[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6159517,"mediaKeyId","5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767","parentId",5454494,"title","Committee clears 11 bipartisan bills by unanimous consent including land transfers, research, fee‑free park day","audioSeconds",285,"startMs",8711000,"endMs",8996000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767&start=8711&end=8996","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767/thumbnail_8711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159517/Committee-clears-11-bipartisan-bills-by-unanimous-consent-including-land-transfers-research-feefree-park-day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159517-b6de37d69844aea14f0dfeaff84ad592/orig.mp4?Expires=1773076744&Signature=kz0AXMegkL728aOTBMW22iOLL1oVv9wroa0wZBWb8ZpT46gRF5my4mOBEm1tQs8J2WktuIdXQTcva582dk~cH2d~2nSPq7AK42NWFAJ0PE5qOgce1M6H3vjL9~h7laKQ1ZJQOa9nAig4x6LaIMlORA6GLE4Ewp5LCPRwAarXkLHVnJFViol49NzVW5H1sjjxDcdN04RKqiJ1CzfR79LOR~9X04nsob4aj~SMs0dFExfwOiSDH0o2R7v9xVG2h5B78zXW1kMnhXbmAcsFbBN6Ia2dWK5zYD5XWlKfqknCPbPsYyzc7GUTGPGYNtl3g1uaspj3hkR96hPMhA2crexXZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources","date","2025-07-23T19:03:01.113Z","article","The House Committee on Natural Resources agreed by unanimous consent to report out a package of 11 largely bipartisan bills that the majority and ranking minority worked out in advance. Committee leaders announced the package toward the end of the markup and asked unanimous consent to report the bills favorably with the amendments that had been filed and agreed to.

The unanimous‑consent package included:

- H.R. 42 85 (STARS Act / Semiquincentennial Tourism and Access to Recreation Sites Act) — establishes a fee‑free national parks day to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and, in committee form, was amended to expand fee waivers to certain national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands. (Sponsor: Representative Malloy/Stauber amendment adopted)

- H.R. 10 45 — Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act (creates a wildfire research institute at Utah State University; sponsor: Representative from Utah).

- H.R. 2,302 and H.R. 2,400 — land transfer bills to place small parcels into tribal trust for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and the Pit River Tribe, respectively (subcommittee referrals; substitute amendments accepted).

- H.R. 36 20 — land conveyance to the South Central Foundation in Anchorage for a behavioral health facility (subcommittee amendment accepted).

- H.R. 22 94 and H.R. 38 57 — reauthorizations for the Integrated Ocean Observing System and Snow Water Supply Forecasting programs (amendments in the nature of a substitute agreed where noted).

- H.R. 3 45, H.R. 5 28, H.R. 12 76 — additional bills addressing wildfire assistance, reforestation, and removal of outdated deed restrictions; where applicable, the committee accepted amendments in the nature of a substitute offered by the chair or others.

Committee members from both parties praised the package’s local and practical items: tribal land transfers, research capacity expansion, coastal observation and water forecasting reauthorizations, and measures to support wildfire response and post‑disaster reforestation. Representative Stauber and others emphasized tourism and local economic benefits from a fee‑free national parks day. The committee reported the listed bills favorably to the House by unanimous consent; the committee’s unanimous‑consent text and agreed amendments were entered into the record.

Procedurally, the chair asked unanimous consent that relevant subcommittees be discharged and that staff be permitted to make technical conforming edits to the texts. No recorded roll‑call votes were required for the unanimous‑consent package.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Full Committee Markup","oneSentenceSummary","By unanimous consent the committee advanced 11 bills — a mix of local land transfers to tribes, research institute authorization, program reauthorizations, and a fee‑free national parks day — and approved related amendments agreed by the minority.","taxTitle","Natural Resources: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1983,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6159522,"Committee sides with local landowners in move to block implementation of Mule Shoe Refuge expansion plan",6235,1165000,7400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767&start=1165&end=7400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767/thumbnail_1165000.jpg","/articles/6159522/Committee-sides-with-local-landowners-in-move-to-block-implementation-of-Mule-Shoe-Refuge-expansion-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159522-62f7fb16f829f6bb16f3538f401fdaea/orig.mp4?Expires=1773076744&Signature=WJ5SxvaFKLn9Br6WbPJdqAehnRS8RDthl1EK478wx3Yeu39sslMf~TvEqp43Xc52FNUqfyu9ykeJPMwrS~BHvrawiOwy5-4I~947vZfANgcGKmGRFzM9bz69BwUBNemQc45AcRAh3XNXMuG~US3gADFlF0xd6RnpXM7WBRjqs3CutwyvlQySsuVNHZ6GSNnUSKV9nzT4mwrwlga8JgYu38lkkig0uoyN7olUdfhxUGLopTT0~vB~HMWdVTGtQ--c-7cz7lBeFKgFqaOSTG5wE3oJEdH1kSDG03FhmH2MToZOwbQM5qq8L6SWkSUZBWG8d7j-0JJ7kYuE0A2u6RUn8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Natural Resources on July 22 adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered H.R. 839, a bill that would prohibit the implementation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s land protection plan for the Mule Shoe National Wildlife Refuge in West Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Representative Jodey Arrington had introduced the bill; proponents argued the plan would expand the refuge up to 100 times its current size and impose substantial new management costs on the federal refuge system. Supporters said the Fish and Wildlife Service already faces a multibillion‑dollar maintenance backlog and should not be expected to absorb large voluntary land acquisitions.

Ranking Member Jared Huffman, Representative Teresa Leger Fernández and others opposed the bill, saying it would remove voluntary options for private landowners who wish to sell or donate land for conservation. Huffman cited testimony from John Rowley, a Texas rancher who described the land protection plan as a voluntary market‑driven mechanism that respects property rights and creates conservation options. Leger Fernández said the plan was developed with local input and state participation and would connect habitat corridors for birds and other wildlife.

Committee proceedings included a recorded vote on a Huffman amendment (Huffman #1) and extensive debate. The ranking member's amendment that would have restored certain private landowner options and required a verification step was defeated in committee (recorded proceeding: amendment not adopted). The committee then adopted the chair’s substitute (Westerman 32A ANS) and ordered the bill reported. A recorded committee vote on the substitute and reporting showed the bill as amended was ordered reported to the House (recorded vote: yeas 23, nays 16).

Members debated the tradeoffs between protecting federal fiscal responsibilities and preserving voluntary market‑based conservation. Legislators from New Mexico and Texas emphasized the plan’s local development and the voluntary nature of easements; proponents emphasized fiscal stewardship of the federal estate.

The committee’s decision puts H.R. 839 on a path to the House floor, where additional debate and amendments may follow.","The committee adopted a substitute and ordered H.R. 839, a bill that prohibits implementation of the Mule Shoe National Wildlife Refuge land protection plan. Debate split between members who called the measure protection of private property and those who said it would block voluntary conservation and local planning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6159527,"Committee advances bill to extend Tahoe 10,000‑acre categorical exclusion nationwide; Democrats warn it weakens NEPA",3865,1533000,5398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767&start=1533&end=5398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767/thumbnail_1533000.jpg","/articles/6159527/Committee-advances-bill-to-extend-Tahoe-10000acre-categorical-exclusion-nationwide-Democrats-warn-it-weakens-NEPA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159527-d876c97939b3d27059c98149904e428e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773076744&Signature=dfON5jGCSr85Dk9uDx7Q4DR2Ua1fiqVTcEbYEGAGDBIk~Jo80lqFKx3qkS~EUEKpkMdQv27rm8iy5ZI78SZN1drRqYi9oh2lRNkHcBfs3EjM-p1unSeB7yryw8M575D2VLvieLoSNMBxXjhVRwcKd8FzRE7zQbLTJoCJNv0tx0iUuiuH61F73xStTfuOxEv0SK8pWnqrnz~26HodgBwAGwzqZqEHtiDRpOpwCL5QATW66Qt1z5tQ0l3P2T3dywefa6DuIHbEcsX6-TBpb-06U-TTE9QO9qOs-adqa0uRRjFWdtKtgbUFnkeZfbIo0Vb-loI5bD9Al3ebgcuFDkF8Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Natural Resources on July 22 adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered H.R. 179, a bill that would expand a categorical exclusion (CE) that currently applies in the Lake Tahoe Basin to certain forest management projects nationwide.

Representative Tom McClintock framed the bill as a way to speed up hazardous fuels reduction, noting the Lake Tahoe CE reduced project review time from years to months and increased treated acreage. McClintock said the Tahoe authority is a ‘‘gold standard’’ for fuels treatment and should be available more broadly.

Ranking Member Jared Huffman opposed the expansion, saying NEPA already provides CEs where appropriate and warning that a blanket 10,000‑acre CE ‘‘regardless of site‑specific risks’’ would eliminate opportunities for meaningful environmental review and public engagement. Huffman noted that approximately 85 percent of Forest Service projects already use categorical exclusions and said delays cited in hearings are often the result of underfunded agency staffing or incomplete proposals rather than NEPA itself.

The committee adopted the substitute as amended and ordered the bill reported. Later in the committee’s roll call record, the bill as amended was reported to the House (recorded vote: ayes 24, nays 15), per the committee transcript.

