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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9945 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9945

To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation Council, and for 
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2024

 Ms. Mace (for herself, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. 
   Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation Council, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``North American 
Grasslands Conservation Act of 2024''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. North American Grasslands Conservation Council.
Sec. 6. Regional Grasslands Conservation Councils.
Sec. 7. North American Grasslands Conservation Strategy.
Sec. 8. Grasslands conservation grant program.
Sec. 9. Approval of grasslands conservation projects.
Sec. 10. Native seed crop systems research.
Sec. 11. Regenerative grazing data collection.
Sec. 12. Report to Congress.
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 14. Rules of construction.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) grasslands provide vital habitat for a multitude of 
        species which represent the lifeblood of local and regional 
        economies that depend on income generated by sportsmen and 
        women and other forms of outdoor recreation;
            (2) grasslands have been managed for millennia by Indian 
        Tribes through the use of practices referred to as ``Indigenous 
        Traditional Ecological Knowledge'' to conserve and restore 
        habitat for native flora and fauna, including practices such as 
        restoration and conservation of grassland ecosystems to support 
        continued cultural traditions, including subsistence 
        agriculture, cultural burning, and management of culturally 
        significant wildlife and their ecosystems;
            (3) the maintenance of healthy populations of grassland 
        species and working lands that are critical for rural economies 
        and carbon sequestration is dependent on the conservation, 
        restoration, and management of grassland ecosystems, which are 
        composed of tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairies, 
        sagebrush shrub-steppe, and savannah grasslands (referred to in 
        this Act as ``grassland ecosystems'');
            (4) grassland and rangeland ecosystems provide--
                    (A) essential and significant habitat for mammals, 
                pollinators, reptiles, and other wildlife of 
                commercial, recreational, scientific, aesthetic, and 
                cultural value; and
                    (B) an abundance of critical ecological services, 
                including forage and hay for grazing livestock, carbon 
                sequestration, carbon storage, drought and flood 
                resilience, water filtration, and water storage;
            (5) grasslands cover 358,000,000 acres of the United 
        States, 85 percent of which are privately owned and serve as an 
        important habitat for 29 breeding obligate grassland bird 
        species;
            (6) sagebrush occupies 161,000,000 acres of 14 Western 
        States;
            (7) over the last decade alone, millions of acres of 
        grassland ecosystems in North America have been converted to 
        cropland and residential and commercial development;
            (8) grassland ecosystems are threatened by fragmentation, 
        invasive species, wildfire, degradation, and land conversion;
            (9) on average, about 1,200,000 acres of sagebrush burn 
        each year in the United States due to invasive annual grasses 
        that fuel catastrophic wildfires;
            (10) in addition to wildfires, there has been a decrease in 
        the number of working farms and ranches due to--
                    (A) pressures to convert or sell land; and
                    (B) challenges in keeping ranching profitable;
            (11) effective restoration strategies for land managers of 
        grassland ecosystems require--
                    (A) access to adequate quantities of high-quality, 
                regionally appropriate, and diverse native plant seeds;
                    (B) science-based guidance on cultivating native 
                plant species; and
                    (C) as stated in the National Seed Strategy for 
                Rehabilitation and Restoration developed by the Plant 
                Conservation Alliance and chaired by the Director of 
                the Bureau of Land Management, more research on 
                seedling establishment and species interaction in order 
                to increase the use of native plant species;
            (12) many plant species most often associated with 
        grassland and rangeland ecosystems are drought tolerant, 
        characteristics that will help ensure the viability of critical 
        wildlife habitat and other ecosystem services in the face of 
        increased drought prevalence brought on by the effects of 
        climate change;
            (13) grassland and rangeland ecosystems are often comprised 
        of disturbance-dependent communities that rely on disturbances 
        such as fire to maintain the desired plant community 
        composition, reduce fuel loading, and arrest ecological 
        succession;
            (14) beneficial fire, when scientifically applied and in 
        accordance with local fire prescriptions, is a critical tool in 
        the maintenance of grassland and rangeland ecosystems, 
        particularly in the face of climate change which has been 
        linked to an increase in the frequency and intensity of 
        wildfires in areas in which beneficial fire has been excluded 
        and fuel loading is high;
            (15) the migratory bird treaty obligations of the United 
        States with Canada, Mexico, and other countries require 
        conservation of grasslands and rangelands that are used by 
        migratory birds for breeding, wintering, or migration and are 
        needed to achieve and to maintain optimum population levels, 
        distributions, and patterns of migration;
            (16) the 1988 amendments to the Fish and Wildlife 
        Conservation Act of 1980 require the Secretary of the Interior 
        to identify conservation measures to assure that nongame 
        migratory bird species do not reach the point at which measures 
        of the Endangered Species Act are necessary; and
            (17) conservation of migratory birds and their habitats 
        requires long-term planning and the close cooperation and 
        coordination of management activities by Canada, Mexico, and 
        the United States within the framework of the North American 
        Wetlands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.), the 1916, 
        1969, and 1986 Migratory Bird Conventions, and the Convention 
        on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western 
        Hemisphere.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to take bold action to conserve and 
restore grasslands in North America while supporting ranchers, farmers, 
Indian Tribes, sportsmen and sportswomen, rural communities, and other 
interests by drawing from existing conservation plans, programs, and 
models with a proven track record of success through--
            (1) encouraging voluntary grassland conservation and 
        restoration as an alternative to additional conversion and loss 
        of native grasslands ecosystems and sustaining those ecosystems 
        as working lands by creating a flexible, voluntary, and 
        innovative grant program;
            (2) improving grassland and rangeland health and 
        management;
            (3) restoring marginal lands to native grasslands in areas 
        that were historically grasslands;
            (4) mitigating the impacts of severe drought and wildfire 
        on grasslands;
            (5) supporting farmer and rancher stewards, private 
        landowners, and Tribal partners;
            (6) improving biodiversity and habitat for grassland and 
        sagebrush birds, pollinators, and other wildlife;
            (7) increasing carbon sequestration and carbon storage;
            (8) providing increased wildlife-dependent recreational and 
        hunter and angler access opportunities, at the discretion of 
        private landowners;
            (9) encouraging stronger public-private partnerships in 
        support of landscape-level grassland conservation efforts 
        conducted by State fish and wildlife agencies, Indian Tribes, 
        regional and Federal entities, nongovernmental organizations, 
        farmers and ranchers, and other stakeholders both in the United 
        States and in Canada and Mexico, and complementing the public-
        private partnerships working on grassland conservation as of 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, such as the Partners for 
        Fish and Wildlife;
            (10) identifying voluntary opportunities for grassland 
        conservation, restoration, and management not currently 
        available through existing programs; and
            (11) providing opportunities for Indian Tribes and Tribal 
        organizations to conserve, restore, and manage grasslands, 
        including through--
                    (A) the ethical incorporation of Indigenous 
                Traditional Ecological Knowledge into grassland 
                management and restoration activities; and
                    (B) identifying, encouraging, and providing funding 
                for partnerships between Indian Tribes and Federal 
                agencies to co-manage grassland ecosystems, including 
                ecologically important flora and fauna.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Migratory Bird Conservation Commission established by section 2 
        of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715a).
            (2) Conservation strategy.--The term ``Conservation 
        Strategy'' means the North American Grasslands Conservation 
        Strategy established under section 7(a).
            (3) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the North American 
        Grasslands Conservation Council established by section 5(a).
            (4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
            (5) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a grazing land coalition;
                    (B) an agricultural or livestock producer group;
                    (C) an Indian Tribe;
                    (D) a Tribal organization;
                    (E) a land trust;
                    (F) a State or local government;
                    (G) a Federal agency;
                    (H) a nongovernmental organization;
                    (I) a community-based organization;
                    (J) a group of individuals that are private 
                landowners; and
                    (K) a regional fish and wildlife agency.
            (6) Grasslands.--The term ``grasslands'' means tallgrass, 
        mixed grass, shortgrass, native prairie, sagebrush shrub-
        steppe, savanna grasslands, glades, wet meadows, coastal 
        grasslands, and other related grassland ecosystems, including 
        certain rangelands.
            (7) Grasslands conservation project.--The term ``grasslands 
        conservation project'' means any conservation, restoration, 
        protection, or enhancement activity that is carried out with a 
        grant awarded under the Program.
            (8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (9) Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge; itek.--The 
        terms ``Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge'' and 
        ``ITEK'' mean observations, oral and written knowledge, 
        practices, and beliefs of Indian Tribes that promote 
        environmental sustainability and the responsible stewardship of 
        natural resources through relationships between humans and 
        environmental systems and are applied to phenomena across 
        biological, physical, cultural, and spiritual systems.
            (10) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the grant program 
        established under section 8(a).
            (11) Regional grasslands conservation council.--The term 
        ``Regional Grasslands Conservation Council'' means a Regional 
        Grasslands Conservation Council established by section 6(a).
            (12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (13) Tribal organization.--The term ``Tribal organization'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).

SEC. 5. NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the North American 
Grasslands Conservation Council.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of the 
        following 13 members:
                    (A) The Director, who shall be the responsible 
                Federal official for ensuring Council compliance with 
                the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
                    (B) The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
                Service of the Department of Agriculture, who shall 
                coordinate interdepartmental efforts with the Director.
                    (C) 1 representative of the National Fish and 
                Wildlife Foundation, appointed by the Secretary.
                    (D) 4 members who shall each--
                            (i) be appointed by the Secretary;
                            (ii) be a director of a State fish and 
                        wildlife agency; and
                            (iii) represent a different regional 
                        association.
                    (E) 2 members who shall each--
                            (i) be appointed by the Secretary;
                            (ii) be a director, or an equivalent role, 
                        of a natural resources agency of an Indian 
                        Tribe; and
                            (iii) represent a different intertribal 
                        organization dedicated to natural resources and 
                        the environment.
                    (F) 2 members who shall each--
                            (i) be appointed by the Secretary of 
                        Agriculture; and
                            (ii) represent a separate working lands 
                        organization that represents landowners, 
                        farmers, or ranchers actively participating in 
                        carrying out voluntary grasslands conservation 
                        projects.
                    (G) 2 members, of whom--
                            (i) both shall be appointed by the 
                        Secretary;
                            (ii) both shall be a member of a charitable 
                        nonprofit conservation organization; and
                            (iii) 1 shall be a member of a wildlife 
                        hunting conservation organization.
            (2) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), a member of the Council shall serve for a term of 
                3 years.
                    (B) Initial appointments.--
                            (i) Directors of state fish and wildlife 
                        agencies.--Of the members first appointed under 
                        paragraph (1)(D)--
                                    (I) 1 shall be appointed for a term 
                                of 1 year;
                                    (II) 2 shall be appointed for a 
                                term of 2 years; and
                                    (III) 1 shall be appointed for a 
                                term of 3 years.
                            (ii) Other members.--Of the members first 
                        appointed under subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) 
                        of paragraph (1)--
                                    (I) 2 shall be appointed for a term 
                                of 1 year;
                                    (II) 2 shall be appointed for a 
                                term of 2 years; and
                                    (III) 2 shall be appointed for a 
                                term of 3 years.
                    (C) Vacancies.--
                            (i) In general.--With respect to a member 
                        appointed to the Council under subparagraphs 
                        (C) through (G) of paragraph (1), a vacancy in 
                        the Council shall be filled in accordance with 
                        that subparagraph for the remainder of the 
                        applicable term of that member.
                            (ii) Alternate members.--Until a vacancy 
                        referred to in clause (i) is filled, or in the 
                        event of an anticipated absence of a member 
                        described in that clause from any meeting of 
                        the Council, the Secretary shall appoint an 
                        alternate member to the Council who shall--
                                    (I) be knowledgeable and 
                                experienced in matters relating to 
                                grasslands conservation and 
                                restoration; and
                                    (II) perform the duties of a member 
                                appointed to the Council under 
                                subparagraphs (C) through (G) of 
                                paragraph (1).
            (3) Ex officio members.--The Secretary may include as ex 
        officio, nonvoting members of the Council--
                    (A) the Under Secretary for Farm Production and 
                Conservation of the Department of Agriculture;
                    (B) the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and 
                Environment of the Department of Agriculture; and
                    (C) representatives of--
                            (i) other appropriate Federal, State, or 
                        Tribal Government agencies that are actively 
                        participating in grasslands conservation 
                        projects or have technical expertise in 
                        grasslands conservation;
                            (ii) the Federal, provincial, territorial, 
                        Indigenous, or State government agencies of 
                        Canada and Mexico that are actively 
                        participating in carrying out grasslands 
                        conservation projects;
                            (iii) nonprofit charitable organizations 
                        that are actively participating in grasslands 
                        conservation projects; and
                            (iv) Tribal organizations that are actively 
                        participating in grasslands conservation 
                        projects.
            (4) Chairperson.--
                    (A) In general.--The Council shall select a 
                Chairperson from among the members of the Council.
                    (B) Term.--A Chairperson shall serve for a 3-year 
                term, except that the first selected Chairperson may 
                serve for an initial term of less than 3 years.
            (5) Vice chair.--
                    (A) In general.--The Chairperson shall select a 
                Vice Chair from among the members of the Council.
                    (B) Term.--A Vice Chair shall serve for a 2-year 
                term, except that the first selected Vice Chair may 
                serve for an initial term of less than 2 years.
    (c) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall meet at the call of the 
        Chairperson.
            (2) Frequency.--The Council shall meet not less frequently 
        than once per year.
            (3) Format.--A meeting of the Council may be conducted in 
        person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.
            (4) Availability.--Meetings of the Council shall be open to 
        the public, and the Council shall give public notice of the 
        time and place of such meetings.
            (5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Council shall 
        constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
    (d) Duties.--The Council shall--
            (1) provide input to the Director in the development of the 
        Conservation Strategy;
            (2) establish publicly available project evaluation 
        criteria for applications submitted under the Program;
            (3) recommend grasslands conservation projects to the 
        Commission in accordance with section 9;
            (4) receive input from regional conservation entities who 
        have a vested interest in developing multi-State and Tribal 
        conservation plans; and
            (5) provide annual updates on the status of the objectives 
        and goals identified in the Conservation Strategy to the 
        Commission.
    (e) Compensation.--A member of the Council shall receive no 
compensation as a result of serving on the Council.
    (f) FACA Applicability.--Chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the Council.

SEC. 6. REGIONAL GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION COUNCILS.

    (a) In General.--There is established a Regional Grasslands 
Conservation Council for each region of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
    (b) Membership.--Each Regional Grasslands Conservation Council 
shall be composed of not more than 10 members, which shall include--
            (1) representatives of nongovernmental and Tribal 
        organizations representing the conservation community;
            (2) representatives from Tribal Governments;
            (3) representatives of rancher and farming interests;
            (4) representatives from State fish and wildlife agencies; 
        and
            (5) any other representatives, as determined necessary by 
        the Secretary in coordination with the Council.
    (c) Recommendations.--Each Regional Grasslands Conservation Council 
shall provide recommendations to the Council regarding--
            (1) the selection of grasslands conservation projects; and
            (2) key grasslands conservation strategies with respect to 
        the region served by such Regional Grasslands Conservation 
        Council that draw from established regional grasslands 
        conservation plans.
    (d) FACA Applicability.--Chapter 10 of part I of title 5, United 
States Code, does not apply to a Regional Grasslands Conservation 
Council.

SEC. 7. NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--After the appointment of the first 7 of the 
initial members of the Council under section 5(b), the Director shall, 
in consultation with the Council--
            (1) develop a coordinated strategy, to be known as the 
        ``North American Grasslands Conservation Strategy'', for the 
        conservation, restoration, and management of grasslands 
        ecosystems across North America; and
            (2) support implementation, monitoring, and communication 
        efforts relating to the Conservation Strategy.
    (b) Existing Conservation Plans and Frameworks.--The Conservation 
Strategy shall draw from existing local, State, regional, and 
international conservation plans and frameworks, conservation plans of 
Indian Tribes, and State wildlife action plans, with an emphasis on 
supporting existing science- and ITEK-based frameworks.
