H.R. 1904 108th Congress House

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

Official title: An act to improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Fore… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: An act to improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands aimed at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 8, 2003 See on congress.gov

Public Lands and Natural Resources Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesAgricultural collegesAgricultural extension work

More subjectsShow fewer subjects

Agriculture and FoodAnimalsBiological diversityBiomass energyCarbon cycleCitizen participationCivil actions and liabilityCommerceCongressCongressional reporting requirementsConservation easementsDepartment of AgricultureEconomic impact statementsEconomics and Public FinanceEcosystem managementEducationEmergency ManagementEndangered speciesEnergyEnergy facilitiesEnvironmental ProtectionEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental monitoringFederal aid to IndiansFederal aid to water pollution controlFederal-Indian relationsFederal-local relationsFederal-state relationsFire preventionForest conservationForest ecologyForest firesForest healthForest managementForest roadsForestryForests, forestry, treesGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityGrants-in-aidHabitat conservationHeatingHigher educationHousing and Community DevelopmentIndian landsInfrastructureInjunctionsInsect controlJob creationJudicial reviewLabor and EmploymentLand transfersLand useLandownersLawLoggingMinoritiesNational forestsNonprofit organizationsOld growth forestsPestsPotable waterPrivate forestsPublic meetingsRange managementRestoration ecologyRoad constructionRural economic developmentSmall businessSmall townsSocial WelfareStream conservationSubsidiesTransportation and Public WorksTree diseasesTreesUrban affairsUrban areasWater Resources DevelopmentWater qualityWater supplyWatershedsWest (U.S.)WetlandsWood

Everywhere this bill has been Latest 49 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Dec 3, 2003

Became Public Law No: 108-148.

Dec 3, 2003

Signed by President.

Dec 2, 2003

Presented to President.

Nov 21, 2003

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Nov 21, 2003

Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 21, 2003

Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.

Nov 21, 2003

Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S15368-15373)

Nov 21, 2003

Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

Nov 21, 2003

On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 286 - 140 (Roll no. 656).

Nov 21, 2003

Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Nov 21, 2003

The previous question was ordered without objection.

Nov 21, 2003

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 1904.

Nov 21, 2003

Mr. Goodlatte brought up conference report H. Rept. 108-386 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 457. (consideration: CR H12159-12172)

Nov 21, 2003

Conferees agreed to file conference report.

Nov 21, 2003

Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.

Nov 21, 2003

Rule H. Res. 457 passed House.

Nov 20, 2003

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 457 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 1904. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read.

Nov 20, 2003

Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.

Nov 20, 2003

Conference report H. Rept. 108-386 filed. (text of conference report: CR H11686-11698)

Nov 20, 2003

Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 108-386 filed.(text of conference report: CR H11686-11698)

Nov 20, 2003

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Nov 20, 2003

Senate insists on its amendments, agrees to request for a conference, appoints conferees Cochran; McConnell; Crapo; Domenici; Harkin; Leahy; Daschle.

Nov 6, 2003

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of secs. 106 and 107 of the House bill, and secs. 105, 106, 1115, and 1116 of the Senate amendment and modifications committed to conference: Sensenbrenner, Smith (TX), and Conyers.

Nov 6, 2003

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Resources for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendments, and modifications committed to conference: Pombo, McInnis, Walden (OR), Renzi, Miller, George, and Inslee.

Nov 6, 2003

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Agriculture for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendments, and modifications committed to conference: Goodlatte, Boehner, Jenkins, Gutknecht, Hayes, Stenholm, Peterson (MN), and Dooley (CA).

Nov 6, 2003

On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10469)

Nov 6, 2003

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Stenholm motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1904. The instructions contained in the motion seek to have the House managers, as soon as practicable after the adoption of the motion, meet in open session with the Senate conferees and the House conferees shall file a conference report not later than Thursday, November 13, 2003.

Nov 6, 2003

Mr. Stenholm moved that the House instruct conferees. (consideration: CR H10463; text: CR H10463)

Nov 6, 2003

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Nov 6, 2003

On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H10462-10463)

Nov 6, 2003

The previous question was ordered without objection.

Nov 6, 2003

Mr. Goodlatte moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendments, and request a conference. (consideration: CR H10462-10469)

Nov 6, 2003

Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House requests a conference.

Nov 5, 2003

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Oct 30, 2003

Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 14. Record Vote Number: 428. (text: CR 10/31/2003 S13719-13734)

Oct 30, 2003

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 14. Record Vote Number: 428.(text: CR 10/31/2003 S13719-13734)

Oct 30, 2003

The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

Oct 30, 2003

Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S13600-13611, CR 10/31/2003 S13613-13637)

Oct 29, 2003

Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S13435-13483; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S13435-13449)

Aug 11, 2003

Star Print ordered on the reported bill.

Jul 31, 2003

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 246.

