Bill · H.R. 2026· House(119-HR-2026)
Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act
- Introduced
- 3/11/2025
- Last activity
- 4/4/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Sponsored by
- Ken Calvert
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act'' aims to mitigate environmental damage and wildfires along the southern border. It establishes the Southern Border Fuels Management Initiative'' to be managed by the Secretary of the Interior. This initiative focuses on vegetation management to reduce wildfire risks and improve border operational control. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary concerned to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security to create policies to prevent fires and environmental degradation. The Act also mandates a detailed report to Congress regarding these environmental incidents.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+7
The bill targets the prevention of wildfires and environmental degradation of federal lands along the southern border.
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?+6
The act establishes a fuels management initiative to improve landscape resilience on federal lands.
Does this tighten control of the border?+5
The bill enhances border security through vegetation management to improve operational control and visibility.
The opposite
Would Native Americans be better off under this?-5
The bill explicitly excludes Federal lands held in trust for Indian Tribes from the scope of its environmental protections.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Wildfire Risk Reduction: The initiative seeks to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve landscape resilience through vegetation management (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Increased Safety for Law Enforcement: The program aims to improve visibility and sight lines along the southern border to increase safety for law enforcement officers (Section 3(b)(3)).
-
Environmental Protection: The bill establishes protocols to prevent the destruction of sensitive natural and archeological resources, wildlife habitats, and watersheds (Section 4(b)(2) and 4(b)(3) and 4(b)(4)).
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Improved Border Operations: The initiative is designed to improve operational control of the southern border (Section 3(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusion of Tribal Lands: The definition of ``covered Federal lands'' specifically excludes Federal lands held in trust for Indian Tribes (Section 2(3)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+7Improves Public Land Management+6
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Border Security+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Native Americans-5
- 4/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 3/11/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.