Sec. 4. Restoration Fund Advisory Council

437 words·~2 min read·/bill/116/s/5015/is/section-4

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

There is established a Restoration Fund Advisory Council— to disburse amounts from the Fund for the restoration and resilience project grant program established by section 5; and to gather public input and provide recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the use of the Fund for the restoration and resilience partnership established by section 6. The Council shall be composed of— the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and 15 members, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, of whom— 5 shall be representatives from resource-dependent industries, including the agriculture, oil and gas, outdoor recreation, and forest product industries; 5 shall be national experts in the fields of natural resource restoration, economic development, and community and climate resilience; and 5 shall be representatives of eligible entities.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Council shall submit to Congress a report describing— the status of funded eligible projects, including— scientifically defensible estimates of environmental benefits; restoration achievements; attainment of restoration and habitat improvement objectives; adaptive measures undertaken; jobs created and retained through— grants made from the Fund; and activities carried out under the restoration and resilience partnership established by section 6; the growth in outdoor industries; and progress towards State and community level resilience goals;

Federal programs and existing authorities, including funding, financing, technical assistance, and coordination efforts, that contribute to, support, or otherwise complement funded eligible projects; and recommendations to improve delivery, align Federal resources, and expand the workforce in outdoor industries through legislative and administrative changes. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Inspector Generals of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency shall review, and submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Environment and Public Works, Energy and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture, Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing— the use of the Fund by the Council for the restoration and resilience project grant program established by section 5; the use of the Fund by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the restoration and resilience partnership established by section 6; and any abuse or misuse of the Fund.