Supporters argued the authority will increase pace and scale of restoration and hazardous fuels removal; opponents said it would remove safeguards and public engagement from significant projects. The substitute includes language aimed at protecting certain ecosystem benefits and references consistency with categorical‑exclusion definitions used elsewhere in law per a ranking‑member amendment that sought to incorporate language from the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The bill moves to the House floor with the committee’s recommendation that it be favorably reported, subject to further amendment and floor action.","The committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered H.R. 179, which would extend a 10,000‑acre categorical exclusion used in the Lake Tahoe Basin to other federal lands, out of committee after debate over environmental review and public input.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6159532,"House Natural Resources Committee reports HR 178 after heated debate over suppression mandate",4238,2926000,7164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767&start=2926&end=7164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5454494-f50299314111633b8f637066f8d37767/thumbnail_2926000.jpg","/articles/6159532/House-Natural-Resources-Committee-reports-HR-178-after-heated-debate-over-suppression-mandate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159532-503ee5ada63b2a32219bdd6980dbad73/orig.mp4?Expires=1773076744&Signature=aQhwPqnC0s1vTAKBAN~UcDaQfUlqfKBrnTIN9xdCj0BcGnQmSZImhbN9v6JWaEXl-GvFxFYVwt4IaCpqVdjyxRRUa4nJn5aSHz3xcL6EzN1-esOX4bVjw9fWzpMccuu44NLSRhFOCf5v4ws4Br3zVBIJUtTBbqOUZ9XyfhVXTMoiogbWW9DXL1FXfVG22yc5hpX9oC-Yl0sPjKd4pcmZ7bKt4-G6d9QSZrRu-ddMg1MLlHOA6uB22C74wvhgw5PfpGphSU9gaYM97hlnEs~L5vrmE~EIwTB~vbrdvzfNuiqPR3EifEYjXw8v0a6R9oEeAyGpCP082hWqEwSkV2S1ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Natural Resources on July 22 adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered reported H.R. 178, the Put Out the Fire Act, a bill directing federal land managers to pursue aggressive initial attack on wildfires that threaten high‑risk areas.

The measure, introduced and led on the floor of the committee by Representative Tom McClintock, would require the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to prioritize rapid suppression in exceptionally hot, dry or volatile conditions and when the National Interagency Fire Center has declared a level 5 national preparedness status. McClintock said the bill ‘‘restores the 10 A.M. rule’’ and would ensure that small ignitions are extinguished before they can grow into catastrophic fires.

Supporters said the bill restores a longstanding firefighting principle that can prevent small fires from becoming disasters. Representative Pete Stauber and other proponents described recent incidents in Minnesota and Arizona in which rapid interagency response limited damage, and argued HR 178 codifies that approach for the most dangerous conditions.

Opponents, led by Ranking Member Jared Huffman, argued the bill is an overcorrection that would remove important tools from fire managers, including managed fire and prescribed burning, and could put firefighters at greater risk. Huffman cited the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission and the Forest Service testimony warning that strict, blanket suppression mandates can increase risk over time by allowing hazardous fuels to accumulate.

Committee debate produced several amendments. An amendment offered by Representative Gosar (Gosar 44/Crank 44), focused on prioritizing protection of federal facilities and utilities threatened by wildfire, was adopted. Representative Leger Fernandez offered an amendment to withhold the bill’s implementation until the Forest Service certified wildland firefighter staffing at or above 2024 levels; the committee rejected that amendment after a recorded vote. Ranking Member Huffman’s amendment to create a new prescribed‑fire account was also rejected. The substitute as amended was adopted and the committee ordered the bill reported to the House by voice vote.

The committee record shows extensive discussion of recent incidents cited by members — including the Dragon Bravo fire at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and the Hermits Peak–Calf Canyon prescribed‑burn failure — and members repeatedly urged further investigation or additional guardrails. Representative Leger Fernandez, who represents New Mexico, emphasized that she supported stronger guardrails for prescribed burns and sought a compensation mechanism for permittees who suffer livestock or structure losses when agency‑conducted prescribed burns exceed their boundaries; she later withdrew that standalone amendment after discussions with the bill sponsor.

The committee’s action sends H.R. 178 to the House floor with the committee’s recommendation that it be favorably reported. The measure now moves into the broader House process, where debate and further amendment are possible.

Ending on procedure: the committee adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as amended and ordered H.R. 178 reported to the House; the committee recorded no roll call tally for the final passage in the hearing transcript (voice vote reported).","The House Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute and ordered HR 178, the \"Put Out the Fire Act,\" reported to the House after members debated whether an aggressive initial suppression mandate would save communities or undermine managed-fire tools and firefighter safety.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee clears 11 bipartisan bills by unanimous consent including land transfers, research, fee‑free park day

Committee sides with local landowners in move to block implementation of Mule Shoe Refuge expansion plan

Committee advances bill to extend Tahoe 10,000‑acre categorical exclusion nationwide; Democrats warn it weakens NEPA

House Natural Resources Committee reports HR 178 after heated debate over suppression mandate