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The bill extends McIntire‑Stennis eligibility to District of Columbia institutions—giving DC researchers and urban forestry efforts potential access to federal research funds—but risks reducing per‑recipient funding and may yield minimal new dollars for DC unless Congress raises program appropriations.
Researchers and universities in the District of Columbia become eligible to receive McIntire‑Stennis forestry research funds, opening a new federal grant avenue for DC higher‑education research programs.
DC institutions can access federal forestry research support, which could improve local urban forestry, tree management services, and related community resilience efforts in Washington, DC.
Broader eligibility expands the pool of institutions that can receive McIntire‑Stennis funds, potentially increasing federal support for regional forestry science and partnerships involving DC entities.
Adding DC as an eligible recipient could dilute the share of McIntire‑Stennis funding available to existing recipients if total appropriations are not increased.
The bill does not authorize additional appropriations, so DC entities may technically be eligible but receive little actual funding until Congress increases program resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds the District of Columbia to the list of jurisdictions eligible to receive funding under the McIntire‑Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act, making DC eligible to participate in cooperative forestry research grants. The amendment does not specify any new funding levels, deadlines, or administrative changes to the underlying program.
Introduced February 23, 2026 by Eleanor Holmes Norton · Last progress February 23, 2026