Legis Daily

Protect the West Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1459| House 
| Updated: 3/20/2025
Jason Crow

Jason Crow

Democratic Representative

Colorado

Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee, Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes an Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund within the Treasury, appropriating a total of $60 billion to remain available until expended. This significant funding is allocated to support two primary initiatives: a restoration and resilience grant program and a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program . The overarching purpose of the Fund is to provide resources for projects that measurably improve forest conditions, rangeland and native grassland health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat. The grant program , administered by the Secretary of Agriculture with guidance from a newly established Restoration Fund Advisory Council , aims to increase capacity for planning, coordinating, and monitoring restoration projects on non-Federal land, and to support collaboration on Federal land. It also funds projects on non-Federal land focused on restoration, wildfire-resistive construction, and expanding equitable outdoor access. Grants are available as capacity grants or implementation grants, with priority given to projects that create jobs, involve collaborative processes, address shared priorities, utilize watershed data analytics, and benefit lower-capacity or underserved communities. The Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program focuses on restoring and improving the ecological integrity of ecosystems across the United States, creating outdoor jobs, enhancing rangeland resilience against invasive species, and reducing uncharacteristic wildfires. The Secretary will designate partnership areas based on high wildfire potential, critical wildlife habitat, or location within the wildland-urban interface . Projects under this program prioritize reintroducing low-intensity fire, reducing hazardous fuels, retaining old and large trees, improving habitat and water quality, and promoting community involvement in wildfire risk mitigation, while explicitly excluding wilderness areas, permanent road construction, and the removal of old growth stands. To ensure effective oversight, the bill establishes a Restoration Fund Advisory Council composed of the Secretary, representatives from resource-dependent industries, experts in restoration and resilience, conservation organizations, and State, local, and Tribal governments. This Council provides recommendations on fund disbursement, landscape priority-setting, and project evaluation. The bill also mandates annual reports from the Secretary and the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture on the use and any misuse of the Fund, while promoting interagency flexibility, leveraging of existing authorities, and the use of pay-for-performance contracts to achieve project outcomes.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1236
Protect the West Act of 2023
Feb 20, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-670
Introduced in Senate
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 21, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
Mar 20, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1236
    Protect the West Act of 2023


  • February 20, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-670
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 21, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.


  • March 20, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-670: Protect the West Act of 2025

Protect the West Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-1459| House 
| Updated: 3/20/2025
The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes an Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund within the Treasury, appropriating a total of $60 billion to remain available until expended. This significant funding is allocated to support two primary initiatives: a restoration and resilience grant program and a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program . The overarching purpose of the Fund is to provide resources for projects that measurably improve forest conditions, rangeland and native grassland health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat. The grant program , administered by the Secretary of Agriculture with guidance from a newly established Restoration Fund Advisory Council , aims to increase capacity for planning, coordinating, and monitoring restoration projects on non-Federal land, and to support collaboration on Federal land. It also funds projects on non-Federal land focused on restoration, wildfire-resistive construction, and expanding equitable outdoor access. Grants are available as capacity grants or implementation grants, with priority given to projects that create jobs, involve collaborative processes, address shared priorities, utilize watershed data analytics, and benefit lower-capacity or underserved communities. The Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program focuses on restoring and improving the ecological integrity of ecosystems across the United States, creating outdoor jobs, enhancing rangeland resilience against invasive species, and reducing uncharacteristic wildfires. The Secretary will designate partnership areas based on high wildfire potential, critical wildlife habitat, or location within the wildland-urban interface . Projects under this program prioritize reintroducing low-intensity fire, reducing hazardous fuels, retaining old and large trees, improving habitat and water quality, and promoting community involvement in wildfire risk mitigation, while explicitly excluding wilderness areas, permanent road construction, and the removal of old growth stands. To ensure effective oversight, the bill establishes a Restoration Fund Advisory Council composed of the Secretary, representatives from resource-dependent industries, experts in restoration and resilience, conservation organizations, and State, local, and Tribal governments. This Council provides recommendations on fund disbursement, landscape priority-setting, and project evaluation. The bill also mandates annual reports from the Secretary and the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture on the use and any misuse of the Fund, while promoting interagency flexibility, leveraging of existing authorities, and the use of pay-for-performance contracts to achieve project outcomes.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-1236
Protect the West Act of 2023
Feb 20, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-670
Introduced in Senate
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 21, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
Mar 20, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-1236
    Protect the West Act of 2023


  • February 20, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-670
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • February 21, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.


  • March 20, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Jason Crow

Jason Crow

Democratic Representative

Colorado

Agriculture Committee, Natural Resources Committee, Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 119-670: Protect the West Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted