PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.3701 / 109th Congress

Ecosystem Protection Act of 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Sep 8, 2005

Ecosystem Protection Act of 2005 - Establishes a National Forest Ecosystem Protection Program composed of lands within existing units of the National Forest System that contain large wilderness areas as a core area and a Primitive Area extending outward from them, hereby designated Ecosystem Protection Areas. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service, to manage the wilderness areas. Requires the Secretary to promote the reestablishment or protection of animal and plant species native to the designated Ecosystem Protection Areas. Requires the Secretary to strive to acquire private lands and mineral rights located within wilderness designated areas. Provides a voluntary grazing permit buyout program for the extinguishment of existing grazing permits on such lands. Requires the Secretary to provide forest plan revision assessments in specified areas.Specifies original Ecosystem Protection Areas and Primitive Areas.Requires the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to enable States to acquire Ecosystem Protection Areas on State-owned lands.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1] · D–NJ

Committees

  • Agriculture Committee
  • Natural Resources Committee
10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

  6. Introduced in House

  7. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3701 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3701 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3701 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3701 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources