Climate Stewardship Act of 2019

RYA19430 Discussion Draft S.L.C.
S. ll
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
To provide incentives for agricultural producers to carry out climate steward-

ship practices, to provide for increased reforestation across the United
States, to establish the Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program,
and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

llllllllll
llllllllll introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on llllllllll
A BILL
To provide incentives for agricultural producers to carry out
climate stewardship practices, to provide for increased
reforestation across the United States, to establish the
Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program, and for
other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

5 ‘‘Climate Stewardship Act of 2019’’.
6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for
7 this Act is as follows:
2
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—AGRICULTURE
Sec. 101. Conservation reserve program.

Sec. 102. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 103. Conservation stewardship program.
Sec. 104. Funding.
Sec. 105. Regional conservation partnership program.
Sec. 106. Funding for climate stewardship agriculture research.
Sec. 107. Conservation technical assistance.
Sec. 108. Rural Energy for America Program.
Sec. 109. Local Agriculture Market Program.
Sec. 110. Farm and ranch stress assistance network.
Sec. 111. Assistance for community food projects.
TITLE II—FORESTS
Sec. 201. Reforestation Trust Fund.
Sec. 202. Reforest America Grant Program.
Sec. 203. Urban wood programs.
Sec. 204. Stewardship Corps.
TITLE III—COASTAL WETLAND
Sec. 301. Definitions.

Sec. 302. Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program.
Sec. 303. Data collection.
Sec. 304. Outreach and technical assistance.
Sec. 305. Annual restoration and funding.
Sec. 306. Prevailing wage requirement.
Sec. 307. Department of the Interior coastal wetland restoration; funding.
1 TITLE I—AGRICULTURE
2 SEC. 101. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.
3 (a) CONSERVATION RESERVE.—Section 1231 of the

4 Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amend-
5 ed—
6 (1) in subsection (d)—
7 (A) in paragraph (1)—
8 (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
9 ‘‘24,500,000’’ and inserting ‘‘26,000,000’’;
10 (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
11 ‘‘25,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘28,000,000’’;
3
1 (iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
2 ‘‘25,500,000 acres; and’’ and inserting
3 ‘‘30,500,000 acres;’’;
4 (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking
5 ‘‘27,000,000 acres.’’ and inserting
6 ‘‘33,000,000 acres;’’; and
7 (v) by adding at the end the following:
8 ‘‘(F) fiscal year 2024, not more than
9 34,000,000 acres;
10 ‘‘(G) fiscal year 2025, not more than
11 35,000,000 acres;
12 ‘‘(H) fiscal year 2026, not more than
13 36,000,000 acres;
14 ‘‘(I) fiscal year 2027, not more than
15 37,000,000 acres;
16 ‘‘(J) fiscal year 2028, not more than
17 38,000,000 acres;
18 ‘‘(K) fiscal year 2029, not more than
19 39,000,000 acres; and
20 ‘‘(L) fiscal year 2030 and each fiscal year
21 thereafter, not less than 40,000,000 acres.’’;
22 (B) in paragraph (2)(A)—
23 (i) in clause (i)—
24 (I) by striking ‘‘2,000,000’’ and
25 inserting ‘‘4,600,000’’; and
4
1 (II) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
2 serting ‘‘2030’’; and
3 (ii) in clause (ii)—
4 (I) in subclause (II), by striking
5 ‘‘and’’ at the end;
6 (II) in subclause (III), by strik-
7 ing ‘‘through 2023, 2,000,000 acres.’’
8 and inserting ‘‘and 2022, 2,000,000
9 acres;’’; and
10 (III) by adding at the end the
11 following:
12 ‘‘(IV) fiscal year 2023, 2,500,000
13 acres;
14 ‘‘(V) fiscal year 2024, 2,800,000
15 acres;
16 ‘‘(VI) fiscal year 2025, 3,100,000
17 acres;
18 ‘‘(VII) fiscal year 2026,
19 3,400,000 acres;
20 ‘‘(VIII) fiscal year 2027,
21 3,700,000 acres;
22 ‘‘(IX) fiscal year 2028,
23 4,000,000 acres;
24 ‘‘(X) fiscal year 2029, 4,300,000
25 acres; and
5
1 ‘‘(XI) fiscal year 2030 and each
2 fiscal year thereafter, not less than
3 4,600,000 acres.’’; and
4 (C) in paragraph (6)(B)—
5 (i) in clause (i)—
6 (I) by striking ‘‘8,600,000’’ and
7 inserting ‘‘17,700,000’’; and
8 (II) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
9 serting ‘‘2030’’; and
10 (ii) in clause (ii)—
11 (I) in subclause (II), by striking
12 ‘‘8,250,000’’ and inserting
13 ‘‘9,000,000’’;
14 (II) in subclause (III), by strik-
15 ing ‘‘8,500,000 acres; and’’ and in-
16 serting ‘‘10,000,000 acres;’’; and
17 (III) by striking subclause (IV)
18 and inserting the following:
19 ‘‘(IV) fiscal year 2022,
20 12,000,000 acres;
21 ‘‘(V) fiscal year 2023,
22 13,500,000 acres;
23 ‘‘(VI) fiscal year 2024,
24 14,100,000 acres;
6
1 ‘‘(VII) fiscal year 2025,
2 14,700,000 acres;
3 ‘‘(VIII) fiscal year 2026,
4 15,300,000 acres;
5 ‘‘(IX) fiscal year 2027,
6 15,900,000 acres;
7 ‘‘(X) fiscal year 2028,
8 16,500,000 acres;
9 ‘‘(XI) fiscal year 2029,
10 17,100,000 acres; and
11 ‘‘(XII) fiscal year 2030 and each
12 fiscal year thereafter, not less than
13 17,700,000 acres.’’;
14 (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘, nor more
15 than 15,’’; and
16 (3) in subsection (h)—
17 (A) by striking paragraph (2); and
18 (B) by striking ‘‘CONSIDERATION.—’’ in
19 the subsection heading and all that follows
20 through ‘‘On the’’ in paragraph (1) and insert-
21 ing ‘‘CONSIDERATION.—On the’’.
22 (b) CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PRO-
23 GRAM.—Section 1231A(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Food Security
24 Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(b)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by
25 inserting ‘‘, including reducing agricultural greenhouse
7
1 gas emissions or increasing carbon sequestration,’’ after
2 ‘‘concerns’’.
3 SEC. 102. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
4 GRAM.
5 (a) PURPOSES.—Section 1240(3) of the Food Secu-

6 rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa(3)) is amended—
7 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
8 the end;
9 (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
10 the end; and
11 (3) by adding at the end the following:
12 ‘‘(D) reducing agricultural greenhouse gas
13 emissions;
14 ‘‘(E) increasing carbon sequestration; and
15 ‘‘(F) adapting to, or mitigating against, in-
16 creasing weather volatility; and’’.
17 (b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1240A of the Food Secu-
18 rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1) is amended—
19 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through
20 (10) as paragraphs (2) through (11), respectively;
21 and
22 (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
23 designated) the following:
8
1 ‘‘(1) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRACTICE.—The
2 term ‘climate stewardship practice’ means any of the

3 following practices:
4 ‘‘(A) Alley cropping.
5 ‘‘(B) Biochar incorporation.
6 ‘‘(C) Conservation cover.
7 ‘‘(D) Conservation crop rotation.
8 ‘‘(E) Contour buffer strips.
9 ‘‘(F) Contour farming.
10 ‘‘(G) Cover crops.
11 ‘‘(H) Critical area planting.
12 ‘‘(I) Cross wind trap strips.
13 ‘‘(J) Field borders.
14 ‘‘(K) Filter strips.
15 ‘‘(L) Forage and biomass planting, includ-
16 ing the use of native prairie and seed mixtures.
17 ‘‘(M) Forest stand improvements.
18 ‘‘(N) Grassed waterways.
19 ‘‘(O) Hedgerow planting.
20 ‘‘(P) Herbaceous wind barriers.
21 ‘‘(Q) Multistory cropping.
22 ‘‘(R) Nutrient management.
23 ‘‘(S) Prescribed grazing.
24 ‘‘(T) Range planting.
9
1 ‘‘(U) Residue and tillage management with
2 no till.
3 ‘‘(V) Residue and tillage management with
4 reduced till.
5 ‘‘(W) Riparian forest buffers.
6 ‘‘(X) Riparian herbaceous buffers.
7 ‘‘(Y) Silvopasture establishment.
8 ‘‘(Z) Stripcropping.
9 ‘‘(AA) Tree and shrub establishment.
10 ‘‘(BB) Upland wildlife habitat.
11 ‘‘(CC) Vegetative barriers.
12 ‘‘(DD) Wetland restoration.
13 ‘‘(EE) Windbreak renovation.
14 ‘‘(FF) Windbreaks and shelterbelts.
15 ‘‘(GG) Woody residue treatment.
16 ‘‘(HH) Any other highly effective vegeta-
17 tive or management practice that significantly
18 reduces agricultural greenhouse gas emissions,
19 increases carbon sequestration, or assists pro-
20 ducers in adapting to, or mitigating against, in-
21 creasing weather volatility, as determined by
22 the Secretary.’’.
23 (c) ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.—Sec-
24 tion 1240B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
25 3839aa–2) is amended—
10
1 (1) in subsection (d)(3)—
2 (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘or’’
3 at the end;
4 (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the
5 period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
6 and
7 (C) by adding at the end the following:
8 ‘‘(H) reductions in agricultural greenhouse
9 gas emissions; or
10 ‘‘(I) long-term carbon sequestration.’’; and
11 (2) in subsection (j)—
13 (i) in subparagraph (A)—
14 (I) in clause (i)—
15 (aa) by striking ‘‘mainte-
16 nance of incentive practices’’ and
17 inserting the following: ‘‘mainte-
18 nance of—
19 ‘‘(I) incentive practices’’; and
20 (bb) in subclause (I) (as so
21 designated), by striking the pe-
22 riod at the end and inserting the
23 following: ‘‘; or
24 ‘‘(II) 1 or more climate steward-
25 ship practices.’’; and
11
1 (II) in clause (ii)—
2 (aa) in subclause (I), by in-
3 serting ‘‘, or climate stewardship
4 practices to attain increased lev-
5 els of carbon sequestration and
6 reduced agricultural greenhouse
7 gas emissions,’’ after ‘‘conserva-
8 tion’’; and
9 (bb) in subclause (II), by in-
10 serting ‘‘or a climate stewardship
11 practice’’ after ‘‘incentive prac-
12 tice’’; and
13 (ii) in subparagraph (C)—
14 (I) by redesignating clauses (i)
15 and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), re-
16 spectively, and indenting appro-
17 priately;
18 (II) in the matter preceding sub-
19 clause (I) (as so redesignated), by
20 striking ‘‘Notwithstanding section
21 1240C’’ and inserting the following:
22 ‘‘(i) INCENTIVE PRACTICES.—Not-
23 withstanding section 1240C, in the case of

