Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Ending Major Borderland Environmental Ruin from Wildfires (EMBER) Act'' aims to mitigate environmental damage and wildfires along the southern border. It establishes the Southern Border Fuels Management Initiative'' to be managed by the Secretary of the Interior. This initiative focuses on vegetation management to reduce wildfire risks and improve border operational control. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary concerned to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security to create policies to prevent fires and environmental degradation. The Act also mandates a detailed report to Congress regarding these environmental incidents.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill targets the prevention of wildfires and environmental degradation of federal lands along the southern border.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The act establishes a fuels management initiative to improve landscape resilience on federal lands.
- Scored +5
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill enhances border security through vegetation management to improve operational control and visibility.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly excludes Federal lands held in trust for Indian Tribes from the scope of its environmental protections.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Wildfire Risk Reduction: The initiative seeks to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve landscape resilience through vegetation management (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Increased Safety for Law Enforcement: The program aims to improve visibility and sight lines along the southern border to increase safety for law enforcement officers (Section 3(b)(3)).
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Environmental Protection: The bill establishes protocols to prevent the destruction of sensitive natural and archeological resources, wildlife habitats, and watersheds (Section 4(b)(2) and 4(b)(3) and 4(b)(4)).
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Improved Border Operations: The initiative is designed to improve operational control of the southern border (Section 3(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusion of Tribal Lands: The definition of ``covered Federal lands'' specifically excludes Federal lands held in trust for Indian Tribes (Section 2(3)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill targets the prevention of wildfires and environmental degradation of federal lands along the southern border. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The act establishes a fuels management initiative to improve landscape resilience on federal lands.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates detailed reporting to Congress regarding environmental incidents and degradation. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill authorizes significant federal spending and agency oversight for borderland environmental management.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill enhances border security through vegetation management to improve operational control and visibility.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The initiative may improve landscape resilience and safety in rural border areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly excludes Federal lands held in trust for Indian Tribes from the scope of its environmental protections.
- 4/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- 3/11/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
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.