    (c) Inclusion.--The Conservation Strategy shall--
            (1) identify key areas with--
                    (A) grasslands at high risk of--
                            (i) conversion to cropland or residential 
                        or commercial development;
                            (ii) shrub or woody encroachment; or
                            (iii) invasion of annual grasses or other 
                        undesired vegetation;
                    (B) the highest potential of conserving native 
                grasslands, restoring grasslands, and reducing 
                fragmentation;
                    (C) ecologically and culturally significant 
                grasslands remnants;
                    (D) populations of grasslands-dependent species of 
                greatest conservation need, as identified in--
                            (i) State wildlife action plans;
                            (ii) Tribal conservation plans;
                            (iii) the report of the United States Fish 
                        and Wildlife Service titled ``Birds of 
                        Conservation Concern 2021 Migratory Bird 
                        Program'' (published April 2021), or a 
                        successor document; or
                            (iv) other appropriate science-based 
                        grasslands conservation plans; and
                    (E) grasslands habitats important to the recovery 
                of species listed as a threatened species or an 
                endangered species under section 4 of the Endangered 
                Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) or identified by a 
                State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency as a species 
                of greatest conservation need;
            (2) identify specific goals for North American grasslands 
        conservation, including goals for--
                    (A) conserving grasslands identified under 
                paragraph (1)(A);
                    (B) increasing grasslands acreage through the 
                restoration of marginal cropland and pastureland to 
                native grasslands in areas that were historically 
                grasslands; and
                    (C) enhancing existing grasslands, primarily 
                through incentivizing the voluntary restoration of 
                degraded grasslands and the management of native 
                prairie or sagebrush shrublands through conservation 
                practices including--
                            (i) advanced grazing management or other 
                        prescribed grazing management that meets the 
                        objectives of the Conservation Strategy;
                            (ii) beneficial fire, including prescribed 
                        fires and cultural burning practices;
                            (iii) invasive species management; and
                            (iv) removal of encroaching woody 
                        vegetation;
            (3) identify key grasslands conservation, restoration, and 
        management strategies for each of the grasslands regions 
        identified by the Director;
            (4) examine existing funding sources and identify gaps from 
        current Federal, State, Tribal, or local conservation programs 
        as such programs relate to grasslands conservation, 
        restoration, and management needs, including--
                    (A) conservation programs under the Agriculture 
                Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334) and 
                amendments made by that Act;
                    (B) conservation programs under the Pittman-
                Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et 
                seq.); and
                    (C) any Federal, State, Tribal, or local plans, 
                programs, or initiatives that support grasslands 
                conservation, restoration, and management; and
            (5) develop--
                    (A) baseline inventories and population estimates 
                of key indicator birds, pollinators, and other wildlife 
                species at risk;
                    (B) goals to increase the population size and 
                resiliency of such species, including through ensuring 
                grasslands habitat connectivity; and
                    (C) a tool to track county-level aggregated 
                conversion of native grasslands to cropland, 
                residential and commercial development, and other uses 
                that shall--
                            (i) protect the personally identifiable 
                        information of producers and landowners;
                            (ii) be made publicly available; and
                            (iii) be updated on an annual basis.
    (d) Availability.--Not later than 120 days before the date on which 
the Program is established, the Conservation Strategy shall be 
finalized and made publicly available on the website of the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service to help target investments in 
grasslands conservation projects.

SEC. 8. GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Director, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Agriculture and other heads of relevant Federal agencies, 
shall establish a competitive grant program through which the 
Commission shall award amounts to eligible entities to carry out 
eligible projects to support voluntary grasslands conservation 
projects, including projects--
            (1) to conserve intact grasslands at risk of conversion to 
        cropland or residential or commercial development;
            (2) to restore degraded grasslands and improve grasslands 
        health;
            (3) to restore marginal cropland or idle land back to 
        grasslands;
            (4) to increase carbon sequestration and ecological 
        function in soils and improve the resilience of grasslands;
            (5) to support habitat and habitat connectivity for native 
        grasslands and sagebrush birds, pollinators, plants, and other 
        wildlife, including big game species;
            (6) to restore and enhance watersheds through grasslands 
        restoration, management, and conservation;
            (7) to increase adoption of grasslands conservation, 
        restoration, and management practices; and
            (8) carried out by Indian Tribes to protect culturally 
        significant flora and fauna through the use of Indigenous 
        Traditional Ecological Knowledge related to grasslands 
        ecosystems.
