What does Preamble of HR 2709 do?

This bill is formally titled 'To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other purposes.' The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 8, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture. Additional sponsors were added on March 12, 2026. The bill was reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment on March 12, 2026. The Committee on Agriculture was discharged on March 12, 2026, and the bill was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union.

What does SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. of HR 2709 do?

This bill is formally titled the Save Our Sequoias Act

What does DEFINITIONS. of HR 2709 do?

This section defines key terms used throughout the Act. The term 'Assessment' refers to the Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment outlined in section 5. The 'Coalition' is defined as the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition established under section 4(a). The term 'covered National Forest System lands' includes specific National Forest System lands, namely the Sequoia, Sierra, and Tahoe National Forests. ‘Covered public lands’ encompass the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and three National Parks: Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. ’Giant sequoia’ is defined as a tree of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum. A 'Protection Project' is a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under section 6. ’Reforestation’ involves renewing tree cover, considering species composition and resilience, through natural regeneration, assisted regeneration, or planting. ’Rehabilitation’ refers to actions taken after a wildland fire to repair lands unlikely to recover naturally. ’Relevant congressional committees’ are specified for both the House and Senate. The ‘Secretary concerned’ is either the Secretary of Agriculture (for National Forest lands) or the Secretary of the Interior (for public lands). The 'Strategy' is the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established under section 7. A 'Strike Team' is a Giant Sequoia Strike Team established under section 8. ’Tribe’ is specifically defined as the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.

What does SHARED STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS. of HR 2709 do?

This section establishes a process for shared stewardship agreements related to giant sequoias. The Secretary is required to enter into or expand an existing agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Governor of California, and a Tribe to manage and conserve giant sequoias. The agreement must be implemented jointly to carry out both short-term and long-term management and conservation efforts. If a request is not received within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary must enter into the agreement and jointly implement it. The Governor of California or a Tribe can be accepted as a party to the agreement at any time after its initial establishment.

What does GIANT SEQUOIA LANDS COALITION. of HR 2709 do?

This section establishes the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition. The Coalition is defined by a charter signed between June 2, 2022 and August 2, 2022 by various federal, state, tribal, and university entities. Participating entities include the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Tule River Indian Reservation, the State of California, the University of California, Berkeley, and the County of Tulare, California. The Coalition's duties include producing an assessment under section 5, observing implementation, and providing policy recommendations to the Secretary. The Coalition is tasked with facilitating collaboration on Protection Projects and information sharing, including best available science. The Coalition must support the development and dissemination of educational materials regarding threats to giant sequoia groves. The Secretary of the Interior will provide personnel to the Coalition for administrative, technical, and staff support. The Coalition must hold at least one public meeting annually, except when discussing sensitive law enforcement, security, or commercial information.

What does GIANT SEQUOIA HEALTH AND RESILIENCY ASSESSMENT. of HR 2709 do?

The Coalition must submit a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment within 6 months of enactment. The Assessment must identify giant sequoia groves at risk, analyze resiliency to threats, and examine historical management impacts. Annual updates to the Assessment are required, including new data, project information, and status updates. A website will be created to publish the Assessment, annual updates, and educational materials. The Coalition will maintain a searchable database to track Protection Projects and reforestation activities.

What does GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE. of HR 2709 do?

This section establishes an emergency determination for giant sequoias on covered public lands and National Forest System lands. The emergency determination, intended to address wildfires, insects, and drought, will expire seven years after the Act's enactment. The Secretary concerned is responsible for carrying out 'Protection Projects' on these lands, adhering to applicable land management plans and laws. Protection Projects include hazardous fuels management, tree removal, and activities to address insects, disease, and invasive species. Certain Protection Projects are categorically excluded from environmental assessments and impact statements, up to specified acreage limits. The Secretary is directed to use this authority in combination with other existing authorities, such as good neighbor agreements and stewardship contracting. The Secretary is required to provide public notice of each Protection Project on a publicly available website.

What does GIANT SEQUOIA REFORESTATION AND REHABILITATION STRATEGY. of HR 2709 do?

This section develops a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy. The strategy identifies giant sequoia groves in need of reforestation or rehabilitation. It creates a priority list of reforestation and rehabilitation activities. The strategy addresses barriers to reforestation or rehabilitation and identifies public-private partnership opportunities. It includes program and policy recommendations to improve the Strategy's efficiency and effectiveness.

What does GIANT SEQUOIA STRIKE TEAMS. of HR 2709 do?

The Secretary concerned shall establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team Each Strike Team assists with implementation of sections 6 and 7 Strike Teams have duties including reviews, site preparation, and project implementation Each Strike Team may have up to 10 members from various organizations

What does GIANT SEQUOIA COLLABORATIVE RESTORATION GRANTS. of HR 2709 do?

This section establishes or expands a grant program to improve the health and resilience of giant sequoias. The Secretary is responsible for administering the program, consulting with parties to the agreement under section 3. Eligible entities for grants include nonprofit organizations, Tribal Governments, local governments, academic institutions, and private organizations. Priority will be given to entities likely to have the greatest impact on giant sequoia health and resilience, and secondarily, to small businesses or Tribal entities in rural areas that create or support jobs. Grant funds can be used to create markets for hazardous fuels, facilitate fuel removal, expand fuel storage/processing facilities, enhance nursery capacity, or support Tribal management and conservation efforts. Funds can be used to reduce the cost of transporting hazardous fuels removed as part of a Protection Project.

Back to bills

Save Our Sequoias Act — HR. 2709

Last updated: 3/12/2026 · Introduced: 4/8/2025

Author: Vince Fong (R-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes a process for shared stewardship agreements between federal agencies, California, and the Tule River Indian Tribe to manage and conserve giant sequoias.
It creates the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition to assess sequoia health, provide recommendations, and facilitate collaborative protection projects.
The bill authorizes an emergency determination to expedite protection projects, such as hazardous fuels management, on at-risk lands, while streamlining environmental review processes for certain projects.
It establishes a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy to prioritize reforestation and rehabilitation activities and identify barriers to success.
The bill creates grant programs and a dedicated fund to support giant sequoia health and resilience initiatives, prioritizing nonprofits, Tribal Governments, and small businesses.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title; table of contents., and 11 more.

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