24 applications for contracts under subpara-
25 graph (A)(i)(I)’’; and
12
1 (III) by adding at the end the
2 following:
3 ‘‘(ii) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRAC-
4 TICES.—Notwithstanding section 1240C,

5 in the case of applications for contracts
6 under subparagraph (A)(i)(II), the Sec-
7 retary shall give priority to applications
8 that contain the greatest number of cli-
9 mate stewardship practices.’’; and
10 (B) in paragraph (3)—
11 (i) in the paragraph heading, by in-
12 serting ‘‘AND CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP
13 PRACTICE’’ after ‘‘INCENTIVE PRACTICE’’;
14 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting

15 ‘‘or climate stewardship practices’’ after
16 ‘‘incentive practices’’ each place it appears;
17 (iii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
18 ‘‘or climate stewardship practice’’ after
19 ‘‘incentive practice’’ each place it appears;
20 and
21 (iv) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by insert-
22 ing ‘‘or a climate stewardship practice’’
23 after ‘‘incentive practice’’.
13
1 (d) LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS.—Section 1240G of
2 the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–7) is
3 amended—
4 (1) by striking ‘‘2018, or’’ and inserting
5 ‘‘2018,’’; and
6 (2) by inserting ‘‘the period of fiscal years 2024
7 through 2028, or the period of fiscal years 2029
8 through 2033,’’ before ‘‘regardless’’.
9 (e) CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAY-
10 MENTS.—Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of
11 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c)) is amended—
12 (1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)—
13 (A) in subclause (VI), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
14 the end; and
15 (B) by adding at the end the following:
16 ‘‘(VIII) practices that signifi-
17 cantly increase carbon sequestration,
18 reduce agricultural greenhouse gas
19 emissions, or assist producers to
20 adapt to, or mitigate against, increas-
21 ing weather volatility; and’’;
22 (2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
23 subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘each of fiscal years
24 2019 through 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year
25 2019, and $200,000,000 of the funds of the Com-
14
1 modity Credit Corporation for each of fiscal years
2 2020 through 2030’’; and
3 (3) in paragraph (7), in the matter preceding
4 subparagraph (A)—
5 (A) by inserting ‘‘not less than
6 $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020
7 through 2030 of the’’ after ‘‘Using’’; and
8 (B) by striking ‘‘a soil’’ and inserting ‘‘an
9 ongoing soil’’.
10 SEC. 103. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.
11 (a) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS FOR CLIMATE STEW-

12 ARDSHIP PRACTICES.—Section 1240L(d) of the Food Se-
13 curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amend-
14 ed—
15 (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘RO-
16 TATIONS AND ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT’’
17 and inserting ‘‘ROTATIONS, ADVANCED GRAZING
18 MANAGEMENT, AND CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRAC-
19 TICES’’;
20 (2) in paragraph (1)—

21 (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B)
22 and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
23 tively; and
24 (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
25 the following:
15
1 ‘‘(B) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRACTICE.—
2 The term ‘climate stewardship practice’ means

3 any of the following practices:
4 ‘‘(i) Alley cropping.
5 ‘‘(ii) Biochar incorporation.
6 ‘‘(iii) Conservation cover.
7 ‘‘(iv) Conservation crop rotation.
8 ‘‘(v) Contour buffer strips.
9 ‘‘(vi) Contour farming.
10 ‘‘(vii) Cover crops.
11 ‘‘(viii) Critical area planting.
12 ‘‘(ix) Cross wind trap strips.
13 ‘‘(x) Field borders.
14 ‘‘(xi) Filter strips.
15 ‘‘(xii) Forage and biomass planting,
16 including the use of native prairie seed
17 mixtures.
18 ‘‘(xiii) Forest stand improvements.
19 ‘‘(xiv) Grassed waterways.
20 ‘‘(xv) Hedgerow planting.
21 ‘‘(xvi) Herbaceous wind barriers.
22 ‘‘(xvii) Multistory cropping.
23 ‘‘(xviii) Nutrient management, includ-
24 ing nitrogen stewardship activities.
25 ‘‘(xix) Prescribed grazing.
16
1 ‘‘(xx) Range planting.
2 ‘‘(xxi) Residue and tillage manage-
3 ment with no till.
4 ‘‘(xxii) Residue and tillage manage-
5 ment with reduced till.
6 ‘‘(xxiii) Riparian forest buffers.
7 ‘‘(xxiv) Riparian herbaceous buffers.
8 ‘‘(xxv) Silvopasture establishment.
9 ‘‘(xxvi) Stripcropping.
10 ‘‘(xxvii) Tree and shrub establish-
11 ment, including planting for a high rate of
12 carbon sequestration.
13 ‘‘(xxviii) Upland wildlife habitat.
14 ‘‘(xxix) Vegetative barriers.
15 ‘‘(xxx) Wetland restoration.
16 ‘‘(xxxi) Windbreak renovation.
17 ‘‘(xxxii) Windbreaks and shelterbelts.
18 ‘‘(xxxiii) Woody residue treatment.
19 ‘‘(xxxiv) Any other vegetative or man-
20 agement conservation activity that signifi-
21 cantly—
22 ‘‘(I) reduces greenhouse gas
23 emissions;
24 ‘‘(II) increases carbon sequestra-
25 tion; or
17
1 ‘‘(III) enhances resilience to in-
2 creased weather volatility.’’;
4 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’
5 at the end;
6 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
7 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
9 ‘‘(C) conservation activities relating to cli-
10 mate stewardship practices.’’; and
11 (4) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘rotations or
12 advanced grazing management’’ and inserting ‘‘rota-
13 tions, advanced grazing management, or conserva-
14 tion activities relating to climate stewardship prac-
15 tices’’.
16 (b) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Section 1240L(f) of
17 the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–24(f))
18 is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’
19 and inserting ‘‘the period of fiscal years 2019 through
20 2023, the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, or
21 the period of fiscal years 2029 through 2033’’.
22 SEC. 104. FUNDING.
23 (a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—Section 1241(a) of the Food

24 Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended—
18
1 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
2 striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2030’’;
4 (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking
6 (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking
7 ‘‘through 2023.’’ and inserting ‘‘and 2020;
8 and’’; and
10 ‘‘(G) $900,000,000 for each of fiscal years
11 2021 through 2030.’’; and
13 (A) in subparagraph (A)—
14 (i) in clause (ii), by striking
15 ‘‘$1,750,000,000’’ and inserting
16 ‘‘$2,750,000,000’’;
17 (ii) in clause (iii), by striking
18 ‘‘$1,800,000,000’’ and inserting
19 ‘‘$3,800,000,000’’;
20 (iii) in clause (iv)—
21 (I) by striking ‘‘$1,850,000,000’’
22 and inserting ‘‘$4,850,000,000’’; and
23 (II) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
19
1 (iv) in clause (v), by striking
2 ‘‘$2,025,000,000’’ and inserting
3 ‘‘$6,025,000,000’’; and
5 ‘‘(vi) $7,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
6 years 2024 through 2030; and’’; and
7 (B) in subparagraph (B)—
8 (i) in clause (ii), by striking
9 ‘‘$725,000,000’’ and inserting
10 ‘‘$1,725,000,000’’;
11 (ii) in clause (iii), by striking
12 ‘‘$750,000,000’’ and inserting
13 ‘‘$2,750,000,000’’;
14 (iii) in clause (iv)—
15 (I) by striking ‘‘$800,000,000’’
17 (II) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
18 (iv) in clause (v)—
19 (I) by striking ‘‘$1,000,000,000’’
21 (II) by striking the period at the
22 end and inserting a semicolon; and
24 ‘‘(vi) $6,000,000,000 for fiscal year
25 2024; and
20
1 ‘‘(vii) $7,000,000,000 for each of fis-
2 cal years 2025 through 2030.’’.
3 (b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 1241(b) of
4 the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)) is
5 amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2030’’.
6 (c) FUNDING FOR CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRAC-
7 TICES.—Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985
8 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended by adding at the end the
9 following:
10 ‘‘(k) FUNDING FOR CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP PRAC-
11 TICES.—
12 ‘‘(1) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES
13 PROGRAM.—
14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds made