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an 
eligible entity shall submit to the Council an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
determines appropriate, which shall include a description of the 
project the eligible entity intends to carry out with such a grant.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under the Program, the Commission 
shall prioritize grants to eligible entities the intended projects of 
which advance the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
    (d) Considerations.--In awarding grants under the Program, the 
Commission shall consider the recommendations made to the Commission by 
the Council under section 9.
    (e) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--An eligible entity may use a grant awarded 
        under the Program to carry out grasslands conservation 
        projects, including--
                    (A) voluntary conservation easements;
                    (B) grasslands restoration;
                    (C) management activities, including--
                            (i) voluntary incentives to producers for 
                        prescribed burns;
                            (ii) removal of pinyon juniper, eastern red 
                        cedar, salt cedar, or any other encroaching 
                        woody species;
                            (iii) management of invasive species;
                            (iv) maintenance and monitoring of new or 
                        ongoing grasslands conservation projects;
                            (v) advanced grazing management activities;
                            (vi) drought monitoring and preparedness 
                        activities;
                            (vii) management activities informed by 
                        Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, 
                        including through cultural burns to manage 
                        ecosystems to manage, conserve, or restore 
                        native flora and fauna; and
                            (viii) such other restoration and 
                        management activities identified in the 
                        Conservation Strategy or otherwise determined 
                        appropriate by the Director;
                    (D) grasslands ecosystem education, outreach, and 
                conservation stewardship assistance, which may 
                include--
                            (i) field days;
                            (ii) grazing management training programs;
                            (iii) conservation planning; and
                            (iv) education and outreach relating to--
                                    (I) grazing management;
                                    (II) control of invasive species;
                                    (III) beneficial fire;
                                    (IV) native seed crop systems 
                                research, in accordance with the 
                                research carried out by the Secretary 
                                of Agriculture under section 10;
                                    (V) land access, generational land 
                                transfers, and ensuring ranchland 
                                viability;
                                    (VI) best management practices 
                                relating to grasslands ecosystems;
                                    (VII) participation in carbon and 
                                ecosystem markets;
                                    (VIII) payment for ecosystem or 
                                conservation services; and
                                    (IX) safeguarding and ensuring the 
                                perpetuation of Indigenous Traditional 
                                Ecological Knowledge related to 
                                grasslands ecosystems; and
                    (E) such other activities that--
                            (i) benefit grasslands and associated 
                        wildlife and enable increased adoption of 
                        grasslands conservation, restoration, and 
                        management practices; and
                            (ii) are consistent with the Conservation 
                        Strategy.
            (2) Restoration activities.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1)(B), any restoration activity shall prioritize a diverse mix 
        of appropriately sourced native grasses and forbs, with such 
        exceptions as the Director determines to be appropriate for 
        ecologically appropriate noninvasive and nonnative species.
            (3) Safe harbor.--An eligible entity that carries out a 
        project pursuant to a grant awarded under the Program shall be 
        eligible with respect to such project for a safe harbor 
        agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (f) Grasslands Conservation Projects in Mexico and Canada.--The 
Director shall grant or otherwise provide up to 10 percent of the 
amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization under section 
13(a)(1) to Federal agencies, eligible entities, and other individuals 
and entities, including foreign land management agencies, for the 
purpose of assisting such agencies, entities, and individuals in 
carrying out grasslands conservation projects in Mexico and Canada 
that--
            (1) have been recommended by the Council; and
            (2) meet the goals of the Conservation Strategy.
    (g) Tribal Set-Aside.--For each fiscal year, of the amounts made 
available to carry out the Program, the Director shall set aside not 
less than 10 percent of such amounts to provide grants to Indian Tribes 
and Tribal organizations working with 1 or more Indian Tribes.
    (h) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the non-Federal 
        share of the cost of carrying out an eligible project using 
        amounts from a grant awarded under the Program--
                    (A) shall be not less than 25 percent, including 
                in-kind contributions; and
                    (B) may not be derived from a Federal grant 
                program.
            (2) Waivers.--
                    (A) Indian tribes.--The Director shall waive the 
                cost-share requirement under paragraph (1) for grants 
                awarded under the Program to Indian Tribes and Tribal 
                organizations.
