# Plain Language Summary of H.R. 2201

This bill would completely eliminate all federal funding for the U.S. Forest Service's operations for the year 2024. In practical terms, it would set the budget for running the Forest Service to zero dollars, meaning no money would be available to pay for any of the agency's day-to-day activities.

The Forest Service manages about 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands across the country. With zero funding, the agency would be unable to pay its employees, maintain trails and facilities, fight wildfires, manage campgrounds, or conduct any of its regular operations. This would affect millions of Americans who use national forests for recreation like hiking, camping, and fishing. It would also impact rural communities that depend on Forest Service jobs and services, as well as the timber, recreation, and tourism industries that rely on well-maintained public lands.

In reality, this bill is more of a political statement than a practical proposal. Congress would never actually allow the Forest Service to operate with no money, as it would create immediate chaos on public lands and leave dangerous situations unmanaged. However, the bill signals that its sponsors want significant cuts to Forest Service spending and operations. If passed, it would likely trigger negotiations about what level of funding the Forest Service should actually receive, rather than resulting in a complete shutdown of the agency.

To provide for a limitation on availability of funds for US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Operations for fiscal year 2024.

Biggs, Andy

 <p>This bill limits FY2024 funding for the Department of Agriculture for Forest Service Operations.</p>