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119-s-3785119th CongressWALLET

North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

In Committee

Summary

Emergency contracting flexibilities to speed recovery of Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest after the 2025 Dragon Bravo and White Sage wildfires. The bill would let the Park Service and Forest Service use faster buying rules, raise small-purchase limits, and temporarily allow coordinated noncompetitive deals while prioritizing Tribal and local businesses.

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  • Tribes and local businesses would be invited into planning and reconstruction and given contracting priority to help rebuild damaged trails, facilities, and local services.
  • Park and Forest officials would gain emergency authorities under Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 18, including higher micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds and limited noncompetitive contracts with existing concessioners for four categories of recovery services.
  • Timing and oversight would be tight. The authority would last up to 5 years or until recovery is complete, allow a 1-year extension if a new fire disrupts recovery with congressional approval, require reports every 180 days on costs and contractor issues, and mandate a joint cost study for Congress.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster contracting for fire recovery

If enacted, the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture would be able to use emergency buying rules under FAR part 18 for recovery work inside the covered area. This would let the agency raise micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds and use other subpart 18.2 authorities to hire faster for forest restoration, rebuilding and design of structures, grounds improvements, and other recovery work. The Secretary could sign limited noncompetitive contracts with existing park or forest concessioners and would be asked to invite Tribes and, to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize Tribal and local businesses for reconstruction activities. The authority would end the earlier of 5 years after enactment or when the Secretary says recovery is complete; the Secretary could ask Congress for a one-year extension if a new wildfire inside the covered area disrupts recovery. The Secretary would have to report every 180 days on expenditures, contractors, cost overruns, waste or fraud, and project timing while using the authority.

Which lands count for fire recovery

If enacted, the bill would define the "covered area" as parts of Grand Canyon National Park or Kaibab National Forest impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire or the White Sage Fire. The Dragon Bravo Fire began July 4, 2025 and was contained September 29, 2025. The White Sage Fire began July 9, 2025 and was contained September 12, 2025. The bill would also list eligible restoration work: slash and hazard tree removal, erosion control, slope stabilization, tree regeneration, wildlife rehabilitation, and reseeding with native seeds.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

AZ • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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