Save Our Sequoias Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/2709
Last Updated: July 22, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

ID: F000480

Follow the money

The bill

Save Our Sequoias Act

HR. 2709, 119th Congress โ€” read as touching Construction & Engineering.

The sponsor

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$69,300 raised

21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

March 16, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

๐Ÿ“ Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

๐ŸŽ‰

Passed Congress

๐Ÿ–Š๏ธ

Presidential Action

โš–๏ธ

Became Law

๐Ÿ“š How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another exercise in futility. Let's dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Save Our Sequoias Act (HR 2709) claims to aim at improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoias. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to justify more bureaucratic meddling in forest management under the guise of environmentalism.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a plethora of new definitions, committees, and programs, because what we really need is more administrative bloat. It establishes a shared stewardship agreement between various government agencies and the State of California, which will undoubtedly lead to more inefficiencies and conflicting interests.

Section 3 requires the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Governor of California and the Tule River Indian Tribe to manage giant sequoias jointly. Because nothing says "effective management" like a committee of bureaucrats and politicians making decisions based on competing interests.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: government agencies, environmental groups, logging companies, and Native American tribes. Each will likely have their own agendas and conflicting priorities, ensuring that the bill's objectives are muddled from the start.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "solution in search of a problem." The real issue is not the health of giant sequoias but rather the bureaucratic stranglehold on forest management. By creating more red tape and committees, this bill will likely:

1. Increase costs for taxpayers due to additional administrative burdens. 2. Stifle effective forest management practices by introducing more conflicting interests and regulations. 3. Provide a smokescreen for politicians to claim they're doing something about environmental issues while actually accomplishing little.

In short, HR 2709 is a textbook example of legislative theater: a feel-good bill that will accomplish nothing but provide a PR boost for its sponsors. The real disease here is the chronic inability of our government to address actual problems rather than just creating more bureaucratic noise.

Related Topics

Public Lands & Natural ResourcesState & Local Government AffairsWater & Air Quality Regulations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Congress 119 โ€ข 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$69,300
17 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,300
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000

No PAC contributions found

1
TULE RIVER TRIBAL COUNCIL
1 transaction
$3,300

No committee contributions found

1
ROJEWSKI, COLE
2 transactions
$6,600
2
EKEGREN, JONATHAN
2 transactions
$6,600
3
HAYDE, MICHAEL K.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
KHOURI, LAURA A.
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ANDERSON, DARIUS
1 transaction
$3,300
6
LEPRINO, TERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
7
HUNTER, KEN
1 transaction
$3,300
8
BAND MIWOK INDIANS, SHINGLE SPRINGS
1 transaction
$3,300
9
MOJIBI, AMANDA
1 transaction
$3,300
10
MOJIBI, CYRUS
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BECK, PATRICK
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SINGH, MATAB
1 transaction
$3,300
13
LAZZERINI, JR., WILLIAM
1 transaction
$3,300
14
LAZZERINI, VICTORIA
1 transaction
$3,300
15
PANKEY, MONA
1 transaction
$3,300
16
PANKEY, PETE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

ID: P000608

Top Contributors

10

1
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Apr 19, 2024
2
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Apr 21, 2023
3
ARISON, MADELEINE
N/A โ€ข NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualCORAL GABLES, FL
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
4
ARISON, MICKY
CARNIVAL CRUISE โ€ข CHAIRMAN
IndividualCORAL GABLES, FL
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
5
EMERSON, LANGSTON
MINDSET โ€ข POLICY ADVISOR LOBBYIST
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Oct 18, 2023
6
EPSTEIN, DANIEL J.
CONAM โ€ข REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE
IndividualSAN DIEGO, CA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023
7
GATES, WILLIAM H III
BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY โ€ข PHILANTHROPIST
IndividualREDMOND, WA
$3,300
Oct 19, 2023
8
GONZALEZ, JOHN MICHAEL
TIBER CREEK GROUP โ€ข PARTNER
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Dec 13, 2023
9
LINDEN, LAWRENCE
N/A โ€ข RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 24, 2023
10
LINDEN, LAWRENCE
N/A โ€ข RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 24, 2023

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]

