653, enacted June 7, 1924) was one of several pieces of United States federal legislation which expanded the Weeks Act of 1911, and was named for Representative John D. Clarke and Senator Charles McNary.
Two years after the Weeks Act was passed, over 700,000 acres (2,800 km²) had been purchased for the National Forest system in the Eastern United States.
It enabled the Secretary of Agriculture to work cooperatively with State officials for better forest protection, chiefly in fire control and water resources.
Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began working with private forestland owners in reforestation.
That was done by broadening the cooperative efforts to include producing and distributing tree seedlings and providing forestry assistance to farmers.