[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9945 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9945
To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation Council, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2024
Ms. Mace (for herself, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr.
Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation Council, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``North American
Grasslands Conservation Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. North American Grasslands Conservation Council.
Sec. 6. Regional Grasslands Conservation Councils.
Sec. 7. North American Grasslands Conservation Strategy.
Sec. 8. Grasslands conservation grant program.
Sec. 9. Approval of grasslands conservation projects.
Sec. 10. Native seed crop systems research.
Sec. 11. Regenerative grazing data collection.
Sec. 12. Report to Congress.
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 14. Rules of construction.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) grasslands provide vital habitat for a multitude of
species which represent the lifeblood of local and regional
economies that depend on income generated by sportsmen and
women and other forms of outdoor recreation;
(2) grasslands have been managed for millennia by Indian
Tribes through the use of practices referred to as ``Indigenous
Traditional Ecological Knowledge'' to conserve and restore
habitat for native flora and fauna, including practices such as
restoration and conservation of grassland ecosystems to support
continued cultural traditions, including subsistence
agriculture, cultural burning, and management of culturally
significant wildlife and their ecosystems;
(3) the maintenance of healthy populations of grassland
species and working lands that are critical for rural economies
and carbon sequestration is dependent on the conservation,
restoration, and management of grassland ecosystems, which are
composed of tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairies,
sagebrush shrub-steppe, and savannah grasslands (referred to in
this Act as ``grassland ecosystems'');
(4) grassland and rangeland ecosystems provide--
(A) essential and significant habitat for mammals,
pollinators, reptiles, and other wildlife of
commercial, recreational, scientific, aesthetic, and
cultural value; and
(B) an abundance of critical ecological services,
including forage and hay for grazing livestock, carbon
sequestration, carbon storage, drought and flood
resilience, water filtration, and water storage;
(5) grasslands cover 358,000,000 acres of the United
States, 85 percent of which are privately owned and serve as an
important habitat for 29 breeding obligate grassland bird
species;
(6) sagebrush occupies 161,000,000 acres of 14 Western
States;
(7) over the last decade alone, millions of acres of
grassland ecosystems in North America have been converted to
cropland and residential and commercial development;
(8) grassland ecosystems are threatened by fragmentation,
invasive species, wildfire, degradation, and land conversion;
(9) on average, about 1,200,000 acres of sagebrush burn
each year in the United States due to invasive annual grasses
that fuel catastrophic wildfires;
(10) in addition to wildfires, there has been a decrease in
the number of working farms and ranches due to--
(A) pressures to convert or sell land; and
(B) challenges in keeping ranching profitable;
(11) effective restoration strategies for land managers of
grassland ecosystems require--
(A) access to adequate quantities of high-quality,
regionally appropriate, and diverse native plant seeds;
(B) science-based guidance on cultivating native
plant species; and
(C) as stated in the National Seed Strategy for
Rehabilitation and Restoration developed by the Plant
Conservation Alliance and chaired by the Director of
the Bureau of Land Management, more research on
seedling establishment and species interaction in order
to increase the use of native plant species;
(12) many plant species most often associated with
grassland and rangeland ecosystems are drought tolerant,
characteristics that will help ensure the viability of critical
wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services in the face of
increased drought prevalence brought on by the effects of
climate change;
(13) grassland and rangeland ecosystems are often comprised
of disturbance-dependent communities that rely on disturbances
such as fire to maintain the desired plant community
composition, reduce fuel loading, and arrest ecological
succession;
(14) beneficial fire, when scientifically applied and in
accordance with local fire prescriptions, is a critical tool in
the maintenance of grassland and rangeland ecosystems,
particularly in the face of climate change which has been
linked to an increase in the frequency and intensity of
wildfires in areas in which beneficial fire has been excluded
and fuel loading is high;
(15) the migratory bird treaty obligations of the United
States with Canada, Mexico, and other countries require
conservation of grasslands and rangelands that are used by
migratory birds for breeding, wintering, or migration and are
needed to achieve and to maintain optimum population levels,
distributions, and patterns of migration;
(16) the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Act of 1980 require the Secretary of the Interior
to identify conservation measures to assure that nongame
migratory bird species do not reach the point at which measures
of the Endangered Species Act are necessary; and
(17) conservation of migratory birds and their habitats
requires long-term planning and the close cooperation and
coordination of management activities by Canada, Mexico, and
the United States within the framework of the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.), the 1916,
1969, and 1986 Migratory Bird Conventions, and the Convention
on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western
Hemisphere.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to take bold action to conserve and
restore grasslands in North America while supporting ranchers, farmers,
Indian Tribes, sportsmen and sportswomen, rural communities, and other
interests by drawing from existing conservation plans, programs, and
models with a proven track record of success through--
(1) encouraging voluntary grassland conservation and
restoration as an alternative to additional conversion and loss
of native grasslands ecosystems and sustaining those ecosystems
as working lands by creating a flexible, voluntary, and
innovative grant program;
(2) improving grassland and rangeland health and
management;
(3) restoring marginal lands to native grasslands in areas
that were historically grasslands;
(4) mitigating the impacts of severe drought and wildfire
on grasslands;
(5) supporting farmer and rancher stewards, private
landowners, and Tribal partners;
(6) improving biodiversity and habitat for grassland and
sagebrush birds, pollinators, and other wildlife;
(7) increasing carbon sequestration and carbon storage;
(8) providing increased wildlife-dependent recreational and
hunter and angler access opportunities, at the discretion of
private landowners;
(9) encouraging stronger public-private partnerships in
support of landscape-level grassland conservation efforts
conducted by State fish and wildlife agencies, Indian Tribes,
regional and Federal entities, nongovernmental organizations,
farmers and ranchers, and other stakeholders both in the United
States and in Canada and Mexico, and complementing the public-
private partnerships working on grassland conservation as of
the date of the enactment of this Act, such as the Partners for
Fish and Wildlife;
(10) identifying voluntary opportunities for grassland
conservation, restoration, and management not currently
available through existing programs; and
(11) providing opportunities for Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations to conserve, restore, and manage grasslands,
including through--
(A) the ethical incorporation of Indigenous
Traditional Ecological Knowledge into grassland
management and restoration activities; and
(B) identifying, encouraging, and providing funding
for partnerships between Indian Tribes and Federal
agencies to co-manage grassland ecosystems, including
ecologically important flora and fauna.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission established by section 2
of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715a).
(2) Conservation strategy.--The term ``Conservation
Strategy'' means the North American Grasslands Conservation
Strategy established under section 7(a).
(3) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the North American
Grasslands Conservation Council established by section 5(a).
(4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(5) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a grazing land coalition;
(B) an agricultural or livestock producer group;
(C) an Indian Tribe;
(D) a Tribal organization;
(E) a land trust;
(F) a State or local government;
(G) a Federal agency;
(H) a nongovernmental organization;
(I) a community-based organization;
(J) a group of individuals that are private
landowners; and
(K) a regional fish and wildlife agency.
(6) Grasslands.--The term ``grasslands'' means tallgrass,
mixed grass, shortgrass, native prairie, sagebrush shrub-
steppe, savanna grasslands, glades, wet meadows, coastal
grasslands, and other related grassland ecosystems, including
certain rangelands.
(7) Grasslands conservation project.--The term ``grasslands
conservation project'' means any conservation, restoration,
protection, or enhancement activity that is carried out with a
grant awarded under the Program.
(8) 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).
(9) Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge; itek.--The
terms ``Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge'' and
``ITEK'' mean observations, oral and written knowledge,
practices, and beliefs of Indian Tribes that promote
environmental sustainability and the responsible stewardship of
natural resources through relationships between humans and
environmental systems and are applied to phenomena across
biological, physical, cultural, and spiritual systems.
(10) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the grant program
established under section 8(a).
(11) Regional grasslands conservation council.--The term
``Regional Grasslands Conservation Council'' means a Regional
Grasslands Conservation Council established by section 6(a).
(12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(13) 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).
SEC. 5. NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the North American
Grasslands Conservation Council.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of the
following 13 members:
(A) The Director, who shall be the responsible
Federal official for ensuring Council compliance with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
(B) The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service of the Department of Agriculture, who shall
coordinate interdepartmental efforts with the Director.
(C) 1 representative of the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation, appointed by the Secretary.
(D) 4 members who shall each--
(i) be appointed by the Secretary;
(ii) be a director of a State fish and
wildlife agency; and
(iii) represent a different regional
association.
(E) 2 members who shall each--
(i) be appointed by the Secretary;
(ii) be a director, or an equivalent role,
of a natural resources agency of an Indian
Tribe; and
(iii) represent a different intertribal
organization dedicated to natural resources and
the environment.
