Take action
Ask your senators to cosponsor the Save Our Sequoias Act
Give land managers stronger tools to protect America’s giant sequoias before the next wildfire — proactively, not after the damage is done.
What the bill does
Three ways the Save Our Sequoias Act protects these forests
Coordinates the response
Improves coordination across agencies and partners so protection work happens faster and more comprehensively.
Prioritizes restoration
Puts forest restoration work at the front of the line, before sequoia groves are lost to fire.
Speeds wildfire response
Gives land managers the tools and resources to respond to wildfire threats more quickly.
Sequoias aren’t just nice to look at. Like all of America’s forests, they play a critical role in addressing climate change by sequestering carbon — and we need to make sure they’re preserved.
Make it count
A few words in your own voice go a long way
The default message works on its own — but a personal note is much harder for an office to ignore. Borrow any of these points and say them your way.
Two or three sentences is plenty
- Say you’re a constituent
Offices weigh messages from the people they represent most heavily. Lead with your city or town. - Make the stakes local
If this issue has touched your community — wildfire, energy bills, air quality — name it. Specifics stick. - Keep the ask clear
State plainly what you want them to do, in one sentence, near the top. - Be respectful
CCL’s nonpartisan, appreciative tone is what gets us in the door. Thank them for their time.
Where things stand
We’ve been at this since the bill was first drafted
A one-line caption for the photo.
2022
The bill is introduced
When the Save Our Sequoias Act was first introduced in 2022, CCL’s Government Affairs team gave congressional offices feedback on the initial draft — and on the versions that followed — to help make the bill stronger.
2023
CCL endorses, then lobbies
On reintroduction we publicly endorsed the bill, welcoming “strong bipartisan support for a comprehensive plan to address the increased wildfire and climate threat to California’s treasured giant sequoias.” It became one of our secondary asks when CCLers lobbied on Capitol Hill that June.
March 2025
The House passes it
Reintroduced again with strong bipartisan support, the bill quickly passed the House with unanimous consent.
Next up
The Senate
Sending an email to your senators builds momentum for the Senate companion bill by generating more cosponsors. That’s where you come in.
Frequently asked questions
What would the Save Our Sequoias Act do?
It gives land managers stronger tools and resources to proactively protect these forests. The bill improves coordination across agencies and partners, prioritizes restoration work, and helps managers respond more quickly to wildfire threats before they become catastrophic.
Many of these activities were already enacted by the Biden Administration, have since been continued by the Trump Administration, and now have the chance to be codified into law to protect these forests into the future.
Where are the sequoias?
Giant sequoia trees only grow naturally in a 360-mile band on the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. This small geographic range makes them particularly vulnerable to extinction threats, especially wildfires.
How do sequoia trees help address climate change?
Sequoias, like all forests, play a key role in carbon sequestration. U.S. forests currently offset about 12% of the nation’s annual greenhouse gas emissions — but severe wildfires release much of that stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
Why is the act important now?
Wildfires are a growing crisis, impacting nearly every state. A historically warm winter and ongoing snow drought across much of the country have created dangerously dry conditions, increasing the likelihood of a severe and prolonged wildfire season.
Over time, giant sequoias evolved special bark that insulates them from wildfire. But recent fires have started to burn so long and so hot that this natural protection is no longer sufficient. We need to act now.
How is this different from the Fix Our Forests Act?
The Save Our Sequoias Act includes some of the same emergency authorities that FOFA would use to expedite forest management, but here they’re targeted to just the sequoias. CCL is supporting both bills to better protect American forests.
How will the Forest Service reorganization affect this bill?
Sufficient funding and staffing at the U.S. Forest Service are central to enacting the wildfire prevention and resilience legislation we hope Congress will pass.
We’re closely monitoring a concerning Forest Service reorganization under consideration, and have significant concerns about any proposal that would diminish scientific research or institutional capacity. We’re actively engaging key appropriations committees and planning a broader mobilization to support strong Forest Service funding and capacity.
Should I customize my message to Congress?
Absolutely — your voice matters, make it count! Adding a personal touch to your email grabs attention and makes your message harder to ignore.
How else can I help?
Share this page with any friends, family and coworkers who want to help.
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