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HR 5279 107th Congress House

Act to Save America's Forests

Official title: To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and related laws to strengthen the protection of native biodiversity and ban clearcu… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and related laws to strengthen the protection of native biodiversity and ban clearcutting on Federal lands, to designate certain Federal lands as Ancient Forests, Roadless Areas, Watershed Protection Areas, and Special Areas where logging and other intrusive activities are prohibited, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 26, 2002 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 13, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Aug 13, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
Aug 13, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Aug 13, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
Jul 26, 2002
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, 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.
Jul 26, 2002
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 13, 2002

Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Act to Save America's Forests - States that the purposes of this Act are to protect native biodiversity and ecosystems on Federal land from losses caused by: (1) clearcutting and other forms of even-age logging operations; and (2) logging in ancient forests, roadless areas, watershed protection areas, and special areas.

Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to revise eligibility criteria for members of the land and resource management scientific committee. Revises the committee termination date to ten years after enactment of this Act.

Provides for conservation and restoration of native biodiversity in forested areas.

Prohibits clearcutting or other even-age logging operations on any stand or watershed on certain Federal land, National Forest System land, and National Wildlife Refuge System land. Provides for: (1) Federal enforcement; and (1) a private right of action.

Describes special areas as Federal forest land parcels possessing outstanding biological, scenic, recreational, or cultural values which may not meet the definitions of ancient forests, roadless areas, or watershed protection areas.

Designates specified special areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in the following States: (1) Alabama; (2) Alaska; (3) Arizona; (4) Arkansas; (5) California; (6) Colorado; (7) Georgia; (8) Idaho; (9) Illinois; (10) Michigan; (11) Minnesota; (12) Missouri; (13) Montana; (14) New Mexico; (15) North Carolina; (16) Ohio; (17) Oklahoma; (18) Oregon; (19) South Carolina; (20) South Dakota; (21) Tennessee; (22) Texas; (23) Vermont; (24) Virginia; (25) Wisconsin; and (26) Wyoming.

Provides for the appointment of a committee of independent scientists to recommend additional special areas.

Restricts road construction and logging on Federal land in ancient forests, special areas, roadless areas, and watershed protection areas. Provides for: (1) Federal enforcement; and (1) a private right of action.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5279: Act to Save America's Forests. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5279/
MLA
"H.R. 5279: Act to Save America's Forests." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5279/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5279, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5279/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5279: Act to Save America's Forests](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5279/)
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