PCTA urges opposition to H.R. 7695

The Pacific Crest Trail Association on Tuesday asked supporters to contact Congress to oppose H.R. 7695, a House bill that would nullify the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, according to a call to action posted on the group’s website. The Sacramento-based trail group said the measure would affect undeveloped national forest lands that include 71 Inventoried Roadless Areas along the Pacific Crest Trail. (pcta.org) PCTA said those areas protect 231 miles of the trail, or about 9% of its length. The U.S. Forest Service says the 2001 rule currently applies to nearly 45 million acres of National Forest System lands. ### What exactly is H.R. 7695? H.R. 7695 was introduced in the House on Feb. 25, 2026, by Representative Harriet Hageman, a Wyoming Republican, according to the bill text. The listed original cosponsors are Representatives Troy Downing of Montana, Celeste Maloy of Utah, Pete Stauber of Minnesota and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin. (pcta.org) The bill says the 2001 rule titled “Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation” would “have no force or effect.” The text also says the Agriculture secretary could not propose, finalize, implement, administer or enforce any substantially similar rule. ### What does the bill say about roads in national forests? Section 1 of the bill would require the Agriculture secretary, acting through the chief of the Forest Service, to construct permanent and temporary roads on National Forest System lands in several circumstances. (pcta.org) Those include restoration activities, hazardous fuels reduction in at-risk communities, the wildland-urban interface or municipal watersheds, and replacing or decommissioning roads that the secretary determines are harming a forest, rangeland or watershed. The Forest Service says the 2001 Roadless Rule established prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction and timber harvesting in nearly 60 million acres of inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions. (congress.gov) The agency says the rule now pertains to nearly 45 million acres of national forests and grasslands, including in Alaska, while separate state-specific rules supersede it in Idaho and Colorado. ### Why is the Pacific Crest Trail Association involved? Mark Larabee of PCTA wrote in the group’s May 19 post that roadless areas along the Pacific Crest Trail “protect undeveloped National Forest lands” and support wildlife habitat, clean air and water, and recreation economies. The group said the 71 roadless areas along the trail are outside designated wilderness but remain largely uncompromised by roads. (congress.gov) PCTA also tied the bill to a broader policy fight. The group said the Trump administration “wants to do away with the 2001 Roadless Rule,” while the Forest Service says Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on June 23, 2025 an intent to rescind the rule and that the agency is working toward a draft environmental impact statement and proposed rule expected in early 2026. (fs.usda.gov) ### What is PCTA asking people to do? PCTA told supporters the “most effective way” to reach members of Congress before the hearing was to call Washington offices through the Capitol switchboard. The group also published an online action page and said constituents should ask lawmakers to oppose H.R. 7695 and keep roadless forest lands protected. (pcta.org) The May 19 post said opponents should focus especially on members of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Federal Lands Subcommittee. PCTA said callers should identify themselves as constituents and explain why they value protected forest lands. ### When does Congress take up the bill next? (pcta.org) The House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Federal Lands is scheduled to hold a legislative hearing on H.R. 7695 on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building, according to the committee calendar. The hearing notice lists H.R. 7695 among several bills on the agenda. Congress.gov and the bill text show H.R. 7695 was referred to the House Agriculture Committee and, in addition, to the House Natural Resources Committee. (pcta.org) The next public milestone is the May 21 subcommittee hearing in Washington. (congress.gov) (naturalresources.house.gov)