Why it Matters

American Forests continues its aggressive lobbying push with $50,000 spent in Q2 2025 on the Fix Our Forests Act. The 150-year-old conservation group is doubling down on in-house advocacy after ending contracts with two specialized firms. This marks a strategic shift toward internal expertise as major forestry legislation gains momentum.

By the Numbers

  • Q2 2025 spending: $50,000 in internal lobbying costs
  • Historical investment: $858,579 across 27 in-house filings since 2019, plus $460,000 to external firms
  • Previous partnerships:
  • Lead lobbyist: Joel O. Pannell, with over a decade of conservation lobbying experience

Broader Context

The Forest Service faces a staffing crisis while wildfire risks escalate nationwide. The agency has lost over 4,000 employees, creating capacity constraints. Acting Associate Chief Chris French admitted “there is more work to do than workforce capacity” during a tense House Appropriations hearing. This backdrop intensifies pressure for both policy reforms and adequate funding.

The Agenda

American Forests is pushing five key priorities this quarter:

  • Legislative focus: The Fix Our Forests Act to expedite environmental reviews and expand restoration projects
  • Funding priorities: FY2026 appropriations for Forest Landowner Support and Urban and Community Forestry programs
  • Urban initiatives: Housing policy integration and surface transportation reauthorization with green infrastructure
  • Broad advocacy: Environmental issues and forest health conservation

The organization targets both immediate funding needs and long-term policy framework changes.

Competitive Landscape

American Forests operates within a crowded advocacy space on forest issues. The Conservation Alliance, Megafire Action, and Hardwood Federation all lobby on the Fix Our Forests Act.
Urban forestry efforts align with Cambium Carbon PBC‘s workforce development advocacy. Conservation funding attracts support from the American Forest Foundation and Pacific Forest Trust.
This creates a coordinated push from conservation groups, industry partners, and local governments.

Between The Lines

Congress is moving on multiple fronts despite agency challenges. The Fix Our Forests Act passed the House 279-141 with strong bipartisan support. Senate introduction came from Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. John Curtis, Sen. John Hickenlooper, and Sen. Tim Sheehy.
Rep. Dan Newhouse argues the bill “enhances our abilities to prevent catastrophic wildfires.” But tensions persist over resources. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Sen. Amy Klobuchar pressed USDA on potential staff cuts.
Sen. Jeff Merkley called the Forest Service “dangerously unprepared for wildfire season,” while Sen. Patty Murray confronted leadership over layoffs and funding freezes.
Companion bills like the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act and Cool Corridors Act advance American Forests’ urban forestry agenda.

The Bottom Line

American Forests is betting on sustained in-house advocacy as forestry legislation gains bipartisan traction. The organization’s streamlined approach coincides with significant congressional momentum and agency capacity concerns.

—

All data used in this article came from Legis1. Request a demo to learn more!