15 available under subsection (a)(3)(A), the Sec-
16 retary shall set aside the following amounts to
17 be used exclusively for climate stewardship
18 practices (as defined in section 1240A) under
19 contracts under section 1240B(j)(2)(A)(i)(II):
20 ‘‘(i) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year
21 2020.
22 ‘‘(ii) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year
23 2021.
24 ‘‘(iii) $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year
25 2022.
21
1 ‘‘(iv) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year
2 2023.
3 ‘‘(v) $5,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
4 years 2024 through 2030.
5 ‘‘(B) NONAPPLICABILITY OF ALLOCATION
6 OF FUNDING.—Section 1240B(f) shall not

7 apply to amounts set aside under subparagraph
8 (A).
9 ‘‘(2) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PRO-
10 GRAM.—Of the funds made available under sub-

11 section (a)(3)(B), the Secretary shall set aside the
12 following amounts to be used exclusively to enroll in
13 the conservation stewardship program contracts
14 comprised predominantly of conservation activities
15 relating to climate stewardship practices (as defined
16 in section 1240L(d)(1)) or bundles of practices com-
17 prised predominantly of conservation activities relat-
18 ing to climate stewardship practices (as so defined):
19 ‘‘(A) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.
20 ‘‘(B) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
21 ‘‘(C) $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
22 ‘‘(D) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.
23 ‘‘(E) $5,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
24 years 2024 through 2030.’’.
22
1 SEC. 105. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PRO-
2 GRAM.
3 Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16

4 U.S.C. 3871d) is amended by striking subsection (a) and
5 inserting the following:
6 ‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Of the funds of the
7 Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to
8 carry out the program—
9 ‘‘(1) $300,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
10 through 2023;
12 through 2025;
14 through 2027; and
15 ‘‘(4) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2028
16 through 2030.’’.
17 SEC. 106. FUNDING FOR CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP AGRI-
18 CULTURE RESEARCH.
19 (a) AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIA-

20 TIVE.—Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and
21 Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) is
22 amended—
23 (1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the
24 following:
25 ‘‘(G) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP.—Climate
26 change mitigation through—

23
1 ‘‘(i) reducing greenhouse gas emis-
2 sions and increasing resilience in the agri-
3 cultural sector;
4 ‘‘(ii) increasing carbon sequestration;
5 ‘‘(iii) improving soil health; and
6 ‘‘(iv) increasing soil carbon levels.’’;
7 and
9 (A) by striking the paragraph heading and
10 inserting ‘‘FUNDING.—’’;
11 (B) in subparagraph (A)—
12 (i) in the matter preceding clause (i),
13 by striking ‘‘There is’’ and all that follows
14 through ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘On the
15 first October 1 after the date of enactment
16 of the Climate Stewardship Act of 2019,
17 and on each October 1 thereafter, out of
18 any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
19 appropriated, the Secretary of the Treas-
20 ury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry
21 out this subsection $830,000,000, to re-
22 main available until expended’’;
23 (ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
24 the end;
24
1 (iii) in clause (ii), by striking the pe-
2 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
3 (iv) by adding at the end the fol-
4 lowing:
5 ‘‘(iii) not less than 50 percent for
6 each fiscal year shall be used to address
7 the priority area described in paragraph
8 (2)(G).’’; and
10 ‘‘(C) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The
11 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac-

12 cept, and shall use to carry out this subsection
13 the funds transferred under subparagraph (A),
14 without further appropriation.’’.
15 (b) FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RE-
16 SEARCH.—Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014
17 (7 U.S.C. 5939) is amended—
18 (1) in subsection (c)(1)(D), by inserting after
19 ‘‘environment’’ the following: ‘‘, including—
22 cultural sector;
25
1 ‘‘(iv) increasing soil carbon levels’’;
2 and
3 (2) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by adding at the
4 end the following:
5 ‘‘(iii) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP FUND-
6 ING.—On the date of enactment of the Cli-

7 mate Stewardship Act of 2019, and each
8 year thereafter, of the funds of the Com-
9 modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary
10 shall transfer to the Foundation
11 $40,000,000 to advance the research mis-
12 sion of the Department with respect to the
13 issues described in clauses (i) through (iv)
14 of subsection (c)(1)(D), to remain available
15 until expended.’’.
16 (c) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EX-
17 TENSION PROJECTS.—Section 1621 of the Food, Agri-
18 culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
19 5811) is amended—
20 (1) in subsection (a)—
21 (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘and’’
22 at the end;
23 (B) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking the
24 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
26
1 ‘‘(3) facilitate—
2 ‘‘(A) reducing greenhouse gas emissions
3 and increasing resilience in the agricultural sec-
4 tor;
5 ‘‘(B) increasing carbon sequestration;
6 ‘‘(C) improving soil health; and
7 ‘‘(D) increasing soil carbon levels.’’; and
9 ‘‘(j) FUNDS.—
10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to amounts ap-
11 propriated under section 1624, on the first October
12 1 after the date of enactment of the Climate Stew-
13 ardship Act of 2019, and on each October 1 there-
14 after, out of any funds in the Treasury not other-
15 wise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury
16 shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this sec-
17 tion $74,000,000, to remain available until ex-
18 pended.
19 ‘‘(2) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The Sec-
20 retary shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and
21 shall use to carry out this section the funds trans-
22 ferred under paragraph (1), without further appro-
23 priation.
24 ‘‘(3) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP.—Of the funds
25 made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary
27
1 shall use not less than 50 percent to conduct
2 projects described in subsection (a)(3).’’.
3 (d) ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTEN-
4 SION INITIATIVE.—Section 1672B of the Food, Agri-
5 culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
6 5925b) is amended—
8 (A) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
9 the end;
10 (B) in paragraph (8), by striking the pe-
11 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
13 ‘‘(9)(A) reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
14 increasing resilience in the agricultural sector;
17 ‘‘(D) increasing soil carbon levels.’’; and
18 (2) in subsection (f)—
20 (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking
22 (ii) in subparagraph (D), by adding
23 ‘‘and’’ at the end after the semicolon;
24 (iii) by striking subparagraphs (E)
25 through (G); and
28
1 (iv) by adding at the end the fol-
2 lowing:
3 ‘‘(E) on the first October 1 after the date
4 of enactment of the Climate Stewardship Act of
5 2019, and on each October 1 thereafter,
6 $100,000,000.’’; and
7 (B) by adding at the end the following:
9 made available under paragraph (1)(E), the Sec-
10 retary shall use not less than 50 percent to support
11 activities under this section for the purposes de-
12 scribed in subsection (a)(9).’’.
13 (e) APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR
14 RURAL AREAS PROGRAM.—Section 310B(i) of the Con-

15 solidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
16 1932(i)) is amended—
18 (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking
20 (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the
21 period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
22 and
24 ‘‘(E) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
25 increase resilience in the agricultural sector;
29
1 ‘‘(F) increase carbon sequestration;
2 ‘‘(G) improve soil health; and
3 ‘‘(H) increase soil carbon levels.’’; and
4 (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
5 following:
6 ‘‘(4) FUNDING.—
7 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—On the first October 1
8 after the date of enactment of the Climate
9 Stewardship Act of 2019, and on each October
10 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treasury
11 not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the
12 Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
13 carry out this subsection $5,600,000, to remain
14 available until expended.
15 ‘‘(B) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The

17 cept, and shall use to carry out this subsection
18 the funds transferred under subparagraph (A),
19 without further appropriation.
20 ‘‘(C) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP.—Of the
21 funds made available under subparagraph (A),
22 the Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent
23 to provide assistance described in subpara-
24 graphs (E) through (H) of paragraph (2).’’.
30
1 (f) RESEARCH UNDER HATCH ACT.—The Hatch Act
2 of 1887 is amended by inserting after section 3 (7 U.S.C.
3 361c) the following:
4 ‘‘SEC. 3A. MANDATORY FUNDING.
5 ‘‘(a) FUNDING.—
6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any amounts
7 authorized to be appropriated under section 3, on
8 the first October 1 after the date of enactment of
9 the Climate Stewardship Act of 2019, and on each
10 October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the Treas-
11 ury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the
12 Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out
13 this Act $518,000,000, to remain available until ex-
14 pended.
17 shall use to carry out this Act the funds transferred
18 under paragraph (1), without further appropriation.
19 ‘‘(b) CLIMATE STEWARDSHIP.—Of the funds made
20 available under subsection (a)(1), not less than 50 percent
21 shall be used for research relating to—
22 ‘‘(1) reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in-
23 creasing resilience in the agricultural sector;
24 ‘‘(2) increasing carbon sequestration;
25 ‘‘(3) improving soil health; and
31
1 ‘‘(4) increasing soil carbon levels.’’.
2 (g) ACTIVITIES UNDER SMITH-LEVER ACT.—The
3 Smith-Lever Act is amended by inserting after section 3
4 (7 U.S.C. 343) the following:
15 pended.
16 ‘‘(2) 1994 INSTITUTIONS.—Of the funds trans-
17 ferred under paragraph (1), $19,400,000 shall be
18 for payment on behalf of the 1994 Institutions (as
19 defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational
20 Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note;
21 Public Law 103–382)) for the purposes described in
22 section 2, to be distributed in accordance with the
23 process described in section 3(b)(3).
32
4 available under subsection (a)(1), and of the funds des-
5 ignated for 1994 Institutions under subsection (a)(2), not
6 less than 50 percent shall be used for activities relating
7 to—
13 (h) EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES,
14 INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVER-
15 SITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Section 1444 of
16 the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221)
17 is amended by adding at the end the following:
18 ‘‘(g) MANDATORY FUNDING.—
19 ‘‘(1) FUNDING.—
20 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any
21 amounts authorized to be appropriated under
22 subsection (a), on the first October 1 after the
23 date of enactment of the Climate Stewardship
24 Act of 2019, and on each October 1 thereafter,
25 out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
33
1 appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury
2 shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this
3 section $97,200,000, to remain available until
4 expended.

