Sponsors (5)
The bill directs very large federal investment and new flexible funding tools to speed and scale restoration and wildfire‑resilience projects—benefiting communities, workers, and public lands—but does so at substantial taxpayer cost and with tradeoffs in administrative priorities, oversight, environmental safeguards, and equitable access to funds.
State, local, Tribal governments, nonprofits, and rural communities gain access to a large, dedicated pool of federal funding (including up to $20B in grants and $40B for a national partnership) to support restoration, resilience, and recovery projects.
Homeowners and communities in fire-prone and rural areas will see more on-the-ground restoration, fuel reduction, and home‑zone resilience projects that reduce wildfire risk and protect lives and property.
State, local, Tribal governments and nonprofits can get predictable, flexible funding tools (pay‑for‑performance, acceptance of non‑Federal contributions without further appropriation) to speed project starts and tie payments to verified outcomes.
Taxpayers and the federal budget face a large upfront cost (roughly $60B) that could increase the deficit or crowd out other priorities.
A substantial share of funds is reserved for Federal‑land projects and program administration (including staffing), which could reduce money available for state, local, Tribal, and private on‑the‑ground projects.
Accepting non‑Federal contributions without further appropriation and broad new authorities may reduce congressional control over spending priorities and complicate oversight.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates a $60B fund to finance grants and partnership projects for wildfire risk reduction, ecosystem and watershed restoration, and resilience on Federal and non‑Federal lands.
Introduced February 20, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress February 20, 2025
Creates a $60 billion Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to finance two new programs: a Restoration and Resilience Grant Program for non‑Federal and collaborative work, and a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program to carry out large restoration projects on Federal and non‑Federal lands. The Secretary of Agriculture administers the Fund, guided by a newly created Restoration Fund Advisory Council, and must prioritize projects that reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems and watersheds, support jobs and local economies, and increase community resilience. The bill sets eligibility and priority criteria, allows pay‑for‑performance contracting, authorizes waivers of matching requirements for low‑capacity or underserved applicants, and prohibits work in wilderness, inventoried roadless areas, and removal of defined old growth. It requires reporting by the USDA Inspector General and an annual report developed with the Council, directs an initial congressional report on recent Federal forestry funding, and appropriates $20 billion for grants and $40 billion for the Partnership Program (at least $20 billion of which must be used on Federal land).