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Read the latest policy update from Neil Simpson, CWSF/WFLC Director of Policy. This month’s policy update covers:
- Senate Passes Bill to End the Federal Government Shutdown
- Senate Stewardship Caucus Formed
- Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2025
- EPA Issues Renewed Guidance on Prescribed Fire Smoke
- Border Lands Conservation Act
Senate Passes Bill to End the Federal Government Shutdown
On November 10, 2025, the Senate passed a bill to end the federal government shutdown. The bill, which was forged out a negotiations by eight Senate Democrats, Republicans, and President Trump, passed by a vote of 60-40 with eight Democrats voting for the bill. The legislation includes a Continuing Resolution for most agencies until January 30, 2026, and a minibus to fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Legislative Branch, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. As of this writing, it is unclear whether the Senate has included the full USDA appropriations bill or just selected portions of it. It is also unclear whether the Senate has included Forest Service funding, which is typically part of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Information on fiscal year 2026 funding levels proposed by the House and Senate can be found in the August 2025 policy update.
A vote is scheduled in the House of Representatives for 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 11, 2025. You can watch floor proceedings and track House schedules and activity at https://live.house.gov/.
Senate Stewardship Caucus Formed
U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) launched the Senate Stewardship Caucus at an event hosted by the organization Nature is Nonpartisan.
According to a press release from Senator Sheehy, the Caucus “aims to drive bipartisan efforts to protect and expand access to public lands, promote commonsense land management policies, and support economic growth in rural communities.” Senator Heinrich's press release states the purpose of the Caucus is to “advance bipartisan efforts aimed at protecting and expanding access to public lands and waters, recovering wildlife, and restoring habitat.”
Senators Heinrich and Sheehy will co-chair the Caucus. Additional inaugural members of the Senate Stewardship Caucus include U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Katie Britt (R-AL).
Senator John Curtis Introduces the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2025
Senator John Curtis (R-UT), along with co-sponsor Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced S. 3044, the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2025 (WEPA). WEPA would amend the Clean Air Act to clarify that prescribed fires are exceptional events. The bill also directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consult with federal land managers, state air pollution control agencies, State Foresters, and state fish and wildlife agencies in an effort to revise existing regulations to focus on state implementation responsibility.
Prior to the bill’s introduction, Georgia State Forester Johnny Sabo offered supportive testimony at a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works business meeting.
EPA Issues Renewed Guidance on Prescribed Fire Smoke
On October 16, 2025, EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo issued a policy guidance memo to Regional Administrators and Deputy Regional Administrators declaring the “policy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that any regulatory provisions that would limit strategic deployment of prescribed fire should not be included in Clean Air Act (CAA) State Implementation Plans (SIPs) as part of the control strategies for attainment or maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), or to satisfy regional haze program requirements.”
The memo discusses the importance of prescribed fire as a mitigation tool in protecting communities and natural resources from catastrophic fire and clearly outlines that prescribed fires are eligible for treatment as exceptional events, meaning air quality data influenced by prescribed fires can be excluded from “certain regulatory decisions regarding attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS.” The memo directs Regional Administrators to ensure SIPs that are under review do not include any provisions that could limit the application of prescribed fire.
The memo closes with a statement that “EPA is committed to continuing to collaborate with local, state, Tribal, and Federal partners to support the use of wildland prescribed fire.”
Senator Mike Lee Introduces the Border Lands Conservation Act
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has introduced S. 2967, the Border lands Conservation Act.
According to a press release and bill summary, the bill:
- “Requires DOI and FS to work with DHS to inventory existing roads and install navigable road infrastructure to deter illegal southern or northern border entry and to gain operational control of the border;
- Amends the Wilderness Act to authorize DHS to conduct necessary operations in wilderness areas to secure the border;
- Requires an inventory by DOI and FS of all roads and trails created by illegal immigration and then subsequently requires DOI and FS to work with DHS to use these roads to deter illegal entry into the United States and gain operational control of the southern and northern border;
- Establishes the Border Fuels Management Initiative to address the risk of wildland fire along the southern and northern border;
- Requires DOI, FS, and GAO to report on visitor safety issues and loss of access to federal land due to illegal immigration;
- Prohibits the Biden Administration practice of housing illegal immigrants on Federal lands.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and is co-sponsored by eight Republicans.