119-hr2709

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2709 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2709

 To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 8, 2025

 Mr. Fong (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Costa, Mr. Westerman, Mr. 
 Webster of Florida, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. 
Valadao, Mr. Bishop, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Correa, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Rutherford, 
 Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Golden of Maine, Mr. 
McClintock, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Kiley of California, Mr. Bera, Mr. Calvert, 
Mr. Horsford, Mr. Issa, Mr. Bentz, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Moore of Utah, and 
Ms. Lee of Nevada) 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 improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, 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 ``Save Our Sequoias 
Act''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias.

Sec. 4. Giant sequoia lands coalition.

Sec. 5. Giant sequoia health and resiliency assessment.

Sec. 6. Giant sequoia emergency response.

Sec. 7. Giant sequoia reforestation and rehabilitation strategy.

Sec. 8. Giant sequoia strike teams.

Sec. 9. Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants.

Sec. 10. Good neighbor authority for giant sequoias.

Sec. 11. Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias.

Sec. 12. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.

Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Assessment.--The term ``Assessment'' means the Giant 
 Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment required by 

section 5.

    (2) Coalition.--The term ``Coalition'' means the Giant 
 Sequoia Lands Coalition codified under 

section 4

    (a) .

    (3) Collaborative process.--The term ``collaborative 
 process'' means a process relating to the management of covered 
 National Forest system lands or covered public lands by which a 
 project or forest management activity is developed and 
 implemented by the Secretary concerned through collaboration 
 with multiple interested persons representing diverse 
 interests.

    (4) Covered national forest system lands.--The term 
 ``covered National Forest System lands'' means the proclaimed 
 National Forest System lands reserved or withdrawn from the 
 public domain of the United States covering the Sequoia 
 National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra 
 National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest.

    (5) Covered public lands.--The term ``covered public 
 lands'' means--
        (A) the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation 
 Management Area in California managed by the Bureau of 
 Land Management; and
        (B) Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National 
 Park, and Yosemite National Park in California managed 
 by the National Park Service.

    (6) Giant sequoia.--The term ``giant sequoia'' means a tree 
 of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.

    (7) Grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan.--The 
 term ``grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan'' means a 
 plan developed by the applicable land management agency prior 
 to conducting an analysis under the National Environmental 
 Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to address hazardous fuels 
 in 1 or more giant sequoia groves.

    (8) Protection project.--The term ``Protection Project'' 
 means a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under 
 

section 6.

    (9) Reforestation.--The term ``reforestation'' means the 
 act of renewing tree cover, taking into consideration species 
 composition and resilience, by establishing young trees through 
 natural regeneration, artificial or natural regeneration with 
 site preparation, planting or direct seeding, or vegetation 
 competition control following artificial or natural 
 regeneration.

    (10) Rehabilitation.--The term ``rehabilitation'' means any 
 action taken during the 5-year period beginning on the last day 
 of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire-impacted lands 
 which are unlikely to recover to management-approved 
 conditions.

    (11) Relevant congressional committees.--The term 
 ``relevant Congressional Committees'' means--
        (A) the Committees on Natural Resources, 
 Agriculture, and Appropriations of the House of 
 Representatives; and
        (B) the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, 
 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and 
 Appropriations of the Senate.

    (12) Responsible official.--The term ``responsible 
 official'' means an employee of the Department of the Interior 
 or Forest Service who has the authority to make and implement a 
 decision on a proposed action.

    (13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of the Interior.

    (14) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
 means--
        (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
 covered National Forest System lands, or their 
 designee; and
        (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
 covered public lands, or their designee.

    (15) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the Giant 
 Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established 
 under 

section 7.

    (16) Strike team.--The term ``Strike Team'' means a Giant 
 Sequoia Strike Team established under 

section 8.

    (17) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Tule River Indian 
 Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.

SEC. 3. SHARED STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after receiving a request 
from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the 
Secretary shall enter into or expand an existing shared stewardship 
agreement or enter into a similar agreement with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to 
jointly carry out the short-term and long-term management and 
conservation of giant sequoias.

    (b) Participation.--

    (1) In general.--If the Secretary has not received a 
 request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
 Tribe under subsection

    (a) before the date that is 90 days 
 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
 enter into the agreement under subsection

    (a) and jointly 
 implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.

