To prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any research and development facility of the Forest Service.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9464
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T22:19:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to prevent the closure of any research and development facilities operated by the Forest Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ensuring these sites remain open unless Congress passes a new law specifically allowing closure.
Key Provisions
- The bill prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any Forest Service research and development facility.
- This restriction applies even if the closure is part of a broader reorganization plan.
- The only exception is if a future Act of Congress, passed after this bill becomes law, explicitly authorizes the closure.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Currently, the Secretary of Agriculture has authority to manage and reorganize Forest Service operations, including potential facility closures.
- This bill introduces a new legal barrier, requiring explicit Congressional approval for any such closures rather than allowing executive discretion.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: It limits the Department of Agriculture's flexibility to restructure or consolidate Forest Service research operations.
- On citizens: It may help maintain ongoing forest-related research programs that benefit public lands management, environmental studies, and related industries.
- On international relations: No direct effects are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Forest Service and its research staff.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Members of Congress, who gain additional oversight authority.
- Communities, researchers, and industries that rely on Forest Service research facilities for data and studies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill reinforces Congressional control over executive branch actions by limiting the Secretary's administrative powers in this area.
- It highlights separation of powers principles, as it shifts decision-making on facility closures from agency discretion to legislative approval.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To prohibit the Secretary of Agriculture from closing any research and development facility of the Forest Service. — issued 2026-06-25 — PDF (2 pages)