TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 25, 2004

HR 3846 Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004

BRIEF

   The bill would establish procedures through which the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior could enter into contracts or agreements with Indian tribes to carry out land management activities on federal lands adjacent to the tribal forests or rangelands.

   The purpose would be to restore lands that pose a risk of fire, disease, or other threat to tribal lands. According to Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV) “Last summer, reservations were invaded by catastrophic fires from adjacent Federal lands. In southern California, 11 reservations were burned, 2 completely, and a number of lives were tragically lost.

Sponsor: Representative Richard W. Pombo (R-CA)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote. Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent.

Cost to the taxpayer: The bill would change the process of selecting projects between the tribes and the Federal government. No extra spending is anticipated.##