Floor SpeechUrgent2026-06-24

Text of Senate Amendment 6415

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Context

On 2026-06-24, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6415" in the Senate.

Full Text

Text of Senate Amendment 6415

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3538-S3539] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6415. Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1094. OREGON RECREATION ENHANCEMENT. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means-- (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land administered by the Secretary of the Interior; or (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land. (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Oregon. (b) Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas, Oregon.-- (1) Designation.--For the purposes of protecting, conserving, and enhancing the unique and nationally important recreational, ecological, scenic, cultural, watershed, and fish and wildlife values of the areas, the following areas in the State are designated as recreation areas for management by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (3): (A) Rogue canyon recreation area.--The approximately 98,150 acres of Bureau of Land Management land within the boundary generally depicted as the ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area'' on the map entitled ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area Wild Rogue Wilderness Additions'' and dated November 19, 2019, which is designated as the ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area''. [[Page S3539]] (B) Molalla recreation area.--The approximately 29,884 acres of Bureau of Land Management land within the boundary generally depicted on the map entitled ``Molalla Recreation Area'' and dated September 26, 2018, which is designated as the ``Molalla Recreation Area''. (2) Maps and legal descriptions.-- (A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and legal description of each recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (B) Effect.--The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any minor errors in the maps and legal descriptions. (C) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. (3) Administration.-- (A) Applicable law.--The Secretary shall administer each recreation area designated by paragraph (1)-- (i) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the purposes for which the recreation area is established; and (ii) in accordance with-- (I) this subsection; (II) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and (III) other applicable laws. (B) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow those uses of a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) that are consistent with the purposes for which the recreation area is established. (C) Wildfire risk assessment.--Not later than 280 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Oregon Governor's Council on Wildfire Response, shall conduct a wildfire risk assessment that covers-- (i) the recreation areas designated by paragraph (1); (ii) the Wild Rogue Wilderness; and (iii) any Federal land adjacent to an area described in clause (i) or (ii). (D) Wildfire mitigation plan.-- (i) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the wildfire risk assessment is conducted under subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall develop a wildfire mitigation plan, based on the wildfire risk assessment, that identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes treatments and other management activities that can be implemented on the Federal land covered by the wildfire risk assessment (other than Federal land designated as a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System) to mitigate wildfire risk to communities located near the applicable Federal land. (ii) Plan components.--The wildfire mitigation plan developed under clause (i) shall include-- (I) vegetation management projects (including mechanical treatments to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health and resiliency); (II) evacuation routes for communities located near the applicable Federal land, which shall be developed in consultation with State and local fire agencies; and (III) strategies for public dissemination of emergency evacuation plans and routes. (iii) Applicable law.--The wildfire mitigation plan under clause (i) shall be developed in accordance with-- (I) this subsection; and (II) any other applicable law. (E) Road construction.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii) or as the Secretary determines necessary for public safety, no new permanent or temporary roads shall be constructed (other than the repair and maintenance of existing roads) within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (ii) Temporary roads.--Consistent with the purposes of this section, the Secretary may construct temporary roads within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) to implement the wildfire mitigation plan developed under subparagraph (D), unless the temporary road would be within an area designated as a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System. (iii) Effect.--Nothing in this subparagraph affects the administration by the Secretary of the Molalla Forest Road in accordance with applicable resource management plans. (F) Effect on wildfire management.--Nothing in this subsection alters the authority of the Secretary (in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate) to conduct wildland fire operations within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1), consistent with the purposes of this section. (G) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal surface and subsurface land within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) is withdrawn from all forms of-- (i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. (H) No effect on wilderness areas.--Any wilderness area located within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) shall be administered in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). (4) Adjacent management.--Nothing in this subsection creates any protective perimeter or buffer zone around a recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (c) Expansion of Wild Rogue Wilderness Area.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area Wild Rogue Wilderness Additions'' and dated November 19, 2019. (B) Wilderness additions.--The term ``Wilderness additions'' means the land added to the Wild Rogue Wilderness under paragraph (2)(A). (2) Expansion of wild rogue wilderness area.-- (A) Expansion.--The approximately 59,512 acres of Federal land in the State generally depicted on the map as ``Proposed Wilderness'' shall be added to and administered as part of the Wild Rogue Wilderness in accordance with the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 95-237), except that-- (i) the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall administer the Federal land under their respective jurisdiction; and (ii) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable. (B) Map; legal description.-- (i) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and legal description of the wilderness area designated by subparagraph (A). (ii) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed under clause (i) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subsection, except that the Secretary may correct typographical errors in the map and legal description. (iii) Public availability.--The map and legal description filed under clause (i) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. (C) Fire, insects, and disease.--The Secretary may take such measures within the Wilderness additions as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control of fire, insects, and disease, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)). (D) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness additions are withdrawn from all forms of-- (i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. (E) Tribal rights.--Nothing in this paragraph alters, modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or abrogates the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe. (d) Withdrawal of Federal Land, Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Eligible federal land.--The term ``eligible Federal land'' means-- (i) any federally owned land or interest in land depicted on the Maps as within the Hunter Creek and Pistol River Headwaters Withdrawal Proposal or the Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks Mineral Withdrawal Proposal; or (ii) any land or interest in land located within such withdrawal proposals that is acquired by the Federal

