To amend Public Law 87-788 (commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act; 16 U.S.C. 582a-7) to provide for equal treatment of the District of Columbia with respect to funds made available under that Act.

# Plain Language Summary of HR 7650 **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would change a decades-old federal forestry funding program to treat Washington, D.C. the same way it treats states. Currently, the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act provides federal money to states for forest research and education programs. However, D.C. is not technically a state, so it may be excluded or treated differently when these funds are distributed. This bill would ensure that D.C.

receives an equal share of forestry funding as other jurisdictions. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects Washington, D.C. residents, forestry researchers, and educational institutions in the district. It could also benefit environmental and conservation efforts in D.C. More broadly, it represents an ongoing effort to give D.C. equal treatment in federal programs despite its unique political status as a federal district rather than a state. **Current Status** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but hasn't yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was sponsored by D.C.'s delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton.