Latest action: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
Bill is filed in its originating chamber and assigned a number.
Sponsor
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Filed in the Senate.
Next: In Committee
Members of the committee(s) the bill was referred to
Designates wilderness areas and wild scenic rivers in Olympic National Forest, Washington.
The problem
Olympic National Forest lacks formal protection for pristine wilderness and river ecosystems. Current management allows some resource extraction and development in ecologically sensitive areas.
The proposal
Bill designates specific forest tracts as wilderness and certain rivers as wild and scenic, restricting commercial logging, mining, and development in those protected zones.
The impact
Outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists gain protected lands; timber companies lose access; local communities experience changes to forest management and economic opportunities.
Wilderness designation preserves old-growth forests, wildlife habitat, and river systems from development. These areas support salmon populations, spotted owls, and other endangered species. Protection ensures these ecosystems remain intact for future generations.
Protected wilderness attracts hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts, supporting local tourism businesses. Studies show protected lands increase property values and visitor spending in nearby communities. This creates stable, long-term economic activity.
Wild and scenic river designation prevents pollution from logging and mining operations. Clean rivers support fishing industries and provide drinking water sources. Protection reduces erosion and sedimentation that harm aquatic life.
Old-growth forests store significant carbon and help combat climate change. Protecting forests prevents carbon release from logging. Intact ecosystems are more resilient to climate impacts.
Designation removes forestland from timber harvest, reducing jobs for loggers and mill workers. Local sawmills may lose reliable timber supplies. This impacts rural communities dependent on forest industry income.
Federal land protections limit state and county tax revenue from timber sales and development. Schools and local services depend partly on these forest revenues. Protection may strain municipal budgets.
Wilderness designation prohibits mining and mineral extraction, even if economically valuable resources exist. This prevents future economic opportunities if technology or prices make extraction viable. Some communities see this as limiting development options.
Wilderness areas have stricter use limits, including restrictions on motorized access and development of facilities. This may limit recreational options for disabled visitors or those needing vehicle access. Maintaining trails becomes harder without mechanized equipment.
Generated by AI from the bill text. Not a prediction and not legal or policy advice. The percentage is the model's own rating of each item — self-reported, and not a measure of how accurate it is.
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Individual contributions, grouped by employer · FEC
Where their individual donors work · 2026 cycle
Money from people who work there, not from the company. Not tied to this bill.
Itemized individual contributions via FEC, grouped by the employer each contributor self-reported. Companies and unions cannot contribute to federal candidates from their treasuries, so these totals are money from people who work at an employer — never from the organization itself. They are campaign contributions covering a full election cycle and are not connected to this bill.
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