ID: C001059

Top Contributors

10

1
TABLE MOUNTAIN RANCHERIA
OrganizationFRIANT, CA
$3,300
Oct 30, 2023
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Sep 18, 2024
3
JJF SP TRUST
OrganizationSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
4
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER RANCH
OrganizationFRESNO, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
5
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$1,000
Jul 31, 2023
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Sep 8, 2023
7
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
May 19, 2023
8
CHAPPELL-MCLULLAR TRUST
OrganizationHONOLULU, HI
$500
Mar 2, 2024
9
ARK, MANDEEP
SELF EMPLOYED โ€ข INTERPRETER
IndividualFRESNO, CA
$6,500
Aug 14, 2024
10
AFZAL, TEHMINA
SELF EMPLOYED โ€ข INTERPRETER
IndividualCHINO HILLS, CA
$6,500
Aug 14, 2024

Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]

ID: W000821

Top Contributors

10

1
PUEBLO OF LAGUNA
OrganizationLAGUNA, NM
$8,300
Aug 1, 2024
2
ONEIDA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, NY
$5,000
May 13, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 6, 2023
4
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF SILETZ INDIANS
OrganizationSILETZ, OR
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
5
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND MIWOK INDIANS
OrganizationSHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Oct 26, 2023
6
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 10, 2023
7
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION
OrganizationPENDLETON, OR
$3,300
Jan 17, 2024
8
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Feb 14, 2024
9
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationROCK HILL, SC
$3,300
Mar 31, 2024
10
NISQUALLY INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationOLYMPIA, WA
$3,300
Mar 14, 2024

Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11]

ID: W000806

Top Contributors

10

1
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,600
Apr 18, 2024
2
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE
RETIRED โ€ข RETIRED
IndividualKESWICK, VA
$6,600
Apr 15, 2024
3
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIRED โ€ข RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE, FL
$6,600
Feb 15, 2024
4
FILBURN, MARK
WHITESTONE CONSTRUCTION โ€ข PRESIDENT
IndividualLONGWOOD, FL
$3,400
Jun 26, 2024
5
FILBURN, MARK
IndividualLONGWOOD, FL
$3,400
Sep 4, 2024
6
ASNESS, CLIFF
AQR โ€ข EXECUTIVE
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Jun 6, 2024
7
ASNESS, LAUREL
MARCUM LLP โ€ข EXECUTIVE
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Jun 6, 2024
8
BEUCHER, NICK
CEO โ€ข TAVISTOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
IndividualORLANDO, FL
$3,300
May 28, 2024
9
BRADLEY, JACQUELINE
RETIRED โ€ข RETIRED
IndividualKESWICK, VA
$3,300
Apr 18, 2024
10
DEVORE, DEBBIE
SEA & SHORELINE โ€ข ACCOUNTANT
IndividualWINTER GARDEN, FL
$3,300
May 31, 2024

Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

ID: P000613

Top Contributors

10

1
ACROSS THE AISLE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Jan 12, 2023
2
ACROSS THE AISLE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$500
Mar 23, 2023
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Apr 12, 2023
4
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Apr 12, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Apr 12, 2023
6
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Oct 16, 2024
7
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$2,500
Nov 9, 2023
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,700
Apr 12, 2023
9
CROWN, LESTER
NOT EMPLOYED โ€ข NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualCHICAGO, IL
$6,600
Aug 9, 2024
10
KIM, SOON
IndividualSANTA CRUZ, CA
$4,300
Sep 30, 2024

Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

ID: N000189

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE RESERVATION
OrganizationNESPELEM, WA
$5,000
Sep 27, 2024
2
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE RESERVATION
OrganizationNESPELEM, WA
$3,300
Oct 6, 2023
3
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$3,300
Jun 14, 2024
4
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
5
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$2,900
Aug 11, 2023
6
SWINOMISH INDIAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY
OrganizationLA CONNER, WA
$2,000
Oct 22, 2024
7
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE CHEHALIS RESERVATION
OrganizationOAKVILLE, WA
$2,000
Oct 1, 2024
8
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
Aug 30, 2023
9
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$400
Jun 14, 2024
10
FAISON, JAY W. MR.
CLEAN PATH ACTION FUND FOR CONSERVATIV โ€ข CEO
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$11,600
Jul 24, 2023

Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

ID: G000559

Top Contributors

10

1
SAN PABLO LYTTON
OrganizationSAN PABLO, CA
$5,000
Aug 28, 2024
2
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
OrganizationBROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
3
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
OrganizationBROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 18, 2023
4
ONE LAKE HOLDING,LLC
OrganizationWALNUT CREEK, CA
$2,500
Nov 6, 2023
5
UNITED AUBURN INDIAN COMMUNITY OF AUBURN RANCHERIA
OrganizationSACRAMENTO, CA
$2,500
Oct 22, 2024
6
SAN PABLO LYTTON
OrganizationSAN PABLO, CA
$1,700
Aug 28, 2024
7
NAPA SOLANO BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
OrganizationFAIRFIELD, CA
$1,500
May 13, 2024
8
BAINS FARMING LP
OrganizationYUBA CITY, CA
$1,000
May 15, 2024
9
GRUPE, GREENLAW JR.
THE GRUPE CO. โ€ข REAL ESTATE
IndividualLODI, CA
$5,800
Nov 7, 2023
10
HALL, CRAIG
HALL FINANCIAL GROUP โ€ข INVESTOR
IndividualFRISCO, TX
$3,683
Dec 5, 2023

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

ID: V000129

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Dec 20, 2023
4
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationMARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,300
Feb 28, 2024
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
May 25, 2023
8
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
Jun 29, 2024
9
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
OrganizationOROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Sep 26, 2024
10
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Aug 16, 2024

Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

ID: B000490

Top Contributors

10

1
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
OrganizationMANSURA, LA
$3,300
Dec 30, 2023
2
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
OrganizationMANSURA, LA
$2,500
Oct 30, 2024
3
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
4
DAVIS, HENRY BART III
SELF-EMPLOYED โ€ข FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
5
DAVIS, HENRY BART JR
SELF-EMPLOYED โ€ข FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
6
DAVIS, JEDD ADAM
SELF-EMPLOYED โ€ข FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
7
DAVIS, PAULA
SELF EMPLOYED โ€ข FARMER
IndividualDOERUN, GA
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
8
REDDING, ROBERT L. JR
THE REDDING FIRM โ€ข PRESIDENT
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Oct 21, 2024
9
VECCHIARELLI, DANIEL A
LEPRINO FOODS โ€ข VICE CHAIRMAN
IndividualDENVER, CO
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
BARNES, ROY E.
THE BARNES LAW GROUP LLC โ€ข ATTORNEY
IndividualMARIETTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024

Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

ID: L000578

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
3
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
OrganizationCASS LAKE, MN
$2,000
Nov 4, 2024
4
VANN BROTHERS
UNINCORPORATED โ€ข PARTNERSHIP
OrganizationWILLIAMS, CA
$1,500
Jun 27, 2023
5
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Oct 31, 2024
6
SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION โ€ข INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualLEMORE, CA
$6,600
May 6, 2024
7
NECHAY, JULIA
N/A โ€ข NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualROSEVILLE, CA
$5,000
Oct 26, 2024
8
OSAGE NATION, .
SOVEREIGN NATION โ€ข INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualPAWHUSKA, OK
$3,300
Oct 8, 2024
9
MCLAUGHLIN, RANDY
OLD DURHAM WOOD โ€ข ORCHARD TEMOVAL
IndividualDURHAM, CA
$3,300
Oct 13, 2024
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION โ€ข INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualDURANT, OK
$3,300
Oct 16, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 54 nodes and 36 connections (43 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $130,300

Top Donors - Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount

1 Org16 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.

  • Section 6(3)(A) authorizes hazardous fuels management including mechanical thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning; Section 9(d)(3) funds facilities to store/process hazardous fuels; Section 11 amends stewardship contracting to include giant sequoia health projectsโ€”all creating work for construction/engineering firms.

  • +Labor Unionsconfidence 0.85

    Section 9(c)(2)(B) prioritizes grant recipients that 'create or support jobs, particularly in rural areas,' indicating intent to benefit labor through job creation in forestry and restoration work.

  • Section 9(b) allows grants to 'private organization' and Section 9(c)(2)(A) prioritizes small businesses; for-profit education firms could qualify as private organizations receiving grants for nursery capacity (Section 9(d)(4)) or Tribal management support, though less direct.

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