NE Sacramento News

Congressman Tom McClintock of California's 5th District has introduced several bills at the commencement of the 119th Congress. These legislative proposals cover a wide range of topics, from forest management to immigration and national debt.

One notable bill is the Proven Forest Management Act, which seeks to extend a categorical exclusion for forest management projects across the entire National Forest System. This measure was initially secured for the Tahoe Basin in the 2016 WINN Act.

The Action Versus No Action Act mandates federal land management agencies to evaluate both active forest management activities and their alternative, taking no action.

A separate piece of legislation requires the Secretary of Agriculture to engage in wildfire suppression within 24 hours upon identifying a fire on Forest Service land.

Addressing issues related to Social Security fraud, McClintock introduced the Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act. This bill establishes grounds for barring or deporting non-U.S. nationals involved in fraudulent activities concerning Social Security or identification documents.

Another significant proposal is the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act. It prohibits any non-U.S. national involved in facilitating attacks from October 7, 2023, from seeking immigration-related relief or protections in the United States.

The Deport Alien Gang Members Act creates new grounds for inadmissibility and deportability specifically targeting criminal gang members. It also sets procedures for designating criminal gangs by Homeland Security and mandates detention without providing immigration-related relief to such individuals.

In terms of environmental legislation, McClintock proposed several bills including one that allows recreation on Hetch Hetchy while requiring San Francisco to pay fair market value for water sourced there. Another bill directs free access passes to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands be made available to law enforcement officers and firefighters who qualify.

Further amendments are suggested to existing laws like treating artificially propagated animals similarly under the Endangered Species Act as naturally propagated ones, through new legislation aimed at revising determinations regarding species classification as threatened or endangered under this act while capping attorney fees in related citizen suits.

McClintock also put forward economic measures with his Default Prevention Act guaranteeing U.S. sovereign debt by allowing continued borrowing despite debt limit disputes.

Lastly, he proposed constitutional amendments granting line-item veto authority to reduce appropriations by Presidents and restricting government debt increases unless approved by three-fourths majority votes in both Congressional chambers.