7 cept, and shall use to carry out this section the
8 funds transferred under subparagraph (A),
11 made available under paragraph (1)(A), not less
12 than 50 percent shall be used for programs and ac-
13 tivities relating to—
16 tor;
19 ‘‘(D) increasing soil carbon levels.’’.
20 (i) AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT
21 COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY AND THE
22 UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Section

23 1445 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
24 3222) is amended by adding at the end the following:
25 ‘‘(i) MANDATORY FUNDING.—
34
1 ‘‘(1) FUNDING.—
2 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any
3 amounts authorized to be appropriated under
4 subsection (a), on the first October 1 after the
5 date of enactment of the Climate Stewardship
6 Act of 2019, and on each October 1 thereafter,
7 out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
8 appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury
9 shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this
10 section $116,000,000, to remain available until
11 expended.

14 cept, and shall use to carry out this section the
15 funds transferred under subparagraph (A),
18 made available under paragraph (1)(A), not less
19 than 50 percent shall be used for research relating
20 to—
23 tor;
35
2 (j) NONLAND-GRANT COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE
3 PROGRAM.—Section 1473F of the Food and Agriculture
4 Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319i) is amended—
5 (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by inserting after
6 ‘‘agriculture’’ the following: ‘‘, including—
9 cultural sector;
12 ‘‘(iv) increasing soil carbon levels;’’;
13 and
14 (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the
15 following:
16 ‘‘(b) FUNDS.—
17 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Com-
18 modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use
19 to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each fiscal
20 year, to remain available until expended.
22 made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary
23 shall use not less than 50 percent to conduct the ac-
24 tivities described in clauses (i) through (iv) of sub-
25 section (a)(1)(A).’’.
36
1 (k) MCINTIRE-STENNIS.—
2 (1) FUNDS.—Public Law 87–788 (commonly
3 known as the ‘‘McIntire-Stennis Cooperative For-
4 estry Act’’) is amended by inserting after section 3
5 (16 U.S.C. 582a–2) the following:
16 pended.
22 available under subsection (a)(1), not less than 50 percent
23 shall be used for activities relating to—
37
4 (l) 1994 INSTITUTIONS RESEARCH.—Section 536 of
5 the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994
6 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382) is amended by
7 adding at the end the following:
8 ‘‘(d) MANDATORY FUNDING.—
10 authorized to be appropriated under subsection (c),
11 on the first October 1 after the date of enactment
12 of the Climate Stewardship Act of 2019, and on
13 each October 1 thereafter, out of any funds in the
14 Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary
15 of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
16 carry out this section $11,400,000, to remain avail-
17 able until expended.
20 shall use to carry out this section the funds trans-
21 ferred under paragraph (1), without further appro-
22 priation.
24 made available under paragraph (1), not less than
25 50 percent shall be used for activities relating to—
38
3 tor;
7 SEC. 107. CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
8 Section 6 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Al-

9 lotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590f) is amended—
10 (1) by striking the section designation and
11 heading and all that follows through ‘‘There is’’ in
12 subsection (a) and inserting the following:
13 ‘‘SEC. 6. FUNDING; CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSIST-
14 ANCE FUND.
16 ‘‘(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of
17 the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of
18 Agriculture shall use to carry out this Act
19 $2,100,000,000 for each fiscal year.
20 ‘‘(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
21 There are’’; and

22 (2) in the undesignated matter following para-
23 graph (2) (as so designated) of subsection (a), by
24 striking ‘‘Appropriations’’ and inserting the fol-
25 lowing:
39
1 ‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
2 NURSERY STOCK.—Appropriations’’.
3 SEC. 108. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM.
4 Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-

5 ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended—
6 (1) in subsection (c)(3)(A), by striking ‘‘25’’
7 and inserting ‘‘40’’; and
8 (2) in subsection (f)(1)—
9 (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking
11 (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘for
12 fiscal’’ and all that follows through the period
13 at the end and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal
14 years 2014 through 2019;’’; and
16 ‘‘(F) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
17 ‘‘(G) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
18 ‘‘(H) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
19 ‘‘(I) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
20 and
21 ‘‘(J) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024
22 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’.
40
1 SEC. 109. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM.
2 Section 201A(i)(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Act

3 of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(i)(1)) is amended by striking
4 ‘‘2019 and’’ and inserting ‘‘2019, and $500,000,000 for’’.
5 SEC. 110. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NET-
6 WORK.
7 Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy

8 Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 5936) is amended by striking sub-
9 section (d) and inserting the following:
10 ‘‘(d) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of the
11 Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to
12 carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019
13 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’.
14 SEC. 111. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.
15 Section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008

16 (7 U.S.C. 2034) is amended—
17 (1) in subsection (b)—
18 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘includ-
19 ing amounts made available under subsection
20 (i) to carry out this section,’’ after ‘‘Act,’’; and
21 (B) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking
22 ‘‘$5,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$25,000,000’’;
24 (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or’’ at
25 the end;
41
1 (B) in paragraph (5)(C), by striking the
2 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
4 ‘‘(6) address food security in urban low-income
5 communities by making those communities more cli-
6 mate resilient through the creation or expansion of
7 urban farms, community gardens, and rooftop gar-
8 dens that grow produce for personal use or for local
9 sale through farm stands, farmers’ markets, commu-
10 nity supported agriculture subscriptions, and other
11 delivery methods.’’; and
13 ‘‘(i) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity
14 Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out
15 this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fis-
16 cal year thereafter, to remain available until expended.’’.
17 TITLE II—FORESTS
18 SEC. 201. REFORESTATION TRUST FUND.
19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of Public Law 96–

20 451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a) is amended—
22 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Subject
23 to’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the Sec-
24 retary’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary’’;
25 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and
42
1 (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
2 paragraph (2);
4 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph
5 (1)—
6 (i) by striking the subsection designa-
7 tion and all that follows through ‘‘The Sec-
8 retary’’ and inserting the following:
9 ‘‘(d) REFORESTATION BY SECRETARY OF AGRI-
10 CULTURE.—The Secretary’’; and
11 (ii) by striking ‘‘for’’;
12 (B) in paragraph (1)—
13 (i) by inserting ‘‘for’’ before ‘‘reforest-
14 ation’’; and
15 (ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
16 (C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as
17 paragraph (6);
18 (D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
19 following:
20 ‘‘(2) to the Chief of the Forest Service to refor-
21 est National Forest System land determined to be in
22 need of active reforestation based on field surveys
23 assessing regeneration potential, in accordance with
24 subsection (f), by planting—
43
1 ‘‘(A) to the maximum extent practicable,
2 75,000,000 trees in each of calendar years
3 2021 and 2022;
4 ‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
6 2023 and 2024;
7 ‘‘(C) to the maximum extent practicable,
9 2025 and 2026; and
10 ‘‘(D) to the maximum extent practicable,
11 200,000,000 trees in calendar year 2027 and
12 each calendar year thereafter;
13 ‘‘(3) to carry out the Reforest America Grant
14 Program established under section 6 of the Coopera-
15 tive Forestry Assistance Act of 1978;
16 ‘‘(4) to carry out the urban wood programs es-
17 tablished under section 21 of the Cooperative For-
18 estry Assistance Act of 1978;
19 ‘‘(5) to operate the Stewardship Corps estab-
20 lished under section 204 of the Climate Stewardship
21 Act of 2019; and’’; and
22 (E) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated),
23 by inserting ‘‘for’’ before ‘‘properly’’; and
44
1 ‘‘(e) REFORESTATION BY SECRETARY OF THE INTE-
2 RIOR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall obligate such
3 sums from the Trust Fund as are necessary to reforest,
4 in accordance with subsection (f)—
5 ‘‘(1) by planting on land determined to be in
6 need of active reforestation based on field surveys
7 assessing regeneration potential and managed by the
8 Bureau of Land Management—
11 2021 and 2022;
14 2023 and 2024;
17 2025 and 2026; and
20 each calendar year thereafter; and
21 ‘‘(2) by planting on land that is in need of ac-
22 tive reforestation and is managed by the Bureau of
23 Indian Affairs—
45
3 2021 and 2022;
6 2023 and 2024;
9 2025 and 2026; and
12 each calendar year thereafter.
13 ‘‘(f) REFORESTATION.—
14 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF CONNECTIVITY.—In this
15 subsection, the term ‘connectivity’ means the degree
16 to which the landscape facilitates native species
17 movement.
18 ‘‘(2) REFORESTATION.—
19 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Reforestation under
20 subsection (d)(2) and subsection (e) shall con-
21 sist of ecologically based site preparation, tree
22 planting, and subsequent management using
23 practices that—
46
1 ‘‘(i) are informed by climate change
2 science and the importance of spatial pat-
3 tern;
4 ‘‘(ii) enhance forest health, resilience,
5 and biodiversity; and
6 ‘‘(iii) reduce vulnerability to future
7 forest mortality and catastrophic wildfire.
8 ‘‘(B) POST-WILDFIRE REFORESTATION.—
9 In the case of reforestation under subsection

