Save Our Sequoias Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fong
Passed House
Summary
Protect and restore giant sequoia groves by creating coordinated science, emergency response, and reforestation tools across federal and adjacent lands. This bill would set up a public assessment and dashboard, codify a multiagency coalition, and authorize targeted emergency projects and grants to speed fuels work and planting.
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- Tribes and state governments: The Secretary would have 90 days to enter or expand a shared stewardship agreement after a request by California's Governor or the Tule River Indian Tribe. A new emergency protection fund must direct at least 15 percent of donations to Tribal management and conservation.
- Federal land managers and parks: The bill would codify a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition and require an initial health and resiliency Assessment with annual updates and a public dashboard. It would authorize seven years of emergency Protection Projects and require hazardous fuels be reduced in at least three groves each year.
- Local communities, nurseries, and workforce: A competitive grant program would fund nonprofit, Tribal, local, academic, and private partners to expand nursery capacity, create markets for removed fuels, and support projects listed in a 10-year reforestation timeline.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster emergency projects to protect sequoias
The bill would declare a 7-year emergency on covered public and National Forest lands with giant sequoias. Agencies would run Protection Projects like thinning, prescribed fire, hazard tree removal, and insect or disease control, consistent with land plans and laws. They would reduce hazardous fuels in at least three groves each year. Projects that meet size limits would use a NEPA categorical exclusion: up to 2,000 acres inside groves and 3,000 acres on adjacent or fuel-break lands, with landowner consent on non-federal lands. The Secretary would post each project online, and extraordinary-circumstances checks would still apply. Giant Sequoia Strike Teams of up to 10 members would help with environmental reviews, site prep, and on-the-ground work.
Grants and donations for sequoia projects
The bill would create or expand grants for nonprofits, Tribes, local governments, schools, and private groups to improve sequoia health. Top priority would go to projects with the greatest impact; secondary priority to small businesses and Tribal entities, especially in rural areas, and to efforts that create or support rural jobs. Grant funds could build markets for biomass and biochar, cut fuel removal and transport costs, expand storage or processing sites, grow nursery capacity, and support Tribal management and Tribal historic preservation officers. It would also set up a Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund run by three national foundations to accept donations for approved projects. At least 15% of Fund money would support Tribal management and conservation, with annual public reports, and the Fund would end 7 years after enactment.
More park contracts for local businesses
The bill would expand stewardship contracting to certain BLM lands and to Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. It would add promoting giant sequoia health and resiliency as an explicit goal. Projects in those parks would follow National Park Service laws and rules.
Science plan and pest tracking for groves
Within 6 months after enactment, the Coalition would deliver a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment that is not subject to NEPA. Within 6 months, the Secretary would set a Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy that gives highest priority to groves with stand-replacing loss and sets a 10-year timeline after the stewardship agreement to clear the backlog. The Strategy would address barriers like funding, nursery and seedling supply, workforce gaps, and site preparation, and protect genetic diversity. Federal forest planning would include these reforestation and rehabilitation activities. Within 1 year, the Secretary would launch an insect monitoring strategy for high-risk groves and, within 2 years, report results and recommendations to Congress.
Stronger sequoia coordination across agencies and Tribes
The bill would set up a Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition made of listed federal, state, Tribal, academic, and local partners. It would publish a public Assessment, a searchable project dashboard, permitting timelines, projected costs, and agency status. The Coalition would hold at least one public meeting each year, with notices in English and main local languages. Interior staff would provide administrative and technical support. The Secretary would enter a shared stewardship agreement within 90 days of a request from California’s Governor or the Tule River Indian Tribe; if no request comes within 90 days after enactment, the Secretary would enter the agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Governor or Tribe could join later.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fong
CA • R
Cosponsors
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Westerman
AR • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Webster (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Panetta
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Newhouse
WA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Valadao
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
LaMalfa
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Correa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Kim
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Harder (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Obernolte
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Golden (ME)
ME • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
McClintock
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Calvert
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Issa
CA • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Bentz
OR • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Moore (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Lee (NV)
NV • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Fleischmann
TN • R
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Gray
CA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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