Key Takeaways
- •The subcommittee considered bipartisan legislation to extend Good Neighbor Authority agreements to 20 years and reauthorize the American Battlefield Protection Program through 2036 to improve long-term land management.
- •Ellen Shultzabarger (Associate Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest Service) supported extending Good Neighbor Authority to 20 years, stating it provides the long-term certainty needed for large-scale forest restoration projects.
- •Rep. Donald Beyer (D, VA-8) pressed Charles Cuvelier (Associate Director, National Park Service) on why the agency opposed his speed camera bill despite it not mandating any new spending.
- •Rep. Jared Huffman (D, CA-2) criticized the administration for "whitewashing" history, while Rep. Thomas Tiffany (R, WI-7) advocated for restoring motorized access to support the nation's outdoor recreation economy.
- •The proposed changes to land access and management authorities will shape federal conservation and recreation policies as agencies prepare for increased visitor traffic during the nation's 250th anniversary.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing addressed four legislative proposals aimed at improving the management, accessibility, and safety of federal lands. The discussion centered on expanding the "Good Neighbor Authority" (GNA) to facilitate long-term forest restoration, reauthorizing the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) to preserve historic sites, restoring motorized access to public trails through a policy shift in road designations, and enhancing safety on National Park Service (NPS) parkways via automated speed enforcement. These bills represent a broader effort to balance active resource management with conservation and public recreation while addressing the administrative hurdles that often delay federal land projects.
Key Testimony & Policy
The subcommittee evaluated H.R. 7951, the Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act, introduced by Rep. David Valadao (R, CA-22). This bipartisan bill proposes extending GNA agreements from 10 to 20 years. Ellen Shultzabarger, Associate Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, testified in support, noting that longer agreements provide the certainty needed for industry investment in forest products and large-scale restoration. Shawn Thomas, State Forester for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), emphasized that forest management projects often span 9 to 17 years from planning to post-harvest treatment, making the current 10-year limit insufficient. He also urged the permanent authorization of revenue retention for states to sustain their forestry workforces.
H.R. 7618, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R, VA-2), seeks to reauthorize the ABPP through 2036. The bill would consolidate interpretation and restoration grants and expand the program's scope to include sites from the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War. David Duncan, President of the American Battlefield Trust, highlighted the program's success in protecting over 38,000 acres of hallowed ground. However, Charles Cuvelier, Associate Director at the National Park Service, expressed concerns regarding a provision to increase the federal cost-share from 50% to 75%, arguing it would disrupt the long-standing equitable partnership model of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The Public Lands Access Restoration Act (PLARA), H.R. 7979, introduced by Rep. Jeff Crank (R, CO-5), aims to reverse the "closed unless posted open" policy for motorized use on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Chad Hixon, Executive Director of the Trails Preservation Alliance, testified that the current policy places an undue burden on the public and has led to the de facto closure of thousands of miles of historically used trails. The bill would restore an "open unless posted closed" standard for designated motorized routes and create a public nomination process for trail inventories.
Finally, the subcommittee considered H.R. 6778, the Parkway Safety and Reinvestment Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald Beyer (D, VA-8). The bill would allow the NPS to install automated speed cameras on the George Washington Parkway and retain the resulting fine revenue for road maintenance and safety programs. Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, supported the measure, citing over 20 fatalities on the parkway since 2007. The NPS opposed the bill, citing concerns over upfront startup costs and the lack of an existing civil penalty adjudication framework.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D, CA-2) used his opening statement to criticize the Trump administration, accusing it of attempting to "whitewash" American history and erasing indigenous narratives at sites like the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. He also characterized the ongoing conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran as an "illegal war" that diverts funding from public land maintenance. Rep. Emily Randall (D, WA-6) echoed these concerns, questioning the loss of 24% of permanent NPS staff since early 2025 and its impact on interpretive services.
A significant exchange occurred between Rep. Beyer and Mr. Cuvelier regarding H.R. 6778. Rep. Beyer expressed frustration that the NPS had failed to provide technical assistance on the bill for over a year, despite repeated requests. He challenged the agency's opposition based on "startup costs," noting that the bill does not mandate camera installation but merely provides a mechanism for revenue retention if the agency chooses to use them.
Partisan agreement was most visible regarding the Good Neighbor Authority. Members from both parties, including Rep. Russ Fulcher (R, ID-1) and Rep. David Valadao (R, CA-22), praised the program's ability to foster collaboration between federal, state, and tribal entities. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R, UT-2) highlighted how GNA has improved trust and morale in Utah by involving the state more directly in federal land management.
Organizations Mentioned
* U.S. Forest Service: Discussed as the primary agency implementing Good Neighbor Authority and managing the vast network of roads and trails affected by H.R. 7979. * National Park Service (NPS): Mentioned regarding its opposition to speed camera revenue retention and its role in managing the American Battlefield Protection Program. * American Battlefield Trust: Praised for its role as a non-federal partner in preserving over 61,500 acres of historic battlefield land. * Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA): Represented by witness Chad Hixon, who advocated for restoring motorized access and described the organization's $450,000 investment in trail maintenance crews. * Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC): Highlighted as a national leader in using GNA, having completed 69 timber sales and reinvested $24 million into restoration. * National Association of State Foresters (NASF): Represented by Shawn Thomas, the organization supports extending GNA agreements to 20 years to provide long-term planning stability. * Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Identified as a key agency that would be required to adopt the "open unless posted closed" policy for motorized trails under H.R. 7979. * One Voice: Mentioned as a collaborative off-highway vehicle (OHV) group that recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Forest Service to improve communication.