10 (d)(2) and subsection (e) that consists of site
11 preparation prior to tree planting after a high-
12 intensity wildfire, sums available in the Trust
13 Fund shall not be used for post-wildfire salvage
14 logging.
15 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In carrying out reforestation
16 under subsection (d)(2) and subsection (e), the Chief
17 of the Forest Service and the Secretary of the Inte-
18 rior, as applicable, shall give priority to planting—
19 ‘‘(A) on land that was subject to a mor-
20 tality event caused by a high intensity wildfire,
21 pest infestation, invasive species, or drought or
22 other extreme weather;
23 ‘‘(B) that will restore and maintain resil-
24 ient landscapes;
47
1 ‘‘(C) on land on which the planting pro-
2 vides increased habitat connectivity for wildlife;
3 and
4 ‘‘(D) that will provide the largest potential
5 long-term increase in carbon sequestration.
6 ‘‘(g) MANDATORY FUNDING.—To carry out para-
7 graphs (2) through (5) of subsection (d) and subsection
8 (e), the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the
9 general fund of the Treasury into the Trust Fund
10 $4,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal year
11 thereafter, to remain available until expended.’’.
12 (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after
13 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri-
14 culture and the Secretary of the Interior shall issue regu-
15 lations necessary to carry out the amendments made by
16 this section.
17 SEC. 202. REFOREST AMERICA GRANT PROGRAM.
18 The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is

19 amended by inserting after section 5 (16 U.S.C. 2103a)
20 the following:
21 ‘‘SEC. 6. REFOREST AMERICA GRANT PROGRAM.
22 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

23 ‘‘(1) COMMUNITY OF COLOR.—The term ‘com-
24 munity of color’ means, in a State, a census block
25 group in an urban area for which the aggregate per-
48
1 centage of residents who identify as Black, African-
2 American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Latino,
3 other nonwhite race, or linguistically isolated is—
4 ‘‘(A) not less than 50 percent; or
5 ‘‘(B) is significantly higher than the State
6 average.
7 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE COST.—The term ‘eligible cost’
8 means, with respect to a project of an eligible entity
9 under the Program—
10 ‘‘(A) the cost of implementing a reforest-
11 ation project, including by—
12 ‘‘(i) planning and designing the refor-
13 estation activity, including considering rel-
14 evant science;
15 ‘‘(ii) establishing tree nurseries;
16 ‘‘(iii) purchasing trees; and
17 ‘‘(iv) ecologically based site prepara-
18 tion, including the labor and cost associ-
19 ated with the use of machinery;
20 ‘‘(B) the cost of maintaining and moni-
21 toring planted trees for a period of up to 3
22 years to ensure successful establishment of the
23 trees;
24 ‘‘(C) with respect to reforestation in an
25 urban area under subsection (e) in a low in-
49
1 come community that has an existing tree can-
2 opy cover of not more than 20 percent, not
3 more than 50 percent of the cost of the mainte-
4 nance of any nearby tree canopy; and
5 ‘‘(D) any other relevant cost, as deter-
6 mined by the Secretary.
7 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
8 tity’ means—
9 ‘‘(A) a State agency;
10 ‘‘(B) a local governmental entity;
11 ‘‘(C) an Indian Tribe; and
12 ‘‘(D) a nonprofit organization.
13 ‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE LAND.—
14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible

15 land’ means—
16 ‘‘(i) land owned in fee simple by an el-
17 igible entity—
18 ‘‘(I)(aa) for which, at the time of
19 application to the Program under sub-
20 section (c), the forest stocking level of
21 the land is less than 25 percent of re-
22 gional norms for forest properties
23 with comparable tree species and soil
24 characteristics; and
50
1 ‘‘(bb) that is in need of active re-
2 forestation due to events such as—
3 ‘‘(AA) high intensity wild-
4 fire;
5 ‘‘(BB) pest infestation;
6 ‘‘(CC) invasive species; and
7 ‘‘(DD) drought and other
8 extreme weather; or
9 ‘‘(II) that was formerly forest
10 land and has been abandoned or in-
11 completely reclaimed from mining,
12 commercial development, clearing for
13 agriculture, or other nonforest use;
14 and
15 ‘‘(ii) with respect to reforestation in
16 an urban area under subsection (e), land
17 in that urban area that is owned in fee
18 simple by an eligible entity.
19 ‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘eligible land’
20 does not include land on which the eligible enti-
21 ty conducted a timber harvest—
22 ‘‘(i) not later than 5 years before the
23 date on which the eligible entity submits
24 an application under subsection (c); and
51
1 ‘‘(ii) that resulted in a forest stocking
2 level described in subparagraph
3 (A)(i)(I)(aa).
4 ‘‘(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’
5 has the meaning given the term ‘Indian tribe’ in sec-
6 tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
7 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
8 ‘‘(6) LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The
9 term ‘local governmental entity’ means any munic-

10 ipal government or county government with jurisdic-
11 tion over local land use decisions.
12 ‘‘(7) LOW INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term ‘low
13 income community’ means any census block group in
14 an urban area in which not less than 30 percent of
15 the population lives below the poverty line (as de-
16 fined in section 673 of the Community Services
17 Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902)).
18 ‘‘(8) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term
19 ‘nonprofit organization’ means an organization
20 that—
21 ‘‘(A) is described in section 170(h)(3) of
22 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
23 ‘‘(B) operates in accordance with 1 or
24 more of the purposes described in section
25 170(h)(4)(A) of that Code.
52
1 ‘‘(9) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means
2 the Reforest America Grant Program established
3 under subsection (b)(1).
4 ‘‘(10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’
5 means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through
6 the Chief of the Forest Service.
7 ‘‘(11) URBAN AREA.—The term ‘urban area’
8 means an area identified by the Bureau of the Cen-
9 sus as an ‘urban area’ in the most recent census.
10 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—
11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
12 lish a program, to be known as the ‘Reforest Amer-
13 ica Grant Program’, under which the Secretary shall
14 award grants to eligible entities to conduct projects
15 to reforest eligible land in accordance with this sec-
16 tion.
17 ‘‘(2) REFORESTATION.—In carrying out the
18 Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum ex-
19 tent practicable, award sufficient grants each year to
20 plant—
21 ‘‘(A) 50,000,000 trees in each of calendar
22 years 2021 and 2022;
23 ‘‘(B) 100,000,000 trees in each of calendar
24 years 2023 and 2024;
53
1 ‘‘(C) 150,000,000 trees in each of calendar
2 years 2025 and 2026; and
3 ‘‘(D) 250,000,000 trees in calendar year
4 2027 and each calendar year thereafter.
5 ‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—
6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that
7 seeks to receive a grant under the Program shall
8 submit an application at such time, in such form,
9 and containing such information as the Secretary
10 may require, including the information described in
11 paragraph (2), to—
12 ‘‘(A) the State forester or equivalent offi-
13 cial of the State in which the eligible entity is
14 located; or
15 ‘‘(B) in the case of an eligible entity that
16 is an Indian Tribe, an official of the governing
17 body of the Indian Tribe.
18 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An application submitted
19 under paragraph (1) shall include—
20 ‘‘(A) the reason that the forest stocking
21 level of the land is less than 25 percent of re-
22 gional norms for forest properties with com-
23 parable tree species and soil characteristics, if
24 applicable;
54
1 ‘‘(B) the natural, economic, and environ-
2 mental benefits of returning the eligible land to
3 forested condition;
4 ‘‘(C) an estimate of the annual carbon se-
5 questration that will be achieved by the re-
6 planted forests, using processes determined by
7 the Secretary;
8 ‘‘(D) a reforestation plan that includes—
9 ‘‘(i) a list of expected eligible costs;
10 ‘‘(ii) a description of the site prepara-
11 tion and the tree species to be planted;
12 ‘‘(iii) a description of the manner in
13 which the design of the project is informed
14 by climate change science and will enhance
15 forest health, resilience, and biodiversity;
16 ‘‘(iv) an explanation of the manner in
17 which the land will be maintained for 36
18 months after planting to ensure successful
19 establishment; and
20 ‘‘(v) an explanation of the manner in
21 which the land will be managed later than
22 36 months after planting, including wheth-
23 er that management shall include a timber
24 harvest;
55
1 ‘‘(E) in the case of an application for an
2 urban reforestation project under subsection
3 (e)—
4 ‘‘(i) a description of the manner in
5 which the tree planting shall address dis-
6 parities in local environmental quality,
7 such as lower tree canopy cover; and
8 ‘‘(ii) a description of the anticipated
9 community and stakeholder engagement in
10 the project; and
11 ‘‘(F) any other relevant information re-
12 quired by the Secretary.
13 ‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS TO SECRETARY.—Each offi-
14 cial that receives an application under paragraph (1)
15 shall submit the application to the Secretary with a
16 description of the application and any other relevant
17 information that the Secretary may require.
18 ‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—
19 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF CONNECTIVITY.—In this
20 subsection, the term ‘connectivity’ means the degree
21 to which the landscape facilitates native species
22 movement.
23 ‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the
24 Program, the Secretary shall give priority—
56
1 ‘‘(A) to projects that provide the largest
2 potential increase in carbon sequestration per
3 dollar;
4 ‘‘(B) to projects that provide increased
5 habitat connectivity for wildlife;
6 ‘‘(C) to projects under which an eligible
7 entity will enter into a contract or cooperative
8 agreement with 1 or more qualified youth or
9 conservation corps (as the term is defined in
10 section 203 of Public Law 91–378 (commonly
11 known as the ‘Youth Conservation Corps Act of
12 1970’) (16 U.S.C. 1722)); and
13 ‘‘(D) in the case of urban reforestation
14 projects under subsection (e), to projects that—
15 ‘‘(i) are located in a community of
16 color or a low-income community;
17 ‘‘(ii) are located in a neighborhood
18 with poor local environmental quality, in-
19 cluding lower tree canopy cover and higher
20 maximum daytime summer temperatures;
21 ‘‘(iii) are located in a neighborhood
22 with high amounts of senior citizens or
23 children;
24 ‘‘(iv) are located immediately adjacent
25 to large numbers of residents;
57
1 ‘‘(v) will collaboratively engage neigh-
2 bors and community members that will be
3 closely affected by the tree planting in as
4 many aspects of project development and
5 implementation as possible; and
6 ‘‘(vi) will employ a substantial per-
7 centage of the workforce locally, with a
8 focus on engaging unemployed and under-
9 employed persons in communities of color
10 and low-income communities.
11 ‘‘(e) URBAN REFORESTATION.—
12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Pro-
13 gram, the Secretary shall award sufficient grants
14 each year to projects carried out in urban areas to
15 plant, to the maximum extent practicable—
16 ‘‘(A) 5,000,000 trees in each of calendar
17 years 2021 through 2023;
18 ‘‘(B) 10,000,000 trees in each of calendar
19 years 2024 through 2027; and
20 ‘‘(C) 15,000,000 trees in calendar year
21 2028 and each calendar year thereafter.
22 ‘‘(2) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Secretary shall
23 award a grant to an eligible entity under the Pro-
24 gram to conduct a reforestation project in an urban
25 area in an amount equal to not more than 90 per-
58
1 cent of the cost of reforesting the eligible land, as
2 determined by the Secretary.
3 ‘‘(3) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—As a condi-
4 tion of receiving a grant described in paragraph (2),
5 an eligible entity shall provide, in cash or through
6 in-kind contributions from non-Federal sources,
7 matching funds in an amount equal to not less than
8 10 percent of the cost of reforesting the eligible
9 land, as determined by the Secretary.
10 ‘‘(f) PROHIBITED CONVERSION TO NONFOREST
11 USE.—
12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2)
13 and (3), an eligible entity that receives a grant
14 under the Program shall not sell or convert land
15 that was reforested under the Program to nonforest
16 use.
17 ‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—An eligible
18 entity that receives a grant under this Program and
19 sells or converts land that was reforested under the
20 Program to nonforest use shall pay to the Federal
21 Government an amount equal to the greater of—
22 ‘‘(A) the amount of the grant; and
23 ‘‘(B) the current appraised value of timber
24 stocks on that land.
59
1 ‘‘(3) LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.—An eligible entity
2 that receives a grant under this Program and sells
3 or converts land that was reforested under the Pro-
4 gram to nonforest use shall not be eligible for addi-
5 tional grants under the Program.
6 ‘‘(g) COSTS.—
7 ‘‘(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—Unless otherwise pro-
8 vided under this section, the Secretary shall award
9 a grant to an eligible entity under the Program in
10 an amount equal to not more than 75 percent of the
11 cost of reforesting the eligible land, as determined by
12 the Secretary.
13 ‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Unless other-
14 wise provided under this section, as a condition of
15 receiving a grant under the Program, an eligible en-
16 tity shall provide, in cash or through in-kind con-
17 tributions from non-Federal sources, matching funds
18 in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of
19 the cost of reforesting the eligible land, as deter-
20 mined by the Secretary.
21 ‘‘(h) PLANTING SURVIVAL.—An eligible entity that
22 receives a grant under the Program shall—
23 ‘‘(1) not later than 36 months after planting
24 has been completed using the grant funds, submit to
25 the responsible State or Tribal official, as applicable,
60
1 a monitoring report that describes project implemen-
2 tation, including the survival rate of all plantings
3 made under the grant; and
4 ‘‘(2) if the survival rate reported in the moni-
5 toring report under paragraph (1) is, after 36
6 months, less than the required minimum survival
7 rate for the geographic area in which the planting
8 is located, as determined by a State forester or
9 equivalent State or Tribal official, as applicable, re-
10 plant tree seedlings in a quantity equivalent to half
11 of the original planting, using comparable means to
12 the original planting.
13 ‘‘(i) PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENT.—Any con-
14 tractor or subcontractor entering into a service contract
15 in connection with a project under the Program shall—
16 ‘‘(1) be treated as a Federal contractor or sub-
17 contractor for purposes of chapter 67 of title 41,
18 United States Code (commonly known as the
19 ‘McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act of 1965’);
20 and
21 ‘‘(2) pay each class of employee employed by
22 the contractor or subcontractor wages and fringe
23 benefits at rates in accordance with prevailing rates
24 for the class in the locality, or, where a collective-
25 bargaining agreement covers the employee, in ac-
61
1 cordance with the rates provided for in the agree-
2 ment, including prospective wage increases provided
3 for in the agreement.
4 ‘‘(j) REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually submit
5 to the relevant committees of Congress a report that de-
6 scribes the activities of the Program, including the total
7 amount of carbon sequestered by replanted forests during
8 the year covered by the report.
9 ‘‘(k) FUNDING.—
10 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Refor-
11 estation Trust Fund established under section 303
12 of Public Law 96–451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a), the Sec-
13 retary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry
14 out the Program.
15 ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND TECHNICAL
16 ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds used under paragraph