    (2) Future participation.--If the Secretary receives a 
 request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
 Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the 
 Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary 
 shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the 
 Tribe as a party to such agreement.

SEC. 4. GIANT SEQUOIA LANDS COALITION.

    (a) Codification.--The Coalition is the entity established under 
the charter titled ``Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition Charter'' (or 
successor charter) signed during the period beginning June 2, 2022 and 
ending August 2, 2022 by each of the following:

    (1) The National Park Service, representing Sequoia and 
 Kings Canyon National Parks.

    (2) The National Park Service, representing Yosemite 
 National Park.

    (3) The Forest Service, representing Sequoia National 
 Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

    (4) The Forest Service, representing Sierra National 
 Forest.

    (5) The Forest Service, representing Tahoe National Forest.

    (6) The Bureau of Land Management, representing Case 
 Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area.

    (7) The Tribe, representing the Tule River Indian 
 Reservation.

    (8) The State of California, representing Calaveras Big 
 Trees State Park.

    (9) The State of California, representing Mountain Home 
 Demonstration State Forest.

    (10) The University of California, Berkeley, representing 
 Whitaker's Research Forest.

    (11) The County of Tulare, California, representing Balch 
 Park.

    (b) Duties.--In addition to the duties specified in the charter 
referenced in subsection

    (a) , the Coalition shall--

    (1) produce the Assessment under 

section 5;

    (2) observe implementation, and provide policy 
 recommendations to the Secretary concerned, with respect to--
        (A) Protection Projects carried out under 

section 6; and
        (B) the Strategy established under 

section 7;

    (3) facilitate collaboration and coordination on Protection 
 Projects, particularly projects that cross jurisdictional 
 boundaries;

    (4) facilitate information sharing, including best 
 available science as described in 

section 5
            (c) and mapping 
 resources; and

    (5) support the development and dissemination of 
 educational materials and programs that inform the public about 
 the threats to the health and resiliency of giant sequoia 
 groves and actions being taken to reduce the risk to such 
 groves from high-severity wildfire, insects, and drought.
            (c) Administrative Support, Technical Services, and Staff 
Support.--The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department of the 
Interior available to the Coalition for administrative support, 
technical services, development and dissemination of educational 
materials, and staff support that the Secretary determines necessary to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 5. GIANT SEQUOIA HEALTH AND RESILIENCY ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Coalition shall submit to the relevant 
Congressional Committees a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency 
Assessment that, based on the best available science--

    (1) identifies--
        (A) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced 
 a--
            (i) stand-replacing disturbance; or
            (ii) disturbance but continues to have 
 living giant sequoias within the grove, 
 including identifying the tree mortality and 
 regeneration of giant sequoias within such 
 grove;
        (B) each giant sequoia grove that is at high risk 
 of experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance;
            (C) lands located near giant sequoia groves that 
 are at risk of experiencing high-severity wildfires 
 that could adversely impact such giant sequoia groves; 
 and
            (D) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a 
 disturbance and is unlikely to naturally regenerate and 
 is in need of reforestation;

    (2) analyzes the resiliency of each giant sequoia grove to 
 threats, such as--
        (A) high-severity wildfire;
        (B) insects, including beetle kill; and
            (C) drought;

    (3) with respect to Protection Projects, proposes a list of 
 highest priority Protection Projects to be carried out under 
 

section 6, giving priority to projects located on lands 
 identified under subparagraphs
        (B) and
            (C) of subsection

    (a)

    (1) ;

    (4) examines how historical, Tribal, or current approaches 
 to wildland fire suppression and forest management activities 
 across various jurisdictions have impacted the health and 
 resiliency of giant sequoia groves with respect to--
        (A) high-severity wildfires;
        (B) insects, including beetle kill; and
            (C) drought; and

    (5) includes program and policy recommendations that 
 address--
        (A) Federal and State policies that impede 
 activities to improve the health and resiliency of 
 giant sequoias and proposed policy changes to address 
 such impediments;
        (B) new Federal and State policies necessary to 
 increase the pace and scale of treatments that improve 
 the health and resiliency of giant sequoias;
            (C) options to enhance communication, coordination, 
 and collaboration, particularly for cross-boundary 
 projects, to improve the health and resiliency of giant 
 sequoias; and
            (D) research gaps that should be addressed to 
 improve the best available science on the giant 
 sequoias.

    (b) Annual Updates.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of 
the Assessment under subsection

    (a) , and annually thereafter, the 
Coalition shall submit an updated Assessment to the relevant 
Congressional Committees that--

    (1) includes any new data, information, or best available 
 science that has changed or become available since the previous 
 Assessment was submitted;

    (2) with respect to Protection Projects--
        (A) includes information on the number of 
 Protection Projects initiated the previous year and the 
 estimated timeline for completing those projects;
        (B) includes information on the number of 
 Protection Projects planned in the upcoming year and 
 the estimated timeline for completing those projects;
            (C) provides status updates and long-term 
 monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves after the 
 completion of Protection Projects; and
            (D) if the Secretary concerned failed to reduce 
 hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia groves in 
 the previous year, a written explanation that 
 includes--
            (i) a detailed explanation of what 
 impediments resulted in failing to reduce 
 hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia 
 groves;
            (ii) a detailed explanation of what actions 
 the Secretary concerned is taking to ensure 
 that hazardous fuels are reduced in at least 3 
 giant sequoia groves the following year; and
            (iii) recommendations to Congress on any 
 policies that need to be changed to assist the 
 Secretary concerned in reducing hazardous fuels 
 in giant sequoia groves; and

    (3) with respect to reforestation and rehabilitation of 
 giant sequoias--
        (A) contains updates on the implementation of the 
 Strategy under 

section 7, including grove-level data on 
 reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and
        (B) provides status updates and monitoring reports 
 on giant sequoia groves that have experienced natural 
 or artificial regeneration as part of the Strategy 
 under 

section 7.
            (c) Dashboard.--

    (1) Requirement to maintain.--The Coalition shall create 
 and maintain a website that--
        (A) publishes the Assessment, annual updates to the 
 Assessment, and other educational materials developed 
 by the Coalition;
        (B) contains searchable information about 
 individual giant sequoia groves, including the--
            (i) resiliency of such groves to threats 
 described in paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) of 
 subsection

    (a) ;
            (ii) Protection Projects that have been 
 proposed, initiated, or completed in such 
 groves; and
            (iii) reforestation and rehabilitation 
 activities that have been proposed, initiated, 
 or completed in such groves; and
            (C) maintains a searchable database to track--
            (i) the status of Federal environmental 
 reviews and authorizations for specific 
 Protection Projects and reforestation and 
 rehabilitation activities; and
            (ii) the projected cost of Protection 
 Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation 
 activities.

    (2) Searchable database.--The Coalition shall include 
 information on the status of Protection Projects in the 
 searchable database created under paragraph

    (1)
            (C) , including--
        (A) a comprehensive permitting timetable;
        (B) the status of the compliance of each lead 
 agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency 
 with the permitting timetable;
            (C) any modifications of the permitting timetable 
 required under subparagraph
        (A) , including an 
 explanation as to why the permitting timetable was 
 modified; and
            (D) information about project-related public 
 meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods, 
 which shall be presented in English and the predominant 
 language of the community or communities most affected 
 by the project, as that information becomes available.
            (d) Best Available Science.--In utilizing the best available 
science for the Assessment, the Coalition shall include--

    (1) data and peer-reviewed research from academic 
 institutions with a demonstrated history of studying giant 
 sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management 
 strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency;

    (2) traditional ecological knowledge from the Tribe related 
 to improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves; 
 and

    (3) data from Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments 
 or agencies.

    (e) Technology Improvements.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding or agreements 
with other Federal agencies or departments, State or local governments, 
Tribal governments, private entities, or academic institutions to 
improve, with respect to the Assessment, the use and integration of--

    (1) advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;

    (2) statistical modeling and analysis; or

    (3) any other technology the Secretary determines will 
 benefit the quality of information used in the Assessment.

    (f) Planning.--The Coalition shall make information from this 
Assessment available to the Secretary concerned and State of California 
to integrate into the--

    (1) State of California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience 
 Action Plan;

    (2) Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy (or 
 successor plan); and

    (3) Department of the Interior's Wildfire Risk Five-Year 
 Monitoring, Maintenance, and Treatment Plan (or successor 
 plan).

