TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: June 22, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

Bills and resolutions: S. 675 (119th Congress), S. 4784 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Appropriations

Readable version of the official text

SA 5887. Mr. TILLIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1230. UNITED STATES SENATE NATO OBSERVER GROUP.

(a) Establishment.—There is established within the Senate

a group of Senators to address and advise on matters relating

to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to be known as the

“Senate NATO Observer Group”.

(b) Functions.—The Senate NATO Observer Group shall—

(1) serve as a forum for addressing matters relating to the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization that fall within the

jurisdictions of 2 or more committees of the Senate;

(2) advise the Senate on issues relating to the North

Atlantic Treaty Organization, including North Atlantic Treaty

Organization enlargement; and

(3) with respect to any matter involving the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization and the United States Government,

particularly during negotiations on North Atlantic Treaty

Organization enlargement, engage in close interactions

between and among the executive branch, the Senate, the North

Atlantic Treaty Organization, any other member country of the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and any country that is a

candidate for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty

Organization.

(1) In general.—Beginning in the 120th Congress, not later

than 60 days after the date on which of the first session of

each Congress convenes, the majority leader and the minority

leader of the Senate shall each appoint to the Senate NATO

Observer Group not more than 7 Senators.

(2) Co-chairs.—Of the members appointed under paragraph

(1), the majority leader and the minority leader of the

Senate shall each appoint 1 co-chairperson of the Senate NATO

Observer Group.

(3) Ex officio members.—The Senate NATO Observer Group

shall include, as ex officio members, the chair and ranking

member of each of the Committee on Foreign Relations, the

Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the Senate.

(d) Use of Foreign Currencies.—Beginning on the date of

the enactment of this Act, the co-chairs of the Senate NATO

Observer Group are authorized to use funds in accordance with

the provisions of law relating to foreign currencies, as

codified in section 1754 of title 22, United States Code, for

activities critical to carrying out the functions of the

Senate NATO Observer Group.

(e) Report.—Not less frequently than annually, the Senate

NATO Observer Group shall submit to the majority leader and

minority leader of the Senate and the chairperson and ranking

member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a

report on the activities undertaken by the Senate NATO

Observer Group during the preceding fiscal year, including

with respect to travel, legislative efforts, and public

diplomacy initiatives.

SA 5888. Mrs. BLACKBURN (for herself and Mr. Lujan) submitted an

amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. . FEDERAL CARJACKING ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Short Title.—This section may be cited as the

“Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act”.

(b) Motor Vehicles.—Section 2119 of title 18, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “,

with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm” and

inserting “knowingly”;

(2) in paragraph (1), by striking “both,” and inserting

“both;”;

(3) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than

25 years, or both, if—

“(A) the person taking, or attempting to take, the motor

vehicle—

“(i) does so with the intent to cause death or serious

bodily harm; or

“(ii) brandishes or discharges a firearm (as defined in

section 921) during or in relation to such taking or

attempted taking; and

“(B) serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365,

including any conduct that, if the conduct occurred in the

special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United

States, would violate section 2241 or 2242) results; and”;

and

(4) in paragraph (3), by striking “if death results,” and

inserting “if the person taking, or attempting to take, the

motor vehicle does so with the intent to cause death or

serious bodily harm, and death results,”.

SA 5889. Mr. KIM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

SEC. 10__. RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

POLICY ON CIVILIAN HARM.

(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(1) designate within each component specified in subsection

(b) an official responsible for—

(A) implementing and overseeing the implementation of

Department of Defense Instruction 3000.17, which was issued

pursuant to section 936 of the John S. McCain National

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law

115-232; 10 U.S.C. 134 note); and

(B) implementing and overseeing the implementation of all

other policies of the Department of Defense on the protection

of civilians and civilian harm mitigation and response,

consistent with the laws of war; and

(2) take all necessary steps to maintain within the

Civilian Protection Center of Excellence sufficient staff to

carry out the purposes of the Center set forth in section

184(b) of title 10, United States Code, and Department of

Defense Instruction 3000.17.

(b) Components Specified.—The components specified in this

subsection are the following:

(1) The Joint Staff.

(2) The United States Central Command.

(3) The United States Africa Command.

(4) The United States Special Operations Command.

(5) The United States European Command.

(6) The United States Southern Command.

(7) The United States Indo-Pacific Command.

(8) The United States Northern Command.

SA 5890. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis (for himself, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Sheehy, and Mr. Padilla)) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end, add the following:

DIVISION E—FIX OUR FORESTS ACT

SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE.

This division may be cited as the “Fix Our Forests Act”.

SEC. 5002. DEFINITIONS.

In this division:

(1) End water user.—The term “end water user” has the

meaning given the term in section 303(a) of the Healthy

Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542(a)).

(2) Executive director.—The term “Executive Director”

means the Executive Director of the Wildland Fire

Intelligence Center appointed under section 5102(g).

(3) Fireshed.—The term “fireshed” means a landscape-

scale area, as delineated using methods developed through

research conducted by the Forest Service, that represents

similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire.

(4) Fireshed management area.—The term “fireshed

management area” means a fireshed management area designated

under section 5101(a).

(5) Fireshed management project.—The term “fireshed

management project” means any of the following forest or

vegetation management activities:

(A) A hazardous fuels management activity.

(B) Creating a fuel break or fire break.

determined by a certified or licensed arborist or forester

under the supervision of the Secretary concerned.

(D) Developing, approving, or conducting routine

maintenance under—

(i) a vegetation management, facility inspection, and

operation and maintenance plan under subsection (c) of

section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of

1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772); or

(ii) an agreement under subsection (d)(1) of that section

(43 U.S.C. 1772).

(E) Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a

forest stand, consistent with achieving the appropriate basal

area of the forest stand, as determined by a responsible

official.

(F) Using treatments to address insects or disease or to

control vegetation competition or invasive species.

(G) A wet-meadow, floodplain, or riparian restoration

activity that increases wildfire resistance.

(H) A forest stand improvement activity necessary to

protect life and property from catastrophic wildfire, as

determined by a responsible official.

(I) Any combination of activities described in this

paragraph.

(6) Fireshed registry.—The term “Fireshed Registry”

means the registry established under section 5103(a).

(7) Forest plan.—The term “forest plan” means—

(A) a land use plan prepared by the Bureau of Land

Management for public land pursuant to section 202 of the

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.

1712);

(B) a land management plan prepared by the Forest Service

for a unit of the National Forest System pursuant to section

6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning

Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); and

the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25

U.S.C. 3103)) with respect to Indian forest land or

rangeland.

(8) Governor.—The term “Governor” means the Governor or

other appropriate executive official of—

(A) a State; or

(B) an Indian Tribe.

(9) Hazardous fuels management activity.—The term

“hazardous fuels management activity” means a vegetation

management activity, or any combination of such activities,

that reduces the risk of wildfire, including mechanical

thinning, mastication, prescribed burning, cultural burning

(as determined by an Indian Tribe), timber harvest, and

grazing.

(10) HFRA terms.—The terms “at-risk community”,

“community wildfire protection plan”, and “wildland-urban

interface” have the meanings given those terms in section

101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.

6511).

(11) Indian forest land or rangeland.—The term “Indian

forest land or rangeland” means—

(A) land that—

(i) is held in trust, or subject to a restriction against

alienation, by the United States for an Indian Tribe or a

member of an Indian Tribe; and

(ii)(I) is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304 of

the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25

U.S.C. 3103)); or

(II)(aa) has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar

vegetation; or

(bb) formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that

is capable of restoration; and

(B) land that—

(i) is in the State of Alaska and held by an Alaskan Native

Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement

Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and

(ii)(I) has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar

vegetation; or

(II) formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that

is capable of restoration.

(12) Indian tribe.—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).

(13) National forest system.—The term “National Forest

System” has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of

the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of

1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).

(14) Public land.—The term “public land” means—

(A) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));

(B) the land reconveyed to the United States pursuant to

the first section of the Act of February 26, 1919 (40 Stat.

1179, chapter 47) (commonly known as “Coos Bay Wagon Road

Grant lands”) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the

Interior; and

June 9, 1916 (39 Stat. 218, chapter 137) (commonly known as

“Oregon and California Railroad Grant lands”) under the

jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.

(15) Relevant committees of congress.—The term “relevant

committees of Congress” means—

(A) in the Senate—

(i) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry;

(ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;

(iii) the Committee on Indian Affairs; and

(iv) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental

Affairs; and

(B) in the House of Representatives—

(i) the Committee on Agriculture; and

(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources.

(16) Secretaries.—The term “Secretaries” means—

(A) the Secretary; and

(B) the Secretary of the Interior.

(17) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Agriculture.

(18) Secretary concerned.—The term “Secretary concerned”

means—

(A) the Secretary, with respect to National Forest System

land; and

(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public

land.

(19) Special district.—The term “special district” means

a political subdivision of a State that—

(A) has significant budgetary autonomy or control;

(B) was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the

State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific

governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to

forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply;

and

within the State.

(20) State.—The term “State” means—

(A) each of the several States;

(B) the District of Columbia; and

TITLE I—LANDSCAPE-SCALE RESTORATION

Subtitle A—Addressing Emergency Wildfire Risks in High-priority

Firesheds

SEC. 5101. DESIGNATION OF FIRESHED MANAGEMENT AREAS.

(a) Designations.—

(1) Initial fireshed designations.—For the 5-year period

beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the firesheds

of the United States shall comprise—

(A) the 7,688 firesheds described in the report published

by the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the Forest Service

in 2021; and

(B) the additional 1,262 firesheds in the States of Alaska

and Hawaii and the territories of the United States

designated by the Secretary in the same manner as the

firesheds designated in the report described in subparagraph

(A).

(2) Initial fireshed management area designations.—Subject

to paragraph (5), for the period beginning not later than 30

days after the date of enactment of this Act and ending on

the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, each Secretary concerned shall designate and make

publicly available on the website of the Secretary concerned

a map of the following fireshed management areas:

(A) Each landscape-scale fireshed identified as a “high-

risk fireshed” in the document published by the Forest

Service entitled “Wildfire Crisis Strategy”, dated January

2022, and expanded in 2023.

(B) The top 20 percent of firesheds in the continental

United States, and the top 25 percent of firesheds in the

continental United States if the fireshed has a historical

presence of Picea glauca var. densata, identified by the

Secretary for wildfire exposure based on the following

criteria:

(i) Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to

communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure,

and other structures.

(ii) Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal

watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems.

(3) Initial designations in alaska, hawaii, and

territories.—Not later than 30 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall designate in the

States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United

States such additional fireshed management areas as the

Secretary determines to be appropriate, based on the criteria

described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(B).

(4) Map-based updated designations.—

(A) Map of firesheds.—Not later than 5 years after the

date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than

once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation

with the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to the

relevant committees of Congress an updated map of the

firesheds of the United States, which shall—

(i) be based on the Fireshed Registry; and

(ii) include firesheds in the States of Alaska and Hawaii

and the territories of the United States.

(B) Fireshed management areas.—Not later than 60 days

after submitting an updated fireshed map under subparagraph

(A), the Secretary shall update the designations of fireshed

management areas to reflect firesheds depicted on that map

that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the

Interior, identifies as being in the top 20 percent of

firesheds at risk of wildfire exposure based on the criteria

described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section

5103(a)(3) and in accordance with this section.

prepared under this paragraph publicly available on the

Fireshed Registry.

(5) Land location and content.—A fireshed management area

designated under this subsection—

(A) shall not overlap with any other fireshed management

area; and

(B) may contain Federal and non-Federal land, including

Indian forest land or rangeland.

(6) Combining multiple firesheds.—The Secretary, in

consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, if

applicable, may expand a fireshed management area designated

under this subsection to include more than 1 fireshed that is

designated as a fireshed management area under the applicable

criteria described in this section.

(b) Use.—The Secretary concerned may carry out fireshed

management projects on the fireshed management areas

designated under this section.

management area under this section shall not be subject to

the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 5102. WILDLAND FIRE INTELLIGENCE CENTER.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Board.—The term “Board” means the Board of Directors

governing the Center appointed under subsection (f).

(2) Center.—The term “Center” means the Wildland Fire

Intelligence Center established under subsection (b).

(3) Federal science agency; institution of higher

education; land-grant colleges and universities; regional

center; wildland fire; wildland fire management agencies;

wildland fire research.—The terms “Federal science

agency”, “institution of higher education”, “land-grant

colleges and universities”, “regional center”, “wildland

fire”, “wildland fire management agencies”, and “wildland

fire research” have the meanings given those terms in

section 5121(a).

(4) National laboratory.—The term “National Laboratory”

has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy

Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

(b) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish a

joint office, to be known as the “Wildland Fire Intelligence

Center”, to serve Federal and non-Federal entities through

the functions described in subsection (d).

enactment of this Act, the Board shall select from within the

United States a permanent location for the physical

headquarters of the Center.

(d) Functions.—The functions of the Center shall include

the following:

(1) Providing real-time, science-based, and data-rich

scientific and technical analytical services, modeling,

monitoring, mapping, decision support, and predictive

services across all phases of fire to inform land and fuels

management (including prescribed fire), pre-fire community

and built environment risk reduction, active fire management

and emergency response, and post-fire recovery in the built

and natural environments.

(2) Providing, disseminating, procuring, if commercially

available, and combining existing data, mapping,

technological, and consultation services to support pre-,

active, and post-fire activities at the local, State, and

national levels, including—

(A) creating and maintaining a real-time nationwide risk

catalog, including the Fireshed Registry;

(B) assisting with the creation of evacuation plans, public

safety power shutoff plans, and wildfire mitigation and

response strategies or plans (including built environment

mitigation plans and community wildfire protection plans) for

at-risk communities;

forecast and assessment products in support of operational

and planning activities, including the pre-positioning of

wildfire suppression personnel and assets based on real-time-

risk;

(D) assisting with the safe and effective use of prescribed

fire; and

(E) developing a real-time data interface to assist and

inform, in real time, firefighters, first responders, and

approved contractors in responding to wildfires.

(3) Consolidating air quality monitoring and forecasting

data, including utilizing existing Federal programs, as

appropriate, to help inform risks to public health and

protect the public from smoke impacts associated with

wildfires, including providing planning guidance for safe and

effective beneficial fire opportunities to prevent the risk

of wildfires.

(4) Establishing information technology and data

interoperability through—

(A) the development of common data standards to protect

confidential information;

(B) comprehensive searchable data inventories;

partnerships, with protections for Tribal data sovereignty;

(D) the integration and sharing of information and

resources of the Federal Government, States, local

governments, and participating Indian Tribes to support the

essential functions of the Center; and

(E) regular updates and maintenance of research and

technology essential to achieving the core functions of the

Center, including the evaluation of new and competing models

as those models become available.

(5) Coordinating with the National Wildfire Coordinating

Group, as requested, to develop and improve wildfire

preparedness curricula and training modules for States,

Indian Tribes, and local officials, including emergency

managers and responders.

(6) Administering the pilot program established under

section 5303 and streamlining procurement processes for

technologies identified under that pilot program and

technology systems related to addressing wildfire and smoke

for purposes of scaling such technologies and systems across

Federal agencies.

(7) Engaging with relevant Federal agencies, State

agencies, and entities in the private sector to improve fire

environment monitoring, forecasting, communication, and

response that may be essential to the core functions of the

Center, if the Executive Director determines that the

engagement is appropriate, beneficial, and cost-effective.

(8)(A) Establishing wildland fire science, data management

and sharing protocols, and technological research priorities

in cooperation with each regional center informed by the

operational needs of wildland fire management agencies.

(B) Coordinating data collection efforts supporting the

efforts of each regional center, including—

(i) building data layers across each region described in

section 5121(c)(3)(B);

(ii) ensuring data collection and reporting across each

region described in section 5121(c)(3)(B) is consistent and

standardized; and

(iii) providing updates on the development of wildland fire

research models.

duplication of, the activities of the regional centers and

the activities of institutions of higher education, land-

grant colleges and universities, Federal science agencies,

and State research organizations with respect to wildland

fire research, including—

(i) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(ii) the National Science Foundation;

(iii) the National Laboratories;

(iv) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(v) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(vi) the United States Fire Administration;

(vii) the United States Geological Survey;

(viii) the research and development program of the Forest

Service;

(ix) the interagency Joint Fire Science Program;

(x) the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental

Research and Development Program; and

(xi) any other relevant entity with specialized expertise

in wildland fire research.

(D) Supporting end-to-end applications that assist wildland

fire management agencies in adopting technologies and

incorporating research findings produced by the regional

centers.

(e) Center Funding.—

(1) In general.—To carry out the functions of the Center,

the Secretaries may transfer funds provided to establish, and

carry out the duties of, the Center among—

(A) the Forest Service, from amounts made available for

Wildland Fire Management;

(B) the Department of the Interior, from amounts made

available for Wildland Fire Management; and

(2) Interagency financing.—Notwithstanding section 708 of

the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations

Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328; 136 Stat. 4706), or any other,

similar provision of law, interagency financing may be used

to fund the Center.

(3) Notice required.—Not later than 15 days before

transferring funds under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary

or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, shall submit

to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the

Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a

notice of the proposed transfer.

(f) Board.—

(1) Membership.—The Center shall be governed by a Board of

Directors, to be composed of 18 members, as follows:

(A) 1 member who is a career employee of the Department of

Agriculture, to be appointed by the Secretary.

(B) 1 member who is a career employee of the research and

development areas of the Forest Service, to be appointed by

the Chief of the Forest Service.

management of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the

Chief of the Forest Service.

(D) 1 member who is a career employee of the Department of

the Interior, to be appointed by the Secretary of the

Interior.

(E) 1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Land

Management, to be appointed by the Director of the Bureau of

Land Management.

(F) 1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of

Indian Affairs, to be appointed by the Assistant Secretary

for Indian Affairs.

(G) 1 member who is a career employee of the National Park

Service, to be appointed by the Director of the National Park

Service.

(H) 1 member who is a career employee of the United States

Fish and Wildlife Service, to be appointed by the Director of

the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(I) 1 member who is a career employee of the United States

Geological Survey, to be appointed by the Director of the

United States Geological Survey.

(J) 1 member who is a career employee of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be appointed by

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration.

(K) 1 member who is a career employee of the National

Weather Service, to be appointed by the Director of the

National Weather Service.

(L) 1 member who is a career employee of the Federal

Emergency Management Agency, to be appointed by the

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(M) 1 member who is a career employee of the United States

Fire Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of

the United States Fire Administration.

(N) 1 member who is a career employee of the Department of

Defense, to be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.

(O) 1 member who is a career employee of the National

Science Foundation, to be appointed by the Director of the

National Science Foundation.

(P) 1 member who is a career employee of the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration, to be appointed by the

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration.

(Q) 1 member who is an elected leader of an Indian Tribe or

an expert in wildfire management designated by an Indian

Tribe.

(R) 1 member representing State forestry agencies, to be

appointed by the Secretaries.

(2) Terms.—

(A) In general.—The term of a member of the Board shall be

3 years, except that, of the members first appointed—

(i) \1/3\ shall serve for a term of 4 years;

(ii) \1/3\ shall serve for a term of 3 years; and

(iii) \1/3\ shall serve for a term of 2 years.

(B) Additional terms.—After the initial term of a member

of the Board, including the members first appointed, the

member may serve not more than 3 additional 3-year terms,

except that a member initially appointed to a serve a term of

4 years may serve not more than 2 additional 3-year terms.

(3) Chairperson.—The Chairperson of the Board—

(A) shall be selected by the members of the Board from

among the members appointed under subparagraphs (B), (I), and

(J) of paragraph (1);

(B) shall serve for a term of 1 year; and

(4) Majority vote.—A voting consensus by the Board shall

be not less than a \2/3\ majority vote of the members

present.

(5) Nonvoting status.—At the discretion of the Board, the

Board may include nonvoting observers to the Board.

(g) Executive Director.—

(1) In general.—The Center shall have an Executive

Director, who shall—

(A) be appointed by, and serve at the direction of, the

Board; and

(B) be responsible for the management and operation of the

Center.

(2) Contracting authority.—The Executive Director may

enter into and perform contracts, agreements, memoranda of

understanding, or other, similar transactions, as the

Executive Director determines to be appropriate to carry out

the functions of the Center described in subsection (d).

(h) Detailees.—The Secretary and the Secretary of the

Interior may detail or assign to the Center such employees of

the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the

Interior, respectively, as the Secretaries determine to be

necessary to carry out the duties of the Center.

(i) Coordination With Other Agencies and Entities.—To

carry out the functions of the Center described in subsection

(d), the Board shall coordinate with agencies represented on

the Board and other relevant entities, including—

(1) the National Wildfire Coordinating Group; and

(2) any relevant Federal agency, State, Indian Tribe, local

government, or nongovernmental entity that is representative

of an element of the wildland fire community.

(j) Operational Plan.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the

appointment of the Executive Director, the Executive Director

shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an

initial operational plan describing—

(A) the structure of the Center;

(B) staffing and funding needs of the Center;

Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the other

Federal departments and agencies comprising the Board that

are available to the Center;

(D) an assessment of the potential of commercially

available technologies to perform the functions of the

Center, together with the costs and timelines of procuring

those

technologies or developing relevant capabilities;

(E) an assessment of—

(i) existing contracting authorities of the Executive

Director to be used for purposes of subsection (g)(2); and

(ii) new contracting authorities needed; and

(F) a timeline for full operational functioning of the

Center.

(2) Inclusions.—The plan under paragraph (1) shall include

estimated costs, key milestones, coordination strategies with

Federal, State, and private entities, and recommendations for

ensuring the effective operation of the Center.

(3) Updates.—The Executive Director shall update the plan

not less frequently than annually to reflect progress,

adjustments in funding, and the adoption of new technologies.

(k) Pilot Program to Monitor Wildfires by Satellite.—The

Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in

partnership with the Secretary of the Interior, acting

through the Director of the United States Geological Survey,

and with the Executive Director, shall establish a pilot

program—

(1) to purchase and integrate, through a public-private

partnership, data from the latest-generation of wildfire

monitoring satellites that provide monitoring of active fire

behavior, including fire perimeters, burned area, intensity,

severity, and the detection of fires with a low false-

positive rate;

(2) to use the data acquired under paragraph (1), and any

analyses relating to that data—

(A) to detect, assess, respond to, and manage wildfires and

rangeland fires; and

(B) to ensure the safety and effectiveness of prescribed

fire treatments;

(3) to develop information-sharing partnerships with State,

local, and Tribal emergency managers, foresters, or other

equivalent officials—

(A) to improve State, local, and Tribal wildfire

monitoring, response, and analysis; and

(B) to provide to the Executive Director an operational

plan for scaling the pilot program across the United States;

and

(4) under which the Secretary of the Interior shall have

the authority to enter into other transactions to leverage

satellite-based wildfire monitoring capabilities.

(l) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section affects

the ownership of any data source.

SEC. 5103. FIRESHED REGISTRY.

(a) Establishment.—The Secretaries, acting through the

Executive Director, shall establish and maintain, on a

publicly accessible website, a registry, to be known as the

“Fireshed Registry”, that provides interactive geospatial

data relating to individual firesheds, including information

relating to—

(1) wildland fire exposure, delineated by—

(A) ownership, including rights-of-way for utilities and

other public or private purposes; and

(B) administrative or management responsibility;

(2) any hazardous fuels management activities that have

occurred within an individual fireshed during the preceding

10 years;

(3) wildland fire exposure with respect to a fireshed,

delineated by—

(A) wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to

communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure,

and other structures;

(B) wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal

watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems; and

(4) the percentage of a fireshed burned in wildfire during

the preceding 10 years, including, to the extent practicable,

delineations of acres that have burned at a high severity;

(5) spatial patterns of wildfire exposure, including

plausible extreme fire events; and

(6) any hazardous fuels management activities scheduled for

a fireshed, including fireshed management projects.

(b) Community Wildfire Protection Plans.—The Executive

Director shall make data from the Fireshed Registry available

to local and Tribal communities developing or updating

community wildfire protection plans or Indian country

community wildfire protection plans.

Fireshed Registry, the Executive Director shall—

(1) publish fireshed assessments conducted under section

5105; and

(2) maintain a searchable database to track—

(A) the status of Federal environmental reviews, permits,

and authorizations for fireshed management projects,

including—

(i) a comprehensive permitting timetable;

(ii) the status of the compliance of each lead agency,

cooperating agency, and participating agency with the

permitting timetable with respect to fireshed management

projects;

(iii) any required modifications of the permitting

timetable under clause (i), including an explanation

regarding why the permitting timetable was modified; and

(iv) information regarding any public meetings, public

hearings, and public comment periods relating to a fireshed

management project, as that information becomes available,

which shall be presented in—

(I) English; and

(II) the predominant language of each community that is

most affected by the fireshed management project, as that

information becomes available;

(B) the projected cost of fireshed management projects; and

the estimated effectiveness of the fireshed management

project in—

(i) reducing the wildfire exposure within the applicable

fireshed, including wildfire exposure described in

subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(3); and

(ii) increasing the resilience of wildlife habitats,

including habitat for species listed as threatened or

endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

(d) Incorporation of Existing Assessments and Data.—In

carrying out this section, the Executive Director shall

incorporate any assessments completed or data gathered

through existing partnerships, to the extent practicable.

(e) Applicability of NEPA.—The establishment and

maintenance of the Fireshed Registry under this section shall

not be subject to the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 5104. SHARED STEWARDSHIP.

(a) Joint Agreements.—The Secretary concerned shall seek

to use an existing shared stewardship agreement, modify an

existing shared stewardship agreement, or enter into a

similar agreement with the Governor of each State and Indian

Tribe that contains a fireshed management area designated

under section 5101(a)—

(1) to promote the reduction of wildfire exposure, based on

the criteria described in section 5103(a)(3), in fireshed

management areas across jurisdictional boundaries; and

(2) to conduct fireshed assessments under section 5105.

(b) Adjustment of Boundaries and Updates to Agreements.—

With respect to an agreement under subsection (a), the

Secretary concerned, on request of the applicable Governor,

may—

(1) adjust the boundaries of any applicable fireshed

management area to include additional areas from within a

separate fireshed management area designated under section

5101; and

(2) update the agreement to address any new wildfire

threats.

cooperative agreements with units of local government,

special districts, end water users, nongovernmental

organizations, institutions of higher education, Tribal

organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)),

Native Hawaiian organizations (as defined in section 6207 of

the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20

U.S.C. 7517)), and other entities, at the discretion of the

applicable Secretary to carry out the activities described in

paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).

SEC. 5105. FIRESHED ASSESSMENTS.

(a) In General.—Not later than 120 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in

cooperation with the Governor with whom the Secretary

concerned enters into an agreement under section 5104(a), if

applicable, shall conduct a fireshed assessment in accordance

with this section with respect to each fireshed management

area designated in the applicable State or area of Indian

land.

(b) Requirements.—

(1) In general.—Each fireshed assessment under subsection

(a) shall—

(A) identify—

(i) using the best available science, wildfire exposure

risks within the applicable fireshed management area,

including scenario planning and wildfire hazard mapping and

models; and

(ii) each at-risk community within the fireshed management

area;

(B) identify the types of fireshed management projects that

could benefit the fireshed management area, with an emphasis

on reducing—

(i) wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to

communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure,

and other structures;

(ii) wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal

watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems;

(iii) risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire;

(iv) wildfire risk for wildlife habitats, including habitat

for species listed as threatened or endangered under the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);

(v) wildfire risk to resources of an Indian Tribe, as

defined by the Indian Tribe; or

(vi) any combination of purposes described in clauses (i)

through (v); and

management area—

(i) a strategy for reducing the threat of wildfire—

(I) to protect at-risk communities in the wildland-urban

interface on Federal and non-Federal land;

(II) to improve the effectiveness of wildfire firefighting,

particularly the effectiveness of fuels treatments that would

improve wildfire firefighter safety during wildfires; and

(III) to reduce risk to wildlife habitats, including

habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under

the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);

(ii) a timeline for the implementation of fireshed

management projects;

(iii) long-term benchmark goals for the completion of

fireshed management projects in the highest wildfire exposure

areas to ensure that those fireshed management projects

contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy and

resilient landscapes;

(iv) a strategy to ensure that fireshed management projects

comply with applicable forest plans and incorporate the best

available science; and

(v) a strategy for maximizing the retention of late-

successional forests, to the extent that the trees promote

stands that are resilient to insects and disease, and reduce

the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, wildfires.

(2) Existing plans.—To the maximum extent practicable, a

fireshed assessment shall incorporate and build on

information, planning, and strategies contained in relevant

forest plans, State forest action plans, Tribal integrated

resource management plans or Tribal forest management plans,

watershed management plans, community wildfire protection

plans, Indian country wildfire protection plans, and similar

locally led landscape-scale planning documents.

(3) Participation.—

(A) State, tribal, and local governments.—In addition to

the parties to an applicable agreement described in

subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with

States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and other

entities that are parties to an agreement under section

5104(c) within a fireshed management area in conducting the

fireshed assessment under paragraph (1).

(B) Public.—In carrying out a fireshed assessment under

this section, the Secretary concerned shall provide an

opportunity for public participation during the 45-day period

beginning on the date of initiation of the assessment,

including—

(i) publication of information regarding the development of

the assessment—

(I) on a website maintained by the Secretary concerned; and

(II) at convenient locations within the applicable fireshed

management area; and

(ii) at least 1 public meeting.

under subsection (a) shall be—

(1) regularly updated based on the best available science,

subject to the requirements of subsection (d)(2); and

(2) made publicly available on 1 or more websites

maintained by the Secretary concerned, including the Fireshed

Registry.

(d) Information Improvement.—

(1) Agreements.—In carrying out a fireshed assessment

under this section, the Secretary concerned may enter into

agreements with other Federal departments and agencies

(including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration), States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations

(as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and

Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), Native Hawaiian

organizations (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary

and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7517)),

private entities, or research or educational institutions to

improve, with respect to the assessment, the use and

integration of—

(A) advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;

(B) statistical modeling and analysis; or

analyses that the Secretary concerned determines will benefit

the quality of information in the assessment.

(2) Best available science.—In using the best available

science for a fireshed assessment under this section, the

Secretary concerned and the applicable Governor shall

incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) traditional ecological knowledge;

(B) data from State forest action plans and State wildfire

risk assessments;

(D) data from other Federal, State, Tribal, and local

governments or agencies.

(e) Applicability of NEPA.—A fireshed assessment under

this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.).

SEC. 5106. EMERGENCY FIRESHED MANAGEMENT.

(a) Fireshed Management Projects.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary concerned, acting through a

responsible official, shall carry out fireshed management

projects on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary

concerned in fireshed management areas in accordance with

this section, the applicable forest plan, and the laws

(including regulations) applicable to the Secretary

concerned.

(2) Applicability of other provisions.—

(A) In general.—The following shall have the force and

effect of law with respect to any fireshed management project

carried out in a fireshed management area:

(i) Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to

land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.

(ii) Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to

land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.

(iii) Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025).

(iv) Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), except that any

reference contained in that regulation to an “agency

official” shall be considered to be a reference to a

responsible official.

(B) Determination of emergency.—

(i) In general.—A regulation referred to in subparagraph

(A) shall not apply pursuant to that subparagraph with

respect to a fireshed management project unless, before

carrying out the fireshed management project, a responsible

official—

(I) determines, in accordance with the regulation, that an

emergency or emergency circumstance exists;

(II) completes any documentation or identification

processes required under such regulation; and

(III) provides public notice of the determination of

emergency and each related fireshed management project

activity by publishing such determination on a website

maintained by the Secretary concerned.

(ii) Requirement.—In carrying out a fireshed management

project under a regulation referred to in subparagraph (A), a

responsible official shall ensure that such fireshed

management project is consistent with the applicable forest

plan and the laws (including regulations) and policies

applicable to the Secretary concerned.

subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any fireshed management

project unless such fireshed management project will achieve

a land management goal described in section 604(c) of the

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)).

(D) Utilization of existing streamlined authorities in

fireshed management areas.—

(i) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, with respect to each fireshed

management area that contains Federal land, the Secretary

concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall use

not fewer than 1 of the following expedited authorities for

environmental review to carry out fireshed management

projects:

(I) Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act

of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)).

(II) Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act

of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)).

(III) Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act

of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)).

(IV) Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and

Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)).

(ii) Compliance with nepa.—In applying expedited

authorities for environmental review to carry out fireshed

management projects under clause (i), the Secretary concerned

shall ensure—

(I) such project is carried out in accordance with the

statute establishing the categorical exclusion applied by the

Secretary concerned;

(II) compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act

of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(III) such project is carried out in accordance with the

applicable forest plan and the laws and policies applicable

to the Secretary concerned.

(iii) Additional emergency actions.—The Secretary may

declare an emergency pursuant to section 40807 of the

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c) for

any fireshed management project.

(iv) Fiscal responsibility act requirements.—In carrying

out this section, the Secretary concerned shall ensure

compliance with the amendments made to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by

the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118-5; 137

Stat. 38).

(v) Use of other authorities.—To the maximum extent

practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the

authorities, if applicable, provided under this section in

combination with other authorities to carry out fireshed

management projects, including—

(I) good neighbor agreements under section 8206 of the

Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) (as amended by

this division);

(II) stewardship contracting projects entered into under

section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6591c) (as amended by this division);

(III) self-determination contracts and self-governance

compact agreements entered into under the Indian Self-

Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et

seq.); and

(IV) agreements and contracts entered into under the Tribal

Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278; 118 Stat.

868).

(b) Expansion.—

(1) Healthy forests restoration act amendments.—

(A) Definitions.—Section 3 of the Healthy Forests

Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6502) is amended—

(i) in paragraph (2), by striking “450b” and inserting

“5304”; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Local government.—The term `local government'

means—

“(A) a county;

“(B) a municipality; and

“(C) a special district.

“(4) Special district.—The term `special district' means

a political subdivision of a State that—

“(A) has significant budgetary autonomy or control;

“(B) was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the

State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific

governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to

forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply;

and

“(C) is distinct from any other unit of local government

within the State.”.

(B) Administrative review.—Section 603(c) of the Healthy

Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)) is

amended—

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking “3000 acres” and

inserting “10,000 acres”; and

(ii) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking “Fire Regime Groups

I, II, or III” and inserting “Fire Regime I, Fire Regime

II, Fire Regime III, or Fire Regime IV”.

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591d(c))

is amended—

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking “3000 acres” and

inserting “10,000 acres”; and

(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking “code of Federal

regulations (or successor regulations)” and inserting “Code

of Federal regulations (or a successor regulation)”.

(D) Greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat.—Section 606

of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.

6591e) is amended—

(i) in subsection (c), by striking “concurrently for both

greater sage-grouse and” and inserting “for greater sage-

grouse or”; and

(ii) in subsection (g)(1), by striking “4,500 acres” and

inserting “7,500 acres”.

(2) Infrastructure investment and jobs act amendment.—

Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs

Act (16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)) is amended by striking “3,000

acres” and inserting “10,000 acres”.

SEC. 5107. STUDY ON THE IMPACTS OF FIRESHED MANAGEMENT

PROJECTS ON WILDFIRE RISK TO COMMUNITIES AND

WILDLIFE HABITAT.

(a) Study Requirement.—Not later than 90 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation

with the Secretary of the Interior, shall enter into an

agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, under which

the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct 1 or more

studies on the impacts of fireshed management projects,

including—

(1) an evaluation of select, regionally varied fireshed

management projects and approaches, including—

(A) methodologies used to assess fireshed management areas;

(B) the reduction in fuel hazards in fireshed management

areas;

(D) the economic use of fireshed management project

byproducts;

(E) local jobs and labor income supported by fireshed

management projects; and

(F) coordinated approaches taken to plan and implement

fireshed management projects;

(2) changes to wildfire risk within fireshed management

areas, and to resources of an Indian Tribe, due to fireshed

management projects;

(3)(A) a description of the cost of—

(i) the implementation of section 5105; and

(ii) the development and implementation of fireshed

management projects; and

(B) an estimate of the amount of the damages avoided as a

result of that development and implementation;

(4) an evaluation of how fireshed management projects

affect—

(A) critical habitat areas designated under the Endangered

Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and

(B) the conservation and recovery of species listed as

threatened or endangered under the that Act;

(5) an identification of fireshed management project best

practices for minimizing harm to critical habitat areas

described in paragraph (4)(A) and the natural environment

while reducing wildfire risk; and

(6) recommendations for policy, regulatory, or operational

changes to improve fireshed management projects.

(b) Engagement.—In conducting the 1 or more studies under

subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall—

(1) consult with relevant Federal, State, and Tribal

agencies, including the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service; and

(2) provide an opportunity for public comment and input

during the 1 or more studies, including from nonprofit

organizations, institutions of higher education, and other

scientific bodies.

conclusion of the 1 more studies under subsection (a), but

not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the

relevant committees of Congress and the Secretaries 1 or more

reports containing the results of the 1 or more studies.

SEC. 5108. SUNSET.

The authority under this subtitle terminates on the date

that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Subtitle B—Expanding Collaborative Tools to Reduce Wildfire Risk and

Improve Forest Health

SEC. 5111. MODIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN REVENUE AND

PAYMENTS UNDER GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS.

(a) Good Neighbor Authority.—Section 8206 of the

Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “either the Secretary

or a Governor or county” and inserting “the Secretary, a

Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county”;

(B) in paragraph (5), by striking “Governor or” and

inserting “Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or

a”;

(D) by adding at the end the following:

“(11) Special district.—The term `special district' means

a political subdivision of a State that—

“(A) has significant budgetary autonomy or control;

“(B) was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the

State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific

governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to

forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply;

and

“(C) is distinct from any other unit of local government

within the State.”; and

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “or county” and

inserting “, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a

county”;

(B) in paragraph (2)(C)—

(i) in clause (i)—

(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting

“special district,” after “Indian Tribe,” each place it

appears;

(II) in subclause (I)—

(aa) by striking “on”; and

(bb) by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;

(III) in subclause (II)—

(aa) in the matter preceding item (aa), by striking

“clause (i)” and inserting “subclause (I)”; and

(bb) in item (bb), by striking “the Good Neighbor

Authority for Recreation Act.” and inserting “section 351

of the EXPLORE Act (16 U.S.C. 8571);”; and

(IV) by adding at the end the following:

“(III) if there are funds remaining after carrying out

subclause (II)—

“(aa) to carry out authorized restoration services under

other good neighbor agreements; and

“(bb) for the administration of a good neighbor authority

program by a Governor, Indian tribe, special district, or

county.”; and

(ii) in clause (ii), by striking “2028” and inserting

“2030”;

inserting “, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a

county”; and

(D) by striking paragraph (4).

(b) Technical Amendment.—

(1) In general.—Section 443 of division E of Public Law

118-42 (138 Stat. 297) is amended, in the matter preceding

paragraph (1), by striking “Agriculture Act of 2014” and

inserting “Agricultural Act of 2014”.

(2) Effective date.—The amendment made by paragraph (1)

shall take effect on the date of enactment of Public Law 118-

42 (138 Stat. 25).

shall apply to any project initiated pursuant to a good

neighbor agreement (as defined in section 8206(a) of the

Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)))—

(1) before the date of enactment of this Act, if the

project was initiated after the date of enactment of the

Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334; 132

Stat. 4490); or

(2) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5112. FIXING STEWARDSHIP END RESULT CONTRACTING.

Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6591c) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by inserting “, including retaining

and expanding existing forest products infrastructure

necessary to carry out an agreement or contract under this

subsection” before the period at the end; and

(2) in subsection (d)(3)(B), by striking “10 years” and

inserting “20 years”; and

(3) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Special rule for long-term stewardship contracts.—

“(A) Definition of multiyear contract.—In this paragraph,

the term `multiyear contract' means a contract entered into

under subsection (b) that—

“(i) has a term of longer than 5 years; and

“(ii) is entered into on or after the date of enactment of

this paragraph.

“(B) Special rule.—A multiyear contract entered into

under subsection (b) by the Chief or the Director with an

entity shall provide that, in the case of cancellation or

termination of the multiyear contract by the Chief or the

Director, the Chief or the Director, as applicable, shall

provide to the entity a cancellation or termination payment

that is the lesser of—

“(i) an amount equal to 10 percent of the multiyear

contract; or

“(ii) the amount of unrecovered costs that would have been

recouped through amortization over the full term of the

contract (including the term canceled).”.

SEC. 5113. FIRESHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT STRIKE TEAMS.

(a) Establishment.—The Secretary concerned shall establish

strike teams to assist the Secretary concerned with—

(1) any reviews, including analysis under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),

consultations under division A of subtitle III of title 54,

United States Code (formerly known as the “National Historic

Preservation Act”), and consultations under the Endangered

Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), with the intent

to accelerate and streamline interagency consultation

processes;

(2) the implementation of any necessary site preparation

work in advance of, or as part of, a fireshed management

project;

(3) the implementation of fireshed management projects; and

(4) any combination of purposes described in paragraphs (1)

through (3).

(b) Members.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary concerned may appoint not

more than 10 individuals to serve on a strike team under this

section, to be composed of—

(A) employees of the department under the jurisdiction of

the Secretary concerned;

(B) employees of a different Federal department or agency,

with the consent of the head of that department or agency;

and

organization, State government, Indian Tribe, local

government, quasi-governmental agency, academic institution,

or private organization.

(2) Requirement.—In appointing individuals under paragraph

(1), the Secretary concerned shall appoint not fewer than 1

employee of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over the

applicable Federal land.

(1) determine the sufficiency of the documents prepared by

a strike team under this section; and

(2) retain responsibility for any authorizing decision

relating to such a document.

(d) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5114. LOCALLY LED RESTORATION.

Section 14(d) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976

(16 U.S.C. 472a(d)) is amended, in the first sentence, by

striking “$10,000” and inserting “$55,000”.

SEC. 5115. JOINT CHIEFS LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP

PROGRAM.

Section 40808 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

(16 U.S.C. 6592d) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)—

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

“(D) to recover from wildfire; or

“(E) to enhance soil, water, and related natural

resources.”;

(2) in subsection (d)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “and post-wildfire

impacts” after “wildfire risk”; and

(B) in subparagraph (F), by inserting “, as identified in

the corresponding State forest action plan, Tribal-integrated

resource management plan or Tribal forest management plan, or

similar priority plan (such as a State wildlife or water

plan)” before the semicolon;

(3) in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (2) and

inserting the following:

“(2) Additional reports.—For each of fiscal years 2022

and 2023, and not less frequently than once every 2 fiscal

years thereafter, the Chiefs shall submit a report describing

projects for which funding is provided under the Program,

including the status and outcomes of those projects, to—

“(A) in the Senate—

“(i) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and

Forestry;

“(ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;

“(iii) the Committee on Appropriations; and

“(iv) the Committee on Indian Affairs; and

“(B) in the House of Representatives—

“(i) the Committee on Agriculture;

“(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources; and

“(iii) the Committee on Appropriations.”; and

(4) in subsection (h)(1), by striking “and 2023” and

inserting “through 2031”.

SEC. 5116. COLLABORATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

PROGRAM.

Section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of

2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), by striking “500 note” and

inserting “7125”; and

(B) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking “species;” and

inserting “species or pathogens;”;

(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking “and” at the end;

(iii) in subparagraph (H), by adding “and” after the

semicolon at the end; and

(iv) by adding at the end the following:

“(I) address standardized monitoring questions and

indicators;”;

(2) in subsection (c)(3)(A)—

(A) in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end;

(B) in clause (ii), by adding “and” at the end; and

“(iii) include a Federal Government staffing plan for

providing support to collaboratives established pursuant to

subsection (b)(2);”;

(3) in subsection (d)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking “and” at the end;

(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(G) proposals that seek to use innovative implementation

mechanisms, including conservation finance agreements, good

neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the

Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a), and similar

implementation mechanisms;

“(H) proposals that seek to reduce the risk of

uncharacteristic wildfire or increase ecological restoration

activities—

“(i) within areas across land ownerships, including State,

Tribal, and private land; and

“(ii) within the wildland-urban interface (as defined in

section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6511)); and

“(I) proposals that seek to enhance watershed health and

drinking water sources.”; and

(B) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking “10” and inserting

“20”; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking “2” and inserting

“4”;

(4) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting “conflict

resolution or collaborative governance,” before “and

woody”; and

(5) in subsection (f)—

(A) in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by striking “$4,000,000” and

inserting “$8,000,000”; and

(B) in paragraph (6), by striking “2023” and inserting

“2034”.

SEC. 5117. UTILIZING GRAZING FOR WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION.

(a) Strategy.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in

coordination with the holders of permits to graze livestock

on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary

concerned and in consultation with other relevant

stakeholders, shall develop a strategy to utilize livestock

grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on Federal land,

consistent with the laws applicable to the Secretary

concerned.

(2) Inclusions.—The strategy under paragraph (1) shall

include—

(A) the completion of any reviews required under the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.) to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments

during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural

disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already

permitted, subject to the requirement that, in selecting the

vacant grazing allotments for use under this subparagraph,

the Secretary concerned shall prioritize the use of

allotments that would not pose significant management or

resource challenges for the permittee or the Secretary

concerned and return permittees to their original allotment

as soon as practicable;

(B) the use of targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels;

targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual

grasses;

(D) an increased use of livestock grazing—

(i) to eradicate invasive annual grasses; and

(ii) as a post-fire restoration and recovery strategy, as

appropriate;

(E) an integrated use of advanced technologies to

dynamically adjust livestock placement;

(F) an increased use of any authorities applicable to

livestock grazing, including modifications to grazing permits

or leases to allow variances pursuant to paragraph (3);

(G) the utilization of grazing on Federal land under the

jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned in a manner that—

(i) avoids conflicts with other uses of that Federal land;

and

(ii) is consistent with any applicable land management

plan; and

(H) the use of any other means determined to be appropriate

by the Secretary concerned.

(3) Variances.—

(A) In general.—At the request of an authorized grazing

permittee or lessee, the Secretary concerned may allow a

temporary variance to the terms and conditions of a grazing

permit or lease to address significant changes in weather,

forage production, the effects of fire or drought, or other

temporary circumstances that impact resource conditions, to

facilitate the long-term ecological health of the Federal

land.

(B) Variances.—In carrying out subparagraph (A), the

Secretary concerned may authorize a temporary variance to the

terms and conditions of the applicable grazing permit or

lease to adjust the beginning date, the ending date, both the

beginning date and ending date, or water transportation, as

applicable, as specified in the applicable grazing permit or

lease, subject to—

(i) the requirement that, unless otherwise specified in the

appropriate allotment management plan or any other activity

plan that is the functional equivalent to the appropriate

allotment management plan under section 4120.2(a)(3) of title

43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation),

the applicable adjusted date of the season of use—

(I) occurs—

(aa) not earlier than 21 days before the beginning date

specified in the applicable grazing permit or lease; or

(bb) not later than 21 days after the ending date specified

in the applicable grazing permit or lease; and

(II) would not result in forage removal that exceeds the

amount of active use specified in the applicable grazing

permit or lease; and

(ii) the requirement that, in accordance with applicable

law (including regulations)

and the terms and conditions of the applicable grazing permit

or lease, an authorized grazing permittee or lessee using a

variance under this paragraph shall develop and use a

monitoring plan determined to be acceptable to the Secretary

concerned as a reasonable way to track the effects of the

variance on the long-term ecological health of the allotment

on which the variance is used.

(b) Effect on Existing Grazing Programs.—Nothing in this

section affects—

(1) any livestock grazing program carried out by the

Secretary concerned as of the date of enactment of this Act;

(2) any statutory authority for any program described in

paragraph (1).

SEC. 5118. WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM.

Section 303 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6542) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as

paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;

(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)

the following:

“(1) Adjacent land.—The term `adjacent land' means non-

Federal land, including State, local, Indian, and private

land, that is adjacent to, and within the same watershed as,

National Forest System land on which a watershed protection

and restoration project is carried out under this section.”;

and

(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as

subparagraphs (K) and (L), respectively; and

(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:

“(G) an acequia association;

“(H) a local, regional, or other public entity that

manages stormwater or wastewater resources or other related

water infrastructure;

“(I) a land-grant mercedes; and

“(J) a local, regional, or other private entity that has

water delivery authority;”;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by inserting “and adjacent land” before the period at

the end;

(B) by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the

following:

“(1) In general.—The Secretary”; and

“(2) Requirements.—A watershed protection and restoration

project under the Program shall be designed—

“(A) to protect and restore watershed health, water supply

and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system,

and water-related infrastructure;

“(B) to protect and restore forest health from insect

infestation and disease or wildfire; or

“(C) to advance any combination of the purposes described

in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

“(3) Priorities.—In selecting watershed protection and

restoration projects under the Program, the Secretary shall

give priority to projects that would—

“(A) provide risk management benefits associated with

drought, wildfire, post-wildfire conditions, extreme weather

events, flooding, landslides, resilience to climate change,

and watershed and fire resilience, including minimizing risks

to watershed health, water supply and quality, and water-

related infrastructure, including municipal and agricultural

water supply systems;

“(B) support aquatic restoration and conservation efforts

that complement existing or planned forest restoration or

wildfire risk reduction efforts;

“(C) provide quantifiable benefits to water supply or

quality and include the use of nature-based solutions, such

as restoring wetland and riparian ecosystems;

“(D) include—

“(i) partners with demonstrated capacity to, and success

in, designing and implementing ecological restoration

projects, wildfire risk-reduction efforts, or post-wildfire

restoration projects; or

“(ii) in the case of communities that have historically

lacked access to adequate resources, partners with a strong

likelihood of success in designing and implementing a

watershed protection and restoration project; and

“(E) include—

“(i) a contribution of funds or in-kind support from non-

Federal partners in an amount greater than the amount

required under subsection (g)(2); or

“(ii) such other characteristics as the Secretary

determines to be appropriate.

“(4) Conditions for projects on adjacent land.—

“(A) In general.—No project or activity may be carried

out under this section on adjacent land, unless the owner of

the adjacent land provides express support for, and is a

willing and engaged partner in, carrying out that project or

activity.

“(B) Effect.—Nothing in this section authorizes any

change in—

“(i) the ownership of adjacent land on which a project or

activity is carried out under this section; or

“(ii) the management of adjacent land on which a project

or activity is carried out under this section, except during

the carrying out of that project or activity.”;

(3) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “agreements with” and

all that follows through the period at the end and inserting

the following: “agreements with end water users to protect

and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds and

adjacent land that provide water to—

“(A) end water users; or

“(B) end water users to protect and restore the condition

of National Forest watersheds and adjacent land that provide

water for the benefit of another end water user.”;

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking “or” at the end;

(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);

and

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

“(D) in the case of an agreement with a State, a county,

or an Indian tribe for a project carried out on National

Forest System land—

“(i) a good neighbor agreement entered into under section

8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); or

“(ii) an agreement or contract entered into under the

Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278; 118

Stat. 868); or”; and

“(3) Cooperation with non-federal partners.—The Secretary

shall cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with non-

Federal partners in carrying out assessments, planning,

project design, and project implementation under this

section.”;

(4) in subsection (d)—

(A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) Requirements.—A water source management plan shall

be—

“(A) designed to protect and restore ecological integrity

(as defined in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this

subparagraph));

“(B) based on the best available scientific information;

and

“(C) conducted in a manner consistent with the forest plan

applicable to the National Forest System land on which the

watershed protection and restoration project is carried

out.”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Reducing redundancy.—An existing watershed plan,

such as a watershed protection and restoration action plan

developed under section 304(a)(3), or other applicable

watershed planning documents approved by the Secretary may be

used as the basis for a water source management plan under

this subsection.”;

(5) in subsection (e)(1), by striking “purpose of” in the

matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows

through the period at the end and inserting “purpose of

advancing any of the purposes described in subsection

(b)(2).”; and

(6) in subsection (g)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking “at least equal to” and inserting “not

less than 20 percent of”;

(ii) by striking “The Secretary” and inserting the

following:

“(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the

Secretary”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(B) Waiver.—The Secretary may waive the requirement

under subparagraph (A) at the discretion of the Secretary.”;

(B) in paragraph (4)—

(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking “fiscal years 2019

through 2023” and inserting “fiscal years 2025 through

2031”;

(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);

and

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

“(C) Set-aside for partner participation in planning and

capacity.—Of the amounts made available under subparagraphs

(A) and (B) to carry out this section for each fiscal year,

the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent for non-

Federal partner technical assistance participation and

capacity-building efforts in developing or implementing a

water source management plan under subsection (d).”; and

“(5) In-kind contributions.—The Secretary may include the

value of forest restoration and watershed improvement work

implemented on adjacent land in the project area in

determining in-kind contributions to a project from non-

Federal partners under paragraph (4)(A).”.

SEC. 5119. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK TECHNICAL

CORRECTIONS.

Section 304(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of

2003 (16 U.S.C. 6543(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting “protection and”

before “restoration”;

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;

(3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(7) to ensure that management activities and

authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of

watershed health of any watershed in a National Forest.”.

SEC. 5120. TRIBAL FOREST PROTECTION MANAGEMENT.

(a) In General.—Section 8703 of the Agriculture

Improvement Act of 2018 (25 U.S.C. 3115b) is amended—

(1) in the section heading, by striking “management

demonstration project” and inserting “protection management

activities and projects”;

(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);

(3) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking “demonstration”;

(B) by striking “federally recognized”;

and projects under”;

(D) by inserting “or compacts” after “contracts”;

(E) by striking “5304 et seq.” and inserting “5301 et

seq.”; and

(F) by striking the subsection designation and heading and

all that follows through “and the Secretary” and inserting

the following:

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Indian tribe.—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).

“(2) Tribal organization.—The term `Tribal organization'

has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian

Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.

5304).

“(b) Activities and Projects.—The Secretary and the

Secretary of the Interior”;

(4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)—

(A) by striking “contract or project” each place it

appears and inserting “contract, compact, or project”;

(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking

“subsection (a)” and inserting “subsection (b)”; and

inserting “5301 et seq.”; and

(5) by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Tort Claims Procedure.—For purposes of chapter 171

of title 28, United States Code, an employee of an Indian

Tribe or Tribal organization that enters into an agreement,

contract, or compact under subsection (b) shall be considered

an employee of the Forest Service while carrying out

activities and projects on behalf of the Forest Service

pursuant to that agreement, contract, or compact.

“(e) Publication of Information.—The Secretary and the

Secretary of the Interior shall—

“(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment

of this subsection, make available, in an easily accessible

format and location, on the website of the Department of

Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, respectively,

a list of the types of activities and projects that Indian

Tribes and Tribal organizations may enter into agreements,

contracts, or compacts to perform under subsection (b); and

“(2) update the list under paragraph (1) as necessary.”.

(b) Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 Amendments.—

Section 2 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25

U.S.C. 3115a) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) Indian forest land or rangeland.—The term `Indian

forest land or rangeland' means—

“(A) land that—

“(i) is held in trust, or subject to a restriction against

alienation, by the United States for an Indian Tribe or a

member of an Indian Tribe; and

“(ii)(I) is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304

of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25

U.S.C. 3103)); or

“(II)(aa) has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar

vegetation; or

“(bb) formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that

is capable of restoration; and

“(B) land that—

“(i) is in the State of Alaska and held by an Alaska

Native Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims

Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.); and

“(ii)(I) has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar

vegetation; or

“(II) formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that

is capable of restoration.”;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “450b” and inserting

“5304”; and

“(5) Tribal organization.—The term `Tribal organization'

has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian

Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.

5304).”;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking “Indian Forest

Land or Rangeland” and inserting “or Restore Indian Forest

Land or Rangeland and Federal Land of Special Significance”;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(i) by inserting “or Tribal organization” after “Indian

tribe” each place it appears;

(ii) by striking “a project to protect Indian forest land

or rangeland (including a project to restore Federal land

that borders on or is adjacent to Indian forest land or

rangeland)” and inserting “activities and projects to

protect or restore Indian forest land or rangeland or Federal

land”; and

(iii) by striking “activities described” and inserting

“activities and projects described”;

organization” after “Indian tribe”; and

(D) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

“(3) Activities and projects.—Under an agreement or

contract entered into under paragraph (2), the Indian tribe

or Tribal organization may carry out activities and projects

to achieve land management goals for—

“(A) Federal land that is—

“(i) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; and

“(ii) consistent with the criteria described in subsection

(c); and

“(B) Indian forest land or rangeland.”;

(3) in subsection (c)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting “for Federal

Land” after “Criteria”;

(B) by striking “an Indian tribe,” in the matter

preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows through “Indian

tribe—” in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of

paragraph (2) and inserting the following: “Federal land,

are whether—

“(1) the Federal land has a special geographic,

historical, or cultural significance to the Indian tribe or

Tribal organization and—”;

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and

inserting the following:

“(i) Indian forest land or rangeland; or”; and

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking “restoration

activities;” and inserting “or watershed restoration

activities; and”;

(D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraphs (2);

(E) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)—

(i) by inserting “and projects” after “activities”;

(ii) by inserting “or Tribal organization” after “Indian

tribe”; and

(iii) by striking “subject land; and” and inserting

“Federal land.”; and

(F) by striking paragraph (4);

(4) in subsection (d)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting

“or Tribal organization” after “Indian tribe”; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “Indian tribe for” and

all that follows through the period at the end and inserting

the following: “Indian tribe or Tribal organization for the

purpose of developing a strategy for protecting or

restoring—

“(A) Indian forest land or rangeland; or

“(B) Federal land that has a special geographic,

historical, or cultural significance to the Indian tribe or

Tribal organization.”;

(5) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by inserting “or Tribal organization” after “Indian

tribe” each place it appears;

(6) in subsection (g), by striking “date of enactment of

this Act” and inserting “date of enactment of the Fix Our

Forests Act”; and

(7) by adding at the end the following:

“(h) Federal Torts Claims Act Coverage.—While carrying

out activities and projects on behalf of the Bureau of Land

Management or the Forest Service pursuant to an agreement or

contract under this section, an employee of an Indian tribe

or Tribal organization shall be considered to be an employee

of the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service,

respectively, for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United

States Code.”.

SEC. 5121. ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL WILDLAND FIRE RESEARCH

CENTERS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

“appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the

Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(B) the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on

Agriculture, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House

of Representatives; and

facilitate the development of wildland fire research.

(2) Career pathway.—The term “career pathway” has the

meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce

Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

(3) Federal science agency.—The term “Federal science

agency” has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of

the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.

6623(f)).

(4) Institution of higher education.—The term

“institution of higher education” has the meaning given

that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of

1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

(5) Land-grant colleges and universities.—The term “land-

grant colleges and universities” has the meaning given that

term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,

Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).

(6) Minority-serving institution.—The term “minority-

serving institution” means an institution defined in any of

paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher

Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).

(7) Regional center.—The term “regional center” means a

regional wildland fire research center established under

subsection (c)(1).

(8) Tribal organization.—The term “Tribal organization”

has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian

Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.

5304).

(9) Wildland fire.—The term “wildland fire” means any

non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels

and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition

or prescribed fire.

(10) Wildland fire management agencies.—The term

“wildland fire management agencies” means—

(A) the Forest Service;

(B) the Bureau of Land Management;

(D) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and

(E) the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(11) Wildland fire research.—The term “wildland fire

research” means research to better understand—

(A) the causes and consequences of wildland fires,

including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that

increase the risk of catastrophic events;

(B) the spread and behavior of wildland fires, including

fires in the wildland-urban interface;

fires;

(D) the impact of wildland fires on public health, safety,

and the environment;

(E) the rehabilitation and restoration of affected

ecosystems after wildland fires; and

(F) the development of mitigation strategies and techniques

to improve the safety of wildland fire managers and

firefighters.

(b) Competitive Process.—The Secretaries shall establish a

competitive process for the selection and establishment of

regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with

subsection (c).

(1) In general.—The Secretaries shall select not fewer

than 8 institutions of higher education or land-grant

colleges and universities at which to establish, in

accordance with the timeline described in paragraph (2),

regional centers to coordinate the development of wildland

fire research.

(2) Timeline.—In establishing regional centers under

paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall establish—

(A) as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of

this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations, a

pilot program under which not fewer than 2 regional centers

shall be established; and

(B) not later than 2 years after the date on which the

pilot program is established under subparagraph (A), the

remaining regional centers.

(3) Criteria for selection.—

(A) In general.—In establishing a regional center at an

institution of higher education or land-grant college or

university under this section, the Secretaries shall

prioritize the selection of institutions, colleges, or

universities that meet not fewer than one of the following

criteria:

(i) Have existing programs of record in wildland fire

research.

(ii) Have existing partnerships with research institutions

of the Federal Government and other academic institutions and

entities relating to wildland fire research.

(iii) Participate in or lead a program under the Joint Fire

Science Program.

(iv) Are a minority-serving institution.

(B) Regions.—The Secretaries shall establish not fewer

than one regional center in each of the following regions of

the United States, as defined by the Secretaries:

(i) Alaska.

(ii) California.

(iii) The Pacific Northwest.

(iv) The Pacific Islands.

(v) The Plains and Northeast.

(vi) The Rockies.

(vii) The Southeast.

(viii) The Southwest.

(4) Purpose.—Each regional center, with respect to the

region covered by the regional center, shall—

(A) to the extent practical, coordinate research with other

wildland fire research entities, such as other academic

institutions, the Environmental Protection Agency, the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National

Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, the Department of Energy, the research and

development program of the Forest Service, the National

Laboratories, the United States Geological Survey, and State

and regional research organizations;

(B) improve the understanding of wildland fire through

wildland fire research that can be applied by wildland fire

management agencies;

monitor, and predict wildland fire, including—

(i) models to predict fire potential and the spread and

behavior of wildland fire and smoke;

(ii) models to predict how vegetation will respond to

changes in the environment and wildland fire;

(iii) the integration of technologies to predict the spread

and behavior of wildland fire and smoke in as near-real-time

as possible; and

(iv) other innovations to be integrated into operational

decision support systems relating to wildland fire, such as

the Wildland Fire Decision Support System and the Interagency

Fuel Treatment Decision Support System;

(D) develop technologies and other tools to safely support

land management activities to reduce the severity of wildland

fire;

(E) leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the impact

of smoke on communities and wildfire incident management

teams, including wildland firefighters;

(F) improve the understanding of post-fire risk to the

landscape, including flash flooding potential and watershed

impacts;

(G) test and operate models to support land management

decision-making, including through—

(i) operating models to support management of wildland fire

and vegetation;

(ii) the demonstration of integration technologies to

support management of wildland fire in as near-real-time as

possible; and

(iii) the incorporation of decision science and social

science that examines the perception and adoption of

information related to wildland fire risk;

(H) develop a career pathway training program with respect

to carrying out wildland fire research;

(I) develop data management protocols to allow for full and

open exchange of data pursuant to the principles of

findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability

(commonly referred to as the “FAIR principles”) and archive

and access that data;

(J) develop training programs for prescribed fire

implementation; and

(K) make its work and data fully and openly available.

(d) Advisory Boards.—

(1) In general.—In accordance with chapter 10 of title 5,

United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Federal

Advisory Committee Act”), the Secretary shall establish at

each regional center an advisory board, to be known as the

“Regional Advisory Board”, to carry out the duties

described in paragraph (4).

(2) Composition.—

(A) In general.—Each Regional Advisory Board shall consist

of members, who shall be from, or have responsibility

covering, the region covered by the relevant regional center,

including at minimum—

(i) one regional representative from each wildland fire

management agency, appointed by that agency;

(ii) one representative from a State government agency from

each State located in that region with expertise in forestry

and wildland fire mitigation and management, appointed by the

Governor of that State;

(iii) one representative from an Indian Tribe or Tribal

organization from that region with expertise in forestry and

wildland fire mitigation and management on Tribal or Federal

land, appointed by the Secretaries; and

(iv) additional representatives elected under subparagraph

(B)(ii).

(B) Elected membership.—

(i) Subcommittee.—Each Regional Advisory Board shall

solicit and approve, on at least an annual basis, nominations

for individuals with operational expertise in wildland fire

mitigation and management to serve as a representative on a

subcommittee to the Regional Advisory Board for the purposes

of clause (ii), composed of not more than 15 individuals,

including representatives from, as applicable—

(I) institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges

and universities;

(II) nongovernmental organizations;

(III) private industry;

(IV) the wildland firefighter community, including

organizations that represent the interests of wildland

firefighters; and

(V) Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes established

under section 5(a) of the Southwest Forest Health and

Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (16 U.S.C. 6704(a)).

(ii) Election.—The subcommittee described in clause (i)

for a Regional Advisory Board may elect a member or members

of the subcommittee to serve as a member of the Regional

Advisory Board under subparagraph (A)(iv) for a 2-year term.

(3) Compensation.—Each member of a Regional Advisory Board

shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.

(4) Duties.—Each Regional Advisory Board shall—

(A) ensure and support the coordination of wildland fire

research between the relevant regional center and Federal and

State land management agencies in that region;

(B) communicate the operational needs of Federal and State

land management agencies and wildland fire management

agencies in that region to the relevant regional center and

to the Board governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center

appointed under section 5102(f);

center, on research goals and objectives; and

(D) assist the relevant regional center with the

dissemination of research outputs and data to the Board

governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under

section 5102(f) and Federal and State land management

agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that

region.

(5) Meetings.—Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet

quarterly.

(6) Term.—Unless specified otherwise, a member of a

Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.

(7) Vacancies.—

(A) In general.—A vacancy on a Regional Advisory Board—

(i) shall not affect the powers of the Regional Advisory

Board; and

(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original

appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the

date on which the vacancy occurs.

(B) Filling unexpired term.—An individual chosen to fill a

vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the

member replaced.

(e) Report on Wildland Fire Research.—Not later than each

of 2 years and 4 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Board

governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under

section 5102(f), shall submit to the appropriate committees

of Congress a report describing—

(1) the progress each regional center has made in the

development of wildland fire research; and

(2) recommendations to improve wildland fire research.

(f) Consultation.—In carrying out the requirements of this

section, the Secretaries shall consult with—

(1) Federal science agencies; and

(2) the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

SEC. 5122. CONTRACTS, GRANTS, AND AGREEMENTS TO CARRY OUT

CERTAIN ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.

Section 40804 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

(16 U.S.C. 6592a) is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(g) Contracts, Grants, and Agreements.—To carry out the

ecosystem restoration activities described in subsection (b),

the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the

Forest Service, may enter into contracts, grants, or

agreements, as appropriate, with State agencies, Indian

Tribes, institutions of higher education (as defined in

section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.

1001(a))), and multistate coalitions—

“(1) for the collection and maintenance of native plant

materials, including material from managed seed orchards; and

“(2) for the production of native plant materials for

revegetation.”.

SEC. 5123. REFORESTATION OF LAND DESTROYED BY HERMIT'S PEAK/

CALF CANYON FIRE.

Section 104(d)(4) of the Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Fire

Assistance Act (division G of Public Law 117-180; 136 Stat.

2172) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(D) Reforestation.—

“(i) In general.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B),

subject to clause (ii), a claim that is paid for injury under

this Act may include damages resulting from the Hermit's

Peak/Calf Canyon Fire for otherwise uncompensated resource

losses for costs of reasonable efforts, as determined by the

Administrator, incurred by the State of New Mexico not later

than December 31, 2030, to design and construct a center for

the purpose of researching, developing, and generating native

seedlings.

“(ii) Limitation.—The payment of a claim under this Act

may not include amounts to design or construct a center

described in clause (i) until after all claims by an injured

person that are pending on the date of enactment of this

subparagraph are paid or otherwise resolved.”.

SEC. 5124. CONTRACT PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL CONTRACTORS FOR

CERTAIN HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS.

(a) In General.—Title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration

Act of 2003 is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 107 and 108 (16 U.S.C. 6517,

6518) as sections 108 and 109, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 106 (16 U.S.C. 6516) the

following:

“SEC. 107. CONTRACT PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL CONTRACTORS FOR

CERTAIN HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Appropriate local contractor.—The term `appropriate

local contractor' means an entity that carries out, pursuant

to a contract or agreement, 1 or more authorized projects

located—

“(A) in a State in which—

“(i) the entity has its principal place of business, as

certified by the entity or an individual representing the

entity; and

“(ii) not fewer than 26 percent of the total workforce

assigned to the applicable contract or agreement (including

subcontractors at any tier) will reside, as certified by the

entity or an individual representing the entity; or

“(B) within a 60-mile radius of the State in which the

entity is registered as a business or has its principal place

of business, as certified by the entity or an individual

representing the entity.

“(2) Authorized project.—The term `authorized project'

includes any activity carried out pursuant to—

“(A) an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project; or

“(B) a fireshed management project (as defined in section

5002 of the Fix Our Forests Act).

“(3) Secretary.—The term `Secretary' means the Secretary

of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest

Service.

“(b) Contract Preference.—Effective beginning on the date

of enactment of the Fix Our Forests Act, the Secretary shall

give preference in awarding a contract to carry out an

authorized project in a State to an appropriate local

contractor, to the maximum extent practicable.

“(c) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of the Fix Our Forests Act, and not less frequently

than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to

Congress a report that includes—

“(1) a quantitative analysis of the number and percentage

of contracts awarded to appropriate local contractors, the

total dollar value of those contracts, and an assessment of

the economic impact of the contract preference under

subsection (b) on local employment and contractor capacity;

“(2) a description of the reasons for awarding a contract

to carry out an authorized project in a State to an

individual or entity that is not an appropriate local

contractor; and

“(3) a description of the implementation by the Secretary

of this section.

“(d) Monitoring and Evaluation.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall establish a

monitoring and evaluation process—

“(A) to assess compliance with the requirements of this

section, including the contract preference under subsection

(b); and

“(B) to support the reports required under subsection (c).

“(2) Participants.—The process described in paragraph (1)

may include participation by—

“(A) any cooperating governmental agencies, including

Tribal governments; and

“(B) any other interested groups or individuals.”.

(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents contained in

section 1(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(Public Law 108-148; 117 Stat. 1887) is amended by striking

the items relating to sections 107 and 108 and inserting the

following:

“Sec. 107. Contract preference for local contractors for certain

hazardous fuel reduction projects.
“Sec. 108. Effect of title.
“Sec. 109. Authorization of appropriations.”.

Subtitle C—Litigation Reform

SEC. 5131. LITIGATION REFORM.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Agency document.—The term “agency document”, with

respect to a fireshed management project, means a record of

decision, decision memorandum, environmental document, or

programmatic environmental document.

(2) Covered agency action.—The term “covered agency

action” means—

(A) the establishment of a fireshed management project by

an agency;

(B) the application of a categorical exclusion to a

fireshed management project;

management project; and

(D) any other agency action as part of a fireshed

management project.

(3) NEPA terms.—The terms “categorical exclusion”,

“environmental document”, and “programmatic environmental

document” have the meanings given those terms in section 111

of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.

4336e).

(b) Limitations on Judicial Review.—

(1) Limitations on injunctive relief.—

(A) Temporary delay of covered agency action.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a

claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a

covered agency action, a court shall not issue a preliminary

injunction against such covered agency action unless the

court determines that—

(i) subject to subparagraph (C), such preliminary

injunction is in the public interest;

(ii) the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;

(iii) the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits; and

(iv) the plaintiff is likely to suffer irreparable injury

in the absence of preliminary relief.

(B) Permanent limit on agency action.—Notwithstanding any

other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under

Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency

action, a court shall not issue a permanent injunction

against such covered agency action, or an order to otherwise

permanently limit such covered agency action, unless a court

determines that—

(i) subject to subparagraph (C), such permanent injunction

or order is in the public interest;

(ii) the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;

(iii) the plaintiff has suffered or will suffer irreparable

injury; and

(iv) no adequate remedy is available at law.

(i) In general.—In determining under subparagraphs (A) and

(B) whether a preliminary or permanent injunction against, or

other order with respect to, a covered agency action is in

the public interest, the considerations of the court shall

include—

(I) the purpose for which an agency is undertaking the

fireshed management project relating to such covered agency

action;

(II) the likelihood that the fireshed management project

will achieve the stated purpose of the fireshed management

project; and

(III) the short- and long-term effects of proceeding with

the covered agency action, as compared to delaying or

limiting such covered agency action, including the potential

for significant increases in wildfire risk or severity and

significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.

(ii) Weight of public interest factor.—In determining

whether to issue any injunction or order under subparagraph

(A) or (B), a court shall give significant, but not

necessarily dispositive, weight to its consideration of

whether such order is in the public interest.

(2) Remand.—

(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking

judicial review of a covered agency action, if the court

remands the matter to the agency, the court shall remand with

instructions to carry out, during the 180-day period

beginning on the date of such remand, such additional actions

as may be necessary to redress any cognizable harm giving

rise to such claim.

(B) Vacatur.—

(i) In general.—In remanding a matter to an agency under

subparagraph (A), the court shall remand with vacatur only

if—

(I) the seriousness of any deficiencies in the covered

agency action weigh in favor of vacatur; and

(II) the court determines that any disruptive consequences

of vacatur, including the short- and long-term effects of

vacating the covered agency action or any part of such

covered agency action, do not outweigh the justification for

vacatur.

(ii) Considerations.—In making the determination described

in clause (i)(II), the court shall consider whether vacatur

would cause—

(I) any significant increases in wildfire risk or severity,

and

(II) any significant threats to the health of the

ecosystem.

agency action subject to remand without vacatur, or with

partial vacatur, pursuant to this paragraph, the agency may—

(i) continue to carry out such covered agency action, or

such parts of the covered agency action as are not vacated,

to the extent that doing so does not interfere with any

additional actions required pursuant to subparagraph (A); and

(ii) use any format, as appropriate, to correct an agency

document (including a supplemental environmental document,

memorandum, or errata sheet), provided that such format is

appropriate to the nature of the deficiency.

(3) Preservation of authority.—Nothing in this section

alters, limits, or displaces the authority of a court to

review a covered agency action under section 706(2) of title

5, United States Code.

provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking

judicial review of a covered agency action shall be barred

unless—

(1) with respect to an agency document or the application

of a categorical exclusion noticed in the Federal Register,

such claim is filed not later than 150 days after the date of

publication of a notice in the Federal Register of agency

intent to carry out the fireshed management project relating

to such covered agency document or application, unless a

shorter period is specified in such Federal law; or

(2) in the case of an agency document or the application of

a categorical exclusion not described in paragraph (1), if

such agency document or application is otherwise published or

noticed, such claim is filed not later than 150 days after

the date that is the earlier of—

(A) the date on which such agency document or application

is published; and

(B) the date on which such agency document or application

is noticed.

SEC. 5132. CONSULTATION ON FOREST PLANS.

(a) Forest Service Plans.—Section 6(d)(2) of the Forest

and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16

U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

“(2) No additional consultation required under certain

circumstances.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate

consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of title

50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation),

on a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under

this section when—

“(A) a new species is listed or critical habitat is

designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

“(B) new information reveals effects of the land

management plan that may affect a species listed or critical

habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent

not previously considered.”.

(b) Bureau of Land Management Plans.—Section 202 of the

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.

1712) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) No Additional Consultation Required Under Certain

Circumstances.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate

consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of title

50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation),

on a land use plan approved, amended, or revised under this

section when—

“(1) a new species is listed or critical habitat is

designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

“(2) new information reveals effects of the land use plan

that may affect a species listed or critical habitat

designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not

previously considered.”.

Subtitle D—Prescribed Fire

SEC. 5141. PRESCRIBED FIRE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES, POLICIES, AND

PRACTICES.

(a) Definition of Prescribed Fire.—

(1) In general.—In this section, the term “prescribed

fire” means a fire deliberately ignited to burn wildland

fuels in a natural or modified state—

(A) under specified environmental conditions that are

intended to allow the fire—

(i) to be confined to a predetermined area; and

(ii) to produce the fireline intensity and rate of spread

required to attain planned resource management objectives;

and

(B) in accordance with applicable law (including

regulations).

(2) Exclusion.—In this section, the term “prescribed

fire” does not include a fire that is ignited for the

primary purpose of pile burning.

(3) Cultural burning.—In this section, the term

“prescribed fire” includes specified cultural burning

activities that an Indian Tribe designates for treatment as

prescribed fire for the purposes of this section.

(b) Eligible Activities.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary concerned may carry out

eligible activities described in paragraph (2) for hazardous

fuels management with respect to land under the jurisdiction

of the Secretary concerned.

(2) Description of activities.—The activities referred to

in paragraph (1) are—

(A) with respect to prescribed fires on Federal land, or on

non-Federal land if the Secretary concerned determines that

such activities would benefit resources on Federal land—

(i) entering into procurement contracts or cooperative

agreements for prescribed fire activities;

(ii) issuing grants from an existing grant program to a

State, Indian Tribe, local government, prescribed fire

council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit

organization for the implementation of prescribed fires,

including—

(I) carrying out necessary environmental reviews;

(II) carrying out any site preparation necessary for

implementing prescribed fires; and

(III) conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and

environmental surveys; and

(iii) conducting outreach to the public, Indian Tribes and

beneficiaries, and adjacent landowners;

(B) implementing prescribed fires on non-Federal land, if

the Secretary concerned determines that the prescribed fire

would benefit Federal land, including—

(i) carrying out necessary environmental reviews;

(ii) carrying out any site preparation necessary for

implementing prescribed fires; and

(iii) conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and

environmental surveys;

management practices to Federal employees and cooperators;

(D) conducting post-prescribed fire activities, such as

monitoring for hazard trees or reignitions and invasive

species management; and

(E) providing technical or financial assistance to a State,

Indian Tribe, local government, prescribed fire council,

prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for

the purpose of providing training for prescribed fire or

basic smoke management practices, consistent with any

standards developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating

Group or State-prescribed fire standards.

(3) Prioritization.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary

concerned shall coordinate with the other Secretary

concerned, State and local government agencies, Indian

Tribes, and applicable nongovernmental organizations to

establish prioritization criteria for carrying out the

activities described in paragraph (2).

(B) Requirement.—In establishing criteria under

subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall give priority

to a project that is—

(i) implemented across a large contiguous area;

(ii) cross-boundary in nature;

(iii) located in an area that is—

(I) within or adjacent to the wildland-urban interface and

identified as a priority area in a statewide forest action

plan, fireshed assessment, or community wildfire protection

plan; or

(II) identified by the Secretary of the Interior, in

consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribe, as important

to the protection of a Tribal trust resource or the reserved

or treaty rights of an Indian Tribe identified by the

Secretary concerned, in consultation with the appropriate

Indian Tribe;

(iv) on land that is at high or very high risk of

experiencing a wildfire that would be difficult to suppress;

(v) in an area that is designated as critical habitat and

in need of ecological restoration or enhancement that can be

achieved with the aid of prescribed fire; or

(vi) supportive of potential operational delineations or

strategic response zones.

coordination with State and local governments and Indian

Tribes, shall develop a prescribed fire operational strategy

for each region of the National Forest System or the

Department of the Interior, as applicable, that describes—

(1) the fire deficit, by region; and

(2) staffing and funding needs to address the fire deficit

described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 5142. HUMAN RESOURCES.

(a) Competencies for Firefighters.—The Secretaries, in

coordination with the Fire Executive Council, shall task the

National Wildfire Coordinating Group with the duty to adjust

training requirements to obtain a certification to serve in a

supervisory role for a prescribed fire and any other

positions determined to be necessary by the Secretaries—

(1) in order to reduce the time required to obtain such a

certification; and

(2) such that significant experience, gained exclusively

during a prescribed fire, is required to obtain such a

certification.

(b) Enhancing Interoperability Between Federal and Non-

Federal Practitioners.—

(1) Qualification databases and dispatch systems.—The

Secretaries shall establish, to

the extent practicable, a collaborative process to create

mechanisms for non-Federal fire practitioners to be included

in prescribed fire and wildfire resource ordering and

reimbursement processes.

(2) Partnership agreements.—The Secretaries may—

(A) develop partnership agreements for prescribed fire with

all relevant State, Federal, Tribal, university, and

nongovernmental entities that choose to be included in

resource ordering and reimbursement processes under paragraph

(1);

(B) create agreements and structures necessary to include

non-Federal and other nontraditional partners in direct work

with Federal agencies to address prescribed fires; and

National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards as eligible to

be included in statewide participating agreements.

SEC. 5143. LIABILITY OF PRESCRIBED FIRE MANAGERS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Covered activity.—The term “covered activity” means

an activity carried out on Federal land directly related to a

wildland fire, prescribed fire, or prescribed fire with

cultural objectives in the course of executing a Federal

action.

(2) Covered entity.—The term “covered entity” means a

non-Federal entity that—

(A) carries out a covered activity; and

(B) is acting—

(i) under the direct supervision of a Federal employee; and

(ii) within the scope of a contract or agreement in

carrying out that covered activity.

(b) Indemnity of Federal and Tribal Employees.—The

Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall

develop a voluntary training course for employees involved in

covered activities describing—

(1) liability protections afforded to those employees when

acting within the scope of their employment;

(2) the limits on any liability protections under paragraph

(1); and

(3) reimbursements available for qualified employees for

professional liability insurance under section 636 of

division A of Public Law 104-208 (5 U.S.C. prec. 5941 note).

(1) In general.—Effective beginning on the date of

enactment of this Act, a covered entity shall be considered

to be an employee of the Federal Government for purposes of

chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly known

as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”), while that covered

entity carries out any covered activity.

(2) Guidance.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with

the Attorney General, shall issue guidance regarding the

necessary provisions of, and implementation requirements for,

contracts or agreements that would extend liability

protection to covered entities pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) Reimbursement.—Beginning in the first fiscal year that

begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the

Secretaries shall request, through annual appropriations,

funds sufficient to reimburse the Treasury for any claims

paid during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to paragraph

(1).

(d) Effect.—Nothing in this section limits or otherwise

affects the application of—

(1) any statutory or judicial immunity to any Federal

employee;

(2) chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code (commonly

known as the “Federal Tort Claims Act”), to any Federal

employee; or

(3) section 314 of Public Law 101-512 (25 U.S.C. 5321

note).

SEC. 5144. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

(a) Smoke Management Agencies.—

(1) Policy.—The Secretaries shall ensure that policies,

training, and programs of the Secretaries are consistent with

this subsection—

(A) to facilitate greater use of prescribed fire in a safe

and responsible manner, with appropriate monitoring to

prevent prescribed fires from exceeding containment;

(B) to address public health and safety, including impacts

from smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires; and

monitoring using existing systems and programs, including the

Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program

established under section 1114(f) of the John D. Dingell, Jr.

Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C.

1748b-1(f)), to provide consistent forecasts on air quality

impacts from wildfire and prescribed fire.

(2) Coordination among federal, tribal, and state air

quality agencies and federal, tribal, and state land

management agencies.—To facilitate the use of prescribed

fire on Federal, State, Tribal, and private land, the

Executive Director, in cooperation with the Environmental

Protection Agency, Federal and State land management

agencies, shall coordinate with State, Tribal, and local air

quality agencies that regulate smoke under the Clean Air Act

(42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.)—

(A) to the maximum extent practicable, to provide State,

Tribal, and local air quality agencies with guidance, data,

imagery, or modeling to support the development of

exceptional event demonstrations for prescribed fire in

accordance with sections 50.14 and 51.930 of title 40, Code

of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);

(B) to develop archives and automated tools to provide

State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies with the data,

imagery, and modeling under subparagraph (A);

templates to States, Indian Tribes, and local governments for

the use of the State, Indian Tribe, or local government in

approving the use of prescribed fire under a State, Tribal,

or local government smoke management program;

(D)(i) to promote basic smoke management practices and

other best practices to protect the public from wildfire

smoke;

(ii) to disseminate information about basic smoke

management practices;

(iii) to educate landowners that use prescribed fire about

the importance of—

(I) using basic smoke management practices; and

(II) including basic smoke management practices as a

component of a prescribed fire plan;

(iv) to share with the public information, in coordination

with other State and local agencies with responsibility for

smoke monitoring or regulation, about measures that

individuals can take to protect themselves from wildfire

smoke; and

(v) to promote further development of smoke-ready efforts

to allow communities to be prepared for smoke, including

promotion of smoke planning in community wildfire protection

plans; and

(E) to develop guidance and tools to streamline the

demonstration of a clear causal relationship between

prescribed fire smoke and a related exceedance or

contribution to an exceedance of a national ambient air

quality standard.

(3) Programs and research.—To address the public health

and safety concerns of the expanded use of prescribed fire

under this subtitle, the Secretaries, in coordination with

the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and

the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, shall conduct research to improve or develop—

(A) wildfire smoke prediction models;

(B) smoke impact display tools for the public and

decisionmakers, including for health impacts and

transportation safety;

communications strategies to mitigate the impacts of smoke

from prescribed fire on nearby communities;

(D) consistent nationally and scientifically supported

messages regarding personal protection equipment for the

public;

(E) prescribed fire activity tracking and emission

inventory systems for planning and post-treatment

accountability; and

(F) air quality and atmospheric deposition monitoring to

understand smoke impacts of wildland fires.

(b) Development of Landscape-scale Federal Prescribed Fire

Plans.—

(1) Inclusion of landscape-scale prescribed fire plans.—

The Secretary concerned, with respect to units of the

National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management

districts with existing prescribed fire programs—

(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of

this Act, shall determine which of those units or districts

have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans;

(B) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of

this Act, shall—

(i) determine whether each plan described in subparagraph

(A) requires revision; and

(ii) establish a schedule for the revision of each plan

described in subparagraph (A) that requires revision; and

any units or districts that do not have landscape-scale

prescribed fire plans, as determined appropriate by the

Secretary concerned.

(2) Environmental compliance.—In carrying out paragraph

(1), the Secretary concerned shall—

(A) comply with—

(i) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);

(ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.);

(iii) division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States

Code; and

(iv) any other applicable laws; and

(B) consider the site-specific environmental consequences

of the landscape-scale prescribed fire decisions under this

subsection.

(3) Collaborative development.—In carrying out paragraph

(1), the Secretary concerned shall collaborate with diverse

actors from academia, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land

Management research and development offices, nongovernmental

organizations, Indian Tribes, and other entities, as

determined appropriate by the Secretary concerned.

(4) Reports.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary

concerned shall submit to Congress a report describing the

progress of the Secretary concerned in carrying out this

subsection.

SEC. 5145. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS FOR

PRESCRIBED FIRE.

(a) Agreements and Contracts.—

(1) Definition of eligible entity.—In this subsection, the

term “eligible entity” means a State, an Indian Tribe, a

unit of local government, a fire district, a nongovernmental

organization, and a private entity.

(2) Authorization.—The Secretaries may each enter into a

cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity,

for a period of not longer than 10 years, that authorizes the

eligible entity—

(A) to coordinate, plan, or conduct a prescribed fire on

Federal land; or

(B) to conduct a prescribed fire training event.

(3) Subcontracts.—A State, Indian Tribe, county, or

eligible entity that enters into a cooperative agreement or

contract under paragraph (1) may enter into a subcontract, in

accordance with applicable employment and contracting laws

and procedures of the State, Indian Tribe, county, or

eligible entity—

(A) to conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land; or

(B) to conduct a prescribed fire training event pursuant to

that cooperative agreement or contract.

(4) Applicable law.—A prescribed fire conducted pursuant

to this subsection shall be carried out on a project-by-

project basis under—

(A) existing authorities of the applicable Federal agency

responsible for the management of the applicable Federal

land; and

(B) the employment and contracting laws of an Indian Tribe

in accordance with paragraph (3), as applicable.

(5) Preservation of decision authority.—An eligible entity

may not carry out a project under this subsection pursuant to

a cooperative agreement or contract without the prior written

approval of each Secretary that entered into the cooperative

agreement or contract.

(b) Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 Amendments.—The

Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278; 118

Stat. 868) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 4. TRIBAL PRESCRIBED BURN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

“(a) In General.—The Secretary may enter into a contract

or agreement with an Indian Tribe under this Act that

provides for prescribed burns on Federal land pursuant to

this section.

“(b) Scope.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a

contract or agreement entered into under this section may—

“(1) use a burn plan that, on approval by the Secretary,

allows multiple prescribed burns to be conducted in

accordance with the burn plan to eliminate the need for

individual burn plans for each prescribed burn and enable

forest managers to have the flexibility to conduct prescribed

burns when conditions allow; and

“(2) include terms that—

“(A) the Secretary may authorize an Indian Tribe to plan,

coordinate, and execute prescribed burns on the behalf of the

Secretary within the scope of the burn plan including

applying the National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards

for prescribed fire planning and implementation, to the

extent authorized by Federal law;

“(B) any applicable Federal standard that requires a

certain number of personnel to be on-hand during prescribed

burns may be satisfied by regional Federal, State, or Tribal

resources and personnel; and

“(C) where appropriate, the Secretary shall work with

other Federal agencies and Tribal, State, and local

governments to coordinate and communicate the shared

objectives of the prescribed burn and ensure activities

comply with applicable law and regulations.”.

Law 94-148 (commonly known as the “Cooperative Funds and

Deposits Act”) is amended—

(1) in the first sentence of the first section (16 U.S.C.

565a-1), by inserting “prescribed fire and prescribed fire

training events,” after “including fire protection,”; and

(2) in section 2 (16 U.S.C. 565a-2), by inserting “,

section 4 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public

Law 108-278; 118 Stat. 868), or section 5145(a) of the Fix

Our Forests Act” after “authorized by section 1”.

SEC. 5146. FACILITATING RESPONSIBLE USE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE.

The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest

Service, shall—

(1) use all available resources to ensure prescribed burns

conducted by the Forest Service are extinguished; and

(2) update the prescribed burn policies of the Forest

Service to reflect the findings and recommendations included

in the report of the Forest Service entitled “National

Prescribed Fire Program Review” and dated September 2022.

TITLE II—PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AT RISK

Subtitle A—Community Wildfire Risk Reduction

SEC. 5201. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 120 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries and the Secretary

of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the

United States Fire Administration, shall jointly establish an

interagency program, to be known as the “Community Wildfire

Risk Reduction Program” (referred to in this section as the

“Program”), which shall consist of at least 1

representative from each of the following:

(1) The Office of Wildland Fire of the Department of the

Interior.

(2) The National Park Service.

(3) The Bureau of Land Management.

(4) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(5) The Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(6) The Forest Service.

(7) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(8) The United States Fire Administration.

(9) The National Institute of Standards and Technology.

(10) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(11) The National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

(b) Purpose.—The purpose of the Program is to support

interagency coordination in reducing the risk of, and the

damages resulting from, wildland fires in communities

(including Tribal communities) in the wildland-urban

interface through—

(1) advancing research and science in wildland fire

resilience, land management, and risk reduction in the built

environment, including support for non-Federal research

partnerships;

(2) using current programming already available to Federal

agencies;

(3) supporting the development of fire-resistant building

methods, codes, and standards for community wildland fire

risk reduction, including by promoting ignition-resistant

construction, defensible space, and other measures

demonstrated to effectively reduce wildland fire risks, as

informed by the best available science;

(4) supporting adoption by Indian Tribes and local

governmental entities of fire-resistant building methods,

codes, and standards;

(5) supporting efforts by Indian Tribes and local

governmental entities to address the effects of wildland fire

on those communities, including property damages, air

quality, and water quality;

(6) encouraging public-private partnerships to conduct

hazardous fuels management activities near and within the

wildland-urban interface, including creating or improving

defensible space around structures;

(7) providing technical and financial assistance targeted

towards communities (including Tribal communities) through

streamlined and unified technical assistance and grant

management mechanisms—

(A) to encourage critical risk-reduction measures on

private property with high wildland fire risk exposure in

those communities; and

(B) to mitigate costs for, and improve capacity among,

those communities;

(8) reducing risk in the built environment by encouraging

increased mitigation measures, such as the use of ignition-

resistant construction and retrofitting materials;

(9) coordinating budgets among the agencies described in

subsection (a) to identify gaps and reduce overlap;

(10) supporting the integration of wildland fire risk

reduction measure and technical assistance into existing

Federal programs, where practicable; and

(11) advancing the development of early wildfire detection

and warning systems for rapid response and community alerts.

representatives described in subsection (a) shall—

(1) meet not less frequently than once per year;

(2) ensure coordination, as appropriate, with other Federal

agencies not identified in that subsection; and

(3) seek to gather feedback, as appropriate, from States,

Indian Tribes, local governments, academic or research

institutions, private entities, and such other entities as

the Secretaries and the Secretary of Homeland Security,

acting through the Administrator of the United States Fire

Administration, determine to be appropriate, to improve the

function and operation of the Program.

(d) Coordination.—The Secretaries and the Secretary of

Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the

United States Fire Administration, shall seek to ensure that

States and Indian Tribes are invited and represented in

meetings and other activities under this section.

(e) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once

every 2 years thereafter, the Program, acting through the

representatives described in subsection (a), shall submit to

the relevant committees of Congress a report that—

(1) describes the activities carried out under the Program

during the 2 preceding years;

(2) assesses the management, coordination, implementation,

and effectiveness of Program activities;

(3) suggests improvements for the coordination and

engagement of the Program with States, Indian Tribes, units

of local government, and at-risk communities;

(4) assesses trends and developments in science and

engineering relating to wildfire risk reduction in the built

environment, land-use planning, and vegetation management

that could be used to improve the effectiveness or efficiency

of the Program;

(5) provides recommendations, to the maximum extent

practicable—

(A) to improve the Program, including the ability of the

Program to provide financial or technical assistance to

States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and at-risk

communities; and

(B) to modify existing requirements for Federal assistance

or programs that support community wildfire risk reduction to

improve the delivery, effectiveness, or availability of such

assistance or programs;

(6) describes and itemizes the total amount of funding

relating to community wildfire risk reduction that was

obligated during the 2 preceding fiscal years by the agencies

described in subsection (a); and

(7) describes any feedback incorporated from non-Federal

stakeholders to improve the function and operation of the

Program.

(f) Sunset.—The Program terminates on the date that is 7

years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5202. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—The Secretaries, acting jointly, shall

expand the Joint Fire Science Program to include a

performance-driven research and development program, to be

known as the “Community Wildfire Defense Research Program”

(referred to in this section as the “Program”), for the

purpose of testing and advancing innovative designs to

establish or improve the wildfire resistance of structures

and communities.

(b) Program Priorities.—In carrying out the Program, the

Secretaries shall evaluate efforts and opportunities on or

after the date of enactment of this Act to establish

wildfire-resistant structures and communities through—

(1) different affordable building materials, including mass

timber;

(2) home hardening, including policies to incentivize and

incorporate defensible space;

(3) preparation for wildland fire smoke;

(4) subdivision design and other land-use planning and

design;

(5) landscape architecture; and

(6) other wildfire-resistant designs, as determined by the

Secretaries.

(1) In general.—In carrying out the Program, the

Secretaries shall carry out a competition through which a

person may submit to the Secretaries innovative designs for

the establishment or improvement of an ignition-resistant

structure or fire-adapted community.

(2) Prize.—Subject to the availability of appropriations

made in advance for that purpose, the Secretaries may award a

prize under the competition described in paragraph (1), based

on criteria established by the Secretaries and in accordance

with paragraph (3).

(3) Scale.—In awarding a prize under paragraph (2), the

Secretaries shall prioritize for an award designs with the

greatest potential to scale to existing infrastructure.

(d) Collaboration and Nonduplication.—In carrying out the

Program, the Secretaries shall ensure collaboration and

nonduplication of activities with the Building Technologies

Office of the Department of Energy.

(e) Coordination.—In carrying out the Program, the

Secretaries shall coordinate with the Administrator of the

United States Fire Administration.

(f) Sunset.—The Program terminates on the date that is 7

years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5203. COMMUNITY WILDFIRE DEFENSE GRANT PROGRAM

IMPROVEMENTS.

Section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs

Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(f)) is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (1)(B), and inserting the

following:

“(B) to carry out projects, including—

“(i) landscape and hazardous fuels reduction treatments;

“(ii) the retrofit, modification, or maintenance of a

structure to improve resistance to fire;

“(iii) creating defensible space around structures to

improve resistance to fire;

“(iv) hardening infrastructure, including evacuation

routes, to improve resistance to fire;

“(v) any other project described in a community wildfire

protection plan that is not more than 10 years old; and

“(vi) deployment of wildfire technologies determined to be

successful under section 5303 of the Fix Our Forests Act.”;

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking “or” at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; or”; and

“(D) located in a fireshed management area (as defined in

section 5002 of the Fix Our Forests Act).”; and

(3) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking “continental”;

and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) Limitation on administrative expenses.—Not more than

7 percent of funds obligated under this subsection may be

used for administrative expenses incurred by the Secretary of

Agriculture.”.

SEC. 5204. UPDATED DEFINITION OF AT-RISK COMMUNITY.

Section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6511) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and

inserting the following:

“(1) At-risk community.—The term `at-risk community'

means an area that is composed of—

“(A) an interface community (as defined in the notice

entitled `Wildland Urban Interface Communities Within the

Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk From

Wildfire' (66 Fed. Reg. 753 (January 4, 2001)) issued by the

Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior in

accordance with title IV of the Department of the Interior

and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat.

1009));

“(B) a group of homes and other structures with basic

infrastructure and services (such as utilities and

collectively maintained transportation routes) at risk from

wildfire, as recognized in a fireshed, State, Tribal, local,

regional, territorial, or national wildfire risk assessment;

“(C) a group of homes and other structures with basic

infrastructure and services (such as utilities and

collectively maintained transportation routes), as determined

by the Secretary of Agriculture.”.

Subtitle B—Vegetation Management, Reforestation, and Local Fire Risk

Mitigation

SEC. 5211. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, FACILITY INSPECTION, AND

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RELATING TO ELECTRIC

TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITY RIGHTS-

OF-WAY.

(a) Hazard Trees Within 150 Feet of Electric Power Line.—

Section 512(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)) is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

“likely to—” and inserting “likely—”;

(2) in clause (i), by inserting “to” after the clause

designation; and

(3) in clause (ii), by striking “come within 10” and

inserting “to come within 150”.

(b) Consultation With Private Landowners.—Section

512(c)(3)(E) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of

1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(3)(E)) is amended—

(1) in clause (i), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting

“; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) consulting with a private landowner with respect to

any hazard trees identified for removal from land owned by

the private landowner.”.

the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.

1772(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking clause (iv) and

inserting the following:

“(iv) ensures that—

“(I) a plan submitted without a modification under clause

(iii) shall be automatically approved by the date that is 120

days after the date of submission; and

“(II) for a plan submitted with a modification under

clause (iii), if the plan is not approved by the date that is

120 days after the date of submission, the Secretary

concerned shall develop and submit to the owner and operator

a letter describing—

“(aa) a detailed timeline (to conclude by the date that is

165 days after the date of submission of the plan) for

completing review of the plan;

“(bb) any identified deficiencies in the plan and specific

opportunities for the owner or operator to address each

deficiency; and

“(cc) any other relevant information, as determined by the

Secretary concerned.”.

(d) Technical Corrections.—Section 512 of the Federal Land

Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772) is

amended—

(1) in the section heading, by striking “managment” and

inserting “management”; and

(2) in subsection (c)(4)(A)(ii), by striking “and” at the

end.

(e) Vegetation Management Plan Review.—Not later than 180

days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries

shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report

describing, with respect to vegetation management plans

submitted under section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772)—

(1) the extent to which those vegetation management plans

under are reviewed and approved within the 120-day period

required under subsection (c)(4)(A)(iv) of that section;

(2) for any vegetation management plan not reviewed and

approved by the applicable deadline described in paragraph

(1), the reason for any delay in review or approval; and

(3) for any vegetation management plan submitted for review

and approval for which the Secretary concerned requested a

modification, the timeline for reviewing the modification on

resubmission.

SEC. 5212. FIRE-SAFE ELECTRICAL CORRIDORS.

Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act

of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections

(k) and (l), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:

“(j) Permits and Agreements With Owners and Operators of

Electric Transmission or Distribution Facilities.—

“(1) In general.—In any special use permit or easement on

National Forest System land or land under the jurisdiction of

the Bureau of Land Management provided to the owner or

operator of an electric transmission or distribution

facility, the Secretary concerned may provide permission to

cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within striking

distance of the electric transmission or distribution

facility without requiring a separate timber sale, if that

cutting and removal is consistent with—

“(A) the applicable plan;

“(B) the applicable land and resource management plan or

land use plan; and

“(C) other applicable environmental laws (including

regulations).

“(2) Use of proceeds.—A special use permit or easement

that includes permission for cutting and removal described in

paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that, if the owner

or operator of the electric transmission or distribution

facility sells any portion of the material removed under the

permit or easement, the owner or operator shall

provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from

the sale, less any costs incurred in 1 or both of the

following activities:

“(A) Carrying out the project.

“(B) Maintenance within the vicinity of the electric

transmission or distribution facility that reduces fire risk.

“(3) Effect.—Nothing in paragraph (2) shall require the

sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that

includes permission for cutting and removal described in

paragraph (1).”.

SEC. 5213. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR HIGH-PRIORITY HAZARD

TREES.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) High-priority hazard tree.—The term “high-priority

hazard tree” means a standing tree that—

(A) presents a visible hazard to people or property due to

conditions such as deterioration of, or damage to, the root

system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or the direction

or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;

(B) is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to

fail and, on failure, would be highly likely to cause injury

to people or damage to Federal property; and

(i) within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a

maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5;

(ii) along a National Forest System trail; or

(iii) in a developed recreation site on National Forest

System land that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.

(2) High-priority hazard tree activity.—

(A) In general.—The term “high-priority hazard tree

activity” means a forest management activity that mitigates

the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees,

including pruning, felling, and disposal of a high-priority

hazard tree.

(B) Exclusions.—The term “high-priority hazard tree

activity” does not include any activity—

(i) conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study

area;

(ii) for the construction of a permanent road or permanent

trail;

(iii) conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of

Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of

vegetation is restricted or prohibited;

(iv) conducted in an area in which activities described in

subparagraph (A) would be inconsistent with the applicable

land and resource management plan; or

(v) conducted in an inventoried roadless area.

(b) Categorical Exclusion.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a

categorical exclusion (as defined in 111 of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e)) for high-

priority hazard tree activities.

(2) Administration.—In developing and administering the

categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary

shall—

(A) comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(B) apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under

section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or

successor regulations), in determining whether to use the

categorical exclusion.

(3) Project size limitation.—A project carried out using

the categorical exclusion developed under paragraph (1) may

not exceed 6,000 acres.

SEC. 5214. SEEDS OF SUCCESS STRATEGY.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly develop

and implement a strategy, which may be an update to or

expansion of existing efforts, to be known as the “Seeds of

Success strategy”, to enhance the domestic supply chain of

seeds, which may include herbaceous and tree seeds.

(b) Elements.—The strategy developed under subsection (a)

shall include a plan for each of the following:

(1) Facilitating sustained interagency coordination in, and

a comprehensive approach to, native plant materials

development and restoration.

(2) Promoting the re-seeding of native or fire-resistant

vegetation post-wildfire, particularly in the wildland-urban

interface.

(3) Creating and consolidating information relating to

native or fire-resistant vegetation and sharing that

information with Indian Tribes and State and local

governments.

(4) Building regional programs and partnerships to promote

the development of materials made from plants native to the

United States and restore those plants to their respective,

native habitats within the United States, giving priority to

the building of those programs and partnerships in regions of

the Bureau of Land Management where the partnerships and

programs do not exist on the date of enactment of this Act.

(5) Expanding workforce and infrastructure capacity to

locally collect, process, and store seed as necessary to

implement revegetation and reforestation projects on priority

land (as defined in section 5215(b)(1)).

(6) Expanding warehouse systems of the Secretaries,

particularly the cold storage capacity of the systems.

(7) Shortening the timeline for the approval of permits to

collect seeds on public land managed by the Bureau of Land

Management.

(8) Coordinating with the other Federal agencies, States,

Indian Tribes, and private entities, as appropriate, for the

purpose of seed collection.

committees of Congress the strategy developed under

subsection (a).

(d) Coordination.—In implementing the strategy developed

under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior, acting

through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall

coordinate with the heads of other applicable Federal

agencies, including the Department of Defense, for the

purpose of collecting seeds from land under the jurisdiction

under those Federal agencies.

SEC. 5215. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PRIORITY REFORESTATION AND

RESTORATION PROJECTS.

(a) Reforestation Reports Submitted to Additional

Committees.—Section 70303 of the Infrastructure Investment

and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 1601 note; Public Law 117-58) is

amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking

inserting “, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the

House of Representatives,” after “Senate”.

(b) Interior Reforestation Program.—

(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(A) Covered institution of higher education.—The term

“covered institution of higher education” means a land-

grant college or university, including—

(i) an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the

Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of

1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));

(ii) an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);

(iii) an institution that is eligible to receive funding

under Public Law 87-788 (commonly known as the “McIntire-

Stennis Act of 1962”); and

(iv) a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the

Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.

301 note; Public Law 103-382)).

(B) Natural regeneration; reforestation; unplanned event.—

The terms “natural regeneration”, “reforestation”, and

“unplanned event” have the meanings given those terms in

section 3(e)(4)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable

Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(A)).

historically forested land under the jurisdiction of the

Secretary concerned that, due to an unplanned event—

(i) requires reforestation to meet the objectives described

in an applicable land use plan; and

(ii) is unlikely to experience natural regeneration.

(2) Program establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior

shall establish a program to implement reforestation projects

on priority land identified under paragraph (4)(A), in

accordance with this section.

(3) Support.—In carrying out the program established under

paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Interior may enter into—

(A) cooperative agreements in accordance with processes

established by the Secretary of the Interior; and

(B) contracts, including contracts entered into pursuant to

the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

(25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).

(4) Annual identification of priority projects.—Not later

than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and

annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall—

(A) identify priority land within the United States;

(B) establish a list of reforestation projects on priority

land for the upcoming year, which may include activities to

ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling

availability to further the objectives of other priority

projects; and

established under subparagraph (B).

(5) Consultation.—In carrying out the program under this

subsection, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult or

coordinate with, as appropriate—

(A) applicable State and local governments;

(B) applicable Indian Tribes;

(D) Federal agencies that administer Federal land that

adjoins, or is adjacent to, land that is the subject of a

project identified under paragraph (4)(B); and

(E) other stakeholders, at the discretion of the Secretary

of the Interior.

(6) Annual report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of

the following 6 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall

submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the Committee

on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on

Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that

includes the following, with respect to the period covered by

the report:

(A) An accounting of all priority land.

(B) A list of projects identified under paragraph (4)(B).

identified in any previous report under this paragraph.

(D) An accounting of each contract and cooperative

agreement established under the program under this

subsection.

(E) The amounts necessary to be appropriated, in addition

to amounts available from other sources, to implement

reforestation projects on all priority land by not later than

10 years after the date of submission of the report.

(7) Funding source report.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior

shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the

Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee

on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report

that describes options for dedicated Federal funding other

than annual appropriations to support existing and

anticipated reforestation needs, including seed and seedling

availability.

(8) Nonduplication.—In carrying out this section, the

Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the

Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to ensure the

nonduplication of activities carried out under section 214.

SEC. 5216. REFORESTATION, NURSERIES, AND GENETIC RESOURCES

SUPPORT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Eligible recipient.—The term “eligible recipient”

means—

(A) a State forestry agency;

(B) an Indian Tribe; and

as determined by the Secretary, in growing high-quality

native trees or seeds of appropriate genetic sources in

bareroot or container stocktypes specific for reforestation,

restoration, or conservation, including native plants and

seeds that are of cultural significance to Indian Tribes.

(2) Nursery.—The term “nursery” means a tree or native

plant nursery.

(3) Seed orchard.—The term “seed orchard” means a tree

or native plant seed orchard.

(b) Partnerships, Collaboration, and Other Assistance in

Support of Nurseries and Seed Orchards.—The Secretary,

acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—

(1) partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes,

institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations,

and private nurseries to provide training, technical

assistance, and research to nursery and tree establishment

programs that support natural regeneration, reforestation,

agroforestry, and afforestation;

(2) promote information-sharing to improve technical

knowledge and practices and understand reforestation needs

and demands for seed or seedlings, climate change impacts,

tree genetics for resistance to pathogens and drought, and

other issues as necessary to address all facets of the

reforestation supply chain;

(3) provide technical and financial assistance to

international nursery and tree establishment programs through

the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of

Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of

Tropical Forestry;

(4) collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and

agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the

United States Agency for International Development, and the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and international

organizations, including the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations, to provide technical and

financial assistance relating to nurseries and reforestation;

(5) coordinate the efforts of the Department of

Agriculture—

(A) to address the challenges associated with the

reforestation supply chain, including workforce development;

and

(B) to leverage economic development assistance for work

with private nurseries;

(6) expand reforestation supply chains through science and

research, seed collection and storage, workforce development,

and nursery infrastructure and operations; and

(7) shorten the timeline for the approval of permits to

collect seeds on National Forest System land.

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or

expand an existing program to provide grants to eligible

recipients to support nurseries and seed orchards.

(2) Eligible projects.—An eligible recipient that receives

a grant under paragraph (1) shall carry out a project that

comprises 1 or more of the following activities:

(A) The development, expansion, enhancement, or improvement

of nursery production capacity or other infrastructure—

(i) to improve seed collection and storage;

(ii) to increase seedling production, storage, and

distribution; or

(iii) to enhance seedling survival and properly manage tree

genetic resources.

(B) The establishment or expansion of a nursery or seed

orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a nursery or

seed orchard.

measures at nurseries or seed orchards.

(D) The promotion of workforce development within any facet

of the reforestation supply chain.

(E) Such other activities as the Secretary determines to be

appropriate.

SEC. 5217. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPAYMENT.

(a) Establishment of Standard Operating Procedures.—Not

later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Secretaries shall—

(1) establish standard operating procedures relating to

payment timelines for fire suppression cost-share agreements

established under section 2 of the Act of May 27, 1955 (42

U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the “Reciprocal Fire

Protection Act”); and

(2) with respect to each fire suppression cost-share

agreement in operation on that date—

(A) review the agreement; and

(B) modify the agreement as necessary to comply with the

standard operating procedures established under paragraph

(1).

(b) Alignment of Agreements.—The standard operating

procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall include a

requirement that each fire suppression cost-share agreement

shall be aligned with each cooperative fire protection

agreement applicable to the entity subject to the fire

suppression cost-share agreement.

fire suppression cost-share agreement, the standard operating

procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the

paying entity shall reimburse a local fire department or a

State wildland firefighter agency if that entity submits to

the paying entity an invoice in accordance with applicable

cost settlement procedures.

(d) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression

cost-share agreement repayments to local fire suppression

organizations and State wildland firefighting agencies as

soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the

date on which the applicable fire suppression occurs.

TITLE III—TRANSPARENCY, TECHNOLOGY, AND PARTNERSHIPS

Subtitle A—Transparency and Technology

SEC. 5301. BIOCHAR INNOVATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR

CONSERVATION, HEALTH, AND ADVANCEMENTS IN

RESEARCH.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Biochar.—The term “biochar” means carbonized biomass

produced by converting feedstock through reductive thermal

processing for a nonfuel use.

(2) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a unit of State or local government or Indian Tribe;

(B) a special district;

(D) a public, private, or cooperative entity or

organization;

(E) a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); and

(F) a partnership or consortium of 2 or more entities

described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).

(3) Eligible institution.—The term “eligible

institution” means a land-grant college or university,

including—

(A) an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the

Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of

1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));

(B) an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);

under Public Law 87-788 (commonly known as the “McIntire-

Stennis Act of 1962”); and

(D) a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the

Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.

301 note; Public Law 103-382)).

(4) Feedstock.—The term “feedstock” means excess biomass

in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the

raw material for the production of biochar.

(5) Secretaries.—The term “Secretaries” means—

(A) the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest

Service;

(B) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the

Director of the Bureau of Land Management; and

the Office of Science.

(b) Demonstration Projects.—

(1) Establishment.—

(A) In general.—Subject to the availability of

appropriations made in advance for that purpose, not later

than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the

Secretaries shall establish a program under which the

Secretaries shall enter into partnerships with eligible

entities to carry out demonstration projects to support the

development and commercialization of biochar in accordance

with this subsection.

(B) Location.—In carrying out the program established

under subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall, to the maximum

extent practicable, enter into partnerships with eligible

entities in a manner that ensures that—

(i) at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in each

region of the Forest Service; and

(ii) at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in

each region of the Bureau of Land Management.

(2) Proposals.—To be eligible to enter into a partnership

under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity shall submit to

the Secretaries a proposal at such time, in such manner, and

containing such information as the Secretaries may require.

(3) Priority.—In selecting proposals under paragraph (2),

the Secretaries shall give priority to entering into

partnerships with eligible entities that submit proposals to

carry out biochar demonstration projects that—

(A) have the most potential to improve forest health and

resiliency;

(B) have the most potential to create new jobs and

contribute to local economies, particularly in rural areas;

(i) new and innovative uses of biochar;

(ii) market viability for cost-effective biochar-based

products;

(iii) the restorative benefits of biochar with respect to

forest health and resiliency, including forest soils and

watersheds; or

(iv) any combination of the purposes described in clauses

(i) through (iii);

(D) are located in areas that have a high need for biochar

production, as determined by the Secretaries, due to—

(i) nearby land identified as having high, very high, or

extreme risk of wildfire;

(ii) availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks;

(iii) a high level of demand for biochar or other

commercial byproducts of biochar; or

(E) satisfy any combination of the purposes described in

subparagraphs (A) through (D).

(4) Use of funds.—In carrying out the program established

under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretaries may enter into

partnerships and provide funding to the partnerships to carry

out demonstration projects—

(A) to acquire and test various feedstocks and the efficacy

of those feedstocks;

(B) to develop and optimize commercially and

technologically viable biochar production units, including

mobile and permanent units;

(i) the production of biochar from forest residue; and

(ii) the use of biochar to restore forest health and

resiliency;

(D) to build, expand, or establish biochar facilities;

(E) to conduct research relating to new and innovative uses

of biochar;

(F) to demonstrate cost-effective market opportunities for

biochar and biochar-based products;

(G) to carry out any other activities the Secretaries

determine to be appropriate; or

(H) to achieve any combination of the purposes described in

subparagraphs (A) through (G).

(5) Feedstock requirements.—To the maximum extent

practicable, an eligible entity that carries out a biochar

demonstration project under this subsection shall derive not

less than 50 percent of the feedstock used under the project

from forest thinning and management activities, including

mill residues, conducted on National Forest System land or

public land.

(6) Review.—

(A) In general.—The Secretaries shall conduct regionally

specific research, including economic analyses and lifecycle

assessments, relating to any biochar produced from a

demonstration project carried out under the program

established under paragraph (1)(A), including—

(i) the effects of that biochar on—

(I) forest health and resiliency;

(II) carbon sequestration, including increasing soil carbon

in the short-term and long-term;

(III) productivity, reduced input costs, and water

retention in agricultural practices;

(IV) the health of soil and grasslands used for grazing

activities, including grazing activities on National Forest

System land and public land; and

(V) environmental remediation activities, including

abandoned mine land remediation;

(ii) the effectiveness of biochar as a coproduct of

biofuels or in biochemicals; and

(iii) the effectiveness of other potential uses of biochar

to determine if any such use is technologically and

commercially viable.

(B) Coordination.—The Secretaries, to the maximum extent

practicable, shall provide data, analyses, and other relevant

information collected under subparagraph (A) to recipients of

grants under subsection (c).

(7) Limitation on funding for establishing biochar

facilities.—The amount provided by the Secretaries under

this subsection to an eligible entity for establishing a

biochar facility may not exceed 35 percent of the total

capital cost of establishing that facility.

(1) Establishment.—The Secretary of the Interior, in

consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish,

or expand an existing, applied biochar research and

development grant program to provide to eligible institutions

grants, on a competitive basis, to carry out the activities

described in paragraph (3).

(2) Applications.—To be eligible to receive a grant under

this subsection, an eligible institution shall submit to the

Secretary of the Interior a proposal at such time, in such

manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of

the Interior may require.

(3) Use of funds.—An eligible institution that receives a

grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to

conduct applied research relating to—

(A) the effect of biochar on forest health and resiliency,

taking into account variations in biochar, soil, climate, and

other factors;

(B) the effect of biochar on soil health, water retention,

and air quality emissions, taking into account variations in

biochar, soil, climate, and other factors;

biochar;

(D) best management practices with respect to biochar and

biochar-based products that maximize—

(i) carbon sequestration benefits; and

(ii) the commercial viability and application of those

products in forestry, agriculture, environmental remediation,

water quality improvement, and any other similar uses, as

determined by the Secretary of the Interior;

(E) the regional uses of biochar to increase productivity

and profitability, including—

(i) uses in agriculture and environmental remediation; and

(ii) use as a coproduct in fuel production;

(F) new and innovative uses for biochar byproducts; and

(G) opportunities to expand markets for biochar and create

related jobs, particularly in rural areas.

(d) Reports.—

(1) Report to congress.—Not later than 2 years after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit

to Congress a report that—

(A) includes policy and program recommendations to improve

the widespread use of biochar;

(B) identifies any area of research needed to advance

biochar commercialization; and

commercialization, including permitting and siting

considerations.

(2) Materials submitted in support of president's budget.—

Beginning with the second fiscal year that begins after the

date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until

the date described in subsection (e), the Secretaries shall

include in the materials submitted to Congress in support of

the President's budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31,

United States Code, a report describing, for the fiscal year

covered by the report, the status of—

(A) each demonstration project carried out under subsection

(b); and

(B) each research and development grant provided under

subsection (c).

(e) Sunset.—The authority to carry out this section

terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of

enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5302. ACCURATE HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION REPORTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Federal land.—The term “Federal land” means any land

under the jurisdiction of—

(A) the Secretary; or

(B) the Secretary of the Interior.

(2) Hazardous fuels reduction activity.—

(A) In general.—The term “hazardous fuels reduction

activity” means any vegetation management activity to reduce

the risk of wildfire, including mechanical treatments,

grazing, and prescribed burning.

(B) Exclusion.—The term “hazardous fuels reduction

activity” does not include the awarding of a contract to

conduct an activity described in subparagraph (A).

(b) Materials Submitted in Support of President's Budget.—

(1) In general.—Beginning with the first fiscal year that

begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually

thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall include in the

materials submitted to Congress in support of the President's

budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States

Code, a report describing the number of acres of Federal land

on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels

reduction activities during the preceding fiscal year, as

determined using—

(A) the methodology of the Secretary concerned in effect on

the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) the methodology described in paragraph (2).

(2) Requirements.—For purposes of a report required under

paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—

(A) in determining the number of acres of Federal land on

which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels

reduction activities during the period covered by the

report—

(i) record acres of Federal land on which hazardous fuels

reduction activities were completed during that period; and

(ii) record each acre described in clause (i) once in the

report, regardless of whether multiple hazardous fuels

reduction activities were carried out on that acre during the

applicable period; and

(B) with respect to the acres of Federal land recorded in

the report, include information relating to—

(i) which acres are located in the wildland-urban

interface;

(ii) the level of hazard potential of the acres on the

first and last day of the period covered by the report;

(iii) the types of hazardous fuels reduction activities

completed with respect to the acres, including a description

of whether those hazardous fuels reduction activities were

conducted—

(I) in a wildfire managed for resource benefits; or

(II) through a planned hazardous fuels reduction project;

(iv) the cost per-acre of the hazardous fuels reduction

activities carried out during the period covered by the

report;

(v) the region or System unit in which the acres are

located; and

(vi) the effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction

activities with respect to reducing the risk of wildfire.

(3) Transparency.—The Secretary concerned shall make each

report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on

the website of the Department of Agriculture or

the Department of the Interior, as applicable.

(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall

implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating

to hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the

Secretary concerned.

(2) Elements.—The standardized procedures required under

paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and

timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction

activities;

(B) verification methods that validate whether those data

accurately correlate to the hazardous fuels reduction

activities carried out by the Secretary concerned;

of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the

risk of wildfire; and

(D) for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur

partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to

distinguish which acres are located within the wildland-urban

interface and which acres are located outside the wildland-

urban interface.

(3) Report.—Not later than 45 days after implementing the

standardized procedures required under paragraph (1), the

Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that

describes—

(A) the standardized procedures; and

(B) any programmatic or policy recommendations to Congress

to address limitations in tracking data relating to hazardous

fuels reduction activities under this subsection.

(d) GAO Study.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall—

(1) conduct a study regarding the implementation of this

section, including any limitations with respect to—

(A) reporting hazardous fuels reduction activities under

subsection (b); or

(B) tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction

activities under subsection (c); and

(2) submit to Congress a report that describes the results

of the study under paragraph (1).

(e) No Additional Funds Authorized.—

(1) In general.—No additional funds are authorized to

carry out this section.

(2) Subject to appropriations.—The activities authorized

by this section are subject to the availability of

appropriations made in advance for those purposes.

SEC. 5303. PUBLIC-PRIVATE WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT AND

DEMONSTRATION PARTNERSHIP.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Covered agency.—The term “covered agency” means—

(A) each Federal land management agency (as defined in

section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act

(16 U.S.C. 6801));

(B) the Department of Defense;

(D) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(E) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(F) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

(G) the United States Fire Administration;

(H) the General Services Administration;

(I) a State, Tribal, county, or municipal fire department,

fire district, land management agency, natural resources

agency, or equivalent agency operating through the United

States Fire Administration or pursuant to an agreement with a

Federal agency; and

(J) any other Federal agency involved in wildfire response.

(2) Covered entity.—The term “covered entity” means—

(A) a private entity;

(B) a nonprofit organization; and

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.

1001)).

(3) Pilot program.—The term “Pilot Program” means the

deployment and demonstration pilot program established under

subsection (b).

(b) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Executive Director shall establish

a deployment and demonstration pilot program for new and

innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication,

response, and mitigation technologies.

Executive Director shall—

(1) consult with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group;

(2) in consultation with the heads of the covered agencies,

identify and advance the demonstration and deployment of key

technology priority areas, including for mature and

commercially available technologies, with respect to the

deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication,

and mitigation technologies, including—

(A) innovations in hazardous fuels reduction activities or

treatments, including the use of prescribed or cultural fire;

(B) spatial planning for unplanned human-caused ignitions;

(D) dispatch communications;

(E) remote sensing, detection, and tracking;

(F) safety equipment;

(G) common operating pictures or operational dashboards;

(H) interoperable commercial data;

(I) autonomous suppression systems;

(J) grid resilience;

(K) community resilience and home hardening; and

(L) prioritization and decision support tools;

(3) connect each covered entity selected to participate in

the Pilot Program with the appropriate covered agency to

coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of technology

during wildfire mitigation activities and training;

(4) define clear criteria for evaluating the success of

technologies (including mature and commercially available

technologies) demonstrated under the Pilot Program, focusing

on effectiveness, scalability, and cost-efficiency; and

(5) coordinate with covered agencies to ensure the

efficient deployment of scaled technologies, including

through expanded public-private partnerships, multiagency

contracting for procurement, and authorization of covered

agency staff with technological procurement expertise to

assist other covered agencies in need of that expertise.

(d) Applications.—To be eligible to participate in the

Pilot Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Executive

Director an application at such time, in such manner, and

containing such information as the Executive Director may

require, including a proposal to demonstrate technologies

specific to key technology priority areas identified under

subsection (c)(2).

(e) Existing Partnerships.—

(1) In general.—A covered agency may submit a statement to

the Executive Director describing the effectiveness,

scalability, and cost-efficiency of an existing partnership,

pilot project, or contract a covered entity providing a

technology described in subsection (c)(2).

(2) Successfulness.—The Executive Director may deem a

technology described in a statement submitted under paragraph

(1) to be a successful technology for purposes of this

section.

(f) Outreach.—The Executive Director, in coordination with

the heads of the covered agencies, shall make publicly

available the key technology priority areas identified under

subsection (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply under

subsection (d) to deploy and demonstrate technologies to

address those priority areas.

(g) Reports and Recommendations.—Not later than 180 days

after the date of establishment of the Pilot Program, and

annually thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program,

the Executive Director shall submit to the Committee on

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of

Representatives, and the relevant committees of Congress a

report that includes the following with respect to the Pilot

Program:

(1) A brief description of potential technologies deployed

and demonstrated.

(2) An estimate of the cost of acquiring each such

technology and applying the technology at scale.

(3) Outreach efforts by covered agencies to covered

entities developing wildfire technologies.

(4) Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new

technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale

in the wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and

mitigation efforts of Federal land management agencies (as

defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation

Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801)).

(5) A description of the relationship and coordination

between the Pilot Program and the activities of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the Fire

Weather Testbed.

(6) Barriers and solutions for procurement of technologies

by covered agencies.

(h) Sunset.—The Pilot Program terminates on the date that

is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5304. GAO STUDY ON FOREST SERVICE POLICIES.

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(1) conduct a study evaluating—

(A) the effectiveness of Forest Service wildland

firefighting operations;

(B) transparency and accountability measures in the budget

and accounting process of the Forest Service; and

Federal agency with responsibility for responding to, and

suppressing, wildfires on Federal land; and

(2) submit to Congress a report that describes the results

of the study under paragraph (1).

SEC. 5305. KEEPING FOREST PLANS CURRENT AND MONITORED.

(a) In General.—The Secretary shall—

(1) to the maximum extent practicable and subject to the

availability of appropriations—

(A) ensure that each forest plan for a unit of the National

Forest System is in compliance with the applicable

requirements of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and

Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C.

1604(f)(5)(A)); and

(B) prioritize revising any forest plan not in compliance

with that section;

(2) not be considered to be in violation of section

6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources

Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)) solely because

more than 15 years have passed without revision of the plan

for a unit of the National Forest System;

(3) not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of

this Act, submit to the relevant committees of Congress a

notice describing the date on which each forest plan referred

to in paragraph (1)(A) was most recently revised, amended, or

otherwise modified;

(4) seek to publish a new, complete version of any forest

plan that the Secretary has been directed by court order to

amend, revise, or modify by not later than 60 days after the

date of the amendment, revision, or modification, subject to

the availability of appropriations made in advance for that

purpose; and

(5) maintain a central, publicly accessible website with

links to—

(A) the most recently available forest plan adopted,

amended, or modified by a court order as a single document;

and

(B) the most recently published forest plan monitoring

report for the administrative unit.

(b) Good Faith Updates.—If the Secretary fails to act

expeditiously and in good faith using available funding to

revise, amend, or modify a plan for a unit of the National

Forest System as required by an applicable law or court

order—

(1) subsection (a) shall be void with respect to the plan;

and

(2) a court of competent jurisdiction may order completion

of the plan on an accelerated basis.

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

relevant committees of Congress a report summarizing the

implementation of this section.

(d) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

September 30, 2031.

SEC. 5306. CONTAINER AERIAL FIREFIGHTING SYSTEM.

(a) Evaluation.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with

the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the

Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly conduct an

evaluation of the container aerial firefighting system to

assess the use of that system to mitigate and suppress

wildfires.

(b) Report.—Not later than 30 days after the date of

completion of the evaluation under subsection (a), the

Secretaries, in consultation with the National Interagency

Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall

jointly submit to the relevant committees of Congress a

report that describes the results of the evaluation under

subsection (a).

SEC. 5307. STUDY ON PINE BEETLE INFESTATION.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest

Service, shall—

(1) carry out a study relating to the causes and effects

of, and solutions for, the infestation of pine beetles in the

Northeastern region of the United States; and

(2) submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report

that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).

SEC. 5308. STUDY ON WILDFIRE SMOKE.

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the Administrator

of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall conduct and

publish a study—

(1) reviewing the 2 most recent international arrangements

between the Secretaries and the Department of Natural

Resources of Canada concerning the exchange of wildland fire

management resources;

(2) describing the wildland fire management resources

exchanged under the international arrangements described in

paragraph (1);

(3) evaluating the effectiveness of the international

arrangements described in paragraph (1) in reducing wildfire

smoke in the United States; and

(4) making recommendations on best practices to be used in

international arrangements to reduce international wildfire

smoke.

SEC. 5309. ROOT AND STEM PROJECTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Collaborative process.—The term “collaborative

process” means a process that—

(A) includes multiple interested persons representing

diverse interests; and

(B)(i) is transparent and nonexclusive; or

(ii) meets the requirements for a resource advisory

committee under subsections (c) through (f) of section 205 of

the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125).

(2) Federal land.—The term “Federal land” means National

Forest System land and public land.

(3) Root and stem project.—The term “root and stem

project” means a project, from planning phase to

implementation, that—

(A) is developed through a collaborative process with a

lead project sponsor that will implement the project; and

(B)(i) is located on Federal land; and

(ii) advances 1 or more land management goals established

for the Federal land.

(b) Contracts and Agreements.—

(1) In general.—If a project sponsor submits to the

Secretary concerned a proposal to carry out a root and stem

project on Federal land managed by the Secretary concerned,

the Secretary concerned may enter into a contract or

agreement under section 604 of the Healthy Forests

Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) with the project

sponsor, under which the project sponsor shall—

(A) complete any analysis that the Secretary concerned

determines to be necessary under Federal law, including the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.), for the root and stem project; and

(B) implement the root and stem project.

(2) Conforming amendment.—Section 604 of the Health

Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) (as amended

by section 5112) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b)—

(i) by striking the period at the end and inserting “;

and”;

(ii) by striking “entities to perform” and inserting the

following: “entities—

“(1) to perform”; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) to complete any analysis required under Federal law,

including—

“(A) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

“(B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.).”;

(B) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting

“subsection (b)(1)”; and

received under the” and inserting “any analysis required

under Federal law or services received under an”.

(1) Authority of secretary concerned.—The Secretary

concerned shall—

(A) determine the sufficiency of any documents prepared

relating to an analysis under subsection (b)(1); and

(B) retain responsibility for any authorizing decision

relating to a root and stem project proposed under subsection

(b).

(2) Limitations on reimbursements.—If insufficient

receipts are generated by a root and stem project to

reimburse the project sponsor for the full cost of an

analysis under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary concerned

shall not provide funding in an amount that exceeds the

receipts generated to the project sponsor.

(d) Promotion.—Not later than 60 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall provide

to each local field office of the Secretary concerned

guidance for—

(1) making stakeholders aware of the authority under this

section; and

(2) encouraging use of that authority to meet land

management goals.

(e) Participation in Civil Actions.—For purposes of a

civil action relating to a root and stem project, the project

sponsor or the State, local, or Tribal government that

participated in the collaborative process to develop the

proposal for the root and stem project shall be entitled to

intervene as a matter of right in that civil action.

Subtitle B—White Oak Resilience

SEC. 5311. WHITE OAK RESTORATION INITIATIVE COALITION.

(a) In General.—There is established a coalition, to be

known as the “White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition”

(referred to in this section as the “Coalition”)—

(1) as a voluntary collaborative group of Federal, State,

and local governments, Indian Tribes, and private and

nongovernmental organizations the purpose of which is to

carry out the duties described in subsection (b); and

(2) in accordance with the charter entitled “White Oak

Initiative Coalition Charter” adopted by the White Oak

Initiative Board of Directors on March 21, 2023 (or a

successor charter).

(b) Duties.—In addition to the duties specified in the

charter referred to in subsection (a)(2), the duties of the

Coalition are—

(1) to coordinate Federal, State, Tribal, local, private,

and nongovernmental activities for the restoration of white

oak trees and forests that support white oak trees in the

United States; and

(2) to make program and policy recommendations, consistent

with applicable forest management plans, with respect to—

(A) changes necessary to address Federal and State policies

that impede activities to improve the health, resiliency, and

natural regeneration of white oak trees;

(B) adopting or modifying Federal and State policies to

increase the pace and scale of white oak regeneration and the

resiliency of white oak trees;

collaboration among forest land owners, particularly with

respect to cross-boundary projects, to improve the health,

resiliency, and natural regeneration of white oak trees;

(D) research gaps that should be addressed to improve the

best available science on white oaks;

(E) outreach to forest landowners the land of which

possesses white oak trees or white oak regeneration

potential, as determined by the Coalition; and

(F) options and policies necessary to improve the quality

and quantity of white oak trees in tree nurseries.

Secretaries shall make available to the Coalition such

personnel for

administrative support, technical services, and the

development and dissemination of educational materials as

those Secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out this

section.

(d) Private Funding.—Subject to the availability of

appropriations made in advance for that purpose, the

Secretary may make funds available to the Coalition to carry

out this section from the account established pursuant to

section 1241(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.

3841(f)).

SEC. 5312. FOREST SERVICE PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—The Secretary, acting through the Chief of

the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out 5 pilot

projects in units of the National Forest System to restore

white oak trees in those units through white oak restoration

and natural regeneration practices that are consistent with

applicable forest management plans.

(b) Requirement.—Of the pilot projects carried out under

subsection (a), not fewer than 3 shall be carried out on

units of the National Forest System that are reserved or

withdrawn from the public domain.

cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects under

this section.

(d) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5313. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WHITE OAK REVIEW AND

RESTORATION.

(a) Assessment.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of the Interior shall carry

out an assessment of land under the administrative

jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, including

fish and wildlife refuges and abandoned mine land, to

evaluate—

(A) whether white oak trees are present on the land; and

(B) the potential to restore white oak forests on the land.

(2) Use of information.—In carrying out the assessment

under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior may use

information from sources other than the Department of the

Interior, including the White Oak Initiative and the Forest

Service.

(3) Report.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall

submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the

website of the Department of the Interior, a report

describing the results of the assessment carried out under

this subsection.

(b) Pilot Projects.—After the date of submission of the

report under subsection (a)(3), the Secretary of the Interior

shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in different

areas of land described in subsection (a)(1) to restore and

naturally regenerate white oak trees.

may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot

projects under subsection (b).

(d) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5314. WHITE OAK REGENERATION AND UPLAND OAK HABITAT.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

nonregulatory program, to be known as the “White Oak and

Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program” (referred to in

this section as the “Program”).

(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the Program shall include—

(1) coordinating restoration and conservation activities

among Federal, State, and local entities, Indian Tribes, and

conservation partners to address white oak restoration

priorities;

(2) improving and regenerating white oak and upland oak

forests and the wildlife habitat such forests provide;

(3) carrying out coordinated restoration and conservation

activities that lead to the increased growth of species of

white oak in native white oak regions;

(4) facilitating strategic planning to maximize the

resilience of white oak systems and habitats under changing

climate conditions;

(5) engaging the public through outreach, education, and

citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for

coordinated restoration and conservation activities for

species of white oak; and

(6) increasing scientific capacity to support the planning,

monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out

such coordinated restoration and conservation activities.

Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service,

shall consult with—

(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including—

(A) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife

Service; and

(B) the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation

Service;

(2) the Governor of each State in which restoration efforts

will be carried out pursuant to the Program; and

(3) Indian Tribes.

(d) Duties.—In carrying out the Program, the Secretary

shall—

(1) draw on the best available science and management plans

for species of white oak to identify, prioritize, and

implement restoration and conservation activities that will

improve the growth of white oak trees in the United States;

(2) collaborate and coordinate with the White Oak

Restoration Initiative Coalition established by section

5311(a) to prioritize white oak restoration initiatives;

(3) adopt a white oak restoration strategy that—

(A) supports the implementation of a shared set of science-

based restoration and conservation activities developed in

accordance with paragraph (1);

(B) targets cost-effective projects with measurable

results; and

Federal full-time equivalent employees; and

(4) establish voluntary grant and technical assistance

programs in accordance with subsection (e).

(e) Grants and Assistance.—

(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(A) Foundation.—The term “Foundation” means the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

(B) Grant program.—The term “grant program” means the

voluntary grant and technical assistance program established

under paragraph (2).

(2) Establishment.—To the extent that funds are available

to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a

voluntary grant and technical assistance program to achieve

the purposes of the Program described in subsection (b).

(3) Administration.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall offer to enter into a

cooperative agreement with the Foundation to manage and

administer the grant program.

(B) Funding.—Subject to the availability of appropriations

made in advance for that purpose, on entering into a

cooperative agreement with the Foundation under subparagraph

(A), the Secretary shall pay to the Foundation to carry out

this subsection for each fiscal year an advance payment of

the entire amount for the applicable fiscal year—

(i) on October 1 of that fiscal year; or

(ii) as soon as practicable thereafter.

(4) Application of national fish and wildlife foundation

establishment act.—Amounts received by the Foundation to

carry out the grant program shall be subject to the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C.

3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that Act (16 U.S.C.

3709(a)).

(f) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5315. TREE NURSERY SHORTAGES.

(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the

Chief of the Forest Service, shall—

(1) develop and implement a national strategy to increase

the capacity of Federal, State, and private tree nurseries

and tree nurseries of Indian Tribes to address the nationwide

shortage of tree seedlings; and

(2) coordinate the strategy under paragraph (1) with—

(A) the national reforestation strategy of the Forest

Service; and

(B) each regional implementation plan for National Forests.

(b) Elements.—The strategy required under subsection (a)

shall—

(1) be based on the best available science and data,

including the consideration of Indigenous knowledge; and

(2) identify and address—

(A) regional seedling shortages of bareroot and container

tree seedlings;

(B) regional reforestation opportunities and the seedling

supply necessary to fulfill those opportunities;

quality, quantity, genetic resources, and availability, and

close gaps in seed inventories; and

(D) barriers to expanding, enhancing, or creating new

infrastructure to increase nursery capacity.

SEC. 5316. WHITE OAK RESEARCH.

(a) Definition of Eligible Institution.—In this section,

the term “eligible institution” means an institution of

higher education, including an 1862 Institution, an 1890

Institution, and a 1994 Institution (as those terms are

defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension,

and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)).

(b) Research.—The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of

understanding with an Indian Tribe or an eligible institution

to collaboratively conduct research relating to—

(1) white oak genes with resistance or tolerance to stress;

(2) white oak trees that exhibit heritable vigor for the

purpose of increasing survival and growth;

(3) establishing a genetically diverse white oak seed bank

capable of responding to stressors;

(4) providing a sustainable supply of white oak seedlings

and genetic resources;

(5) improved methods for aligning seed sources with the

future climate at planting sites;

(6) reforestation of white oak trees through natural and

artificial regeneration;

(7) improved methods for retaining and increasing white oak

trees in forests;

(8) improved methods for reforesting abandoned mine land

sites; and

(9) economic and social aspects of white oak forest

management across land ownerships.

subsection (b), an Indian Tribe or eligible institution may

consult with such States, nonprofit organizations, and other

institutions of higher education and scientific entities as

the Indian Tribe or eligible institution determines to be

appropriate.

(d) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5317. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.

(a) Partnerships.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary, acting through the Director

of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall

enter into a partnership with an eligible entity described in

paragraph (2) to conduct research on improving white oak

species resiliency, health, and preservation, including

research on—

(A) population-scale sequencing;

(B) stress response traits;

(D) white oak product development.

(2) Eligible entity.—

(A) In general.—An eligible entity referred to in

paragraph (1) is a land-grant college or university described

in subparagraph (B) that has demonstrated—

(i) scientific expertise relating to white oak;

(ii) the ability to rapidly transfer technologies to the

stave industry;

(iii) geographic proximity to concentrated areas of white

oak; and

(iv) support for regional economic development.

(B) Land-grant colleges and universities.—A land-grant

college or university referred to in subparagraph (A) is—

(i) an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the

Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of

1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601));

(ii) an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section); or

(iii) a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the

Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.

301 note; Public Law 103-382)).

(b) Priorities.—The Secretary, acting through the Director

of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall

prioritize research relating to the resistance of white oak

to disease, pest, heat, and drought in cultivated, new, and

old-growth white oak timber stands.

SEC. 5318. USDA FORMAL INITIATIVE.

(a) In General.—The Secretary, acting through the Chief of

the Natural Resources Conservation Service and in

coordination with the Chief of the Forest Service, shall

establish a formal initiative on white oak trees—

(1) to reestablish white oak forests where appropriate;

(2) to improve the management of existing white oak forests

to foster natural regeneration of white oak trees;

(3) to provide technical assistance to private landowners

to reestablish, improve the management of, and naturally

regenerate white oak trees;

(4) to improve and expand white oak nursery stock; and

(5) to adapt and improve white oak seedlings.

(b) Sunset.—The authority under this section terminates on

the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 5319. USE OF AUTHORITIES.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretaries shall

use the authorities provided under this title in combination

with other authorities to carry out projects, including—

(1) good neighbor agreements entered into under section

8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) (as

amended by this division); and

(2) stewardship contracting projects entered into under

section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003

(16 U.S.C. 6591c) (as amended by this division).

TITLE IV—ENSURING CASUALTY ASSISTANCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS

SEC. 5401. WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT CASUALTY ASSISTANCE

PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Next-of-kin.—The term “next-of-kin”, with respect to

an individual, means a person in the highest category of

priority in relation to that individual, as determined in

accordance with the following (in descending order of

priority):

(A) A legal spouse of the individual.

(B) A child (whether by current or prior marriage) aged 18

years or older of the individual, in descending order of

precedence by age.

has been vested by court order in another individual, with an

adoptive parent taking precedence over a natural parent.

(D) A sibling (whether whole or half) aged 18 years or

older of the individual, in descending order of precedence by

age.

(E) A grandfather or grandmother of the individual.

(F) Any other relative of the individual, with the order of

precedence to be determined in accordance with the civil laws

of descent of the State of domicile of the individual at time

of death.

(2) Program.—The term “program” means the Wildland Fire

Management Casualty Assistance Program established under

subsection (b).

(b) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall

establish a program, to be known as the “Wildland Fire

Management Casualty Assistance Program”, to provide

assistance to the next-of-kin of—

(1) firefighters who, while in the line of duty—

(A) are killed;

(B) require hospitalization or treatment at a medical

facility due to a critical injury; or

occurring during that line of duty; and

(2) wildland fire support personnel who are killed or

require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility

due to a critical injury in the line of duty.

following:

(1) The initial, and any subsequent, notification to the

next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support

personnel who—

(A) are killed in the line of duty; or

(B) require hospitalization or treatment at a medical

facility due to a critical injury or illness in the line of

duty.

(2) The reimbursement of next-of-kin for expenses

associated with travel to visit firefighters or wildland fire

support personnel who—

(A) are killed in the line of duty; or

(B) require hospitalization or treatment at a medical

facility due to a critical injury or illness in the line of

duty.

(3) The qualifications, assignment, training, duties,

supervision, and accountability for the performance of

casualty assistance responsibilities.

(4) The relief or transfer of casualty assistance officers,

including notification to survivors of critical injury or

illness in the line of duty of the reassignment of those

officers to other duties.

(5) Centralized short-term and long-term case management

procedures for casualty assistance, including rapid access to

expert case managers and counselors by—

(A) survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support

personnel; and

(B) casualty assistance officers.

(6) The provision, through a computer-accessible website

and other means and at no cost to survivors or next-of-kin of

firefighters or wildland fire support personnel, of

personalized, integrated information relating to Federal

benefits and Federal financial assistance available to those

survivors and next-of-kin.

(7) The provision to survivors and next-of-kin of

firefighters or wildland fire support personnel of

information relating to mechanisms for registering complaints

about, or requests for, additional assistance related to

casualty assistance.

(8) Liaison with the Department of Agriculture, the

Department of Justice, and the Social Security Administration

to ensure prompt and accurate resolution of issues relating

to benefits administered by those agencies for survivors of

firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.

(9) Data collection, in consultation with the United States

Fire Administration and the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health, regarding the incidence and

quality of casualty assistance provided to survivors and

next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support

personnel.

(d) No Effect on Other Line-of-duty Death Benefits.—The

program shall not affect any existing authority for line-of-

duty death benefits for Federal firefighters or wildland fire

support personnel.

TITLE V—OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 5501. USE OF FUNDS FROM COOPERATIVE FUNDS AGREEMENTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Cooperative funds agreement.—The term “cooperative

funds agreement” means an agreement under—

(A) the Act of June 30, 1914 (commonly known as the

“Cooperative Funds Act”) (16 U.S.C. 498); or

(B) section 1 of the Act of March 3, 1925 (16 U.S.C. 572).

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary,

acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.

(b) Treatment.—

(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2),

notwithstanding any other provision of law, regulation, or

agency decision, the Secretary shall fulfill the obligations

of the Federal Government with respect to each cooperative

funds agreement in effect on or after the date of enactment

of this Act.

(2) Exceptions.—The Secretary may waive the applicability

of paragraph (1) to a cooperative funds agreement if—

(A) the Secretary determines that 1 or more parties to the

cooperative funds agreement have not fulfilled the

obligations of the parties under the cooperative funds

agreement; or

(B) fulfilling the obligations of the Federal Government

with respect to the cooperative funds agreement would violate

section 1341 of title 31, United States Code.

(1) Federal employees.—A Federal employee (including

seasonal, permanent seasonal, and temporary employees) hired

using funds provided under a cooperative funds agreement

shall not, for the duration of the cooperative funds

agreement, be subject to—

(A) any limitation on hiring (commonly referred to as a

“hiring freeze”);

(B) any reduction in force; or

program.

(2) Non-federal funds.—The non-Federal funds provided to

the Secretary pursuant to a cooperative funds agreement shall

not be subject to any limitation on spending.

SEC. 5502. EMERGENCY FOREST WATERSHED PROGRAM.

(a) Funding and Administration.—Section 404(b) of the

Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2204(b)) is

amended by inserting “to carry out section 401” after “for

a fiscal year”.

(b) Emergency Forest Watershed Program.—Title IV of the

Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is

amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 408. EMERGENCY FOREST WATERSHED PROGRAM.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Emergency watershed protection measures.—The term

`emergency watershed protection measures' means measures

that—

“(A) are necessary to address runoff, soil erosion, and

flooding caused by a natural disaster or any other natural

occurrence that has caused a sudden impairment to natural

resources on National Forest System land, and the damage, if

not treated—

“(i) would significantly impair or endanger the natural

resources on the National Forest System land; and

“(ii) would pose an immediate risk to water resources or

loss of life or property in connection to a sudden impairment

of a National Forest System watershed or downstream of the

National Forest System land or waterways; and

“(B) would maintain or restore forest health and forest-

related resources on the National Forest System land.

“(2) Natural disaster.—The term `natural disaster' has

the meaning given the term in section 407(a).

“(3) Sponsor.—The term `sponsor' means—

“(A) a State or local government;

“(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25

U.S.C. 5304)); and

“(C) a water district, water conservation district, water

utility, or special district.

“(b) Authorization.—The Secretary, acting through a

sponsor, is authorized to undertake emergency watershed

protection measures on National Forest System land.

“(c) Agreements; Payments.—

“(1) In general.—Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31,

United States Code, the Secretary may enter into an agreement

with a sponsor and make payments to the sponsor, on request

of the sponsor, to carry out emergency watershed protection

measures.

“(2) Requirements.—

“(A) Project timelines.—

“(i) In general.—Following a natural disaster or natural

occurrence that necessitates the carrying out of emergency

watershed protection measures, the Secretary shall execute

agreements under paragraph (1) as expeditiously as possible.

“(ii) Timeline.—Each agreement under paragraph (1) shall

include a timeline by which the sponsor shall complete all

emergency watershed protection measures during the 2-year

period following the conclusion of the applicable natural

disaster or natural occurrence, as determined by the

Secretary, that necessitated the carrying out of those

measures.

“(iii) Continued monitoring.—A sponsor that has entered

into an agreement under paragraph (1) may monitor, maintain,

repair, or replace emergency watershed protection measures

for a period of not more than 3 years following the

conclusion of the natural disaster or natural occurrence, as

determined by the Secretary, that necessitated the carrying

out of those measures when failure to do so would result in

unacceptable risk to National Forest System land or

downstream water users.

“(B) Payments.—The Secretary, in accordance with an

agreement entered into under paragraph (1)—

“(i) may make partial payments prior to completion of the

applicable project; and

“(ii) shall make final payment for the project not later

than 30 days after the date on which the project is

completed.

“(d) Waived Matching Requirements.—The Secretary shall

waive any matching requirements for payments made under

subsection (c)(1).

“(e) Liability.—

“(1) In general.—A sponsor that carries out emergency

watershed protection measures pursuant to an agreement under

subsection (c)(1) shall not be required to indemnify the

United States for any liability resulting from carrying out

emergency watershed protection measures pursuant to that

agreement.

“(2) Savings provision.—Nothing in this subsection

precludes liability for damages or costs relating to the

carrying out of emergency watershed protection measures by a

sponsor pursuant to an agreement entered into under

subsection (c)(1) if the sponsor acted with willful or wanton

negligence or reckless conduct in carrying out those

measures.

“(f) Assumption of Risk.—A sponsor that carries out

emergency watershed protection measures prior to entering

into an agreement under subsection (c)(1) shall assume the

risk of incurring any cost or liability resulting from

carrying out those measures.”.

SEC. 5503. IMPROVING THE EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16

U.S.C. 2201) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting “and Other

Emergency Conservation Measures” after “Fencing”;

(B) in paragraph (1)—

(i) by inserting “or for other emergency measures to

replace or restore farmland or conservation structures

requiring an immediate response (as determined by the

Secretary),” after “replacement of fencing,”; and

(ii) by striking “option of receiving” and all that

follows through the period at the end and inserting the

following: “option of receiving, before the agricultural

producer carries out the repair, replacement, or

restoration—

“(A) with respect to a payment to the agricultural

producer for a replacement, 75 percent of the cost of the

replacement, as determined by the Secretary; and

“(B) with respect to a payment to the agricultural

producer for a repair or restoration, 50 percent of the cost

of the repair or restoration, as determined by the

Secretary.”; and

“180-day”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Wildfire Determination.—A wildfire that causes

damage eligible for a payment under subsection (a) includes—

“(1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the

damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural

causes; and

“(2) a wildfire that is caused by the Federal

Government.”.

SEC. 5504. IMPROVING THE EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION

PROGRAM.

Section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16

U.S.C. 2206) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking “wildfires,” and

inserting “wildfires (including a wildfire that is not

caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of

the wildfire due to natural causes, and a wildfire that is

caused by the Federal Government),”;

(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

“(e) Advance Payments.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall give an owner of

nonindustrial private forest land the option of receiving,

before the owner carries out emergency measures under this

section, not more than 75 percent of the cost of the

emergency measures, as determined by the Secretary.

“(2) Return of funds.—If the funds provided under

paragraph (1) are not expended by the end of the 180-day

period beginning on the date on which the owner of

nonindustrial private forest land receives those funds, the

funds shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, as

determined by the Secretary.”.

SEC. 5505. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE

INTAKE PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

“SEC. 707. ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFIED DISASTER ASSISTANCE

INTAKE PROCESS AND SYSTEM.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Administrator.—The term `Administrator' means the

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“(2) Applicant.—The term `applicant' means—

“(A) an individual, business, or organization that applies

for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program;

“(B) an individual, business, or organization on behalf of

which an individual described in subparagraph (A) applies for

disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; and

“(C) an individual, business, or organization that seeks

assistance as a beneficiary of a State, local government, or

Indian tribal government that received assistance under a

disaster assistance program.

“(3) Disaster assistance agency.—The term `disaster

assistance agency' means—

“(A) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

“(B) any Federal agency that provides disaster assistance

to individuals, businesses, organizations, States, local

governments, Indian tribal governments, communities, or

organizations that the Administrator certifies as a disaster

assistance agency in accordance with subsection (f) to carry

out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.

“(4) Disaster assistance information.—The term `disaster

assistance information' includes any personal, biographical,

demographic, geographical, financial, application decision,

or other information that a disaster assistance agency, or a

recipient of a Federal block grant from a disaster assistance

agency, is authorized to collect, maintain, disclose, or use

to—

“(A) process an application for disaster assistance from a

disaster assistance program; or

“(B) otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster

assistance program.

“(5) Disaster assistance program.—The term `disaster

assistance program' means—

“(A) a program that provides disaster assistance to

individuals and households under title IV or V in accordance

with sections 408 and 502; or

“(B) any other assistance program authorized by a Federal

statute or funded with Federal appropriations under which a

disaster assistance agency awards or distributes disaster

assistance to an individual, household,

or organization, or provides a Federal block grant for these

purposes, that arises from a major disaster or emergency

declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, including—

“(i) disaster assistance;

“(ii) long-term disaster recovery assistance;

“(iii) the post-disaster restoration of infrastructure and

housing;

“(iv) post-disaster economic revitalization;

“(v) a loan authorized under section 7(b) of the Small

Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); and

“(vi) food benefit allotments under section 412 of this

Act and section 5(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7

U.S.C. 2014(h)).

“(6) Record.—The term `record' has the meaning given the

term in section 552a of title 5, United States Code.

“(b) Unified Disaster Assistance Intake Process and

System.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 360 days after the date

of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall, in

consultation with appropriate Federal, State, local, and

Indian tribal governments and entities, develop and establish

a unified intake process and system for applicants for

disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency

to—

“(A) facilitate a consolidated application for any form of

disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency

when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the

assistance;

“(B) carry out the purposes of disaster assistance

programs swiftly, efficiently, fairly, and in accordance with

applicable laws and privacy and data protections; and

“(C) support the detection, prevention, and investigation

of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the

administration of disaster assistance programs, which may

include the support of the Do Not Pay working system

described in section 3354(c) of title 31, United States Code.

“(2) Capabilities of the consolidated application

system.—The unified intake process and system established

under paragraph (1) shall—

“(A) accept applications for disaster assistance programs;

“(B) allow for applicants to receive status updates on

applications for disaster assistance programs;

“(C) allow for applicants to update disaster assistance

information throughout the recovery journeys of those

applicants;

“(D) allow for the distribution of information on

additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may

be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction, in

coordination with appropriate Federal, State, local, and

Tribal partners;

“(E) provide disaster survivors with information and

documentation on the applications of those disaster survivors

for a disaster assistance program;

“(F) allow for the distribution of application data to

support faster and more effective distribution of Federal

disaster assistance, including block grant assistance, for

disaster recovery;

“(G) allow for disaster assistance agencies to communicate

directly with disaster survivors; and

“(H) contain other capabilities determined necessary by

the heads of disaster assistance agencies.

“(3) Updates.—Not later than 30 days after the date on

which the Administrator receives a request from a disaster

assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated

application described in paragraph (1) needed to administer

the disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance

agency, the Administrator shall make those updates.

“(c) Authorities of Administrator.—The Administrator

may—

“(1) collect, maintain, disclose, and use disaster

assistance information, including such information received

from any disaster assistance agency, with any other disaster

assistance agency for purposes of subsection (b)(1); and

“(2) subject to subsection (d), authorize the collection,

maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster assistance

information collected on or after the date of enactment of

this section by publishing a notice on a public website

that—

“(A) includes a detailed description of—

“(i) the specific disaster assistance information

authorized to be collected, maintained, disclosed, and used;

“(ii) why the collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use

of the disaster assistance information is necessary to carry

out the purpose of a disaster assistance program;

“(iii) how the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and

use of disaster assistance information incorporates fair

information practices; and

“(iv) the disaster assistance agencies that will be

granted access to the disaster assistance information to

carry out the purpose of any disaster assistance program; and

“(B) provides that the submission of an application

through a unified disaster application constitutes prior

written consent to disclose disaster assistance information

to disaster assistance agencies for the purpose of section

552a(b) of title 5, United States Code.

“(d) Collection and Sharing of Records and Information.—

“(1) Effect of publication of notice on public website.—

The publication of a notice by the Administrator on a public

website of a revision to the system of records of the unified

intake process and system established under subsection (b)(1)

prior to any new collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use

of records to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance

program with respect to a major disaster or emergency

declared by the President under section 401 or 501,

respectively, of this Act shall be deemed to satisfy the

notice and publication requirements of section 552a(e)(4) of

title 5, United States Code, for the entire period of

performance for any assistance provided under a disaster

assistance program.

“(2) Paperwork reduction act waiver.—

“(A) In general.—Upon the declaration of a major disaster

or emergency pursuant to section 401 or 501, respectively, of

this Act, the Administrator may waive the requirements of

subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code

(commonly known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act'), with

respect to the voluntary collection of information specific

to the declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry

out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.

“(B) Duration.—A waiver described in subparagraph (A)

shall be in effect for the entire period of performance for

any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program

with respect to a declared major disaster or emergency.

“(C) Transparency.—If the Administrator waives the

requirements described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator

shall—

“(i) promptly post on a public website—

“(I) a brief justification for the waiver; and

“(II) the agencies and offices to which the waiver shall

apply;

“(ii) update the information posted under clause (i), as

applicable; and

“(iii) comply with the requirements of subchapter I of

chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as

the `Paperwork Reduction Act') upon the expiration of the

period of performance of any assistance provided under a

disaster assistance program if the collection of information

may be utilized for the purposes of supporting the disaster

assistance program in future major disaster or emergency

declarations.

“(D) Effectiveness of waiver.—Any waiver under

subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date on which the

Administrator posts information on the internet website as

provided for under subparagraph (C).

“(e) Data Security.—The Administrator shall facilitate

the collection of disaster assistance information into a

unified application only after—

“(1) the Administrator certifies that the unified

application substantially complies with the data security

standards established pursuant to subchapter II of chapter 35

of title 44, United States Code, and any other applicable

Federal information security policy;

“(2) the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a

privacy impact assessment for the unified application that is

similar to the privacy assessment conducted under section

208(b)(1)(B) of the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501

note); and

“(3) the Administrator, in consultation with disaster

assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for

disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to

disaster assistance information to protect such information

from improper disclosure.

“(f) Certification of Disaster Assistance Agencies.—

“(1) In general.—The Administrator may certify a Federal

agency as a disaster assistance agency only after posting an

agreement between the Administrator and the Federal agency on

a public website that contains the detailed terms of the

agreement.

“(2) Contents of agreement.—An agreement between the

Administrator and a Federal agency described in paragraph (1)

shall state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and

the Federal agency will—

“(A) collect, disclose, maintain, and use disaster

assistance information in accordance with—

“(i) this section; and

“(ii) subject to subsection (i)(2), any existing policies

of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal

agency for information protection and use;

“(B) train any personnel granted access to disaster

assistance information on the rules of behavior established

by the Administrator under subsection (e)(3);

“(C) in the event of any unauthorized disclosure of

disaster assistance information—

“(i) not later than 24 hours after discovering the

unauthorized disclosure—

“(I) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the

Federal agency, notify the Administrator of the disclosure;

and

“(II) in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, notify disaster

assistance agencies of the disclosure;

“(ii) cooperate fully with the Administrator and disaster

assistance agencies in the investigation and remediation of

the disclosure; and

“(iii) cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person

responsible for the disclosure; and

“(D) assume responsibility for any compensation, civil

liability, or other remediation measure awarded by a judgment

of a court or agreed upon as a compromise of any potential

claim by or on behalf of an applicant, including by obtaining

credit monitoring and remediation services, for an improper

disclosure of disaster assistance information that is—

“(i) caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or

omissions of an officer, employee, or contractor of the

Federal agency; or

“(ii) from any electronic system of records that was

created or maintained by the Federal agency pursuant to

section 552a(e) of title 5, United States Code.

“(g) Certification for Nonparticipation.—

“(1) Covered disaster assistance defined.—In this

subsection, the term `covered disaster assistance' means—

“(A) disaster assistance that a Federal agency is

automatically authorized to provide following a major

disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501; or

“(B) disaster assistance that is authorized and funded

under an appropriations Act specifically related to a major

disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501.

“(2) Requirement.—Not later than 6 months after the date

of enactment of this section, and every 4 years thereafter, a

Federal agency that is providing covered disaster assistance,

but has chosen not to participate in the unified intake

process and system established under subsection (b)(1), shall

provide to the Committee on Homeland Security and

Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on

Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of

Representatives a certification detailing—

“(A) why the Federal agency is not participating in the

unified intake process and system established under

subsection (b)(1); and

“(B) the stakeholders with which the Federal agency

consulted to reach the decision under subparagraph (A).

“(h) Reports.—

“(1) Fema.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 2

years, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of

disaster assistance agencies, shall submit to Congress a

report on the implementation of this section, including—

“(A) how disaster assistance agencies are working together

to implement the requirements under this section;

“(B) the effect of this section on disaster survivor

burden and the speed and efficiency of delivering disaster

assistance; and

“(C) a description of any other challenges that require

further legislative action.

“(2) Gao.—Not later than 3 years after the date of

enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the

United States shall submit to Congress a report on how the

implementation of this section has affected the disaster

survivor experience, and any recommendations for improvements

to the requirements under this section.

“(i) Briefings.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of this section, and again not later than 180 days

after the date of enactment of this section, the

Administrator shall brief Congress on—

“(1) the status of the implementation of the requirements

under this section; and

“(2) how disaster assistance agencies are working together

to implement the requirements under this section.

“(j) Rules of Construction.—

“(1) Inapplicability of matching program provisions.—The

disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject

to the requirements of section 552a of title 5, United States

Code, among disaster assistance agencies or with State,

local, or Tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance

programs shall not—

“(A) be construed as a matching program for the purpose of

section 552a(a)(8) of title 5, United States Code; or

“(B) be subject to subsection (e)(12), (o), (p)(1)(A)(ii),

(q), (r), or (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States

Code.

“(2) Clarifications.—

“(A) In general.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to authorize the Administrator to make decisions

relating to the disaster assistance program of an agency

other than the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“(B) Reducing burdens on disaster survivors.—The purpose

of this section is solely to improve the intake and sharing

of information to reduce burdens on survivors of major

disasters and emergencies.

“(3) Authorities in other laws.—Nothing in this section

shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to

share disaster assistance information regarding programs

funded or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any

other law or agency policy.

“(4) Applying to multiple programs.—Nothing in this

section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply

to more than 1 disaster assistance program.

“(5) Program authorization.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to authorize a program that is not authorized by

law as of the date of enactment of this section.

“(6) Agreements.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed as requiring a Federal agency to sign an agreement

described in subsection (f)(2) if the head of that Federal

agency determines that the inclusion of the disaster

assistance programs under the jurisdiction of the Federal

agency in the unified intake process and system established

under subsection (b)(1) is not appropriate to support the

nature and purposes of those disaster assistance programs.”.

SA 5891. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Merkley)) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1252. MEASURES TO ADDRESS MONEY LAUNDERING AND EXPORT

CONTROL AND SANCTIONS VIOLATIONS IN HONG KONG.

(a) Determination With Respect to Money Laundering.—Not

later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this

Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the

appropriate congressional committees a determination,

including a detailed justification, of whether reasonable

grounds exist for concluding that the Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is a

jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern under

section 5318A of title 31, United States Code.

(b) Report on Role of Hong Kong in Export Control and

Sanctions Violations.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 360 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in

coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of

Commerce, shall submit to the appropriate congressional

committees a report assessing the ability of United States

and foreign financial institutions operating in Hong Kong to

identify and prevent transactions that facilitate the

transfer of products, technology, and money to the Russian

Federation, Iran, and other countries and entities in

violation of export controls and sanctions imposed by the

United States.

(2) Elements.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall

include—

(A) an evaluation of the extent of the role of Hong Kong as

an international financial and trading center in

facilitating, knowingly or unknowingly—

(i) the transfer of commodities, software, or technology to

adversaries of the United States, including the Russian

Federation, Iran, the mainland of the People's Republic of

China, and other countries in violation of export controls

imposed by the United States; and

(ii) trade and financial transactions that may implicate

sanctions imposed by the United States on the Russian

Federation, Iran, and other countries and entities;

(B) an assessment of whether the People's Republic of

China's 2020 National Security Law and the January 2024

Safeguarding National Security Ordinance of Hong Kong have

limited the ability of financial institutions operating in

Hong Kong to adhere to global standards for anti-money

laundering and know-your-customer procedures; and

United States authorities in enforcing export control and

sanctions regimes, including any challenges to such

cooperation.

section, the term “appropriate congressional committees”

means—

(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and

(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on

Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

SA 5892. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1270A. STRATEGY TO COUNTER IRANIAN AND HEZBOLLAH

INFLUENCE OPERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA.

(a) Short Titles.—This section may be cited as the

“Barring Adversarial Networks and Notorious Extremist

Destabilizers in Latin America Act” or the “BANNED in Latin

America Act”.

(b) Strategy Required.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State

shall submit a comprehensive strategy to the Committee on

Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign

Affairs of the House of Representatives for countering Iran's

and Hezbollah's propaganda, missionary networks, and

influence operations in Latin America.

subsection (b) shall include—

(1) measures that address the proliferation of Iranian

cultural centers in Latin America that promote Iranian

ideology, including diplomatic efforts to limit their

operations, sanctions on affiliated entities, and public

diplomacy to expose their activities;

(2) actions that restrict the travel and activities of

Iranian emissaries, including diplomats, cultural attaches,

and other agents who facilitate propaganda, radicalization,

and terror-supporting networks in Latin America, through visa

denials, sanctions, or other travel restrictions;

(3) initiatives that strengthen the capacity of United

States intelligence agencies to identify, monitor, and

disrupt Iran's and Hezbollah's networks, including their

cooperation academic institutions and nongovernmental

organizations in Latin America;

(4) a framework for taking actions, similar to those

implemented against Al-Manar and Press TV, to disrupt Iran's

HispanTV and Hezbollah's Al Mayadeen Espanol platforms,

including sanctions, designations, and cooperation with

regional partners to limit their broadcasting reach and

digital presence; and

(5) a plan to address Iran's Al Mustafa International

University network and its affiliated entities, including by

designating them as foreign terrorist organizations or

specially designated global terrorists, as appropriate, due

to their respective roles in radicalization and recruitment

for Iran's ideological and terrorist objectives.

(d) Form.—The strategy required under subsection (b) shall

be submitted in unclassified form and may include a

classified annex.

SA 5893. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Merkley)) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title XII, add the following:

Subtitle F—Coordination on Uyghur Issues

SEC. 1271. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the “Uyghur Policy Act of

2026”.

SEC. 1272. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The People's Republic of China (referred to in this

subtitle as the “PRC”) continues to repress the distinct

Islamic, Turkic identity of Uyghurs and members of other

ethnic and religious minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur

Autonomous Region (referred to in this subtitle as the

“XUAR”) in northwestern China and other areas in which they

have habitually resided.

(2) Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic

minorities historically making up the majority of the XUAR

population have maintained a distinct religious and cultural

identity throughout their history.

(3) The PRC—

(A) ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social

and Cultural Rights, done at New York, December 16, 1966, and

is thereby bound by its provisions; and

(B) signed the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, done at New York December 19, 1966.

(4) PRC authorities manipulated the strategic objectives of

the international war on terror to mask their increasing

cultural and religious oppression of Uyghurs and other ethnic

and religious minority groups residing in the XUAR.

(5) In 2014, PRC authorities launched the “Strike Hard

Against Violent Extremism” campaign, in which dubious

allegations of widespread extremist activity were used as

justification for violations of internationally recognized

human rights committed against Uyghurs and members of other

ethnic and religious minority groups in the XUAR.

(6) PRC authorities have made use of its legal system as a

tool of repression, including for the imposition of arbitrary

detentions and torture against members of the Uyghur

community and other ethnic and religious minority groups.

(7) Uyghurs and Kazakhs who have secured citizenship or

permanent residency outside of the PRC have attested to

repeated threats, harassment, and surveillance by PRC

officials.

(8) Reporting from international news organizations has

found that during the past decade, in order to silence

dissent or to force exiled or other overseas Uyghurs to

return to the PRC, family members of such Uyghur individuals

or members of other ethnic and religious minority groups

living inside the PRC have disappeared or been detained by

PRC authorities.

(9) In February 2025, Thai authorities refouled 40 detained

Uyghurs to Xinjiang, ignoring warnings from the United States

Government and Congress.

(10) In 2017, Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service was the

first media organization to report on the PRC's vast, mass

arbitrary-detention program in the XUAR.

(11) International civil society has compiled credible

evidence that—

(A) more than 1,000,000 Uyghurs and members of other ethnic

and religious minority groups were detained in extrajudicial

“vocational education and training centers”; and

(B) thousands more such individuals continue to be coerced

to participate in state-led forced labor transfer programs.

(12) Independent accounts from former detainees of

“vocational education and training” centers describe

inhumane conditions and treatment, including forced political

indoctrination, torture, beatings, rape, forced

sterilization, and food deprivation.

(13) Former detainees also confirmed that they were told by

guards that the only way to secure release was to demonstrate

sufficient political loyalty to the Government of the PRC.

(14) Discourse surrounding the ongoing atrocities in the

XUAR, including efforts to support the Uyghur community,

remains limited in most Muslim majority nations around the

world.

(15) Former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo determined,

and both former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed, that the

Government of the PRC continues to commit genocide and crimes

against humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic and

religious minorities in the XUAR.

(16) Multiple foreign government bodies have declared that

atrocities by the Government of the PRC against Uyghurs and

members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in the

XUAR constitute genocide, including the European Parliament

and the parliaments of Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic,

France, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and the United

Kingdom, respectively.

(17) On March 12, 2026, China's National People's Congress

adopted the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, which

mandates Mandarin instruction for minority children beginning

in preschool and subjects all ethnic affairs to party

authority, systematically eroding the linguistic and cultural

identity of Uyghurs and other minority groups.

SEC. 1273. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Government of the PRC should—

(A) recognize, and take tangible steps to protect and

preserve, the distinct ethnic, cultural, religious, and

linguistic identity of Uyghurs and members of other ethnic

and religious minority groups in the XUAR;

(B) immediately cease all government-sponsored crackdowns,

imprisonments, and detentions of people throughout the XUAR

aimed at repressing their ethnic, cultural, political, or

religious identities; and

of Uyghurs, including the detainment, harassment,

intimidation, and surveillance of the family members of

exiled Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and minority

groups in the XUAR;

(2) the Government of the PRC should immediately open the

XUAR to regular, transparent, and unmanipulated visits by—

(A) members of the press;

(B) international organizations;

internationally recognized human rights; and

(D) foreign delegations, including delegations from the

United States;

(3) it is commendable that countries, including Germany,

the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Turkiye, among

others, have provided shelter and hospitality to Uyghurs and

other ethnic and religious minority group members in exile

from the PRC;

(4) the Government of the PRC should immediately grant

unconditional release of all prisoners that have been

detained for their ethnic, cultural, religious, and

linguistic identities, for expressing their political or

religious beliefs in the XUAR, or for being related to

members of the Uyghur diaspora or activist community,

including—

(A) Ekpar Asat, who participated in the Department of

State's International Visitors Leadership Program in 2016,

was incarcerated after returning to the XUAR, and is now

serving a 15-year prison sentence on charges of “inciting

ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination”;

(B) Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur retired medical doctor who

was unjustly detained in the XUAR on September 11, 2018, and

unfairly sentenced to 20 years in prison in retaliation for

her sister's advocacy for Uyghurs;

advocated for improving Uyghur-Han relations and improving

the implementation of regional autonomy laws in the PRC, was

detained on January 15, 2014, and sentenced to life in prison

on charges of “separatism”; and

(D) Rahile Dawut, a professor who researched Uyghur

folklore and traditions and was detained in 2017 and

sentenced to life in prison on charges of “splittism” and

“endangering State security”;

(5) the Government of the PRC should facilitate

comprehensive access for international organizations, to

“vocational education and training” centers, prisons, and

factories in the XUAR; and

(6) the Department of State should continue to facilitate

the unhindered dissemination of information to the

international community regarding the status of

internationally recognized human rights, religious freedom,

and transnational repression of Uyghurs and members of other

ethnic and religious minority groups in the XUAR.

SEC. 1274. UNITED STATES STRENGTHENING OF COORDINATION ON

UYGHUR ISSUES.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of State should, as

appropriate—

(1) prioritize policies, programs, and projects, in

coordination with other relevant agencies, to support Uyghurs

and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in

the XUAR;

(2) vigorously promote policies to protect the distinct

ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic identities of the

Uyghurs and other minority groups;

(3) maintain close contact with Uyghur religious, cultural,

and political leaders, including by seeking regular travel to

the XUAR and visiting Uyghur diaspora communities around the

world;

(4) advocate for the release of political prisoners in the

XUAR who were detained for exercising their internationally

recognized human rights to put pressure on exiled Uyghurs;

(5) regularly consult with Congress regarding policies

relevant to the XUAR and the Uyghurs;

(6) engage with counterparts in Europe, Central Asia, and

member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation—

(A) to promote internationally recognized human rights and

religious freedom for Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious

minority groups in the XUAR; and

(B) to develop and implement joint initiatives and programs

aimed at promoting awareness and supporting Uyghur victims of

detention, harassment, and transnational repression;

(7) develop a strategy to work with foreign partners to

pressure the Government of the PRC—

(A) to close all detention facilities and “vocational

education and training” camps housing Uyghurs and members of

other ethnic and religious minority groups in the XUAR;

(B) to allow unhindered access to detention facilities and

“vocational education and training” camps in the XUAR by

independent media, researchers, and international

organizations for a comprehensive assessment; and

preserve the distinct religious and cultural identity of the

Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority communities

in the XUAR;

(8) work with international partners—

(A) to raise awareness regarding transnational repression

of Uyghur Americans or Uyghurs who are living in exile in the

United States; and

(B) to develop and implement strategies to prevent and

respond to such transnational repression; and

(9) establish a mechanism for individuals to report

incidents of transnational repression against Uyghurs and

other ethnic and religious minority groups with ties to the

XUAR.

(b) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the

following 3 years, the Secretary of State shall submit a

report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate

and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of

Representatives, with a classified annex, if necessary,

that—

(1) lists the actions described in subsection (a) that were

taken by the Secretary during the reporting period, including

programs and engagements with foreign governments;

(2) describes actions taken by the United States Government

to address and prevent transnational repression against

Uyghurs in the United States; and

(3) includes recommendations for further legislative or

policy measures in support of the internationally recognized

human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious

minority groups from the XUAR.

cease to have any force or effect beginning on the date that

is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 1275. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the

requirements under this subtitle. Such requirements shall be

carried out using amounts otherwise authorized for similar

purposes.

SEC. 1276. REQUIREMENT FOR UYGHUR LANGUAGE TRAINING.

(a) Uyghur Language Training and Staffing.—The Secretary

of State may take such steps as may be necessary to ensure

that—

(1) Uyghur language training is available to Foreign

Service officers; and

(2) efforts are made to ensure that at least 1 Uyghur-

speaking member of the Service (as defined in section 103 of

the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903)) is assigned

to—

(A) one United States diplomatic or consular post in the

People's Republic of China; and

(B) one United States diplomatic or consular post in

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyszstan, or Turkiye.

(b) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Foreign Service Institute shall

submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the

Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of

Representatives that outlines all of the steps that have been

taken to implement subsection (a).

SEC. 1277. UYGHUR CONSIDERATIONS AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

The President shall direct the United States Permanent

Representative to the United Nations to use the voice, vote,

and influence of the United States at every United States

multilateral mission—

(1) to oppose any efforts to prevent consideration of the

gross violation of internationally recognized human rights in

the XUAR in any body of the United Nations;

(2) to oppose any actions to prevent the participation of

advocates for internationally recognized human rights of

Uyghurs in nongovernmental fora hosted by, or otherwise

organized under the auspices of, any body of the United

Nations; and

(3) to support the creation or appointment of a special

rapporteur for the XUAR for the purposes of—

(A) monitoring violations and abuses of internationally

recognized human rights in the XUAR; and

(B) making reports containing information about such

violations and abuses available to the General Assembly of

the United Nations and other United Nations affiliated

agencies, bodies, entities, and member states.

SA 5894. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis (for himself and Ms. Rosen)) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title XII, add the following:

Subtitle F—Critical Undersea Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act

SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the “Critical Undersea

Infrastructure Resilience Initiative Act”.

SEC. 1282. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC)

has increasingly used gray zone tactics to undermine the

security of Taiwan and change the status quo in the Taiwan

Strait, including suspected sabotage of undersea cables in

and around Taiwan, such as the incidents involving the

severing of cables around the Matsu Islands of Taiwan and

other key regions in 2023 and 2025.

(2) Undersea cables and other critical undersea

infrastructure are a primary vulnerability for Taiwan that

could be targeted by the PRC to cripple the communication

capabilities of Taiwan in the event of a conflict in the

Taiwan Strait and of broader hybrid warfare tactics.

Disruption of critical undersea infrastructure would

significantly impact the ability of Taiwan to communicate

both domestically and internationally, leading to a breakdown

in military, economic, and social functions.

(3) The vulnerability of Taiwan to attacks on critical

undersea infrastructure has been compounded by an increasing

number of foreign vessels suspected of involvement in

sabotage, including PRC-linked vessels, which pose direct

threats to Taiwan's critical infrastructure.

(4) The ability of the PRC to disrupt or damage critical

undersea infrastructure is a critical element of its strategy

aimed at disrupting Taiwan's military and civil

communications and isolating Taiwan in the event of a

blockade, quarantine, or other attempt to force unification

with the PRC.

(5) Recent activities by foreign adversaries, particularly

the PRC, have increased the risk of sabotage and disruption

to critical undersea infrastructure serving Taiwan and other

nations, including—

(A) in February 2023, two vessels registered to the PRC

severed two undersea cables that effectively cut internet

access to the 13,000 residents of Taiwan's Matsu Islands, who

had to rely on microwave radio transmissions to provide

limited internet access for 50 days until a cable ship was

able to complete repairs;

(B) in January 2025, Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom reported

damage to an undersea cable north of Taipei and identified a

“suspicious vessel” registered as the Shunxin-39 and the

Xin Shun-39, which had traveled in a criss-cross pattern

while dragging its anchor near where the cable was damaged;

Baoshun was driven away by Taiwan's coast guard after

suspicious movements off the coast of New Taipei; and

(D) in February 2025, Taiwan's coast guard detained the

Togo-flagged Hong Tai 58 near Taiwan's Penghu Islands after

an undersea cable in the area was severed, with the captain

later admitting to dropping the ship's anchor in the area and

that he “might have broken the cable”.

(6) Since 2023, there have been at least 11 cases of damage

to undersea cables around Taiwan and a similar number in the

Baltic Sea, with authorities in Taiwan and Europe suspecting

PRC and Russian involvement and possible coordination in

several incidents. Those incidents highlight the

vulnerability of critical undersea infrastructure, as well as

the difficulty of proving sabotage or holding perpetrators

accountable.

(7) The sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure

constitutes gray zone tactics designed to destabilize and

undermine international security while falling short of

direct military confrontation.

(8) Several regional mechanisms have been established to

bolster the security of undersea cables, including the Nordic

Warden initiative for maritime domain awareness and the Quad

Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, aimed at

enhancing the security and resilience of undersea cables in

the Indo-Pacific.

(9) Taiwan is the world's 21st largest economy by

purchasing power parity and deeply integrated in the global

information and communications technology supply chain. Any

restrictions to its internet connectivity or energy security

would have a direct impact on the world's economy.

(10) To counter the threats described in this section and

safeguard the resilience of Taiwan, it is imperative for the

United States and its allies to take decisive action to

bolster Taiwan's defenses for critical undersea

infrastructure and foster international cooperation to

protect those critical assets.

SEC. 1283. DEFINITIONS.

In this subtitle:

(1) Critical undersea infrastructure.—The term “critical

undersea infrastructure” means—

(A) subsea energy infrastructure, including a subsea cable,

pipeline, or other equipment installed on, beneath, or within

the seabed, to transmit electricity (including via subsea

electricity cables, subsea electricity transformers, or

equipment related to the support of offshore energy

production installations) or to transport natural gas, oil,

or hydrogen between land-based or off-shore infrastructure,

as well as associated landing stations and facilities; or

(B) subsea telecommunications infrastructure, including

subsea fiber-optic cables and related equipment installed on,

beneath, or within the seabed, and used to transmit

communications, data, voice, video, or other electronic

signals, as well as associated landing stations and

facilities.

(2) Sabotage.—The term “sabotage” means actions, or

preparations for future actions, taken with the intent to

cause defective production of, operation of, or damage to

critical undersea infrastructure, including the integrity of

data transmitted via subsea telecommunications

infrastructure.

SEC. 1284. TAIWAN CRITICAL UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE

INITIATIVE.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 360 days after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Commandant of

the Coast Guard, and such other heads of agencies as the

Secretary of State considers relevant, shall establish an

initiative to be known as the “Taiwan Critical Undersea

Infrastructure Initiative” (in this section referred to as

the “Initiative”).

(b) Priority.—The Initiative shall prioritize the

protection and resilience of critical undersea infrastructure

near Taiwan, with a focus on countering threats from the PRC.

(1) Advanced monitoring and detection capabilities.—In

carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary of State, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall develop and

deploy advanced critical undersea infrastructure monitoring

systems capable of detecting disruptions or potential

sabotage in real-time, including by informing Taiwan, as

appropriate, of early warnings about risks to Taiwan's

critical undersea infrastructure from global intelligence

networks.

(2) Rapid response protocols.—In carrying out the

Initiative, the Secretary of State shall—

(A) in cooperation with regional partners, establish rapid

response protocols for damaged critical undersea

infrastructure or mitigating disruptions; and

(B) work with allies and partners of the United States to

help Taiwan and regional partners develop the logistical

capacity to respond quickly to attacks on critical undersea

infrastructure and minimize downtime.

(3) Enhancing maritime domain awareness.—In carrying out

the Initiative—

(A) the Secretary of the Navy and the Commandant of the

Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Coast Guard of Taiwan

and regional partners, shall enhance maritime domain

awareness around Taiwan, focusing on the ability to detect

and interdict suspicious vessels or activities near critical

undersea infrastructure; and

(B) the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall assist in joint

patrols and surveillance, particularly in the Taiwan Strait

and surrounding maritime zones, to monitor potential threats

and prevent sabotage.

(4) International frameworks for protection.—

(A) In general.—In carrying out the Initiative, the

Secretary of State shall seek to establish cooperative

frameworks with regional and global partners to protect

undersea cable networks near Taiwan.

(B) Elements.—The frameworks established under

subparagraph (A) shall provide for participation by the

United States in joint drills, intelligence-sharing

platforms, and collaborative surveillance operations to

enhance collective security against sabotage.

(5) Taiwan-specific cable hardening.—In carrying out the

Initiative, the Secretary of State shall encourage and

support the hardening of critical undersea infrastructure

near Taiwan, including reinforcing cables, improving burial

depths, and using more resilient materials to reduce

vulnerability to natural disasters and sabotage.

SEC. 1285. COUNTERING PRC GRAY ZONE TACTICS.

(a) Working With Partners To Counter PRC Sabotage.—The

President shall work with like-minded international partners

to implement strategies that directly counter the Government

of the PRC's critical undersea infrastructure sabotage

activities as part of its gray zone warfare, including by

increasing diplomatic pressure on the PRC to adhere to

international norms regarding the protection of critical

undersea infrastructure.

(b) Raising Awareness.—The President shall work with like-

minded international partners to raise global awareness of

the risks posed by the PRC's sabotage of critical undersea

infrastructure, including through public diplomacy efforts,

information sharing, and participation in international

forums that address gray zone tactics and the protection of

critical undersea infrastructure.

SEC. 1286. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CRITICAL

UNDERSEA INFRASTRUCTURE SABOTAGE.

(a) In General.—The President, in coordination with the

Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, shall

impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect

to any foreign person that the President determines, on or

after the date of the enactment of this Act, is responsible

for acts of sabotage, or facilitates acts of sabotage,

against undersea infrastructure critical to the security of

Taiwan or other United States allies or partners, including—

(1) any foreign vessel or entity the owner or operator of

which knowingly—

(A) commits acts of sabotage; or

(B) conducts preparatory surveillance, logistical support,

security, or other services that facilitate or enable an act

of sabotage; and

(2) any foreign person that knowingly—

(A) owns, operates, or manages a vessel or entity described

in paragraph (1);

(B) provides underwriting services or insurance or

reinsurance necessary for such a vessel or entity;

support such a vessel or entity;

(D) provides port or logistics services or facilities for

technology upgrades or installation of equipment for, or

retrofitting or tethering of, such a vessel for the purpose

of evading sanctions;

(E) provides documentation, registration, or flagging

services for such a vessel for the purpose of evading

sanctions; or

(F) serves as a captain, principal officer, or senior

leader of such a vessel or entity.

(b) Report Required.—Not later than 15 days after imposing

sanctions with respect to a foreign person under subsection

(a), the President shall submit to the appropriate

congressional committees a report that includes a detailed

justification for the imposition of the sanctions.

subsection are the following:

(1) Blocking of property.—The President shall exercise all

of the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary

to block and prohibit all transactions in all property and

interests in property of a foreign person described in

subsection (a), if such property and interests in property

are in the United States, come within the United States, or

are or come within the possession or control of a United

States person.

(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.—

(A) Visas, admission, or parole.—An alien described in

subsection (a) shall be—

(i) inadmissible to the United States;

(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to

enter the United States; and

(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into

the United States or to receive any other benefit under the

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

(B) Current visas revoked.—

(i) In general.—The visa or other entry documentation of

an alien described in subsection (a) shall be revoked,

regardless of when such visa or other entry documentation is

or was issued.

(ii) Immediate effect.—A revocation under clause (i)

shall—

(I) take effect immediately; and

(II) automatically cancel any other valid visa or entry

documentation that is in the possession of the alien.

(d) Implementation; Penalties.—

(1) Implementation.—The President may exercise all

authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702

and 1704) to carry out this section.

(2) Penalties.—A person that violates, attempts to

violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of this

section or any regulation, license, or order issued to carry

out this section shall be subject to the penalties set forth

in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705)

to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act

described in subsection (a) of that section.

(e) Exceptions.—

(1) Exception to comply with united nations headquarters

agreement and law enforcement activities.—Sanctions under

this section shall not apply with respect to the admission or

parole of an alien into the United States if admitting or

paroling the alien is necessary—

(A) to permit the United States to comply with the

Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,

signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force

November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United

States, or other applicable international obligations of the

United States; or

(B) to carry out or assist authorized law enforcement

activity in the United States.

(2) Exception to comply with intelligence activities.—

Sanctions under this section shall not apply to any activity

subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the

National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any

authorized intelligence activities of the United States.

(3) Exception relating to importation of goods.—

(A) In general.—A requirement to block and prohibit all

transactions in all property and interests in property under

this section

shall not include the authority or requirement to impose

sanctions on the importation of goods.

(B) Good defined.—In this paragraph, the term “good”

means any article, natural or manmade substance, material,

supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test

equipment, and excluding technical data.

(f) National Security Interests Waiver.—The President may

waive the application of sanctions under this section if,

before issuing the waiver, the President submits to the

appropriate congressional committees—

(1) a certification in writing that the issuance of the

waiver is in the national security interests of the United

States; and

(2) a report explaining the basis for the certification.

(g) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Admission; admitted; alien; etc.—The terms

“admission”, “admitted”, “alien”, and “lawfully

admitted for permanent residence” have the meanings given

those terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality

Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).

(2) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term

“appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on

Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

(3) Foreign person.—The term “foreign person” means an

individual or entity that is not a United States person.

(4) United states person.—The term “United States

person” means—

(A) any United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted

for permanent residence to the United States;

(B) an entity organized under the laws of the United States

or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including

any foreign branch of such an entity; or

SEC. 1287. SEMIANNUAL REPORT.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of

this Act, and every 180 days thereafter through 2032, the

President shall submit to Congress a report detailing—

(1) any incidents of interference or sabotage related to

critical undersea infrastructure near Taiwan; and

(2) any actions taken in response to such incidents.

SEC. 1288. INTERAGENCY CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR CROSS-STRAIT

CRISIS.

(a) Statement of Policy.—It is the policy of the United

States to be prepared for potential crises involving Taiwan,

including an attempt by the People's Republic of China (PRC)

to change the status quo by force, through comprehensive

interagency contingency planning that addresses the

catastrophic risks such crises would pose to the national

security of the United States.

(b) Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a

Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group—

(A) to be chaired by the National Security Council; and

(B) consisting of senior officials from the Department of

State, the Department of Defense, the United States

intelligence community, and such other Federal agencies as

may be appropriate.

(2) Functions.—The Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group

shall—

(A) conduct scenario-based planning exercises to prepare

for potential crises involving Taiwan, including blockade or

quarantine scenarios, the seizure of an outlying island,

military contingencies, economic coercion, cyber attacks, and

hybrid threats;

(B) identify critical vulnerabilities in supply chains,

financial systems, critical infrastructure, and security

posture of the United States and allies and partners of the

United States that would be affected by a crisis involving

Taiwan;

diplomatic, military, economic, cyber, and homeland security

responses across the Group;

(D) assess the adequacy of existing authorities, resources,

and decision-making processes to execute such contingency

plans;

(E) identify gaps in capabilities, authorities, or

coordination mechanisms and recommend solutions;

(F) share risk assessments with allies and partners of the

United States, as appropriate; and

(G) regularly test and refine contingency plans.

(3) Report required.—Not later than 180 days after the

establishment of the Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group

under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter for 10 years,

the Cross-Strait Contingency Planning Group shall submit to

Congress a classified report that includes—

(A) a description of contingency scenarios assessed and

planning activities conducted by the Group;

(B) an assessment of the preparedness of the United States

and allies and partners of the United States to respond to a

crisis involving Taiwan, including identification of

capability gaps and resource requirements;

or resource allocation to enhance such preparedness; and

(D) a description of exercises conducted and lessons

learned by the Group.

SA 5895. Mr. THUNE (for Mr. Curtis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1270A. COUNTERING TERRORISM BY HEZBOLLAH.

(a) Short Title.—This section may be cited as the “No

Hezbollah In Our Hemisphere Act”.

(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Secretary of State should pursue aggressive efforts

against Iranian proxy networks in the Western Hemisphere,

including by—

(1) demanding that governments put an end to the impunity

enjoyed by designated individuals and entities or face the

consequences described in this Act for their inaction;

(2) working with allies, potentially through international

forums, such as the Financial Action Task Force, to greylist

government entities that cooperate with Hezbollah;

(3) engaging governments in Latin America to ensure they

have adequate legislative tools to investigate terrorist

activities and combat the financing of terrorism; and

(4) persuading allies in the Latin America to designate

Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, using Argentina's

model for designation as a blueprint.

congressional committees” means—

(1) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

(2) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of

the Senate;

(3) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(4) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of

Representatives;

(5) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives; and

(6) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of

Representatives.

(d) Determination With Respect to Terrorist Sanctuaries.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in

coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the

Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland

Security, the Attorney General, and the heads of other

relevant Federal agencies, shall—

(A) conduct an assessment to determine whether any country,

region, or jurisdiction in Latin America meets the definition

of “terrorist sanctuary” under section 140(d)(4) of the

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and

1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)); and

(B) submit the results of such assessment to the

appropriate congressional committees.

(2) Considerations.—In making a determination pursuant to

paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consider—

(A) the extent to which Hezbollah or any other foreign

terrorist organization (as designated pursuant to section

219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.

1189(a))) operates freely, raises or transfers funds,

recruits, or obtains safe haven within a given country,

region, or jurisdiction;

(B) whether the host government has knowingly tolerated, or

has failed to take action to address, terrorist activities

after learning of their existence; and

“terrorist sanctuary” under section 140(d)(4) of the

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and

1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)).

(e) Revocation of Visas.—

(1) In general.—The President may impose the sanctions

described in paragraph (2) with respect to any foreign

individual the President determines is a government official

of any foreign state, subdivision, or municipality designated

as a terrorist sanctuary under subsection (d) unless such

official has taken significant, verifiable steps to stop such

activity or the relevant jurisdiction no longer meets the

definition of terrorist sanctuary under section 140(d)(4) of

the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988

and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(d)(4)).

(2) Sanctions described.—

(A) Ineligibility for visas and admissions to the united

states.—A foreign individual described in paragraph (1)

shall be—

(i) inadmissible to the United States;

(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to

enter the United States; and

(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into

the United States or to receive any other benefit under the

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

(B) Current visas revoked.—

(i) In general.—The issuing consular officer or the

Secretary of State (or a designee of the Secretary), in

accordance with section 221(i) of the Immigration and

Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)), shall revoke any visa or

other entry documentation issued to a foreign individual

described in paragraph (1) regardless of when the visa or

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