Sponsors (2)
The bill directs federal grants to remove beetle-killed trees and fund fuels reduction and restoration—reducing wildfire and water risks and providing funding to tribes and local sponsors—but increases federal spending and may favor state-aligned or utility-led projects and cause short-term ecological tradeoffs that could disadvantage small communities and some restoration priorities.
Homeowners and communities in the wildland-urban interface experience reduced wildfire risk because federal grants fund thinning and fuels-reduction projects.
Communities and municipal water suppliers see improved protection for water supplies and infrastructure as grants fund removal of beetle-killed trees that increase erosion and contamination risk.
Tribes, utilities, and local sponsors gain new federal funding opportunities to address emergency outbreaks and forest health issues on National Forest System lands.
Taxpayers may face increased federal spending because the bill authorizes grant funding without specifying offsets or authorization limits.
Smaller communities and locally urgent projects could be disadvantaged because project selection prioritizes alignment with State plans, which some jurisdictions lack.
Utility and infrastructure sponsors may receive a funding advantage that could crowd out purely ecological restoration projects and priorities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a competitive Forest Service grant program to fund emergency mountain pine beetle response projects on National Forest System lands.
Creates a competitive grant program at the Forest Service to fund emergency response projects on National Forest System lands for areas affected by mountain pine beetle mortality. Grants support tree removal, fuels reduction, reforestation, watershed protections, and related restoration activities, with priority for projects protecting municipal water supplies, critical infrastructure, or reducing wildfire risk near communities. The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the Forest Service, runs the program, accepts competitive applications, and disburses grant funds from award until 30 days after project completion. Definitions incorporate existing federal statutory terms including ‘‘Indian Tribe,’’ National Forest System lands, and the wildland-urban interface.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Program under which the Secretary may issue competitive grants for use carrying out emergency mountain pine beetle response projects on National Forest Service lands, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 30, 2026 by Brittany Pettersen · Last progress July 30, 2026