119-hr4513

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4513 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4513

To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve 
 the management of grazing permits and leases, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 17, 2025

 Ms. Maloy 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 amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to improve 
 the management of grazing permits and leases, 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.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Resiliency for Ranching and Natural 
Conservation Health Act''.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY USE OF VACANT GRAZING ALLOTMENTS FOR HOLDERS OF 
 GRAZING PERMITS OR LEASES DURING EXTREME NATURAL EVENTS 
 AND DISASTERS.

 Title IV of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 
U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 405. VACANT GRAZING ALLOTMENTS MADE AVAILABLE TO HOLDERS OF 
 GRAZING PERMITS OR LEASES DURING EXTREME NATURAL EVENTS 
 AND DISASTERS.

 ``

    (a) Definition of Secretary Concerned.--In this section, the term 
`Secretary concerned' means--
 ``

    (1) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
 National Forest System land; and
 ``

    (2) the Secretary, with respect to public lands.
 ``

    (b) Allotments.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary concerned may make 
 available to the holder of a grazing permit or lease issued by 
 either Secretary concerned the temporary use of a vacant 
 grazing allotment if--
 ``
        (A) 1 or more grazing allotments covered by the 
 grazing permit or lease of the holder of the grazing 
 permit or lease are temporarily unusable, as determined 
 by the Secretary concerned, because of unforeseen 
 natural events or disasters (including an extreme 
 weather event, drought, wildfire, infestation, or 
 blight); and
 ``
        (B) the Secretary concerned determines that the 
 vacant grazing allotment is appropriate for temporary 
 grazing use.
 ``

    (2) Terms and conditions.--In establishing the terms and 
 conditions in a permit or lease for the temporary use of a 
 vacant grazing allotment made available pursuant to this 
 subsection, the Secretary concerned--
 ``
        (A) shall take into consideration the terms and 
 conditions of the most recent permit or lease that was 
 applicable to the vacant grazing allotment;
 ``
        (B) if there are no terms or conditions available 
 for consideration under subparagraph
        (A) , may assign 
 temporary terms or conditions, after considering 
 ecological conditions of, or terms on, adjacent grazing 
 allotments;
 ``
            (C) shall base the terms and conditions on local 
 ecological conditions, as determined by the applicable 
 official;
 ``
            (D) shall take into consideration other factors, 
 including any prior agency agreement that resolved or 
 sought to resolve a management conflict, including a 
 conflict related to State management of wildlife; and
 ``
        (E) may authorize the placement and use of 
 temporary rangeland improvements (including portable 
 corrals, fencing, aboveground pipelines, and water 
 troughs) on the vacant grazing allotment to accommodate 
 the temporary use.
 ``

    (3) Coordination.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
 Secretaries concerned shall coordinate to make available to 
 holders of grazing permits or leases the use of vacant grazing 
 allotments, regardless of agency jurisdiction over vacant 
 grazing allotments, pursuant to paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) .
 ``

    (4) Effect.--The temporary use of a vacant grazing 
 allotment under this subsection shall not--
 ``
        (A) preclude or otherwise alter other ongoing or 
 future actions or assessments evaluating the potential 
 of the vacant grazing allotment to be used or otherwise 
 assigned; or
 ``
        (B) alter--
 ``
            (i) the terms and conditions of the 
 original grazing permit or lease of the holder 
 of the grazing permit or lease;
 ``
            (ii) the preference or ability of the 
 holder of the grazing permit or lease to return 
 to the original allotment once access to, or 
 the use of, the original allotment is restored; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) the animal unit months in future 
 authorizations, or conditions of a permit, of 
 the holder of the grazing permit or lease.
 ``
            (c) Duration.--The Secretary concerned shall determine the 
duration of the temporary use of a vacant grazing allotment made 
available pursuant to subsection

    (b) , after considering--
 ``

    (1) the condition of the vacant grazing allotment; and
 ``

    (2) the period of time necessary for the original 
 allotment of the holder of the grazing permit or lease to 
 return to use.
 ``
            (d) Guidelines.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Secretary concerned shall 
 establish guidelines to expeditiously, efficiently, and 
 effectively carry out activities authorized under this section.
 ``

    (2) Considerations.--In establishing the guidelines under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary concerned may consider--
 ``
        (A) criteria for determining whether the vacant 
 grazing allotment is suitable for temporary grazing 
 use;
 ``
        (B) eligibility criteria for the holders of 
 grazing permits or leases;
 ``
            (C) prioritizing holders of grazing permits or 
 leases in close proximity to a vacant grazing 
 allotment;
 ``
            (D) any class or change in class of livestock on 
 the temporary use of a vacant grazing allotment, with 
 consideration given to local ecological conditions, 
 disease, wildlife conflicts, and other factors based on 
 localized conditions;
 ``
        (E) processes for coordinating with allotments 
 adjoining or within the vicinity of a vacant grazing 
 allotment; and
 ``
        (F) any other processes intended to expedite 
 procedures for making vacant grazing allotments 
 available during emergent circumstances.
 ``

    (e) Periodic Evaluations.--The Secretary concerned shall 
periodically evaluate land health conditions of vacant grazing 
allotments to facilitate the efficient implementation of this 
section.''.
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