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Text of Senate Amendment 6415 Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3538-S3539] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6415. Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1094. OREGON RECREATION ENHANCEMENT. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means-- (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land administered by the Secretary of the Interior; or (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land. (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Oregon. (b) Rogue Canyon and Molalla Recreation Areas, Oregon.-- (1) Designation.--For the purposes of protecting, conserving, and enhancing the unique and nationally important recreational, ecological, scenic, cultural, watershed, and fish and wildlife values of the areas, the following areas in the State are designated as recreation areas for management by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (3): (A) Rogue canyon recreation area.--The approximately 98,150 acres of Bureau of Land Management land within the boundary generally depicted as the ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area'' on the map entitled ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area Wild Rogue Wilderness Additions'' and dated November 19, 2019, which is designated as the ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area''. [[Page S3539]] (B) Molalla recreation area.--The approximately 29,884 acres of Bureau of Land Management land within the boundary generally depicted on the map entitled ``Molalla Recreation Area'' and dated September 26, 2018, which is designated as the ``Molalla Recreation Area''. (2) Maps and legal descriptions.-- (A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and legal description of each recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (B) Effect.--The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct any minor errors in the maps and legal descriptions. (C) Public availability.--The maps and legal descriptions prepared under subparagraph (A) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management. (3) Administration.-- (A) Applicable law.--The Secretary shall administer each recreation area designated by paragraph (1)-- (i) in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the purposes for which the recreation area is established; and (ii) in accordance with-- (I) this subsection; (II) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); and (III) other applicable laws. (B) Uses.--The Secretary shall only allow those uses of a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) that are consistent with the purposes for which the recreation area is established. (C) Wildfire risk assessment.--Not later than 280 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Oregon Governor's Council on Wildfire Response, shall conduct a wildfire risk assessment that covers-- (i) the recreation areas designated by paragraph (1); (ii) the Wild Rogue Wilderness; and (iii) any Federal land adjacent to an area described in clause (i) or (ii). (D) Wildfire mitigation plan.-- (i) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the wildfire risk assessment is conducted under subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall develop a wildfire mitigation plan, based on the wildfire risk assessment, that identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes treatments and other management activities that can be implemented on the Federal land covered by the wildfire risk assessment (other than Federal land designated as a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System) to mitigate wildfire risk to communities located near the applicable Federal land. (ii) Plan components.--The wildfire mitigation plan developed under clause (i) shall include-- (I) vegetation management projects (including mechanical treatments to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health and resiliency); (II) evacuation routes for communities located near the applicable Federal land, which shall be developed in consultation with State and local fire agencies; and (III) strategies for public dissemination of emergency evacuation plans and routes. (iii) Applicable law.--The wildfire mitigation plan under clause (i) shall be developed in accordance with-- (I) this subsection; and (II) any other applicable law. (E) Road construction.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii) or as the Secretary determines necessary for public safety, no new permanent or temporary roads shall be constructed (other than the repair and maintenance of existing roads) within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (ii) Temporary roads.--Consistent with the purposes of this section, the Secretary may construct temporary roads within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) to implement the wildfire mitigation plan developed under subparagraph (D), unless the temporary road would be within an area designated as a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System. (iii) Effect.--Nothing in this subparagraph affects the administration by the Secretary of the Molalla Forest Road in accordance with applicable resource management plans. (F) Effect on wildfire management.--Nothing in this subsection alters the authority of the Secretary (in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate) to conduct wildland fire operations within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1), consistent with the purposes of this section. (G) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all Federal surface and subsurface land within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) is withdrawn from all forms of-- (i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. (H) No effect on wilderness areas.--Any wilderness area located within a recreation area designated by paragraph (1) shall be administered in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). (4) Adjacent management.--Nothing in this subsection creates any protective perimeter or buffer zone around a recreation area designated by paragraph (1). (c) Expansion of Wild Rogue Wilderness Area.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Rogue Canyon Recreation Area Wild Rogue Wilderness Additions'' and dated November 19, 2019. (B) Wilderness additions.--The term ``Wilderness additions'' means the land added to the Wild Rogue Wilderness under paragraph (2)(A). (2) Expansion of wild rogue wilderness area.-- (A) Expansion.--The approximately 59,512 acres of Federal land in the State generally depicted on the map as ``Proposed Wilderness'' shall be added to and administered as part of the Wild Rogue Wilderness in accordance with the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; Public Law 95-237), except that-- (i) the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall administer the Federal land under their respective jurisdiction; and (ii) any reference in that Act to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be considered to be a reference to the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable. (B) Map; legal description.-- (i) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare a map and legal description of the wilderness area designated by subparagraph (A). (ii) Force of law.--The map and legal description filed under clause (i) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this subsection, except that the Secretary may correct typographical errors in the map and legal description. (iii) Public availability.--The map and legal description filed under clause (i) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. (C) Fire, insects, and disease.--The Secretary may take such measures within the Wilderness additions as the Secretary determines to be necessary for the control of fire, insects, and disease, in accordance with section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)). (D) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Wilderness additions are withdrawn from all forms of-- (i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; (ii) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and (iii) disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials. (E) Tribal rights.--Nothing in this paragraph alters, modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or abrogates the treaty rights of any Indian Tribe. (d) Withdrawal of Federal Land, Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon.-- (1) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Eligible federal land.--The term ``eligible Federal land'' means-- (i) any federally owned land or interest in land depicted on the Maps as within the Hunter Creek and Pistol River Headwaters Withdrawal Proposal or the Rough and Ready and Baldface Creeks Mineral Withdrawal Proposal; or (ii) any land or interest in land located within such withdrawal proposals that is acquired by the Federal