    (g) Relation to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.--The 
development and submission of the Assessment under subsection

    (a) shall 
not be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 6. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

    (a) Emergency Response To Protect Giant Sequoias.--

    (1) In general.--
        (A) Emergency determination.--Congress determines 
 that--
            (i) an emergency exists on covered public 
 lands and covered National Forest System lands 
 that makes it necessary to carry out Protection 
 Projects that take needed actions to respond to 
 the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought 
 to giant sequoias; and
            (ii) Protection Projects are necessary to 
 control the immediate impacts of the emergency 
 described in clause
            (i) and are needed to 
 mitigate harm to life, property, or important 
 natural or cultural resources on covered public 
 lands and covered National Forest System lands.
        (B) Application.--The emergency determination 
 established under subparagraph
        (A) shall apply to all 
 covered public lands and covered National Forest System 
 lands.
            (C) Expiration.--The emergency determination 
 established under subparagraph
        (A) shall expire on the 
 date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of 
 this Act.

    (2) Implementation.--While the emergency determination 
 established under subsection

    (a) is in effect, the following 
 shall apply:
        (A) The following shall have the force and effect 
 of law:
            (i) Section 220.4

    (b) of title 36, Code of 
 Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
 2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
 System lands.
            (ii) Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of 
 Federal Regulations (as in effect October 12, 
 2022), with respect to covered public lands.
            (iii) Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of 
 Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
 2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
 System lands and covered public lands.
            (iv) Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of 
 Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
 2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
 System lands and covered public lands.
        (B) A responsible official may carry out a 
 Protection Project described by paragraph

    (4) before 
 initiating--
            (i) an analysis under 

section 102 of the 
 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
 U.S.C. 4332);
            (ii) consultation under 

section 7 of the 
 Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
 1536); and
            (iii) consultation under 

section 106 of the 
 National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
 470

    (f) ).
            (C) The rules established under subsections
            (d) and

    (e) , 

section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and 
 Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c
            (d) and

    (e) ) shall apply with 
 respect to Protection Projects by substituting 
 ``Protection Projects'' for ``authorized emergency 
 action under this section'' each place it appears in 
 such subsections.
            (D) Protection Projects shall be subject to the 
 requirements of 

section 106 of title I of the Healthy 
 Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511 et 
 seq.).

    (3) Protection projects.--The responsible official shall 
 carry out the following forest management activities, 
 consistent with applicable grove-specific hazardous fuels 
 reduction plans or activities recommend by the Assessment under 
 

section 5, as Protection Projects under the emergency 
 determination under this section:
        (A) Conducting hazardous fuels management, 
 including mechanical thinning, mastication, and 
 prescribed burning.
        (B) Removing hazard trees, dead trees, dying trees, 
 or trees at risk of dying, as determined by the 
 responsible official.
            (C) Removing trees to address overstocking or 
 crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the 
 appropriate basal area of the forest stand as 
 determined by the responsible official.
            (D) Activities included in the applicable grove-
 specific hazardous fuels reduction plan.
        (E) Using chemical treatments to address insects 
 and disease and control vegetation competition.
        (F) Any combination of activities described in this 
 paragraph.

    (4) Requirements.--
        (A) In general.--Protection Projects carried out 
 under paragraph

    (3) and reforestation and 
 rehabilitation activities carried out under this Act 
 that are described by subparagraph
            (D) are a category 
 of actions hereby designated as being categorically 
 excluded from the preparation of an environmental 
 assessment or an environmental impact statement under 
 

section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
        (B) Availability.--The Secretary concerned shall 
 use the categorical exclusion established under 
 subparagraph
        (A) in accordance with this section.
            (C) Interagency cooperation.--Congress finds that 
 Protection Projects carried out under this section are 
 consistent with improving the health and resiliency of 
 critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, 
 including the Pacific fisher and California spotted 
 owl.
            (D) Requirements.--A Protection Project or 
 reforestation or rehabilitation activity is described 
 by this subparagraph if such Protection Project or 
 reforestation or rehabilitation activity--
            (i) covers an area of no more than--
            (I) 2,000 acres within giant 
 sequoia groves where a grove-specific 
 hazardous fuels reduction plan has been 
 developed by the relevant land 
 management agency or on lands 
 identified under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
        (B) ; 
 and
            (II) 3,000 acres on lands 
 identified under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
            (C) ;
            (ii) was--
            (I) proposed by the Assessment 
 under 

section 5

    (a)

