H.R. 1762 — Forest Service Accountability Act

This section establishes statutory requirements for the appointment of the Chief of the Forest Service, who leads the U.S. Forest Service in managing 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Specifically, the section (1) requires appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; (2) mandates that the appointee have substantial experience and demonstrated competence in forest and natural resources management; (3) directs joint referral of nominations to the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Energy and Natural Resources, as an exercise of Senate rulemaking power; and (4) requires the President to submit a nomination within 30 days of enactment, notwithstanding any incumbent Chief.