(F) 2 members who shall each--
(i) be appointed by the Secretary of
Agriculture; and
(ii) represent a separate working lands
organization that represents landowners,
farmers, or ranchers actively participating in
carrying out voluntary grasslands conservation
projects.
(G) 2 members, of whom--
(i) both shall be appointed by the
Secretary;
(ii) both shall be a member of a charitable
nonprofit conservation organization; and
(iii) 1 shall be a member of a wildlife
hunting conservation organization.
(2) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), a member of the Council shall serve for a term of
3 years.
(B) Initial appointments.--
(i) Directors of state fish and wildlife
agencies.--Of the members first appointed under
paragraph (1)(D)--
(I) 1 shall be appointed for a term
of 1 year;
(II) 2 shall be appointed for a
term of 2 years; and
(III) 1 shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years.
(ii) Other members.--Of the members first
appointed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G)
of paragraph (1)--
(I) 2 shall be appointed for a term
of 1 year;
(II) 2 shall be appointed for a
term of 2 years; and
(III) 2 shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years.
(C) Vacancies.--
(i) In general.--With respect to a member
appointed to the Council under subparagraphs
(C) through (G) of paragraph (1), a vacancy in
the Council shall be filled in accordance with
that subparagraph for the remainder of the
applicable term of that member.
(ii) Alternate members.--Until a vacancy
referred to in clause (i) is filled, or in the
event of an anticipated absence of a member
described in that clause from any meeting of
the Council, the Secretary shall appoint an
alternate member to the Council who shall--
(I) be knowledgeable and
experienced in matters relating to
grasslands conservation and
restoration; and
(II) perform the duties of a member
appointed to the Council under
subparagraphs (C) through (G) of
paragraph (1).
(3) Ex officio members.--The Secretary may include as ex
officio, nonvoting members of the Council--
(A) the Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation of the Department of Agriculture;
(B) the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment of the Department of Agriculture; and
(C) representatives of--
(i) other appropriate Federal, State, or
Tribal Government agencies that are actively
participating in grasslands conservation
projects or have technical expertise in
grasslands conservation;
(ii) the Federal, provincial, territorial,
Indigenous, or State government agencies of
Canada and Mexico that are actively
participating in carrying out grasslands
conservation projects;
(iii) nonprofit charitable organizations
that are actively participating in grasslands
conservation projects; and
(iv) Tribal organizations that are actively
participating in grasslands conservation
projects.
(4) Chairperson.--
(A) In general.--The Council shall select a
Chairperson from among the members of the Council.
(B) Term.--A Chairperson shall serve for a 3-year
term, except that the first selected Chairperson may
serve for an initial term of less than 3 years.
(5) Vice chair.--
(A) In general.--The Chairperson shall select a
Vice Chair from among the members of the Council.
(B) Term.--A Vice Chair shall serve for a 2-year
term, except that the first selected Vice Chair may
serve for an initial term of less than 2 years.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(2) Frequency.--The Council shall meet not less frequently
than once per year.
(3) Format.--A meeting of the Council may be conducted in
person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.
(4) Availability.--Meetings of the Council shall be open to
the public, and the Council shall give public notice of the
time and place of such meetings.
(5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Council shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(d) Duties.--The Council shall--
(1) provide input to the Director in the development of the
Conservation Strategy;
(2) establish publicly available project evaluation
criteria for applications submitted under the Program;
(3) recommend grasslands conservation projects to the
Commission in accordance with section 9;
(4) receive input from regional conservation entities who
have a vested interest in developing multi-State and Tribal
conservation plans; and
(5) provide annual updates on the status of the objectives
and goals identified in the Conservation Strategy to the
Commission.
(e) Compensation.--A member of the Council shall receive no
compensation as a result of serving on the Council.
(f) FACA Applicability.--Chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United
States Code, shall not apply to the Council.
SEC. 6. REGIONAL GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION COUNCILS.
(a) In General.--There is established a Regional Grasslands
Conservation Council for each region of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service.
(b) Membership.--Each Regional Grasslands Conservation Council
shall be composed of not more than 10 members, which shall include--
(1) representatives of nongovernmental and Tribal
organizations representing the conservation community;
(2) representatives from Tribal Governments;
(3) representatives of rancher and farming interests;
(4) representatives from State fish and wildlife agencies;
and
(5) any other representatives, as determined necessary by
the Secretary in coordination with the Council.