    (3) ;
            (II) developed through a 
 collaborative process; or
            (III) proposed by a resource 
 advisory committee (as defined in 
 

section 201 of the Secure Rural Schools 
 and Community Self-Determination Act of 
 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121)); and
            (iii) occurs on Federal land or non-Federal 
 land with the consent of the non-Federal 
 landowner.
        (E) Use of other authorities.--To the maximum 
 extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use 
 the authorities provided under this section in 
 combination with other authorities to carry out 
 Protection Projects, including--
            (i) good neighbor agreements entered into 
 under 

section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 
 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and
            (ii) stewardship contracting projects 
 entered into under 

section 604 of the Healthy 
 Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
 6591c).
        (F) Savings clause.--With respect to joint 
 Protection Projects and reforestation and 
 rehabilitation activities involving the Tribe, nothing 
 in this section shall be construed to add any 
 additional regulatory requirements onto the Tribe.

    (b) Implementation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary concerned shall reduce hazardous fuels in no fewer than 3 
giant sequoia groves each year.

SEC. 7. GIANT SEQUOIA REFORESTATION AND REHABILITATION STRATEGY.

    (a) Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
 the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
 the Coalition, shall develop and implement a strategy, to be 
 known as the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation 
 Strategy, to enhance the reforestation and rehabilitation of 
 giant sequoia groves that--
        (A) identifies giant sequoia groves in need of 
 natural or artificial regeneration, giving highest 
 priority to groves identified under 

section 5

    (a)

    (1)
        (A)
            (i) ;
        (B) creates a priority list of reforestation and 
 rehabilitation activities;
            (C) identifies and addresses--
            (i) barriers to reforestation or 
 rehabilitation including--
            (I) regulatory and funding 
 barriers;
            (II) seedling shortages or related 
 nursery infrastructure capacity 
 constraints;
            (III) labor and workforce 
 shortages;
            (IV) technology and science gaps; 
 and
            (V) site preparation challenges;
            (ii) potential public-private partnership 
 opportunities to complete high-priority 
 reforestation or rehabilitation projects;
            (iii) a timeline for addressing the backlog 
 of reforestation for giant sequoias in the 10-
 year period after the agreement is entered into 
 under 

section 3; and
            (iv) strategies to ensure genetic diversity 
 across giant sequoia groves; and
            (D) includes program and policy recommendations 
 needed to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of 
 the Strategy.

    (2) Assessment.--The Secretary may incorporate the Strategy 
 into the Assessment under 

section 5.

    (b) Priority Reforestation Projects Amendment.--

Section 3

    (e)

    (4)
            (C) 
            (ii) 
            (I) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601

    (e)

    (4)
            (C) 
            (ii) 
            (I) ) is amended--

    (1) in item

    (bb) , by striking ``and'';

    (2) in item
            (cc) , by striking the period and inserting ``; 
 and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (dd) shall include 
 reforestation and 
 rehabilitation activities 
 conducted under 

section 7 of 
 the Save Our Sequoias Act.''.
            (c) Implementation.--

Section 4
            (d) (1) of the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1133
            (d) ) is amended by inserting ``Nothing in this Act precludes 
reforestation (as defined in 

section 2 of the Save our Sequoias Act) 
activities to reestablish giant sequoias following a wildfire.'' after 
the period at the end.

SEC. 8. GIANT SEQUOIA STRIKE TEAMS.

    (a) Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall each 
 establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team to assist the Secretary 
 concerned with the implementation of--
        (A) primarily, 

section 6; and
        (B) secondarily, 

section 7.

    (2) Duties.--Each Strike Team shall--
        (A) assist the Secretary concerned with any 
 reviews, including analysis under the National 
 Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
 seq.), consultations under the National Historic 
 Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), and 
 consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
        (B) implement any necessary site preparation work 
 in advance of or as part of a Protection Project or 
 reforestation or rehabilitation activity;
            (C) implement Protection Projects under 

section 6; 
 and
            (D) implement reforestation or rehabilitation 
 activities under 

section 7.

    (3) Members.--The Secretary concerned may appoint no more 
 than 10 individuals each to serve on a Strike Team comprised 
 of--
        (A) employees of the Department of the Interior;
        (B) employees of the Forest Service;
            (C) private contractors from any nonprofit 
 organization, State government, Tribal Government, 
 local government, academic institution, or private 
 organization; and
            (D) volunteers from any nonprofit organization, 
 State government, Tribal Government, local government, 
 academic institution, or private organization.

SEC. 9. GIANT SEQUOIA COLLABORATIVE RESTORATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the parties to 
the agreement under 

section 3, shall establish a program to award 
grants to eligible entities to advance, facilitate, or improve giant 
sequoia health and resiliency.

    (b) Eligible Entity.--The Secretary may award grants under this 
section to any nonprofit organization, Tribal Government, local 
government, academic institution, or private organization to help 
advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
            (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that--

    (1) primarily, are likely to have the greatest impact on 
 giant sequoia health and resiliency; and

    (2) secondarily--
        (A) are small businesses or tribal entities, 
 particularly in rural areas; and
        (B) create or support jobs, particularly in rural 
 areas.
            (d) Use of Grant Funds.--Funds from grants awarded under this 
section shall be used to--

    (1) create, expand, or develop markets for hazardous fuels 
 removed under 

section 6, including markets for biomass and 
 biochar;

    (2) facilitate hazardous fuel removal under 

section 6, 
 including by reducing the cost of transporting hazardous fuels 
 removed as part of a Protection Project;

    (3) expand, enhance, develop, or create facilities or land 
 that can store or process hazardous fuels removed under 

section 6;

    (4) establish, develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery 
 capacity or infrastructure necessary to facilitate the Strategy 
 established under 

section 7; or

    (5) support tribal management and conservation of giant 
 sequoias, including funding for tribal historic preservation 
 officers.

SEC. 10. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

 

Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is 
amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (3)
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) , by striking ``or'' at 
 the end;
            (ii) by redesignating clause
            (ii) as clause
            (iii) ; and
            (iii) by inserting after clause
            (i) the 
 following:
 ``
            (ii) Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia 
 National Park, and Yosemite National Park; 
 or'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (4)
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (ii) , by striking ``and'' at 
 the end;
            (ii) by redesignating clause
            (iii) as 
 clause
            (iv) ;
            (iii) by inserting after clause
            (ii) the 
 following:
 ``
            (iii) activities conducted under 

section 6 of the Save Our Sequoias Act;'';
            (iv) in clause
            (iv) , as so redesignated, by 
 striking the period at the end and inserting 
 ``; or''; and
            (v) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (v) any combination of activities 
 specified in clauses
            (i) through
            (iv) .''.
            (C) in paragraph

    (6) , by striking ``or Indian 
 tribe''; and
            (D) in paragraph

    (10)
        (B) by striking ``land.'' and 
 inserting ``land, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia 
 National Park, and Yosemite National Park.''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , by inserting ``, Indian 
 tribe,'' after ``Governor'';
        (B) by amending paragraph

    (2)
            (C) to read as 
 follows:
 ``
            (C) Treatment of revenue.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--Funds received from the 
 sale of timber by a Governor, an Indian tribe, 
 or a county under a good neighbor agreement 
 shall be retained and used by the Governor, 
 Indian tribe, or county, as applicable--
 ``
            (I) to carry out authorized 
 restoration services under such good 
 neighbor agreement; and
 ``
            (II) if there are funds remaining 
 after carrying out the services under 
 clause
            (i) , to carry out authorized 
 restoration services within the State 
 under other good neighbor agreements.
 ``
            (ii) Special rule for certain national 
 parks.--Funds received from the sale of timber 
 by a Governor, an Indian tribe, or a county 
 under a good neighbor agreement carried out 
 within the boundaries of Kings Canyon National 
 Park, Sequoia National Park, or Yosemite 
 National Park shall be retained and used by the 
 Governor, Indian tribe, or county, as 
 applicable--
 ``
            (I) to carry out authorized 
 restoration services under such good 
 neighbor agreement;
 ``
            (II) if there are funds remaining 
 after carrying out the services under 
 clause
            (i) , to carry out authorized 
 restoration services under other good 
 neighbor agreements within the 
 boundaries of the park unit in which 
 the initial good neighbor agreement 
 occurred; and
 ``
            (III) if there are no further 
 good neighbor agreements to carry out 
 under clause
            (ii) , to transfer to the 
 park unit in which the initial good 
 neighbor agreement occurred to be used 
 for giant sequoia conservation and 
 management.
 ``
            (iii) Termination of effectiveness.--The 
 authority provided by this subparagraph 
 terminates effective October 1, 2030.'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (3) , by inserting ``, Indian 
 tribe,'' after ``Governor''; and
            (D) by amending paragraph

