Andy Barr (R-KY)
The White Oak Resilience Act
A Republican bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-434, Part I.
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
This bill, known as "The White Oak Resilience Act," directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to lead efforts to restore white oak trees across the United States. It establishes a White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition to coordinate restoration efforts between various levels of government and private organizations. The legislation mandates several pilot projects within national forests and on Department of the Interior lands to promote white oak regeneration. Additionally, it creates the White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program to provide voluntary grants and technical assistance. The act also requires a national strategy to address tree nursery shortages and encourages collaborative research on white oak genetics and management.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Coordinated Restoration Efforts: The creation of the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition aims to coordinate the restoration of white oak among Federal, State, Tribal, local, private, and non-governmental groups (Section 3(b)(1)).
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Technical Assistance and Outreach: The bill provides for outreach to forest landowners and the development of educational materials to help improve the health and resiliency of white oak (Section 3(b)(2)(C) and Section 3(c)).
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Forest Restoration Pilot Projects: The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are directed to carry out pilot projects to restore and naturally regenerate white oak in national forests and other lands (Section 4(a) and Section 5(b)).
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Financial Support via Grants: The White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program includes a voluntary grant and technical assistance program to achieve restoration and conservation goals (Section 6(e)(1)).
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Addressing Resource Shortages: A national strategy will be implemented to increase the capacity of tree nurseries to address the nationwide shortage of tree seedlings (Section 7(a)(1)).
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Scientific Advancement: The bill allows for collaborative research with Indian Tribes or institutions to improve white oak survival, growth, and genetic diversity (Section 8(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirement for Advance Appropriations: Certain funding for the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition and the grant program is subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance (Section 3(d) and Section 6(e)(2)(B)).
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Time-Limited Authorities: Many of the specific authorities granted in this bill, including the Forest Service pilot projects, the Department of the Interior review, and the research and USDA initiatives, are subject to a 7-year sunset period (Section 4(d), Section 5(d), Section 6(f), Section 8(c), and Section 9(b)).
- 1/8/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-434, Part I.
- 8/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 4/18/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 3/27/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 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.
Ami BeraDemocrat · California
Steve CohenDemocrat · Tennessee
James ComerRepublican · Kentucky
Scott DesJarlaisRepublican · Tennessee
Brett GuthrieRepublican · Kentucky
Morgan McGarveyDemocrat · Kentucky
Harold RogersRepublican · Kentucky
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia