H.R. 471Fix Our Forests Act

1 recorded actionWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Bruce Westerman [R-AR-04]
Cosponsors: 56 · 39 Republicans · 17 Democrats
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Committees: Natural Resources Committee, Agriculture Committee · and 1 more
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.

IntroducedJan 16, 2025
Passed the HouseJan 23, 2025
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 471 as introduced in House on Jan 16, 2025. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 25

House Jan 23, 2025

On Passage

Fix Our Forests Act

Passed

279 Yea 141 Nay 13 not voting

Crossed both parties 64 of 420 voting members broke with their own party: 64 Democrats.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members433 members

Democratic215 members

Independent1 member

Republican217 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors56 · 39 Republicans · 17 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 471 and vote against it. 43 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 471134 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 471 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATIONfiled by EXIGENT GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, OGR, AMERICAN PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION FKA PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURERS ASSOC. OF AMERICAIts PAC: American Property Casualty Insurance Association PAC

Disaster Planning/Emergencies · Insurance · Torts · Alcohol and Drug Abuse +9 more20 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2025Filing

PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRICfiled by K&L GATES, LLP, PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC

Utilities · Energy/Nuclear · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations +5 more15 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Animals · Natural Resources · Budget/Appropriations · Energy/Nuclear +1 more12 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

SAZERAC COMPANY, INC.filed by SAZERAC COMPANY, INC., S-3 GROUPIts PAC: Sazerac Co., Inc. PAC

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Agriculture · Copyright/Patent/Trademark · Beverage Industry +1 more11 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

LIBERTY MUTUAL GROUP

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Insurance · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Health Issues +5 more10 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

COUNTY OF TULAREfiled by CARPI & CLAY, INC

Budget/Appropriations · Natural Resources · Clean Air and Water (quality) · Homeland Security9 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTEfiled by EDISON ELECTRIC INSTITUTE, MISSY EDWARDS STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: Powerpac of the Edison Electric Institute

Telecommunications · Budget/Appropriations · Homeland Security · Environment/Superfund +4 more9 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

SEMPRA

Budget/Appropriations · Clean Air and Water (quality) · Homeland Security · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +7 more9 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

THEODORE ROOSEVELT CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPfiled by THEODORE ROOSEVELT CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP, BRUMIDI GROUP

Clean Air and Water (quality) · Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Natural Resources +2 more9 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY

Automotive Industry · Government Issues · Insurance · Environment/Superfund +7 more9 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

736 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-27. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.