Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a Forest Service competitive grant program to fund emergency mountain pine beetle response projects on National Forest System lands. It would prioritize work that protects municipal water supplies, reduces wildfire risk to communities in the wildland-urban interface, and restores areas with heavy beetle-caused tree mortality or poor natural regeneration.
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- Families and nearby communities: Grants would fund projects that protect municipal water supplies and critical infrastructure and lower wildfire risk where homes meet forests.
- Tribal governments and local sponsors: States, local governments, Indian Tribes, water districts, and public utilities can apply to lead eligible projects.
- Utilities and infrastructure owners: Electric and water utilities can use grants to address hazard trees and watershed threats that threaten service and safety.
- Forest managers and restoration crews: Eligible projects include removing and processing beetle-killed trees, thinning and fuels reduction, reforestation, ecological restoration, and watershed stabilization.
- Grants and timing: The Chief of the Forest Service would run the program. Grant funds may be paid during the grant period and must be disbursed within 30 days after the recipient notifies the agency that the project is complete.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to fight mountain pine beetles
This bill would create a competitive Mountain Pine Beetle Response Program run by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Chief of the Forest Service. State and local governments, Indian Tribes, water management or conservation districts, special districts, public water/wastewater/stormwater utilities, and electric or transmission utilities would be eligible to apply. Grants would fund emergency projects on National Forest System lands, such as removing and processing beetle-killed trees, forest thinning and fuels reduction, reforestation and ecological restoration, and watershed protection and stabilization (for example, slope, sediment, runoff, flood, and erosion control). The Secretary would give priority to projects that protect municipal water and critical infrastructure, reduce wildfire risk near communities, target areas with high beetle-caused tree mortality or low natural regeneration, or align with State forest action plans or watershed strategies. The Secretary could pay grant funds any time during the grant period and would have to disburse all funds no later than 30 days after receiving written notice the project is complete.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov