Overview
Title
To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The "Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025" is a plan to help people who take care of national parks and federal lands by giving them better places to live and work together with others. It allows the government to team up with different groups to make sure these workers have nice homes and good support.
Summary AI
S. 1083, titled the "Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025," aims to improve housing and workforce programs for Federal land management agencies. The bill allows these agencies to expand their housing options for employees, form partnerships with public and private organizations, and support workers, especially those in the National Park Service, through better housing solutions. It also provides mechanisms for cooperative management agreements and philanthropic support, seeking to enhance workforce conditions and management efficiency in federal lands. Additionally, it mandates reports to Congress to assess workforce housing needs and the effectiveness of existing housing programs.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The "Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025" aims to enhance housing and workforce programs for federal land management agencies such as the National Park Service and the Forest Service. The bill proposes various measures, including expanding housing options for park employees, promoting partnerships, supporting the workforce, and reinforcing oversight and accountability mechanisms. The overarching goal is to improve living conditions and support federal employees who manage public lands, which can potentially enhance the effectiveness of federal land stewardship.
Summary of Significant Issues
One major concern with the bill is the broad discretion granted to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, especially in sections related to land acquisition and management. This could result in inconsistent management practices and the risk of favoritism. Additionally, the bill's provisions for handling emergency subsistence lack clear criteria, raising the potential for fund misuse. The recruitment strategy highlighting candidate proximity to federal sites could unfairly disadvantage qualified individuals living further away, limit diversity, and potentially reduce the pool of top talent.
Another critical issue is the bill's reliance on philanthropic support without detailed oversight measures, which might open the door to conflicts of interest. The reduced competition requirements for selling Forest Service land assets could impact the fairness and efficiency of achieving fair market value in these sales. Furthermore, there is no clear oversight mechanism for the workforce housing programs, generating concerns about accountability and effective fund use.
Impact on the Public
Broadly speaking, the bill intends to enhance the quality of life for federal land management employees, thereby potentially improving the management of public lands. For the general public, efficient land management translates to better-maintained parks and wildlife areas, enhancing visitor experiences and promoting ecological sustainability. However, as the bill increases government spending without stringent oversight mechanisms, there could be concerns about resource allocation transparency and efficiency.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts
Federal Employees: Employees within agencies like the National Park Service and Forest Service may benefit from improved housing options and support systems, likely leading to better job satisfaction and performance.
Philanthropic Organizations: These organizations might gain greater influence and opportunities to partner with federal agencies, allowing them to contribute more directly and visibly to public sector efforts.
Local Communities near Federal Lands: Enhanced partnerships and cooperative management agreements could foster economic opportunities and improved infrastructure in these areas.
Negative Impacts
Taxpayers: Without clear accountability and oversight, taxpayers might be concerned about potential inefficiencies and misuse of funds, questioning whether their contributions provide the intended benefits.
Job Applicants Outside Vicinity: Competent individuals looking to work at agencies but living beyond the eligible vicinity may find it difficult to secure positions, thus facing potential employment barriers due to location-based recruitment policies.
Private Sector Competitors: The easing of competitive requirements for land asset sales in the Forest Service could stifle competition, affecting market fairness and transparency.
Overall, the bill presents a promising framework to address critical needs within federal land management agencies while highlighting the need for clarity and accountability to ensure efficient implementation and prevent potential negative consequences.
Issues
The broad discretion given to the Secretary in various sections, such as Section 102 regarding land acquisition and management, and Section 202 on cooperative management agreements, could lead to inconsistent management practices and potential favoritism or misuse of funds and privileges. (Sections 102, 202)
The lack of specific criteria for assessing emergency situations in Section 403 for employee subsistence raises concerns about potential misuse of funds without clear oversight, especially given the broad exceptions allowed. (Section 403)
The amendments to allow acquisition and management of land for workforce housing (Section 102) provide the Secretary expansive powers without clear criteria or checks and balances, which could result in inefficiencies and favoritism in land use decisions. (Section 102)
The provision for extending employee assignments indefinitely under cooperative management agreements lacks clear limits or periodic reviews, potentially leading to prolonged assignments that might not serve federal or local interests well. (Section 101703)
The authority to recruit individuals based on proximity to federal sites in Section 301 might unfairly limit opportunities for qualified candidates living further away, potentially leading to a less diverse or qualified workforce. (Section 301)
The plan for leveraging philanthropic support through broad definitions and lacks clear oversight measures, raising concerns about conflicts of interest or undue influence over housing policies. (Sections 203, 104)
The amendment in Section 105 to reduce the requirements for competitive sales of Forest Service administrative sites could lead to reduced competition and might not ensure fair market value is achieved. (Section 105)
Clarification is needed on the term 'field employees' to ensure equitable eligibility for housing benefits, as the ambiguity could lead to inconsistent application of housing programs. (Sections 104, 101)
The absence of a clear oversight mechanism in Sections 101, 102, and 103 for prioritizing and developing workforce housing programs raises concerns about accountability and possible inefficiencies in fund allocation. (Sections 101, 102, 103)
The deadline for the authority in Section 301 and 302 raises questions about the long-term sustainability and planning for the workforce, with no rationale provided for the chosen termination date of 2030. (Sections 301, 302)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The “Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2025” aims to improve housing for those working in national parks and similar areas. It outlines ways to increase affordable housing options for workers, encourages partnerships to aid these efforts, and emphasizes the importance of supporting and overseeing workforce needs and expenses.
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines key terms used in the act, including "appropriate committees of Congress" which refers to specific committees in the Senate and House of Representatives, "covered agencies" which include certain federal services like the National Park Service, and "Secretary" which refers to the Secretary of the Interior.
101. Prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section changes a law to emphasize providing housing for field employees of the National Park Service as a priority. It clarifies the language in the existing rule by inserting references to housing and adding a comma for better readability.
102. Authorizing the National Park Service to address workforce housing off-park Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The National Park Service can acquire up to 20 acres of land near a park to build housing for its employees. This land won't be managed like a regular part of the park, but the Secretary of the Interior can manage it and issue rules for its use, and if it's no longer needed, it can be sold, with proceeds supporting employee housing needs.
103. Expanding National Park Service rental options Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text describes a change to United States Code, which allows for the development, construction, maintenance, or operation of housing for field employees of the National Park Service, expanding the current options beyond just management, repair, and maintenance.
104. Leveraging National Park Service rental receipts for workforce housing programming Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The law adds a provision allowing the National Park Service to use money it collects from rental receipts for its workforce housing programs. This money can be used to help build, maintain, or operate housing for field workers in national park areas.
105. Empowering the Forest Service to address workforce housing needs Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes changes that give the Forest Service the power to use buildings or land for up to 50 years for workforce housing, and it alters rules for selling Forest Service properties, requiring at least two competitive bids for sales instead of just one.
201. Engaging partners to address National Park Service workforce housing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The changes to Section 101701(a) of title 54, U.S. Code involve expanding the definition of projects to include housing for field employees and broadening collaboration to include Tribal entities and organizations or individuals with philanthropic agreements to support the National Park Service.
202. Encouraging public-private cooperative management Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines how the Secretary of the Interior can create agreements for cooperative management with states, tribes, or local governments for better management of park lands. These agreements allow the sharing of resources such as goods, services, and office space, but they do not transfer any administrative responsibilities of federal parks.
101703. Cooperative management agreements Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with States, Indian Tribes, or local governments to manage park lands next to federal lands more effectively. These agreements can include shared office spaces, the exchange of goods and services, and employee assignments, but they do not transfer administrative authority over the federal lands.
203. Leveraging philanthropic support to address National Park Service workforce housing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends a section of the United States Code to allow the National Park Service to receive a broader range of support for workforce housing, including cash, services, and durable goods.
301. Supporting the land manager workforce Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Agriculture or Interior can hire qualified people who live near areas managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Forest Service for certain jobs until September 30, 2030. These hires must follow federal job rules and be open and fair to everyone.
302. Supporting the seasonal National Park Service workforce Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section allows the Secretary of the Interior to define what a major part of the National Park Service is and says that temporary seasonal workers can be rehired without needing to be in the same area as their previous job. This rule is in effect until September 30, 2030.
401. Quantifying the workforce housing needs of land managers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture to deliver a report to Congress within 18 months, assessing the housing needs for workers in certain government agencies. The report should include an analysis of the conditions and types of agency-owned and leased housing, the employment status and housing needs of the workers, and a review of local private housing markets, including factors like housing affordability and the effect of vacation rentals on housing availability and cost.
402. Conducting oversight on the housing programming of land managers Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress within 18 months, evaluating how various government circulars and guidance impact housing for agency workers, and proposing improvements such as better tenant experiences, housing supply, and commuting times. Within a year of receiving the report, agency heads are tasked with implementing the suggested administrative actions.
403. Justifying emergency spending Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Section 403 of the bill amends a previous law to require the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress when providing emergency subsistence to employees, explaining the reasons, number of employees helped, cost, and duration unless it’s due to a natural disaster.
5. Emergency subsistence for employees Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines provisions for emergency subsistence support, which is assistance provided by the Department to employees during unforeseen circumstances that affect their livelihood.