Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology

The Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology is a specialized division of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. It focuses on a narrower slice of agricultural policy, handling the initial review and hearings for legislation related to conservation programs, forest management, natural resources protection, pesticide regulation, and agricultural biotechnology. Like all subcommittees, it prepares the groundwork for bills that only the full committee can report to the Senate floor.

The subcommittee is chaired by Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) and has Senator Michael F. Bennet (D-CO) as its Ranking Member. The panel consists of 13 members total. In recent months, the subcommittee has held hearings on significant forestry and conservation matters, including a March 2025 hearing on the Fix Our Forests Act, which addresses wildfire management and forest resilience on federal and tribal lands. The subcommittee also examines conservation programs that help farmers and ranchers manage natural resources, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which supports water conservation on working lands.

This subcommittee exists because conservation and forestry issues require specialized expertise distinct from broader agricultural commodity programs or nutrition policy. By focusing on these specific areas, the subcommittee can develop detailed knowledge of forest management, soil conservation, pesticide oversight, and biotechnology applications in agriculture—allowing the full committee to benefit from thorough vetting of complex environmental and resource management legislation.