Sec. 8243. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program
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Title VI of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term Chiefs means the Chief of the Forest Service and the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The term eligible activity means an activity— to reduce the risk of wildfire; to protect water quality and supply; to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species; to recover from wildfire; or to enhance soil, water, and related natural resources.
The term Program means the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program established under subsection (b)(1). The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. The term wildland-urban interface has the meaning given the term in section 101. The Secretary shall establish a Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program to improve the health and resilience of forest landscapes across National Forest System land and State, Tribal, and private land. The Secretary shall administer the Program by coordinating eligible activities conducted on National Forest System land and State, Tribal, or private land across a forest landscape to improve the health and resilience of the forest landscape by— assisting producers and landowners in implementing eligible activities on eligible private or Tribal land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service under title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq. ), not including the conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of that title ( 16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq. ); and conducting eligible activities on National Forest System land or assisting landowners in implementing eligible activities on State, Tribal, or private land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the Chief of the Forest Service.
In carrying out the Program, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall— consider corresponding management plans from the Chief of the Forest Service; and collaborate with the Chief of the Forest Service on forestry science and practice, using the best available science. The appropriate Regional Forester and State Conservationist shall jointly submit to the Chiefs on an annual basis proposals for eligible activities under the Program. In evaluating and selecting proposals submitted under subsection (c), the Chiefs shall consider— criteria including whether the proposal— reduces wildfire risk and post-wildfire impacts in a municipal watershed or the wildland-urban interface; was developed through a collaborative process with participation from diverse stakeholders; increases forest workforce capacity or forest business infrastructure and development; leverages existing authorities and non-Federal funding; provides measurable outcomes; or supports established State and regional priorities identified in the corresponding State forest action plan or a similar priority plan (such as a State wildlife or water plan); and such other criteria relating to the merits of the proposals as the Chiefs determine to be appropriate.
The Secretary shall provide— public notice on the websites of the Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service describing— the solicitation of proposals under subsection (c); and the criteria for selecting proposals in accordance with subsection (d); and information relating to the Program and activities funded under the Program to States, Indian tribes, units of local government, and private landowners. An eligible activity may not be carried out under the Program— in a wilderness area or designated wilderness study area; in an inventoried roadless area; on any Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited; or in an area in which the eligible activity would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan.
For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, the Chiefs shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing projects for which funding is provided under the Program, including the status and outcomes of those projects. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Program $90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
In addition to the funds described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may obligate available funds from accounts used to carry out the existing Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership prior to November 15, 2021, to carry out the Program. Of the funds made available under paragraph (1)— not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service; not less than 40 percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the Forest Service; and the remaining funds shall be allocated by the Chiefs to the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Forest Service— to carry out eligible activities; or for other purposes, such as technical assistance, project development, or local capacity building. .
Section 40808 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 16 U.S.C. 6592d ) is repealed.
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Sec. 8243
Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program
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