Bill · S. 670· Senate(119-S-670)
Protect the West Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/20/2025
- Last activity
- 2/20/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Michael Bennet
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes the Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to support environmental restoration and resilience. This fund finances two main initiatives: a grant program and a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program. The Secretary of Agriculture will manage these funds through a transparent process in coordination with a newly created Restoration Fund Advisory Council. The legislation aims to improve forest conditions, rangeland health, watershed function, and wildlife habitats. Additionally, the act seeks to mitigate wildfire risks and create outdoor industry jobs. It provides massive funding intended to supplement existing conservation efforts across Federal and non-Federal lands.
Yes· 3 of 13
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+8
The bill funds large-scale efforts to improve forest conditions, rangeland health, watershed function, and wildlife habitats.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill targets wildfire risk mitigation and economic security for regional communities transitioning from extractive industries.
Is this likely to create jobs?+6
The bill establishes a $60 billion fund specifically designed to create and sustain jobs in the outdoor, restoration, and resilience sectors.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Job Creation and Economic Security: The bill prioritizes projects that create or sustain jobs and expand the outdoor workforce (Section 5(e)(1)). It also aims to improve long-term economic security in regions transitioning from fossil-fuel extraction (Section 5(e)(7)).
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Support for Local Communities and Organizations: The grant program provides capacity grants to help planning and monitoring on non-Federal land (Section 5(a)(1)). To help underserved or lower-capacity communities, the Secretary is directed to provide grant-writing training and mentoring (Section 5(d)(2)(C)).
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Wildfire Risk Reduction: The Partnership Program aims to reduce uncharacteristic wildfires in high-risk areas (Section 6(a)(4)). It specifically focuses on mitigating risks within the wildland-urban interface to protect communities (Section 6(e)(2)(G-H)).
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Environmental and Resource Improvements: Projects are designed to measurably improve forest conditions, rangeland health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat (Section 2(8)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Land Use: Restoration and resilience projects are strictly prohibited from being carried out in wilderness areas or designated wilderness study areas (Section 6(e)(4)(A)(i)).
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Limitations on Infrastructure: The act prohibits the use of these funds to construct permanent roads or trails (Section 6(e)(4)(A)(ii)).
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Vegetation Restrictions: Projects cannot be implemented on any Federal land where the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited by an Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation (Section 6(e)(4)(A)(iii)).
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Protection of Old Growth: The bill explicitly excludes projects intended to remove old growth stands (Section 6(e)(4)(A)(v)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Business Owners+5Good For Native Americans+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Union Workers+4
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+8Improves Rural Development+5Reduces Gas Prices+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+6Improves Economic Growth+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3Improves Racial Equity+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- 2/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon