119-HR-4684 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 4684 Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2026
A narrowly focused bill to require the Forest Service to issue and renew a 10‑year, fee‑free permit for a U.S. flagpole at Kyhv Peak in Utah, prioritize local volunteer caretakers, and exempt the project from NEPA; it advanced out of committee on March 5, 2026.
Headline Summary
Let a local volunteer keep a U.S. flag flying on Kyhv Peak in Utah by requiring the Forest Service to grant a 10‑year, fee‑free permit and renew it, while skipping environmental review.
What It Does
The Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025 tells the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Forest Service) to issue a special-use permit to place and maintain a U.S. flag on a flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in the Uinta National Forest. The initial 10‑year permit goes to Robert S. Collins of Provo, Utah, or—if he declines—to another qualified local resident or nonprofit/volunteer group. Permits renew in 10‑year blocks with a clear priority order, the Forest Service may set care-and-safety conditions, land‑use fees are waived, reasonable access for maintenance can be authorized, accepting anything of value for naming a successor is banned, and the action is expressly exempt from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.
Who’s For It
- Bill sponsor and supporters say it honors the national flag and formalizes a local tradition while keeping costs minimal through volunteer maintenance and a fee waiver.
- Members of the House Natural Resources Committee advanced it by unanimous consent on March 5, 2026, suggesting bipartisan comfort with this narrow, site-specific permit at the committee stage.
Who’s Against It
- Public-lands and environmental advocates often oppose case‑by‑case exemptions from NEPA, warning this could set a precedent for skipping environmental reviews on federal lands.
- Process watchdogs may object to Congress naming a specific individual for a federal permit, arguing it’s special treatment that sidesteps normal permitting rules.
- Some raise practical concerns about access, safety, and cumulative impacts on a popular lookout if maintenance trips increase, even with Forest Service conditions attached.
What’s Next
As of March 5, 2026, the House Natural Resources Committee ordered the bill to be reported, as amended, by unanimous consent. Next, House leaders may schedule a floor vote; if it passes the House, it goes to the Senate. If both chambers pass the same version, it heads to the President for signature or veto.
Discussion