Save Our Sequoias Act

Bill Number: H.R. 2709
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Environmental Protection
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-03-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Last Updated: 2026-06-16T13:39:38Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Save Our Sequoias Act aims to protect and enhance the health and resilience of giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) against threats like high-severity wildfires, insects (such as beetles), and drought. It promotes coordinated management across federal, state, tribal, and local lands in California, focusing on assessment, emergency actions, reforestation, and collaborative efforts to prevent tree loss and support recovery.

Key Provisions

The Act establishes several mechanisms to address giant sequoia threats:

Definitions (Section 2): Clarifies terms like "giant sequoia," "reforestation" (renewing tree cover through natural or planted methods), "rehabilitation" (repairing fire-damaged lands within five years), and "covered lands" (specific national forests, monuments, parks, and other public areas in California).

Shared Stewardship Agreement (Section 3): Requires the Secretary of the Interior to enter into or expand an agreement within 90 days of a request from California's Governor or the Tule River Indian Tribe, involving the Secretary of Agriculture, to jointly manage giant sequoias. If no request is made, the federal secretaries proceed alone, with options for later state or tribal inclusion.

Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition (Section 4): Codifies an existing coalition of federal agencies (e.g., National Park Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management), the Tule River Indian Tribe, California state entities, University of California Berkeley, and Tulare County. Duties include producing assessments, recommending policies, facilitating cross-boundary projects, sharing information (including best available science), and developing public education on threats and protections. The coalition receives federal administrative support and must hold at least one public meeting annually, with limited exceptions for sensitive topics.

Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment (Section 5): Mandates an initial assessment within six months of enactment, using best available science (including peer-reviewed research, tribal traditional ecological knowledge, and data from various sources). It identifies affected or at-risk groves, analyzes resilience to threats, reviews past management impacts, and recommends improvements in coordination and research. Annual updates track progress on projects and require explanations for shortfalls (e.g., failing to treat fuels in at least three groves yearly). A public website/dashboard must track assessments, project statuses, environmental reviews, costs, and public engagement in multiple languages. The assessment integrates into broader state and federal wildfire plans and is exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, a law requiring environmental impact reviews).

Giant Sequoia Emergency Response (Section 6): Declares a seven-year emergency on covered lands to enable "Protection Projects" (e.g., fuel reduction via thinning or burning, tree removal for hazards or overcrowding, insect/disease control). These projects follow streamlined procedures under existing regulations, with a new categorical exclusion from full NEPA reviews for projects up to 2,000 acres in groves or 3,000 acres adjacent (extraordinary circumstances, like unique ecological risks, still apply). Agencies must treat fuels in at least three groves annually, post notices online, and combine with other tools like good neighbor agreements. Tribal projects face no added regulations.

Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy (Section 7): Requires a strategy within six months, developed with the coalition, prioritizing groves needing tree renewal or repair. It addresses barriers (e.g., funding, seedling shortages, workforce issues), public-private partnerships, a 10-year reforestation backlog timeline, and genetic diversity. The strategy may integrate into the assessment.

Giant Sequoia Strike Teams (Section 8): Each Secretary concerned (Interior and Agriculture) establishes a team of up to 10 members (federal employees, contractors, volunteers from nonprofits, governments, or academia) to expedite reviews (under NEPA, historic preservation, and endangered species laws), site preparation, and implementation of protection and reforestation activities.

Giant Sequoia Collaborative Restoration Grants (Section 9): Creates a grant program for nonprofits, tribes, local governments, academics, or private entities to support sequoia health, prioritizing high-impact projects, small/rural businesses, tribes, and job creation. Funds can develop markets for removed fuels (e.g., biomass), reduce transport costs, build processing facilities, expand nurseries, or aid tribal conservation (including historic preservation).

Giant Sequoia Insect Monitoring and Technology (Section 10): Requires a monitoring strategy within one year for high-risk groves, plus public-private partnerships for technologies like remote sensing. A report due in two years covers effectiveness, research gaps, and resiliency improvements.

Stewardship Contracting for Giant Sequoias (Section 11): Expands existing stewardship contracting (where timber sale revenues fund restoration) to National Park Service lands in specified parks, adding giant sequoia health as a priority. Projects in parks follow park-specific laws.

Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund (Section 12): Establishes a seven-year philanthropic program via the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America's Public Lands. A dedicated fund accepts donations for management, conservation, and reforestation, with at least 15% for tribal efforts. Annual reports detail fund status and projects; authority expires after seven years.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to extend stewardship contracting to National Park Service lands in Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks, and adds giant sequoia resiliency as a contracting purpose.
Modifies the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to prioritize reforestation under this Act in national forest plans.
Adds a new section to title 54 U.S. Code (National Park Service Organic Act) for the emergency protection program and fund.
Introduces a seven-year emergency declaration and NEPA categorical exclusions for specific protection and reforestation activities, streamlining approvals while maintaining safeguards like extraordinary circumstances reviews.
Exempts the initial assessment from NEPA requirements.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Streamlines operations for the Departments of the Interior (National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management) and Agriculture (Forest Service) by reducing review times for urgent projects, potentially lowering costs through partnerships and grants. Requires annual fuel treatments and reporting, increasing accountability but adding workload for monitoring and coalition support.
Citizens: Enhances protection of iconic public lands, reducing wildfire risks to communities near sequoia groves and promoting ecotourism/education. Grants may create rural jobs in restoration, fuel processing, and nurseries. Public dashboard improves transparency on projects and threats.
International Relations: No direct impacts; the Act is domestic, focused on U.S. lands in California.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: National Park Service (managing parks like Sequoia and Yosemite), Forest Service (national forests and monument), Bureau of Land Management (Case Mountain area).
Tribal Governments: Tule River Indian Tribe, with dedicated funding, input via traditional knowledge, and no added regulations on joint projects.
State and Local Entities: California (state parks and forests), Tulare County, involved in coalition and agreements.
Other Groups: University of California Berkeley (research), nonprofits, private businesses (grants for markets/infrastructure), and the public (via education and access to information).
Philanthropic Organizations: National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America's Public Lands, tasked with fundraising and program implementation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Provides categorical exclusions from NEPA for targeted projects, accelerating emergency responses while preserving core environmental protections (e.g., endangered species consultations remain). Integrates tribal traditional ecological knowledge, aligning with federal trust responsibilities to tribes under treaties and laws like the National Historic Preservation Act. The seven-year emergency sunset clause limits long-term exemptions.
Constitutional: Supports property clause authority (Congress's power over federal lands) by enabling efficient management of public resources. No apparent conflicts with due process or equal protection, as public notice and multilingual engagement ensure accessibility.
Political: Encourages multipartisan collaboration across jurisdictions, potentially setting a model for cross-boundary conservation amid climate challenges. Prioritizes tribal and rural involvement, addressing equity in environmental policy, but requires congressional oversight via reports to committees.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Cosponsors (29)

Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13]

Recent Actions

2026-03-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2026-03-16: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-03-16: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2503-2507)
2026-03-16: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2503-2507)
2026-03-16: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2709.
2026-03-16: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2503-2509)
2026-03-16: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2026-03-12: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 466.
2026-03-12: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
2026-03-12: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
2026-03-12: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-542, Part I.
2026-03-12: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-542, Part I.
2026-03-05: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
2026-03-05: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-04-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Bill Versions

Save Our Sequoias Act — issued 2026-03-16 — PDF (36 pages)
Save Our Sequoias Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (39 pages)
Save Our Sequoias Act — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (35 pages)
Save Our Sequoias Act — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (36 pages)