House subcommittee hears bipartisan bill to speed post‑disaster reforestation
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Summary
Witnesses told the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands that H.R. 528 would help federal, state and local partners address millions of acres needing reforestation after wildfire and other unplanned disturbances, but the Forest Service said the bill does not add new authorities.
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands heard testimony May 1 on H.R. 528, the Post Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill the panel’s sponsors say would accelerate replanting and restoration on federal lands after severe, unplanned disturbances.
The bill matters, supporters said, because the Forest Service has identified millions of acres that are unlikely to regenerate naturally after wildfire and other disasters. "USDA strongly supports addressing post disaster reforestation and restoration needs. The Forest Service has identified 3 and a half million acres of reforestation needs on National Forest System lands," said Ellen Schulzabarger, Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System, in testimony for the U.S. Forest Service.
Schulzabarger told the subcommittee the Forest Service backs the bill’s intent but warned it "does not give the Forest Service any additional authorities for implementing reforestation" and the agency wants to avoid duplicative processes with existing law.
State foresters and local officials described how long recovery can take and why the bill’s emphasis on partnership and contracting matters. Matthew McCombs, director of the Colorado State Forest Service, said, "This bill directly addresses those challenges," and called post‑fire reforestation "not just a conservation issue, it's a community resilience issue." McCombs cited impacts to drinking water, flood risk from burn scars and economic harm when burned watersheds are not promptly stabilized.
Committee members pressed agency witnesses on capacity and timelines. Schulzabarger told members the Forest Service has increased reforestation actions in recent years but that site preparation, workforce capacity and the need for larger-scale prep areas can slow projects. She also said the Forest Service had planted roughly 917,000 acres between 2020 and 2024 and expects to plan another million acres in the coming years.
Ranking Member Neguse expressed concern about recent personnel moves and funding decisions at federal land agencies and linked those issues to on‑the‑ground capacity for wildfire response and post‑fire recovery. Schulzabarger said she would provide members with specific staffing information requested.
The hearing record will remain open for responses to member questions. No committee vote or formal action on H.R. 528 was recorded at this hearing.
Funding, contracting and workforce development were recurring themes: witnesses said faster contracts and clearer project lists would help restore burned landscapes, protect water supplies and create local jobs tied to nursery and reforestation work.
Members and witnesses also discussed other laws and programs referenced in testimony, including the Replant Act (mentioned in witness testimony as an existing authority), and broader federal statutes discussed during opening remarks, such as NEPA, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, which some members said are being treated differently by the current administration.
The subcommittee will hold the hearing record open for follow‑up information requested from witnesses.