(c) Recommendations.--Each Regional Grasslands Conservation Council
shall provide recommendations to the Council regarding--
(1) the selection of grasslands conservation projects; and
(2) key grasslands conservation strategies with respect to
the region served by such Regional Grasslands Conservation
Council that draw from established regional grasslands
conservation plans.
(d) FACA Applicability.--Chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United
States Code, does not apply to a Regional Grasslands Conservation
Council.
SEC. 7. NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--After the appointment of the first 7 of the
initial members of the Council under section 5(b), the Director shall,
in consultation with the Council--
(1) develop a coordinated strategy, to be known as the
``North American Grasslands Conservation Strategy'', for the
conservation, restoration, and management of grasslands
ecosystems across North America; and
(2) support implementation, monitoring, and communication
efforts relating to the Conservation Strategy.
(b) Existing Conservation Plans and Frameworks.--The Conservation
Strategy shall draw from existing local, State, regional, and
international conservation plans and frameworks, conservation plans of
Indian Tribes, and State wildlife action plans, with an emphasis on
supporting existing science- and ITEK-based frameworks.
(c) Inclusion.--The Conservation Strategy shall--
(1) identify key areas with--
(A) grasslands at high risk of--
(i) conversion to cropland or residential
or commercial development;
(ii) shrub or woody encroachment; or
(iii) invasion of annual grasses or other
undesired vegetation;
(B) the highest potential of conserving native
grasslands, restoring grasslands, and reducing
fragmentation;
(C) ecologically and culturally significant
grasslands remnants;
(D) populations of grasslands-dependent species of
greatest conservation need, as identified in--
(i) State wildlife action plans;
(ii) Tribal conservation plans;
(iii) the report of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service titled ``Birds of
Conservation Concern 2021 Migratory Bird
Program'' (published April 2021), or a
successor document; or
(iv) other appropriate science-based
grasslands conservation plans; and
(E) grasslands habitats important to the recovery
of species listed as a threatened species or an
endangered species under section 4 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) or identified by a
State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency as a species
of greatest conservation need;
(2) identify specific goals for North American grasslands
conservation, including goals for--
(A) conserving grasslands identified under
paragraph (1)(A);
(B) increasing grasslands acreage through the
restoration of marginal cropland and pastureland to
native grasslands in areas that were historically
grasslands; and
(C) enhancing existing grasslands, primarily
through incentivizing the voluntary restoration of
degraded grasslands and the management of native
prairie or sagebrush shrublands through conservation
practices including--
(i) advanced grazing management or other
prescribed grazing management that meets the
objectives of the Conservation Strategy;
(ii) beneficial fire, including prescribed
fires and cultural burning practices;
(iii) invasive species management; and
(iv) removal of encroaching woody
vegetation;
(3) identify key grasslands conservation, restoration, and
management strategies for each of the grasslands regions
identified by the Director;
(4) examine existing funding sources and identify gaps from
current Federal, State, Tribal, or local conservation programs
as such programs relate to grasslands conservation,
restoration, and management needs, including--
(A) conservation programs under the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334) and
amendments made by that Act;
(B) conservation programs under the Pittman-
Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et
seq.); and
(C) any Federal, State, Tribal, or local plans,
programs, or initiatives that support grasslands
conservation, restoration, and management; and
(5) develop--
(A) baseline inventories and population estimates
of key indicator birds, pollinators, and other wildlife
species at risk;
(B) goals to increase the population size and
resiliency of such species, including through ensuring
grasslands habitat connectivity; and
(C) a tool to track county-level aggregated
conversion of native grasslands to cropland,
residential and commercial development, and other uses
that shall--
(i) protect the personally identifiable
information of producers and landowners;
(ii) be made publicly available; and
(iii) be updated on an annual basis.
(d) Availability.--Not later than 120 days before the date on which
the Program is established, the Conservation Strategy shall be
finalized and made publicly available on the website of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service to help target investments in
grasslands conservation projects.