                    (B) Other eligible entities.--The Council shall 
                establish waiver criteria under which the Commission 
                may waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph 
                (1), in whole or in part, for grants awarded under the 
                Program to eligible entities other than Indian Tribes.
    (i) Administrative Costs.--An eligible entity that is awarded a 
grant under this section may use such grant award for reasonable 
administrative costs relating to that grant.

SEC. 9. APPROVAL OF GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION PROJECTS.

    (a) Recommendations to the Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Each calendar year, the Council shall 
        submit to the Commission a report that includes a list of the 
        grasslands conservation projects (including the costs of those 
        projects), in order of priority, that the Council, in 
        consultation with each Regional Grasslands Conservation 
        Council, recommends to the Commission for funding under the 
        Program.
            (2) Considerations.--In making the list of recommended 
        grasslands conservation projects under paragraph (1), the 
        Council shall consider--
                    (A) the extent to which the grasslands conservation 
                project fulfills the purpose of this Act and the 
                strategies and objectives of the Conservation Strategy;
                    (B) the availability of sufficient non-Federal 
                funds to carry out the grasslands conservation project 
                and to match Federal contributions in accordance with 
                section 8(h)(1), notwithstanding the waivers described 
                in paragraph (2) of that section;
                    (C) the extent to which the grasslands conservation 
                project represents a partnership between public 
                entities, including Indian Tribes, and private 
                entities, including landowners; and
                    (D) the substantiality of the character and design 
                of the grasslands conservation project.
    (b) Council Best Practices and Procedures.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall establish best practices 
        and procedures for carrying out the requirements of subsection 
        (a).
            (2) Requirements.--The best practices and procedures 
        established under paragraph (1) shall require that--
                    (A) a quorum of the Council be present before any 
                business may be conducted; and
                    (B) the Council may not refer a grasslands 
                conservation project to the Commission under subsection 
                (a)(1) unless the grasslands conservation project is 
                approved by a vote of \2/3 \of the members of the 
                Council present and voting.
    (c) Council Representation on Commission.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall each 
        select 1 member of the Council to serve as an ex officio member 
        of the Commission for the purposes of considering and voting on 
        grasslands conservation projects recommended to the Commission 
        by the Council under subsection (a)(1).
            (2) Requirement.--A member of the Council selected under 
        paragraph (1) shall be a citizen of the United States.
    (d) Approval of Council Recommendations by the Commission.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission, including the 2 members of 
        the Council selected to serve as ex officio members on the 
        Commission under subsection (c)(1), shall approve, reject, or 
        reorder the priority of any grasslands conservation projects 
        recommended by the Council under subsection (a)(1) based on, to 
        the greatest extent practicable, the considerations described 
        in paragraph (2) of that subsection.
            (2) Approval of projects.--If the Commission approves a 
        grasslands conservation project under paragraph (1), the 
        Commission shall award a grant under the Program to the 
        eligible entity that applied to carry out the grasslands 
        conservation project.
            (3) Rejection of projects.--If the Commission rejects or 
        reorders the priority of any grasslands conservation project 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall provide the Council 
        and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public 
        Works of the Senate a written statement explaining the 
        rationale of the Commission in rejecting or reordering the 
        priority of, as applicable, the grasslands conservation 
        project.
    (e) Notification of Appropriate Committees.--Not less frequently 
than annually, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly 
available, a report that includes--
            (1) a list and description of the grasslands conservation 
        projects approved by the Commission under subsection (d)(2), in 
        order of priority;
            (2) the amounts and sources of Federal and non-Federal 
        funding for those grasslands conservation projects;
            (3) a justification for the approval of those grasslands 
        conservation projects and the order of priority for funding 
        those grasslands conservation projects;
            (4) a list and description of the grasslands conservation 
        projects that the Council recommended, in order of priority, 
        that the Commission approved for funding under the Program; and
            (5) a justification for any rejection or reordering of the 
        priority of grasslands conservation projects recommended by the 
        Council that was based on factors other than the considerations 
        described in subsection (a)(2).

SEC. 10. NATIVE SEED CROP SYSTEMS RESEARCH.

