immediate action. By allowing Federal
agencies to work with trusted partners, we can clear the way for
reforestation, get to faster restoration, and serve the communities
that rely on healthy, resilient forests.
I thank Representative Pettersen for her work on this bill, as well
as for her work on Fix Our Forests Act.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H2525]]
House of Representatives,
Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC, September 5, 2025.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 528, the ``Post-Disaster
Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025.'' Thank you for
collaborating with the Committee on Agriculture on the
matters within our jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further
consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing
consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over any subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees, should it become necessary, and ask that you
support such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 528 and request a
copy of our letters on this matter be published in the
Congressional Record during Floor consideration
Sincerely,
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, September 8, 2025.
Hon. Glenn Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: I write regarding H.R. 528. the
``Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025,''
which was ordered reported by the Committee on Natural
Resources on July 23. 2025.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and
appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of
the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture
will not formally consider H.R. 528 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained
therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to
consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of
letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill and will include such letters in
the committee report on H.R. 528. I appreciate your
cooperation regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today in strong support of Representative Pettersen's H.R.
528, the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act.
Madam Speaker, this legislation would establish a program at the
Department of the Interior to address ecological damage caused by
unforeseen events, including wildfires and weather events, and support
efforts to restore ecosystems, particularly those where disruption has
hindered the natural recovery.
As the impacts of climate change cause more frequent and intense
natural disasters, we must take a whole-of-government approach to
respond to these crises and rebuild. This includes critical investments
in predisaster mitigation measures, like strengthening infrastructure
and housing, enhancing early detection, supporting our country's
wildland firefighters, and focusing on post-disaster resilience.
These kinds of upfront investments will ensure communities impacted
by wildfire can rebuild and recover in a way that makes them more
resilient against future natural disasters. This bill is a commonsense
step toward better land management and stronger community resilience in
the face of climate-driven wildfires and extreme weather.
{time} 1740
Recovery after a wildfire is a lengthy and challenging process, and
this bill will help build stronger, more resilient communities that can
stand up against the threat of wildfires for generations to come.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 528, and I urge my colleagues
to support this critical piece of legislation. I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, this bill is a bipartisan, commonsense step to help
land managers within the Department of the Interior tackle forest
reforestation after wildfires, storms, and floods by working with
capable non-Federal partners in the areas that need help the most. This
legislation will help restore desolate landscapes to thriving forests.
As I mentioned before, the legislation previously passed the House as
part of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. I hope to see that
legislation sent to the President's desk soon so that land managers
have every tool they need to restore forest health, prevent wildfires,
and protect communities.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 528, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________