Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2]
Republican · OR · 8 bills sponsored
O&C Renewal Act of 2026
# O&C Renewal Act of 2026 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** The O&C Renewal Act of 2026 (HR 7603) would address the management and use of O&C lands—a special category of public lands primarily located in Oregon. These lands have a unique history and current management structure. However, the bill summary provided contains limited details about the specific provisions and reforms it would implement. **Who It Affects:** This legislation would primarily impact residents and communities in Oregon, particularly those in districts with O&C lands. It could affect timber operations, conservation efforts, local governments that receive revenue from these lands, and recreational users. **Current Status:** As of the last update, HR 7603 remains in committee review, meaning it has not yet advanced to a full vote in the House of Representatives. The bill was introduced by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR). *Note: For detailed information about specific provisions, you may want to consult Congress.gov or contact your representative's office, as the publicly available summary is limited.*
Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act
# Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act (HR 6777) **What the Bill Does** This bill would designate approximately 417,000 acres of federal land in Oregon's Owyhee region as protected wilderness area. If passed, the land would receive special conservation status that generally prohibits commercial development, mining, and logging, while allowing recreational activities like hiking and hunting. The bill also addresses water rights and grazing issues in the region. **Who It Affects** The legislation would impact ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts, local communities in Malheur County, Oregon, and the federal government. Ranchers currently using the land would face restrictions on grazing practices, while conservation advocates and recreationalists would gain protected access to the landscape. Local counties could be affected by changes to federal land management and any shifts in economic activity. **Current Status** As of now, HR 6777 is in committee and has not been voted on by the full House of Representatives. The bill was introduced by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR), suggesting it has bipartisan considerations despite being a Republican-sponsored measure, as wilderness designations often do. The bill remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
Safe Social Media Act
# Safe Social Media Act Summary The Safe Social Media Act (HR 6290) is a proposed federal law designed to protect children's safety on social media platforms. If passed, the bill would establish new requirements for social media companies operating in the United States, likely including measures to limit children's exposure to harmful content, restrict data collection practices targeting minors, and potentially require age verification systems. The legislation reflects growing bipartisan concern about the impact of social media on young people's mental health and safety. The bill would primarily affect social media platforms and their users, especially families with children. It would also create new oversight responsibilities for Congress and possibly federal agencies to monitor company compliance. Key provisions typically included in similar child safety bills involve restrictions on algorithmic recommendation systems that may promote addictive or harmful content to minors, enhanced parental controls, and transparency requirements for how platforms collect and use children's data. **Current Status:** As of now, the bill remains in committee and has not advanced to a full congressional vote. No companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. Like many proposed regulations of social media, this legislation faces ongoing debate about how to effectively protect children while balancing free speech and innovation concerns.
Dalles Watershed Development Act
# Dalles Watershed Development Act Summary **What the bill does:** This bill would transfer approximately 150 acres of federal forest land in Mount Hood National Forest to the City of The Dalles, Oregon at no cost. The city would have one year after the bill passes to request the transfer, and the Forest Service would then be required to hand over the land. The exact boundaries would be determined through an official survey. The city must pay all costs associated with completing the transfer. **Who it affects:** Primarily the City of The Dalles and the surrounding Oregon community. The transfer affects federal land management, as the U.S. Forest Service would lose control of this acreage. The bill also impacts the watershed and local land use in the Mount Hood National Forest area. **Key provisions:** The land transfer comes with conditions: the city cannot sell or use the land in ways that conflict with existing legal rights on the property, and the Forest Service can impose additional requirements to protect U.S. interests. The transfer involves no monetary payment from the city to the federal government—it's a free conveyance. **Current status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and awaits action in the Senate.
Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025
# Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Would Do** HR 5171 aims to address wolf management in the Pacific Northwest region. While the bill's specific provisions aren't detailed in the available information, bills with this title typically seek to modify how gray wolves are managed or protected in states like Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. These bills often involve changing hunting/removal regulations, adjusting endangered species protections, or shifting management authority between federal and state governments. **Who It Affects** The legislation would impact: ranchers and agricultural communities concerned about livestock predation, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts, state wildlife agencies, and environmental/conservation groups. Native American tribes with treaty rights in the region could also be affected. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress (2025) by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon) and is currently in committee. This means it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House. Without access to the bill's specific text, the exact provisions cannot be detailed here. For complete information, the bill text should be reviewed on Congress.gov.
Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2025
# Patients' Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2025 – Summary **What the Bill Would Do** The Patients' Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2025 would require patients to receive clear information about their medications from healthcare providers. While the bill's specific provisions aren't detailed in available materials, the title suggests it aims to ensure patients have access to comprehensive information about prescribed drugs, potentially including ingredient lists, side effects, alternatives, and other relevant safety or effectiveness data. **Who It Affects** This bill would primarily affect patients receiving prescription medications and the healthcare providers who prescribe and dispense them. Pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors' offices would likely need to update their practices to comply with new disclosure requirements. **Current Status** The bill was introduced by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House. Many bills at this stage do not advance further in the legislative process. To learn more about the bill's specific requirements, you would need to review the full text on Congress.gov.
Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act
# Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act - Summary **What the bill would do:** The Wildfire Communications Resiliency Act would speed up the process for repairing and improving communications infrastructure (like cell towers, phone lines, and internet equipment) damaged by wildfires. Currently, these projects must go through lengthy federal environmental reviews and historic preservation checks. This bill would skip those reviews for certain wildfire recovery projects, allowing work to begin faster. **Who it affects and key conditions:** The bill applies to communications companies and recovery efforts in areas hit by major wildfires. To qualify for the exemption, projects must: occur within five years after a wildfire disaster is officially declared, be located in the disaster area, and either replace damaged equipment or improve infrastructure to aid recovery or prevent future disaster damage. The wildfire declaration would need to come from the President, a state governor, or a tribal leader. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 1655 in the 119th Congress), sponsored by Republican Representative Cliff Bentz of Oregon. It has not yet been voted on by the full House. The goal is to reduce bureaucratic delays in restoring critical communications after wildfires, though critics might raise concerns about whether skipping environmental and historic reviews could cause other problems.
SECURE Notarization Act of 2025
# SECURE Notarization Act of 2025 Summary **What the Bill Does:** The SECURE Notarization Act of 2025 would establish federal standards for electronic notarization (the digital verification of signatures and documents). Currently, notarization rules vary significantly by state. This bill would create uniform federal guidelines for how documents can be electronically notarized and authenticated across state lines, making it easier for people and businesses to conduct transactions remotely without needing in-person notarization. **Who It Affects:** This bill would impact everyday people who need documents notarized (like loan applications or legal agreements), businesses that conduct interstate transactions, notaries public who perform these services, and state governments that currently regulate notarization independently. The bill involves federal oversight of what has traditionally been a state-regulated function. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Representative Cliff Bentz (R-OR) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't been debated or voted on by the full House yet. No action has been taken since its introduction.