17 (1), the Secretary shall allocate not more than 10
18 percent for each fiscal year to State foresters or
19 equivalent officials, including equivalent officials of
20 Indian Tribes, for administrative costs and technical
21 assistance under the Program.’’.
22 SEC. 203. URBAN WOOD PROGRAMS.
23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Cooperative Forestry Assist-

24 ance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) is amended
25 by adding at the end the following:
62
1 ‘‘SEC. 21. URBAN WOOD PROGRAMS.
2 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

3 ‘‘(1) INNOVATIVE URBAN WOOD PRODUCT.—
4 The term ‘innovative urban wood product’ means a

5 wood product that uses wood residues and byprod-
6 ucts from urban forest management, building
7 deconstruction, and other related sources of wood
8 generated in urban areas.
9 ‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means
10 the Secretary, acting through the Research and De-
11 velopment Deputy Area and the State and Private
12 Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service.
13 ‘‘(3) WOOD PRODUCT.—The term ‘wood prod-
14 uct’ includes—
15 ‘‘(A) building material made of wood;
16 ‘‘(B) a durable home product made of
17 wood; and
18 ‘‘(C) a woody residue used for bioenergy.
19 ‘‘(b) URBAN WOOD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
20 PROGRAM.—
21 ‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In
22 this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means—

23 ‘‘(A) a unit of State, Tribal, or local gov-
24 ernment;
25 ‘‘(B) a land-grant college or university (as
26 defined in section 1404 of the National Agricul-
63
1 tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
2 Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) or other institu-
3 tion of higher education;
4 ‘‘(C) a nonprofit organization; and
5 ‘‘(D) any other entity, as determined by
6 the Secretary.
7 ‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
8 tablish a program to facilitate the use of innovative
9 urban wood products in incorporated cities and
10 towns in the United States by—
11 ‘‘(A) conducting performance-driven re-
12 search and development relating to the potential
13 sources and uses of urban wood products;
14 ‘‘(B) providing education and technical as-
15 sistance to eligible entities relating to the poten-
16 tial sources and uses of urban wood products;
17 and
18 ‘‘(C) awarding grants under paragraph
19 (5).
20 ‘‘(3) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out the
21 program established under paragraph (2), the Sec-
22 retary shall obtain input and guidance from, and
23 collaborate with—
24 ‘‘(A) the wood products industry;
25 ‘‘(B) conservation organizations;
64
1 ‘‘(C) community organizations; and
2 ‘‘(D) institutions of higher education.
3 ‘‘(4) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, EDU-
4 CATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE .—The Sec-

5 retary shall carry out subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
6 paragraph (2) at the Forest Products Laboratory of
7 the Department of Agriculture or through the State
8 and Private Forestry Deputy Area in a manner that
9 meets the needs of municipalities, private companies,
10 trade and technical schools, and other entities that
11 work with urban wood.
12 ‘‘(5) GRANTS.—After obtaining input and guid-
13 ance from the entities described in paragraph (3),
14 the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive
15 basis to eligible entities to conduct research and de-
16 velopment and provide education and technical as-
17 sistance that—
18 ‘‘(A) increases the use of urban wood; and
19 ‘‘(B) provides increased employment oppor-
20 tunities in the urban wood industry and related
21 fields.
22 ‘‘(6) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out the program
23 established under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
24 give priority to projects and activities that—
65
1 ‘‘(A)(i) identify new products that can be
2 created from urban wood; or
3 ‘‘(ii) improve on existing processes to
4 produce innovative urban wood products with
5 greater efficiency and quality;
6 ‘‘(B) facilitate improved commercialization
7 of innovative urban wood products;
8 ‘‘(C) engage unemployed and under-
9 employed persons in disadvantaged communities
10 in worker training, full-time employment, and
11 incubation of new commercial enterprises; and
12 ‘‘(D) increase the carbon mitigation benefit
13 of the management of urban wood, as measured
14 by the lifecycle environmental footprint of a
15 wood product or production process, beginning
16 with the collection of raw urban wood materials
17 and ending with the manufacturing process.
18 ‘‘(7) TIMEFRAME.—To the maximum extent
19 practicable, the measurable performance goals for
20 the research and development, education, and tech-
21 nical assistance conducted under the program estab-
22 lished under paragraph (2) shall be achievable with-
23 in a 10-year timeframe beginning on the date of es-
24 tablishment of the program.
66
1 ‘‘(c) URBAN WOOD BUILDING COMPETITION.—Be-
2 ginning in fiscal year 2021, the Secretary shall carry out
3 an annual competition, in accordance with section 24 of
4 the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980
5 (15 U.S.C. 3719), for—
6 ‘‘(1) innovative urban wood products and manu-
7 facturing processes; or
8 ‘‘(2) other innovative wood product demonstra-
9 tions.
10 ‘‘(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Reforestation
11 Trust Fund established under section 303 of Public Law
12 96–451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a), the Secretary shall use
13 $35,000,000 each fiscal year to carry out this section.’’.
14 (b) URBAN WOOD INNOVATION GRANTS.—Section
15 8643 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
16 U.S.C. 7655d) is amended—
18 (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as
19 paragraph (3); and
20 (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the
21 following:
22 ‘‘(2) INNOVATIVE URBAN WOOD PRODUCT.—
23 The term ‘innovative urban wood product’ means a

24 wood product that uses wood residues and byprod-
25 ucts from urban forest management, building
67
1 deconstruction, and other related sources of wood
2 generated in urban areas.’’;
4 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(Octo-
5 ber 20, 2015)), may’’ and inserting the fol-
6 lowing: ‘‘(October 20, 2015))—
7 ‘‘(A) may’’;
8 (B) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
9 ignated), by striking the period at the end and
10 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
12 ‘‘(B) shall, to the maximum extent prac-
13 ticable, award 1 or more wood innovation
14 grants each year to eligible entities for the pur-
15 pose of advancing the use of innovative urban
16 wood products.’’; and
17 (3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘under sub-
18 section (b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘for grants under sub-
19 section (b)(1)(A)’’.
20 SEC. 204. STEWARDSHIP CORPS.
21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (re-

22 ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in consulta-
23 tion with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish a
24 civilian conservation corps, to be known as the ‘‘Steward-
25 ship Corps’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Steward-
68
1 ship Corps’’), to provide youth from low-income commu-
2 nities, indigenous communities, and communities of color
3 with the academic, vocational, and social skills necessary
4 to pursue long term, productive careers in the forest sector
5 and the wetland restoration sector.
6 (b) REFORESTATION AND RESTORATION ON FED-
7 ERAL LAND.—To the maximum extent practicable, mem-
8 bers of the Stewardship Corps shall perform—
9 (1)(A) in each of calendar years 2021 through
10 2025, not less than 20 percent of the reforestation
11 required under subsections (d)(2) and (e) of section
12 303 of Public Law 96–451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a); and
13 (B) in calendar years 2026 and each calendar
14 year thereafter, not less than 40 percent of the re-
15 forestation described in subparagraph (A); and
16 (2)(A) in each of calendar years 2021 through
17 2025, not less than 20 percent of the wetlands res-
18 toration required under section 307; and
19 (B) in calendar year 2026 and each calendar
20 year thereafter, not less than 40 percent of the wet-
21 lands restoration described in subparagraph (A).
22 (c) DURATION OF PARTICIPATION.—An individual
23 shall serve in the Stewardship Corps for not more than
24 2 years.
69
1 (d) HOUSING AND CARE.—The Secretary shall pro-
2 vide to each member of the Stewardship Corps housing,
3 subsistence, clothing, medical attention (including hos-
4 pitalization), transportation, and a cash allowance, as de-
5 termined necessary by the Secretary.
6 (e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Stewardship
7 Corps shall be paid at a rate in accordance with the pre-
8 vailing rate for a similar class of Federal employees in the
9 locality.
10 (f) JOB PLACEMENT.—The Secretary shall assist
11 members of the Stewardship Corps with obtaining employ-
12 ment in the forest sector and the wetlands restoration sec-
13 tor on the completion of service under the Stewardship
14 Corps.
15 TITLE III—COASTAL WETLAND
16 SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.
17 In this title:
18 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
19 trator’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for
20 Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the
21 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
22 (2) COASTAL WETLAND.—The term ‘‘coastal
23 wetland’’ means estuarine vegetated coastal habitat,
24 including salt marsh, seagrass, mangrove, and other
25 vegetated marine habitats.
70
1 (3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’
2 has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in
3 section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
4 cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
5 (4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
6 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the

7 meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
8 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
9 (5) NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term
10 ‘‘natural infrastructure’’ means infrastructure
11 that—
12 (A) uses, restores, or emulates natural eco-
13 logical processes; and
14 (B)(i) is created through the action of nat-
15 ural physical, geological, biological, and chem-
16 ical processes over time;
17 (ii) is created by human design, engineer-
18 ing, and construction to emulate or act in con-
19 cert with natural processes; or
20 (iii) involves the use of plants, soils, and
21 other natural features, including through the
22 creation, restoration, or preservation of vege-
23 tated areas using materials appropriate to the
24 area.
71
1 (6) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The term
2 ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization that
3 is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Rev-
4 enue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under sec-
5 tion 501(a) of such Code.
6 (7) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means
7 the Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program
8 as established by section 302.
9 (8) RESTORATION.—The term ‘‘restoration’’
10 means renewing, enhancing, or replacing degraded,
11 damaged, vulnerable, or destroyed wetlands to im-
12 prove the ecosystem function and resilience through
13 active human intervention and action, such as—
14 (A) improving hydrological conditions
15 (such as by removing tidal barriers, improving
16 connectivity, or changing water levels);
17 (B) altering sediment supply (such as
18 through the beneficial use of dredge material,
19 thin-layer spraying, or diverting river sedi-
20 ments);
21 (C) changing salinity characteristics;
22 (D) improving water quality (such as by
23 reducing excess nutrients, sedimentation, or
24 contaminants);
72
1 (E) planting of native plants, removal of
2 invasive species, and other improved manage-
3 ment practices; and
4 (F) controlling erosion of wetland edges.
5 (9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State,
6 the District of Columbia, or any territory or posses-
7 sion of the United States.
8 SEC. 302. COASTAL AND ESTUARY RESILIENCE GRANT PRO-
9 GRAM.
10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce

11 shall establish a program, to be known as the ‘‘Coastal
12 and Estuary Resilience Grant Program’’, under which the
13 Secretary awards grants to entities that eligible under
14 subsection (b) to fund coastal wetland restoration projects
15 that are eligible under subsection (c).
16 (b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity is eligible to
17 apply for a grant under the Program if the entity is an
18 institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization,
19 a State or local government, or an Indian Tribe.
20 (c) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A project is eligible for a
21 grant under the Program if the project is designed to re-
22 duce net greenhouse gases through one of the following:
23 (1) The sequestration of additional carbon diox-
24 ide through—
73
1 (A) the active restoration of degraded
2 coastal wetland; and
3 (B) the protection of threatened coastal
4 wetland.
5 (2) The halting of ongoing carbon dioxide emis-
6 sions, and the resumption of the natural rate of car-
7 bon capture, through the restoration of drained
8 coastal wetland.
9 (3) The halting of ongoing methane emissions,
10 and the resumption of the natural rate of carbon
11 storage, through the restoration of formerly tidal
12 wetland that has lost tidal connectivity and become
13 fresh wetland (commonly known as ‘‘impounded wet-
14 land’’).
15 (d) GRANT EVALUATION CRITERIA.—In reviewing
16 applications for grants under the Program, the Secretary
17 shall give priority to projects that exhibit the highest po-
18 tential to—
19 (1) mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by—
20 (A) reducing greenhouse gas emissions; or
21 (B) capturing and storing greenhouse
22 gases;
23 (2) reinforce ecosystem resilience and adapta-
24 tion by—
74
1 (A) preparing for sea level rise in order to
2 reduce vulnerability to sea level rise and ero-
3 sion;
4 (B) supporting resilience against flooding
5 and sea level rise; or
6 (C) restoring or enhancing ecosystem func-
7 tion; or
8 (3) provide economic and social co-benefits by—
9 (A) reducing the potential impact and
10 damage of storms on the built environment;
11 (B) advancing environmental justice by re-
12 ducing the disproportionate impacts of environ-
13 mental hazards on communities of color, indige-
14 nous communities, and low-income commu-
15 nities;
16 (C) providing jobs in coastal communities;
17 (D) including elements of natural infra-
18 structure;
19 (E) incorporating collaborative partner-
20 ships; or
21 (F) involving local communities in project
22 planning and implementation.
23 (e) MATCHING FUNDS.—
24 (1) INCLUSION IN APPLICATIONS.—An eligible
25 entity under subsection (b) may include in an appli-
75
1 cation for a grant under the Program a commitment
2 to provide non-Federal resources (including in-kind
3 contributions and volunteer hours) to match the
4 amount of grant.
5 (2) CONSIDERATION.—In reviewing an applica-
6 tion for a grant under the Program, the Secretary
7 may consider the inclusion of a commitment under
8 paragraph (1) but may not require such a commit-
9 ment as a condition of receiving a grant.
10 (f) ELIGIBLE COSTS.—A grant awarded under the
11 Program shall be available for all phases of the develop-
12 ment, implementation, and monitoring of projects that are
13 eligible under subsection (c), including—
14 (1) preliminary community engagement, plan-
15 ning, and prioritization;
16 (2) preliminary design and site assessment, in-
17 cluding—
18 (A) assessments of feasibility;
19 (B) planning; and
20 (C) community engagement;
21 (3) final design and permitting;
22 (4) restoration and project implementation; and
23 (5) monitoring, reporting, and stewardship.
24 (g) REPORTING.—
76
1 (1) IN GENERAL.—An entity that receives a
2 grant under the Program for a project shall—
3 (A) collect data on the development and
4 implementation of the project and stewardship
5 following completion of the project; and
6 (B) submit that data to the Administrator
7 for inclusion in the database required by section
8 303(a).
9 (2) REPORT AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION.—
10 Not later than 1 year after the completion of a

