S. 3785

119 S3785 IS: North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-02-05
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3785  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 5, 2026   Mr. Gallego  (for himself and  Mr. Kelly ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Energy and Natural Resources    A BILL
To authorize direct emergency acquisition flexibilities for the National Park Service and Forest Service for the purpose of retaining, vetting, approving, and expediting contractor approval for the clearing, rebuilding, maintenance, and improvement of areas of the Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest damaged by certain wildfires, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Act of 2026  .
2.
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
the Grand Canyon is a national treasure that has exceptional historic, cultural, and geological value;
(2)
the Grand Canyon region drives the local economy through tourism and outdoor recreation;
(3)
the Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of 11 Indian Tribes, the members of which now live in the States of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada;
(4)
restoring the landscapes in the Grand Canyon helps uphold the responsibilities of the United States to the Indian Tribes referred to in paragraph (3); and
(5)
the Dragon Bravo Fire and White Sage Fire—
(A)
collectively burned more than 200,000 acres of land in the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest; and
(B)
destroyed more than 100 structures, including the Grand Canyon Lodge.
3.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Covered Area
The term  covered area  means any area within the Grand Canyon National Park or Kaibab National Forest impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire.
(2)
Dragon Bravo Fire
The term  Dragon Bravo Fire  means the wildfire in the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona that began on July 4, 2025, and was contained on September 29, 2025.
(3)
Forest management or restoration activity
The term  forest management or restoration activity  means slash and hazard tree (as defined in section 512(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1772(a) )) removal, erosion control, slope stabilization, tree regeneration, wildlife rehabilitation, and reseeding with native seeds.
(4)
Secretary concerned
The term  Secretary concerned  means—
(A)
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, with respect to the Grand Canyon National Park; and
(B)
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to the Kaibab National Forest.
(5)
White Sage Fire
The term  White Sage Fire  means the wildfire that began near Fredonia, Arizona, on July 9, 2025, and was contained on September 12, 2025.
4.
Emergency contracting authority
(a)
In general
The Secretary concerned may use emergency acquisition flexibilities under part 18 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), including increased micro-purchase thresholds, simplified acquisition thresholds, and other authorities described in subpart 18.2 of that part, in contracting for the following services within the covered area:
(1)
Forest management or restoration activities carried out in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable.
(2)
Rebuilding, planning, development, and design of structures affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable.
(3)
Improvements to the grounds and structures.
(4)
Other recovery efforts necessary for the economic and ecological well-being of the covered area.
(b)
Process for other services
Unless otherwise provided by law or regulation, the authority granted under subsection (a) shall not apply to contracts for services other than those described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of that subsection.
(c)
Report
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary concerned begins to use the authority under subsection (a), and every 180 days thereafter until the date that is 180 days after the date described in subsection (e), the Secretary concerned shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report that describes—
(1)
all expenditures of the Secretary concerned related to the recovery efforts for the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable, in the covered area, including—
(A)
a description of the expected cost of recovery efforts;
(B)
a description of cost expenditures;
(C)
a description of cost overruns;
(D)
the identification of contractors performing the work associated with the recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable;
(E)
a description of any affiliations or conflicts of interest between—
(i)
the contractor; and
(ii)
(I)
the contracting office at the Grand Canyon National Park or the National Park Service; or
(II)
the contracting office at the Kaibab National Forest or the Forest Service;
(F)
a description of any waste, fraud, or abuse detected during the recovery efforts;
(G)
the identification of any contracts that came in under expected expenses;
(H)
an estimated time of completion for all projects and full recovery efforts related to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable; and
(I)
a description of whether an extension is needed for the authority to complete projects associated with the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable; and
(2)
any progress with respect to recovery efforts by the Secretary concerned in the covered area relating to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable, during the period covered by the report.
(d)
Extension
If, after the date of enactment of this Act, a new wildfire ignites within the covered area that impacts recovery efforts relating to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable, the Secretary concerned may request a 1-year extension of the authority granted under subsection (a), subject to congressional approval.
(e)
Expiration
The authority granted under subsection (a) shall expire on the date that is the earlier of the following:
(1)
5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2)
The date on which recovery efforts within the covered area are determined by the Secretary concerned to be complete.
5.
Participation of Indian Tribes and local stakeholders
(a)
In general
In the conduct of planning, design, and reconstruction activities of the Secretary concerned relating to the recovery of the covered area in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable, the Secretary concerned shall—
(1)
invite applicable Indian Tribes to participate; and
(2)
engage with other applicable local stakeholders (including units of local government, nonprofit organizations, local businesses (including Tribal businesses), and community groups).
(b)
Tribal businesses and local businesses
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall prioritize contracting with Tribal businesses and local businesses to carry out reconstruction activities relating to the recovery of the covered area in response to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable.
6.
Contracts with concessioners
During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date described in section 4(e), to facilitate recovery efforts relating to the Dragon Bravo Fire or White Sage Fire, as applicable, in the covered area, the Secretary concerned may enter into noncompetitive procurement contracts with existing National Park Service or Forest Service authorized concessioners in the covered area to carry out coordinated recovery efforts by the Secretary concerned and the concessioners at facilities in the covered area that are operated by the National Park Service, the Forest Service, or the concessioners, as applicable.
7.
Study and report
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly conduct a study of, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on, the costs of carrying out the recovery efforts authorized under this Act.