North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
Introduced
Summary
Emergency contracting powers for fast wildfire recovery. This bill would let the National Park Service and Forest Service speed up hiring and repairs inside parts of Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest damaged by the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire.
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- Families and local communities: Would accelerate clearing, hazard tree removal, erosion control, reseeding, and rebuilding of trails, campgrounds, roads, and other structures to restore access and local recreation.
- Tribal governments and Tribal businesses: Requires agencies to invite applicable Indian Tribes into planning and reconstruction and prioritizes contracts with Tribal and local businesses to the maximum extent practicable.
- Contractors and concessioners: Authorizes emergency procurement flexibilities such as increased micro-purchase thresholds and simplified acquisition thresholds and allows noncompetitive contracts with existing authorized concessioners for coordinated recovery.
- Oversight and timeline: Agencies must report every 180 days on spending, contractors, cost overruns, and progress and complete a joint cost study. The authority ends after five years or when recovery is complete and can be extended one year if a new fire affects recovery.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster recovery contracting for local businesses
If enacted, this would let the Park Service and Forest Service use emergency federal contracting rules to speed recovery work in the covered area. The authority would allow higher micro-purchase and simplified purchase limits and other Part 18 flexibilities for four types of services: forest restoration, rebuilding/design of affected structures, grounds and structure improvements, and other recovery work for local economic and ecological health. It would allow noncompetitive contracts with existing park or forest concessioners working in the covered area. The authority would start on enactment and end the earlier of five years after enactment or when recovery is complete.
Defines wildfire recovery area and work
If enacted, this would define the 'covered area' as parts of Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire. It would record the fires' dates: Dragon Bravo (began July 4, 2025; contained September 29, 2025) and White Sage (began July 9, 2025; contained September 12, 2025). It would also list what recovery work counts, such as hazard tree removal, erosion control, slope stabilization, tree regeneration, wildlife rehabilitation, and reseeding with native seeds, and name which Secretary is responsible for each area.
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.
View on Congress.gov