    (4) to read as follows:
 ``

    (4) Authorized restoration services in certain national 
 parks.--Authorized restoration services occurring in Kings 
 Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite 
 National Park shall be carried out in accordance with 

section 100753 of title 54, United States Code.''.

    (3) Conforming amendments.--

Section 8206

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

    (a) ) is amended--
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) , by inserting ``, Indian 
 tribe,'' after ``Governor''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (5) , by inserting ``, Indian 
 tribe,'' after ``Governor''.

SEC. 11. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

    (a) National Park Service.--

Section 604

    (a)

    (2) of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c
            (c) ) is amended to 
read--
 ``

    (2) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
 the Bureau of Land Management with respect to Bureau of Land 
 Management lands and the Director of the National Park Service 
 with respect to lands within Kings Canyon National Park, 
 Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.''.

    (b) Giant Sequoia Stewardship Contracts.--

Section 604
            (c) of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c
            (c) ) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (8) Promoting the health and resiliency of giant 
 sequoias.''.

SEC. 12. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FUND.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``

Sec. 101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
 ``

    (a) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program.--The National 
Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, 
shall design and implement a comprehensive program to assist and 
promote philanthropic programs of support that benefit--
 ``

    (1) primarily, the management and conservation of giant 
 sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest 
 System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and 
 drought; and
 ``

    (2) secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on 
 National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands 
 impacted by wildfire.
 ``

    (b) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund.--The National Park 
Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, shall 
establish a joint special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia 
Emergency Protection Fund (referred to as `the Fund' in this section), 
to be administered in support of the program established under 
subsection

    (a) .
 ``

    (1) Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection.--The 
 Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are 
 provided to the National Park Foundation or National Forest 
 Foundation for such purpose.
 ``

    (2) Use of funds.--Funds shall be available to the 
 National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation without 
 further appropriation, subject to the provisions in paragraph

    (3) , for projects and activities approved by the Chief of the 
 Forest Service or the Director of the National Park Service as 
 appropriate, or their designees, to--
 ``
        (A) primarily, support the management and 
 conservation of giant sequoias on National Park Service 
 and covered National Forest System lands to promote 
 resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
 ``
        (B) secondarily, support the reforestation of 
 giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered 
 National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
 ``

    (3) Tribal support.--Of the funds provided to the 
 National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation under 
 paragraph

    (2) , not less than 15 percent of such funds shall be 
 used to support tribal management and conservation of giant 
 sequoias including funding for tribal historic preservation 
 officers.
 ``
            (c) Summary.--Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation 
shall include with their annual reports a summary of the status of the 
program and Fund created under this section that includes--
 ``

    (1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund 
 during the fiscal year;
 ``

    (2) the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at 
 the end of the fiscal year; and
 ``

    (3) a description of the program and projects funded 
 during the fiscal year.
 ``
            (d) Covered National Forest System Lands Defined.--In this 
section, the term `covered National Forest System lands' has the 
meaning given such term in 

section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
 ``

    (e) Termination of Effectiveness.--The authority provided by this 
section shall terminate 7 years after the date of enactment of the Save 
Our Sequoias Act.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 1011 
of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following:

``101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.''.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations made 
in advance for such purposes, the Secretary concerned shall allocate up 
to--

    (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;

    (2) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;

    (3) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2030; 
 and

    (4) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2031 through 2032.

    (b) Limitation.--Of the amounts authorized under subsection

    (a) , 
not less than 90 percent of funds shall be used to carry out 

section 6 
and 

section 9 of this Act.
            (c) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this Act affects--

    (1) the allocation of previously appropriated funds from 
 prior fiscal years, consistent with applicable laws and 
 regulations; and

    (2) the prerogative of the Secretary concerned to establish 
 Departmental funding priorities, consistent with applicable 
 laws and regulations.
 <all>