H.R.3637 - Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3637, the Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025, amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and the National Forest Management Act. It focuses on wildfire hazard fuel removal through third-party contracts and adjusts the threshold for advertised timber sales. The bill aims to streamline processes and increase local involvement in forest management.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to more third-party involvement in forest management projects, particularly for wildfire hazard fuel removal. It also adjusts the threshold for advertised timber sales to account for inflation. This could result in more efficient project implementation and greater local control over forest restoration efforts.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Efficiency: Streamlining the contracting process for wildfire hazard fuel removal.
- Local Involvement: Encouraging local entities to propose and participate in restoration projects.
- Inflation Adjustment: Updating timber sale thresholds to reflect current economic conditions.
- Salvage Requirements: Requiring a percentage of salvage in vegetation removal projects, potentially reducing waste.
- Transparency: Public notification of opportunities and responses to project proposals.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Conflicts: Conflicting proposals may arise, requiring the Chief and Director to make discretionary decisions.
- Environmental Review Delays: Environmental reviews could still cause delays, despite the bill's intent to expedite processes.
- Limited Scope: Restrictions on project locations (e.g., wilderness areas) may limit the bill's overall impact.
- Discretionary Power: Broad discretion given to the Chief and Director could lead to inconsistent application.
- Reporting Burden: The Comptroller General's report adds an administrative burden.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill primarily deals with land management and resource allocation, which falls under the enumerated powers of Congress, particularly the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2), granting Congress the power to dispose of and regulate territory or other property belonging to the United States. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).