11 project for which a grant is provided under the Pro-
12 gram, the entity that received the grant shall submit
13 to the Administrator a report on the outputs, out-
14 comes, and impacts of the project, including with re-
15 spect to—
16 (A) the amount of area restored;
17 (B) the estimated net climate benefit;
18 (C) benefits to nearby communities; and
19 (D) involvement of partners and commu-
20 nities.
21 (h) MONITORING.—The Secretary shall establish
22 guidelines providing for monitoring a project for which a
23 grant is provided under the Program for the 10-year pe-
24 riod after the grant is awarded.
77
1 (i) ROLE OF NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUN-
2 DATION.—In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may
3 consult, partner, or otherwise coordinate with the National
4 Fish and Wildlife Foundation established by section 2(a)
5 of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establish-
6 ment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701(a)).
7 SEC. 303. DATA COLLECTION.
8 (a) DATABASE.—
9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall
10 maintain a coastal wetland restoration database to
11 collect information about projects that receive grants
12 under the Program.
13 (2) DESIGN.—The Administrator shall design
14 the database required by paragraph (1) to collect
15 performance metrics on the development and imple-
16 mentation of projects that receive grants under the
17 Program and stewardship following completion of
18 such projects to evaluate the success of those
19 projects and inform the design of future projects in
20 an adaptive manner.
21 (3) INCLUDED METRICS.—The database re-
22 quired by paragraph (1) shall include standardized
23 metrics for reporting such as—
24 (A) acres restored, protected, or created;
25 (B) habitat type;
78
1 (C) restoration technique;
2 (D) estimated net greenhouse gas reduc-
3 tion effect;
4 (E) jobs created;
5 (F) quantified ecosystem services;
6 (G) other metrics selected by the Adminis-
7 trator.
8 (4) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Administrator
9 shall make products of the database publicly avail-
10 able and disseminate important findings to the pub-
11 lic.
12 (b) INVENTORY OF COASTAL WETLAND.—The Ad-
13 ministrator shall compile an inventory of coastal wetland.
14 SEC. 304. OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
15 The Administrator shall establish a technical assist-

16 ance program to help entities outside of the National Oce-
17 anic and Atmospheric Administration in all phases of
18 coastal wetland restoration project work, including out-
19 reach to potential applicants for grants under section 302.
20 SEC. 305. ANNUAL RESTORATION AND FUNDING.
21 (a) ACREAGE REQUIREMENTS.—To the maximum ex-

22 tent practicable, the Secretary of Commerce shall award
23 grants under the Program to conduct coastal wetland res-
24 toration on 1,500,000 acres over 10 years, as follows:
79
1 (1) On 50,000 acres in each of fiscal years
2 2021 and 2022.
4 2023 and 2024.
6 2025 and 2026.
7 (4) On 225,000 acres in fiscal year 2027 and
8 each fiscal year thereafter.
9 (b) FUNDING.—
10 (1) IN GENERAL.—On October 1 of each fiscal
11 year, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
12 appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
13 transfer to the Secretary of Commerce to provide
14 grants under the Program, to remain available until
15 expended—
16 (A) $1,250,000,000 for each of fiscal years
17 2021 and 2022;
18 (B) $2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years
19 2023 and 2024;
20 (C) $3,750,000,000 for each of fiscal years
21 2025 and 2026; and
22 (D) $5,625,000,000 for each of fiscal years
23 2027 through 2030.
24 (2) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The Sec-
25 retary of Commerce shall be entitled to receive, shall
80
1 accept, and shall use to provide grants under the
2 Program in accordance with paragraph (1) the funds
3 transferred under that paragraph, without further
4 appropriation.
5 (c) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—The amount au-
6 thorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) shall supple-
7 ment and not supplant other amounts available to the Sec-
8 retary of Commerce.
9 SEC. 306. PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENT.
10 Any contractor or subcontractor entering into a serv-

11 ice contract in connection with a project under the Pro-
12 gram shall—
13 (1) be treated as a Federal contractor or sub-
14 contractor for purposes of chapter 67 of title 41,
15 United States Code (commonly known as the
16 ‘‘McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act of
17 1965’’); and
18 (2) pay each class of employee employed by the
19 contractor or subcontractor wages and fringe bene-
20 fits at rates in accordance with prevailing rates for
21 the class in the locality, or, where a collective-bar-
22 gaining agreement covers the employee, in accord-
23 ance with the rates provided for in the agreement,
24 including prospective wage increases provided for in
25 the agreement.
81
1 SEC. 307. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR COASTAL WET-
2 LAND RESTORATION; FUNDING.
3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall

4 conduct coastal wetland restoration on land managed by
5 the Secretary of the Interior to achieve at least 1 of the
6 following:
7 (1) The sequestration of additional carbon diox-
8 ide through—
9 (A) the active restoration of degraded
10 coastal wetland; and
11 (B) the protection of threatened coastal
12 wetland.
13 (2) The halting of ongoing carbon dioxide emis-
14 sions, and the resumption of the natural rate of car-
15 bon capture, through the restoration of drained
16 coastal wetland.
17 (3) The halting of ongoing methane emissions,
18 and the resumption of the natural rate of carbon
19 storage, through the restoration of formerly tidal
20 wetland that has lost tidal connectivity and become
21 fresh wetland (commonly known as ‘‘impounded wet-
22 land’’).
23 (b) ACREAGE REQUIREMENTS.—To the maximum ex-
24 tent practicable, the Secretary of the Interior shall con-
25 duct coastal wetland restoration under subsection (a)—
82
1 (1) on land managed by the Director of the
2 United States Fish and Wildlife Service—
3 (A) on 10,000 acres in each of fiscal years
4 2021 and 2022;
5 (B) on 20,000 acres in each of fiscal years
6 2023 and 2024; and
7 (C) on 30,000 acres in fiscal year 2025
8 and each fiscal year thereafter; and
9 (2) on land managed by the Director of the Na-
10 tional Park Service—
11 (A) on 10,000 acres in each of fiscal years
12 2021 and 2022;
13 (B) on 20,000 acres in each of fiscal years
14 2023 and 2024;
15 (C) on 40,000 acres in each of fiscal years
16 2025 and 2026;
17 (D) on 80,000 acres in each of fiscal years
18 2027 and 2028; and
19 (E) on 160,000 acres in fiscal year 2029
20 and each fiscal year thereafter.
21 (c) FUNDING.—
22 (1) IN GENERAL.—On October 1 of each fiscal
23 year, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
24 appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall
83
1 transfer to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out
2 this section, to remain available until expended—
3 (A) for coastal wetland restoration on land
4 managed by the Director of the United States
5 Fish and Wildlife Service—
6 (i) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal
7 years 2021 and 2022;
8 (ii) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal
10 (iii) $750,000,000 for each of fiscal
11 years 2025 through 2030; and
12 (B) for coastal wetland restoration on land
13 managed by the Director of the National Park
14 Service—
15 (i) $250,000,000 for each of fiscal
16 years 2021 and 2022;
17 (ii) $500,000,000 for each of fiscal
18 years 2023 and 2024;
19 (iii) $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
20 years 2025 and 2026;
21 (iv) $2,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
23 (v) $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal
24 years 2029 and 2030.
84
1 (2) RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE.—The Sec-
2 retary of the Interior shall be entitled to receive,
3 shall accept, and shall use to carry out this section
4 in accordance with paragraph (1) the funds trans-
5 ferred under that paragraph, without further appro-
6 priation.

Climate Stewardship Act of 2019

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Climate Stewardship Act of 2019

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RYA19430 Discussion Draft S.L.C.

To provide incentives for agricultural producers to carry out climate steward-

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

Sec. 101. Conservation reserve program.

TITLE III—COASTAL WETLAND

Sec. 301. Definitions.

3 (a) CONSERVATION RESERVE.—Section 1231 of the

5 (a) PURPOSES.—Section 1240(3) of the Food Secu-

2 term ‘climate stewardship practice’ means any of the

23 withstanding section 1240C, in the case of

4 TICES.—Notwithstanding section 1240C,

13 PRACTICE’’ after ‘‘INCENTIVE PRACTICE’’;

14 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting

11 (a) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS FOR CLIMATE STEW-

20 (2) in paragraph (1)—

2 The term ‘climate stewardship practice’ means

23 (a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—Section 1241(a) of the Food

12 ‘‘(1) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the funds made

6 OF FUNDING.—Section 1240B(f) shall not

10 GRAM.—Of the funds made available under sub-

3 Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16

19 (a) AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIA-

26 change mitigation through—

11 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac-

6 ING.—On the date of enactment of the Cli-

14 RURAL AREAS PROGRAM.—Section 310B(i) of the Con-

16 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac-

6 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac-

22 UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.—Section

13 Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall ac-

8 Section 6 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Al-

21 There are’’; and

3 SEC. 108. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM.

4 Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-

2 Section 201A(i)(1) of the Agricultural Marketing Act

7 Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy

15 Section 25 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of Public Law 96–

9 In the case of reforestation under subsection

18 The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is

22 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible

9 term ‘local governmental entity’ means any munic-

16 ASSISTANCE.—Of the funds used under paragraph

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Cooperative Forestry Assist-

2 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

4 The term ‘innovative urban wood product’ means a

22 this subsection, the term ‘eligible entity’ means—

4 CATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE .—The Sec-

23 The term ‘innovative urban wood product’ means a

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (re-

6 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce

10 Not later than 1 year after the completion of a

15 The Administrator shall establish a technical assist-

21 (a) ACREAGE REQUIREMENTS.—To the maximum ex-

10 Any contractor or subcontractor entering into a serv-

2 LAND RESTORATION; FUNDING.

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall

You might also like