US Congress House Bill 7978 (Prior Session Legislation)

---

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-3)
Status: Introduced on August 7 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-09-24 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Addresses wildfire preparedness and response. Among other things, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select three forest landscapes on which to conduct projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, restore ecological health, or adapt to the increased risk of wildfire due to climate change. USDA and the Department of the Interior shall expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment in areas at risk of wildfire, expedite related permitting, expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response, and establish a center to train individuals in methods to mitigate wildfire risk. The bill excludes certain forest management activities from environmental review requirements. Interior may make a determination that an emergency situation exists regarding National Forest System land and authorize specified emergency actions. Such a determination and such actions are not subject to administrative review. Interior shall provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees to support biomass conversion facilities. The bill allows the export of unprocessed timber of dead and dying trees from federal land in California. Interior shall establish a grant program to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development in the forest sector, raise public awareness about the forest sector, and connect individuals to careers in the forest sector. The Department of Energy shall provide support to improve the energy resilience, power needs, and energy efficiency of critical facilities.

Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020

Rep. Jimmy Panetta [D-CA]	Rep. Doug LaMalfa [R-CA]	Rep. Jim Costa [D-CA]	Rep. Josh Harder [D-CA]
Rep. John Garamendi [D-CA]	Rep. TJ Cox [D-CA]	Rep. Salud Carbajal [D-CA]	Rep. Greg Gianforte [R-MT]
Rep. Paul Cook [R-CA]	Rep. Maxine Waters [D-CA]	Rep. Mike Thompson [D-CA]	Rep. Gil Cisneros [D-CA]
Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA]	Rep. Juan Vargas [D-CA]	Rep. Katie Porter [D-CA]

Date	Chamber	Action
2020-09-24	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
2020-09-24	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
2020-08-10	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs, 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.
2020-08-07	House	Introduced in House

SB4431 (Same As) 2020-09-16 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7978/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr7978/BILLS-116hr7978ih.pdf