Sec. 303. National community capacity and land stewardship grant program
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In this section: The term community capacity means the ability of an eligible entity to carry out or assist in a land stewardship activity. The term disadvantaged community means— a low-income community (as defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); and a community that includes a significant population that has been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life based on a particular characteristic, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Native American persons, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color.
The term eligible entity means any of the following entities that is located in or represents a disadvantaged community: An organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. A collaborative group fiscally sponsored by an organization described in subparagraph (A). A unit of local government. An Indian Tribe. A special district government, as defined by the Director of the Bureau of the Census.
The term ecological integrity has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). The term land stewardship activity means any of the following activities, as applied to a qualifying project: Planning. Collaboration and building community support.
Implementation on land other than National Forest System land. Monitoring, including multiparty monitoring, and adaptive management. The term qualifying project means any of the following activities that takes place at least in substantial part on National Forest System land or national grasslands: Restoration of the ecological integrity of a forest, meadow, grassland, prairie, or other habitat. Tribal management for aligned cultural and ecological values. Enhancing community wildfire resilience in the wildland-urban interface.
Increasing equitable access to environmental education and volunteerism opportunities. The term restoration has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through— the regional offices of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service; and as appropriate, regional offices of other Deputy Areas of the Forest Service.
The purpose of this section is to support increasing community capacity, partnerships, and collaborations within and involving disadvantaged communities for land stewardship activities and restoration of ecological integrity on— National Forest System land; national grasslands; and adjacent private, State, and trust land associated with the health and resilience of land described in paragraphs
(1)and (2). The Secretary may issue grants to eligible entities for increasing community capacity for land stewardship activities and related activities based on the criteria described in subsection (d). The Secretary may fund up to 100 percent of the cost of land stewardship activities and related activities carried out using a grant issued under paragraph (1). A grant issued under this section may be considered a non-Federal matching contribution from the eligible entity that received the grant towards other sources of Federal funding. The Secretary may issue a grant under paragraph
(1)for a period of 1 or more years. The amount of a grant issued under paragraph
(1)shall be not more than $50,000 per year. The Secretary shall administer grants under paragraph
(1)in accordance with all applicable Federal and State laws. Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities under subsection (c)(1) on a competitive basis in accordance with the following criteria: The extent to which the proposed land stewardship activities benefit units of the National Forest System and national grasslands over the short and long term. The extent to which valuable ecological, economic, and social benefits to disadvantaged communities, including job creation and business development or retention, are likely to result from the scope of the land stewardship activities. The extent to which the grant would benefit disadvantaged communities that have historically received less investment in collaborative capacity. The extent to which the proposal brings together diverse interests through planning, collaboration, implementation, or monitoring of land stewardship activities to benefit units of the National Forest System or national grasslands. The extent to which the grant funds appear to be critical for the success of the eligible entity and the identified land stewardship activities. The extent to which the budget for the land stewardship activities is reasonable given the anticipated outcomes. The Secretary shall allocate not less than 10 percent of the funding awarded under this section to Indian Tribes or eligible entities representing Indian Tribes. The Secretary shall establish and maintain an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to provide feedback each year to each regional office of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service on the extent to which the implementation of this section by the regional office is fulfilling the purpose described in subsection (b). The advisory panel established under paragraph
(1)shall include representation from a diversity of public land stakeholders from across interest groups, including— not fewer than 8 members representing the interests of a diversity of disadvantaged communities; and not fewer than 2 members representing not fewer than 2 Indian Tribes. The advisory panel established under paragraph
(1)shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this section, including— a list of the eligible entities and land stewardship activities selected for funding under this section and the accomplishments of those activities; and an evaluation of the extent to which the implementation of this section is fulfilling the purpose described in subsection (b). In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the Secretary— shall consult with the advisory panel established under subsection (e)(1); and may contract with a third party to complete an evaluation of the implementation of this section to inform the report. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. The Secretary shall distribute amounts made available under paragraph
(1)to the regional offices of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area and, as appropriate, regional offices of other Deputy Areas, of the Forest Service to administer the grants under this section. Not more than 10 percent of any amounts made available to carry out this section may be used for administrative management and program oversight.
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Sec. 303
National community capacity and land stewardship grant program
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