An amendment to prohibit the USDA from using funds to implement any Forest Service reorganization, relocation, office closure, research station closure, workforce reduction, or transfer of functions unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that the action will not increase wildfire risk;
Janelle Bynum will oppose USDA-funded reorganization or closures that increase wildfire risk.
Occurrences
Evidence
unverified · Source version 93076 · locator unknown
Rep. Bynum said she introduced 13 amendments to the Republicans’ Farm Bill, including: “An amendment to prohibit the USDA from using funds to implement any Forest Service reorganization, relocation, office closure, research station closure, workforce reduction, or transfer of functions unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that the action will not increase wildfire risk.”
unverified · Source version 70447 · locator unknown
The committee’s amendment list shows Bynum amendment 87 as: “Prohibits the USDA from using funds to implement any Forest Service reorganization, relocation, office closure, research station closure, workforce reduction, or transfer of functions unless the Secretary certifies to Congress that the action will not increase wildfire risk.” The same page marks it as “Submitted.”
unverified · Source version 58303 · locator unknown
The amendment text states: “None of the funds authorized or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to carry out any reorganization, relocation, consolidation, closure, transfer of functions, reduction in force, or other significant staffing or operational change within the Forest Service unless” certification is provided that the change will not “increase wildfire risk,” “diminish wildfire preparedness,” or reduce response, fuels treatment, incident management, or research capacity.
unverified · Source version 58302 · locator unknown
14 | Version 1 | Bynum (OR) | Democrat | Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to implement any reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service that is likely to increase wildfire risk. | Submitted
unverified · Source version 58303 · locator unknown
None of the funds authorized or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to carry out any reorganization, relocation, consolidation, closure, transfer of functions, reduction in force, or other significant staffing or operational change within the Forest Service unless the Secretary of provides, with respect to such a change, the certification described in subsection (b).
verified · Source version 70451 · locator 3510
The facilities decision includes reducing the building footprint at 23 research locations. The decision addresses building and maintenance costs but does not affect the science that happens in the field, in the lab, and in collaboration with partners. The agency’s place-based research and development activities will continue as planned throughout the nation.
unverified · Source version 70453 · locator unknown
Bynum | Bynum | Democratic | OR | Nay
verified · Source version 82574 · locator 1788
This administrative stay applies only to the following USDA components: the Food and Nutrition Administration; Research, Education, and Economics mission area; Forest Service; Foreign Agricultural Service; Rural Development mission area; Farm Production and Conservation mission area; Office of the General Counsel; and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
verified · Source version 82576 · locator 3978
The Forest Service will also proceed with the previously announced regional office shifts in Atlanta, Milwaukee and Portland. As with research facilities, employees will continue their work at local facilities.
Assessments
The verified original commitment describes Bynum's amendment to prohibit USDA funds for Forest Service reorganization, relocation, closures, workforce reductions, or transfers unless certified not to increase wildfire risk, so it supports same-term effort and material attribution for the attempted restriction. However, the verified outcome evidence shows Forest Service facility reductions and regional office shifts proceeding, while a court stay temporarily covers Forest Service reorganization activity. There is no verified passage showing Bynum's restriction was enacted or that her material contribution produced a final partial block. Because the fight remains active and the promised restriction is not shown as enacted or achieved, the outcome is unresolved.
Bynum promised to oppose USDA-funded Forest Service reorganizations or closures that would increase wildfire risk. During her federal House term, she publicly introduced and formally submitted an amendment to the Farm Bill barring USDA funds for Forest Service reorganization, relocation, closures, workforce reductions, or transfers unless the Secretary certified they would not increase wildfire risk. The record provided does not show enactment, but the promise was framed as opposition rather than securing final passage, and her amendment directly matched the promised action.