SEC. 8. GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Director, in consultation with the
Secretary of Agriculture and other heads of relevant Federal agencies,
shall establish a competitive grant program through which the
Commission shall award amounts to eligible entities to carry out
eligible projects to support voluntary grasslands conservation
projects, including projects--
(1) to conserve intact grasslands at risk of conversion to
cropland or residential or commercial development;
(2) to restore degraded grasslands and improve grasslands
health;
(3) to restore marginal cropland or idle land back to
grasslands;
(4) to increase carbon sequestration and ecological
function in soils and improve the resilience of grasslands;
(5) to support habitat and habitat connectivity for native
grasslands and sagebrush birds, pollinators, plants, and other
wildlife, including big game species;
(6) to restore and enhance watersheds through grasslands
restoration, management, and conservation;
(7) to increase adoption of grasslands conservation,
restoration, and management practices; and
(8) carried out by Indian Tribes to protect culturally
significant flora and fauna through the use of Indigenous
Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to grasslands
ecosystems.
(b) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an
eligible entity shall submit to the Council an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director
determines appropriate, which shall include a description of the
project the eligible entity intends to carry out with such a grant.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the Commission
shall prioritize grants to eligible entities the intended projects of
which advance the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
(d) Considerations.--In awarding grants under the Program, the
Commission shall consider the recommendations made to the Commission by
the Council under section 9.
(e) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity may use a grant awarded
under the Program to carry out grasslands conservation
projects, including--
(A) voluntary conservation easements;
(B) grasslands restoration;
(C) management activities, including--
(i) voluntary incentives to producers for
prescribed burns;
(ii) removal of pinyon juniper, eastern red
cedar, salt cedar, or any other encroaching
woody species;
(iii) management of invasive species;
(iv) maintenance and monitoring of new or
ongoing grasslands conservation projects;
(v) advanced grazing management activities;
(vi) drought monitoring and preparedness
activities;
(vii) management activities informed by
Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge,
including through cultural burns to manage
ecosystems to manage, conserve, or restore
native flora and fauna; and
(viii) such other restoration and
management activities identified in the
Conservation Strategy or otherwise determined
appropriate by the Director;
(D) grasslands ecosystem education, outreach, and
conservation stewardship assistance, which may
include--
(i) field days;
(ii) grazing management training programs;
(iii) conservation planning; and
(iv) education and outreach relating to--
(I) grazing management;
(II) control of invasive species;
(III) beneficial fire;
(IV) native seed crop systems
research, in accordance with the
research carried out by the Secretary
of Agriculture under section 10;
(V) land access, generational land
transfers, and ensuring ranchland
viability;
(VI) best management practices
relating to grasslands ecosystems;
(VII) participation in carbon and
ecosystem markets;
(VIII) payment for ecosystem or
conservation services; and
(IX) safeguarding and ensuring the
perpetuation of Indigenous Traditional
Ecological Knowledge related to
grasslands ecosystems; and
(E) such other activities that--
(i) benefit grasslands and associated
wildlife and enable increased adoption of
grasslands conservation, restoration, and
management practices; and
(ii) are consistent with the Conservation
Strategy.
(2) Restoration activities.--For purposes of paragraph
(1)(B), any restoration activity shall prioritize a diverse mix
of appropriately sourced native grasses and forbs, with such
exceptions as the Director determines to be appropriate for
ecologically appropriate noninvasive and nonnative species.
(3) Safe harbor.--An eligible entity that carries out a
project pursuant to a grant awarded under the Program shall be
eligible with respect to such project for a safe harbor
agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(f) Grasslands Conservation Projects in Mexico and Canada.--The
Director shall grant or otherwise provide up to 10 percent of the
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under section
13(a)(1) to Federal agencies, eligible entities, and other individuals
and entities, including foreign land management agencies, for the
purpose of assisting such agencies, entities, and individuals in
carrying out grasslands conservation projects in Mexico and Canada
that--
(1) have been recommended by the Council; and
(2) meet the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
(g) Tribal Set-Aside.--For each fiscal year, of the amounts made
available to carry out the Program, the Director shall set aside not
less than 10 percent of such amounts to provide grants to Indian Tribes
and Tribal organizations working with 1 or more Indian Tribes.
(h) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the non-Federal
share of the cost of carrying out an eligible project using
amounts from a grant awarded under the Program--
(A) shall be not less than 25 percent, including
in-kind contributions; and
(B) may not be derived from a Federal grant
program.
(2) Waivers.--
(A) Indian tribes.--The Director shall waive the
cost-share requirement under paragraph (1) for grants
awarded under the Program to Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations.
(B) Other eligible entities.--The Council shall
establish waiver criteria under which the Commission
may waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph
(1), in whole or in part, for grants awarded under the
Program to eligible entities other than Indian Tribes.
(i) Administrative Costs.--An eligible entity that is awarded a
grant under this section may use such grant award for reasonable
administrative costs relating to that grant.
SEC. 9. APPROVAL OF GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECTS.
(a) Recommendations to the Commission.--
(1) In general.--Each calendar year, the Council shall
submit to the Commission a report that includes a list of the
grasslands conservation projects (including the costs of those
projects), in order of priority, that the Council, in
consultation with each Regional Grasslands Conservation
Council, recommends to the Commission for funding under the
Program.
(2) Considerations.--In making the list of recommended
grasslands conservation projects under paragraph (1), the
Council shall consider--
(A) the extent to which the grasslands conservation
project fulfills the purpose of this Act and the
strategies and objectives of the Conservation Strategy;
(B) the availability of sufficient non-Federal
funds to carry out the grasslands conservation project
and to match Federal contributions in accordance with
section 8(h)(1), notwithstanding the waivers described
in paragraph (2) of that section;
(C) the extent to which the grasslands conservation
project represents a partnership between public
entities, including Indian Tribes, and private
entities, including landowners; and
(D) the substantiality of the character and design
of the grasslands conservation project.
(b) Council Best Practices and Procedures.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall establish best practices
and procedures for carrying out the requirements of subsection
(a).
(2) Requirements.--The best practices and procedures
established under paragraph (1) shall require that--
(A) a quorum of the Council be present before any
business may be conducted; and
(B) the Council may not refer a grasslands
conservation project to the Commission under subsection
(a)(1) unless the grasslands conservation project is
approved by a vote of \2/3 \of the members of the
Council present and voting.
(c) Council Representation on Commission.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each
select 1 member of the Council to serve as an ex officio member
of the Commission for the purposes of considering and voting on
grasslands conservation projects recommended to the Commission
by the Council under subsection (a)(1).
(2) Requirement.--A member of the Council selected under
paragraph (1) shall be a citizen of the United States.
(d) Approval of Council Recommendations by the Commission.--
(1) In general.--The Commission, including the 2 members of
the Council selected to serve as ex officio members on the
Commission under subsection (c)(1), shall approve, reject, or
reorder the priority of any grasslands conservation projects
recommended by the Council under subsection (a)(1) based on, to
the greatest extent practicable, the considerations described
in paragraph (2) of that subsection.
(2) Approval of projects.--If the Commission approves a
grasslands conservation project under paragraph (1), the
Commission shall award a grant under the Program to the
eligible entity that applied to carry out the grasslands
conservation project.
(3) Rejection of projects.--If the Commission rejects or
reorders the priority of any grasslands conservation project
under paragraph (1), the Commission shall provide the Council
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate a written statement explaining the
rationale of the Commission in rejecting or reordering the
priority of, as applicable, the grasslands conservation
project.
(e) Notification of Appropriate Committees.--Not less frequently
than annually, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly
available, a report that includes--
(1) a list and description of the grasslands conservation
projects approved by the Commission under subsection (d)(2), in
order of priority;
(2) the amounts and sources of Federal and non-Federal
funding for those grasslands conservation projects;
(3) a justification for the approval of those grasslands
conservation projects and the order of priority for funding
those grasslands conservation projects;
(4) a list and description of the grasslands conservation
projects that the Council recommended, in order of priority,
that the Commission approved for funding under the Program; and
(5) a justification for any rejection or reordering of the
priority of grasslands conservation projects recommended by the
Council that was based on factors other than the considerations
described in subsection (a)(2).
SEC. 10. NATIVE SEED CROP SYSTEMS RESEARCH.
The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly
coordinate and implement the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation
and Restoration developed by the Plant Conservation Alliance and
chaired by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with an
emphasis on--
(1) research relating to native seed crop systems,
including--
(A) agronomic research to improve the understanding
of native plants as seed crops for native rangeland
revegetation, with an emphasis on enhancing natural
plant establishment in the environment;
(B) research on plant seed physiology to improve
seed quality, storage, and seeding success in the
landscape;
(C) the development and technology transfer of best
management practices and technologies for seed
production, seed collection, seed storage, and
reseeding success in the environment;
(D) research on soil chemistry and biome
composition and how soil chemistry and biome
composition affect native seed establishment; and
(E) identification of scenarios and preferred
species for the incorporation of nonnative seed, with
the goal of the overall successful restoration of
functional groups of species;
(2) the extension of research described in paragraph (1) to
seed producers and land managers responsible for restoration
efforts; and
(3) the production, storage, distribution, and planting of
native seed crops in grasslands areas for restoration.
SEC. 11. REGENERATIVE GRAZING DATA COLLECTION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
(A) public lands; and
(B) land of the National Forest System.
(2) 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)).
(3) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
pilot program established under subsection (b)(1).
(4) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the
meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
(5) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the--
(A) Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service; and
(B) Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
acting jointly.
(b) Pilot Program for Use of Regenerative Grazing on Federal Land
To Mitigate Effects of Climate Change.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish
a pilot program to study the effectiveness of using grazing on
Federal land to mitigate the effects of climate change.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretaries shall--
(A) identify--
(i) a standard set of practices to study,
such as carbon beneficial practices, that
support conservation and grazing goals,
including--
(I) ecologically appropriate
silvopasture;
(II) practices that provide
wildlife habitat benefits;
(III) practices that consider
flexibility in season of use;
(IV) forage and biomass management;
(V) planned grazing; and
(VI) range monitoring; and
(ii) sufficient grazing allotments on a
diverse mixture of ecosystems to identify
whether, and the extent to which, grazing is an
effective tool to mitigate the effects of
climate change, including the ability--
(I) to improve soil health;
(II) to increase carbon
sequestration;
(III) to reduce wildfire risk; and
(IV) to improve watershed
resilience and biodiversity; and
(B) in developing, implementing, and monitoring the
pilot program, consult with--
(i) the Chief of the Forest Service;
(ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land
Management;
(iii) the Administrator of the Agricultural
Research Service;
(iv) the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service;
(v) the Director of the United States
Geological Survey;
(vi) representatives designated by Indian
Tribes;
(vii) ranchers and representatives of the
ranching industry;
(viii) representatives from grazing
districts, associations, boards, or councils;
(ix) environmental and conservation
nongovernmental organizations;
(x) institutions of higher education; and
(xi) any other Federal or State agency,
academic institution, or organization that the
Secretaries determine to be appropriate.
(3) Use of funds.--Funds made available to carry out the
pilot program may be used--
(A) to conduct research activities;
(B) to provide technical assistance to permittees;
or
(C) to construct the infrastructure necessary to
implement and analyze regenerative grazing.
(4) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
date on which the Secretaries determine that a sufficient
quantity of data has been collected under the pilot program,
the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives, and make publicly available on the websites of
the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the
Interior, a report regarding the findings and data derived from
the pilot program, including whether and the extent to which
the use of regenerative grazing improved the ability to
mitigate the impacts of climate change.
SEC. 12. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
The Director shall biennially submit to Congress, and make publicly
available, a report regarding the implementation of this Act, which
shall include an assessment of the status of grasslands conservation
projects during the preceding 2 years, including an accounting of
expenditures by Federal, State, and other entities.
SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated, to remain
available until expended--
(1) to carry out section 7, $5,000,000;
(2) beginning on the date the Conservation Strategy is
first publicly posted under section 7(d), to carry out the
Program--
(A) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(B) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(C) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(D) $82,500,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
(E) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
(3) to Partners for Fish and Wildlife to work with
ranchers, landowners, Tribes, and eligible entities to carry
out activities under the Program, $1,500,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029;
(4) to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out section
10, $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027; and
(5) to carry out section 11, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2026.
(b) Administrative Costs for the Program.--Of the amounts made
available under subsection (a)(3), not more than 10 percent may be used
for administrative costs relating to the Council, Regional Grasslands
Conservation Councils, and the Program.
(c) Limitation.--None of the funds made available under this
section may be--
(1) used for species or habitat mitigation under any
Federal law; or
(2) applied in a manner that requires nonvoluntary changes
in agricultural or domestic livestock production, permitted
forestry practices, access to valid existing rights, or
compatible energy development and mining.
SEC. 14. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(1) to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or
responsibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate fish
and wildlife under the law and regulations of the State on
lands and waters within the State, including on Federal lands
and waters;
(2) as modifying or abrogating a treaty with any Indian
Tribe, or as enlarging or diminishing the authority,
jurisdiction, or responsibility of an Indian Tribe to manage,
control, or regulate wildlife on Tribal land;
(3) to impact the private property or privacy rights of
landowners without the express written consent of such
landowners; or
(4) to authorize restrictions or reductions to public
access for hunting, angling, recreational shooting, or other
compatible types of outdoor recreation.
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