Jul 31, 2003

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Reported by Senator Cochran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 108-121.

Jul 24, 2003

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Jul 22, 2003

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.

Jun 26, 2003

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Hearings held.

May 21, 2003

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

May 20, 2003

The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1904.

May 20, 2003

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 20, 2003

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 256 - 170 (Roll no. 200). (text of measure as passed: CR H4292-4298)

Older steps are on congress.gov: full list of actions

Votes taken on this bill 3

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Nov 21, 2003	House · vote #656	On Agreeing to the Conference Report	Passed	286–140	See who voted →
May 20, 2003	House · vote #200	On Passage	Passed	256–170	See who voted →
May 20, 2003	House · vote #199	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	176–250	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 23

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

13 agreed to 1 failed 8 with no recorded outcome 1 withdrawn or other

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
SAMDT 2,046	–	To make certain improvements to the bill.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,045	–	To provide authority for title I, relative to hazardous fuels reduction on federal land.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,043	–	To increase the minimum percentage of funds allocated for authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects in the…	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,042	–	To require best-value contracting criteria in awarding contracts and agreements.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,039	–	To remove certain provisions relating to administrative and judicial review.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,038	Cantwell, Maria	To require the Comptroller General to study the costs and benefits of the analysis of alternatives in environ…	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,036	–	To require collaborative monitoring of forest health projects.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,035	–	To require the treatment of slash and other long term fuels management for hazardous fuels reduction projects.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,031	–	To provide the Secretary of Agriculture with the authority to borrow funds from the Treasury to pay for firef…	Ruled out of order	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,030	Murray, Patty	To ensure protection of old-growth stands.	Agreed to	Oct 30, 2003
SAMDT 2,026	–	To enact the Disaster Air Quality Monitoring Act.	Agreed to	Oct 29, 2003
SAMDT 2,025	–	To enact the Firefighters Medical Monitoring Act.	Agreed to	Oct 29, 2003
SAMDT 1,828	–	Of a perfecting nature.	Agreed to	Oct 29, 2003
HAMDT 137	–	An amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part B of House Report 108-239 would allow for projects…	Failed	May 20, 2003
HAMDT 136	–	An amendment considered as adopted pursuant to H. Res. 239.	Agreed to	May 20, 2003
SAMDT 2,044	–	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,041	–	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,040	Cantwell, Maria	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,037	–	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,034	–	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,033	Collins, Susan M.	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,029	–	–	No recorded outcome	–
SAMDT 2,027	–	–	No recorded outcome	–

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Latest action December 3, 2003

Became Public Law No: 108-148.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 - Permits the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects (fuels projects) on specified types of Federal lands.

Directs the Secretary concerned to give priority to fuels projects that provide for the protection of communities and watersheds.

Authorizes the Secretary concerned to make grants: (1) to improve the commercial value of forest biomass to produce electric energy, sensible heat, transportation fuels, or substitutes for petroleum-based products; and (2) to offset the cost of projects to add value to biomass.

Amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to permit the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to provide assistance to State foresters and officials for the purpose of expanding State forest capacities and activities to address watershed issues on non-Federal forested lands and potentially forested lands.

Directs the Secretary concerned to establish an accelerated program to plan, conduct, and promote comprehensive and systematic information gathering on bark beetles.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the healthy forests reserve program within the Forest Service for the purpose of protecting, restoring, and enhancing degraded forest ecosystems to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species as well as improve biodiversity and enhance carbon sequestration.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a comprehensive plan to inventory, monitor, characterize, assess, and identify forest stands and potential forest stands in specified locations. States that issues to be addressed shall include: (1) the early detection, identification, and assessment of environmental threats; and (2) the loss or degradation of forests.

Related & companion bills 3

Bill text 8 versions

Engrossed Amendment Senate Formatted Text PDF
Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Public Law Formatted Text PDF
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF
Reported to Senate Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 7

Agriculture Committee
House of Representatives
Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Agriculture Committee
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives
Natural Resources Committee
House of Representatives
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
House of Representatives
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 40

Kentucky · May 15, 2003

Blackburn, Marsha

Tennessee · May 14, 2003

Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"

Virginia · May 9, 2003

Bishop, Sanford D.

Georgia · May 8, 2003

Arkansas · May 1, 2003

Calvert, Ken

California · May 1, 2003

Cole, Tom

Oklahoma · May 1, 2003

DOOLEY, CAL

· May 1, 2003

Graves, Sam

Missouri · May 1, 2003

Issa, Darrell

California · May 1, 2003

Alabama · May 1, 2003

Mississippi · May 1, 2003

Mississippi · May 1, 2003

Wilson, Joe

South Carolina · May 1, 2003

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1904: Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1904/

MLA

"H.R. 1904: Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1904/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 1904, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1904/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 1904: Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1904/)