What's Next
Chairman Thomas Tiffany (R, WI-7) urged the Senate to take up the Fix Our Forests Act, which contains a "road fix" provision allowing GNA revenues to be used for road construction. Witnesses from the Forest Service and NPS indicated a willingness to provide further technical assistance on the pending bills, particularly regarding the implementation timelines for trail inventories and the adjudication of civil penalties for speed violations. The subcommittee is expected to move toward a markup of these four bills in the coming weeks, with a focus on reconciling the cost-share and study requirements in the battlefield legislation.
Transcript
The Subcommittee on Federal Lands will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess of the subcommittee at any time. The subcommittee is meeting today to consider four bills. I'm tearing that apart. H.R. 6778, sponsored by Representative Beyer; 7618 by Representative Kiggans; 7951, Representative Valadao; 7979, Representative Crank. I ask unanimous consent that the following members be allowed to participate in today's hearing from the dais: gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Walberg; gentlelady from Virginia, Ms. Kiggans; gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Magaziner; the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Crank; the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Beyer; the gentleman from California, Mr. Valadao; and the gentleman from Montana, Mr. Downing. Without objection, so ordered. Under committee rule 4(f), any oral opening statements at hearings are limited to the chairman and the ranking minority member. I therefore ask unanimous consent that all other members' opening statements be made part of the hearing record if they are submitted in accordance with committee rule 3(o). Without objection, so ordered. I will now recognize myself for an opening statement. Across the country, in states like Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, wildfires are already wreaking havoc on our landscapes. Historic drought conditions have led to gravely low snowpack levels with little hope of recovery. And an astonishing 1.4 million acres have already burned this year, which is two and a half times greater than the 10-year average. What's truly alarming is that this has all happened in winter. As we approach the hotter summer months and what is shaping up to be a historically devastating fire year, there has never been a greater urgency to act. That's why the subcommittee will be considering important legislation today to improve active forest management across jurisdictional boundaries. Representatives Valadao and Panetta's Long-Term Good Neighbor Authority Act would strengthen Good Neighbor Authority, a highly successful partnership tool that has empowered states, tribes, and counties to carry out forest management and outdoor recreational projects on federal lands. This bipartisan bill authorizes Good Neighbor agreements up to 20 years, providing greater certainty for long-term coordination and encouraging the sustained investments needed to increase the pace and scale of forest management. My home state of Wisconsin has long been a leader using Good Neighbor and is carrying out projects that harvest roughly 30 million board feet every year. The revenue generated from these projects is used to improve the health and resiliency of Wisconsin's forests and watersheds. This bill will further empower Wisconsin and other state, tribal, and county partners nationwide to do more of this important work. This work doesn't just end here, though. The Fix Our Forests Act includes additional vital improvements to Good Neighbor Authority, including allowing states to use retained receipts on road construction. These roads, which must still go through all required environmental reviews, are critical to completing additional Good Neighbor projects across the West. Given the outlook on wildfire this year, I encourage the Senate to swiftly take up the Fix Our Forests Act so we can send it to President Trump's desk. I'd also like to take a moment to highlight Congressman Crank's Public Lands Access Restoration Act. This is a good bill that will restore a common sense open-unless-posted-closed policy to roads and trails managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The popularity of outdoor recreation and the demand for motorized access continues to rise as more Americans seek opportunities to enjoy our federal lands. At the same time, access has declined across our public lands as bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., chip away at motorized use and close popular roads and trails. In western states like Utah and Colorado, thousands of miles of roads and trails have been closed, which has pushed more users onto fewer routes and is limiting access to motorized recreational opportunities. I have seen this issue firsthand in my district in Wisconsin, where the Forest Service has systematically shut down roads across the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Last Congress, I held a field hearing in Hayward on this very problem, and I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter into today's hearing record testimony from that hearing from one of my constituents, State Senator Rob Stafsholt. Without objection, so ordered. Ensuring that Americans can access and enjoy our federal lands has been and will continue to be a central priority of this subcommittee. Representative Crank's bill is another important step toward restoring common sense access and helping support our nation's $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy. In addition, by requiring that road and trail closures be justified, clearly marked, and periodically reviewed, this bill provides sorely needed transparency and accountability to federal land managers. Finally, we will turn to a bill that will help honor the 250th anniversary of the United States by strengthening efforts to conserve hallowed battlefields that showcase the sacrifices, struggles, defeats, and triumphs that have shaped our nation's history. Representative Kiggans' American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026 is a bipartisan bill that allows non-federal partners to conserve, restore, and interpret America's most historically significant battlefields from the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. Unfortunately, despite the rich history of these sites, many have been lost over time. A significant portion of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battles retain no significant lands from the period of battle, and over 20 percent of Civil War battlefields have been lost altogether. These losses demonstrate the need for this program. This bill will extend the American Battlefield Protection Program for another seven years and direct the National Park Service to study and identify significant sites associated with the French and Indian War and the Mexican-American War. Representative Kiggans' legislation will allow this program to keep American battlefields intact for generations to come while positioning these landscapes to tell a more complete story of the nation's past. I want to thank each of our witnesses for being here today to share your valuable insights with us on these important topics. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance these thoughtful proposals. With that, I yield back, and I will recognize the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Huffman, for an opening statement.
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