Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9080
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4088)
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation creates a federal contracting preference for public buildings constructed with innovative wood products, such as mass timber, sourced from U.S. facilities and forests. It aims to prioritize domestic materials in federal construction projects while promoting certain forest management practices.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Clarifies terms including "innovative wood product," "mass timber," "public building" (explicitly including military installations), "innovative wood product facility," and "restoration practices" for forest management.
- Contracting Preference: Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator and the Secretary of Defense to give priority to public building projects that maximize use of innovative wood products procured from U.S.-located facilities and harvested from U.S. forestlands using responsible sources (independently certified or compliant with best management practices).
- Sourcing Priorities: Directs preference for products from restoration practices, wildfire protection efforts, or underserved forest owners (including Tribally owned and small family forests), with required documentation for verification.
- Lifecycle Assessment: Mandates the GSA Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to conduct a cradle-to-gate whole-building lifecycle assessment of global warming potential for such buildings within 180 days of enactment, followed by a public report to Congress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces new contracting requirements for GSA and the Department of Defense under existing authorities for public buildings (40 U.S.C. § 3301) and military installations (10 U.S.C. § 2801). It does not amend prior statutes but establishes a preference system tied to domestic sourcing and specific forest practices, expanding on references in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: GSA and the Department of Defense must adjust procurement processes to evaluate and prioritize mass timber options, potentially affecting contract awards for construction, alteration, acquisition, or leasing.
- Citizens and Economy: May increase demand for U.S.-produced wood products, supporting domestic manufacturers, forest owners, and related supply chains.
- International Relations: Limits consideration to U.S.-sourced materials, which could reduce reliance on imported wood products in federal projects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (GSA and Department of Defense) responsible for building projects.
- Domestic wood product manufacturers and facilities.
- U.S. forest landowners, including Tribal nations and small family operations.
- Congress, through required reporting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill operates within Congress's authority to regulate federal contracting and appropriations. It may raise questions about consistency with existing "Buy America" policies or trade obligations, though it focuses on domestic preferences without explicit international restrictions. The measure was introduced with bipartisan support.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4088)
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (6 pages)