    The Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly 
coordinate and implement the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation 
and Restoration developed by the Plant Conservation Alliance and 
chaired by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, with an 
emphasis on--
            (1) research relating to native seed crop systems, 
        including--
                    (A) agronomic research to improve the understanding 
                of native plants as seed crops for native rangeland 
                revegetation, with an emphasis on enhancing natural 
                plant establishment in the environment;
                    (B) research on plant seed physiology to improve 
                seed quality, storage, and seeding success in the 
                landscape;
                    (C) the development and technology transfer of best 
                management practices and technologies for seed 
                production, seed collection, seed storage, and 
                reseeding success in the environment;
                    (D) research on soil chemistry and biome 
                composition and how soil chemistry and biome 
                composition affect native seed establishment; and
                    (E) identification of scenarios and preferred 
                species for the incorporation of nonnative seed, with 
                the goal of the overall successful restoration of 
                functional groups of species;
            (2) the extension of research described in paragraph (1) to 
        seed producers and land managers responsible for restoration 
        efforts; and
            (3) the production, storage, distribution, and planting of 
        native seed crops in grasslands areas for restoration.

SEC. 11. REGENERATIVE GRAZING DATA COLLECTION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
                    (A) public lands; and
                    (B) land of the National Forest System.
            (2) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
        System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the 
        Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
        (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
            (3) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
        pilot program established under subsection (b)(1).
            (4) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land 
        Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
            (5) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the--
                    (A) Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
                Chief of the Forest Service; and
                    (B) Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
                Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
        acting jointly.
    (b) Pilot Program for Use of Regenerative Grazing on Federal Land 
To Mitigate Effects of Climate Change.--
            (1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this section, the Secretaries shall establish 
        a pilot program to study the effectiveness of using grazing on 
        Federal land to mitigate the effects of climate change.
            (2) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program, the 
        Secretaries shall--
                    (A) identify--
                            (i) a standard set of practices to study, 
                        such as carbon beneficial practices, that 
                        support conservation and grazing goals, 
                        including--
                                    (I) ecologically appropriate 
                                silvopasture;
                                    (II) practices that provide 
                                wildlife habitat benefits;
                                    (III) practices that consider 
                                flexibility in season of use;
                                    (IV) forage and biomass management;
                                    (V) planned grazing; and
                                    (VI) range monitoring; and
                            (ii) sufficient grazing allotments on a 
                        diverse mixture of ecosystems to identify 
                        whether, and the extent to which, grazing is an 
                        effective tool to mitigate the effects of 
                        climate change, including the ability--
                                    (I) to improve soil health;
                                    (II) to increase carbon 
                                sequestration;
                                    (III) to reduce wildfire risk; and
                                    (IV) to improve watershed 
                                resilience and biodiversity; and
                    (B) in developing, implementing, and monitoring the 
                pilot program, consult with--
                            (i) the Chief of the Forest Service;
                            (ii) the Director of the Bureau of Land 
                        Management;
                            (iii) the Administrator of the Agricultural 
                        Research Service;
                            (iv) the Chief of the Natural Resources 
                        Conservation Service;
                            (v) the Director of the United States 
                        Geological Survey;
                            (vi) representatives designated by Indian 
                        Tribes;
                            (vii) ranchers and representatives of the 
                        ranching industry;
                            (viii) representatives from grazing 
                        districts, associations, boards, or councils;
                            (ix) environmental and conservation 
                        nongovernmental organizations;
                            (x) institutions of higher education; and
                            (xi) any other Federal or State agency, 
                        academic institution, or organization that the 
                        Secretaries determine to be appropriate.
            (3) Use of funds.--Funds made available to carry out the 
        pilot program may be used--
                    (A) to conduct research activities;
                    (B) to provide technical assistance to permittees; 
                or
                    (C) to construct the infrastructure necessary to 
                implement and analyze regenerative grazing.
            (4) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date on which the Secretaries determine that a sufficient 
        quantity of data has been collected under the pilot program, 
        the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
        Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
        and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
        Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives, and make publicly available on the websites of 
        the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the 
        Interior, a report regarding the findings and data derived from 
        the pilot program, including whether and the extent to which 
        the use of regenerative grazing improved the ability to 
        mitigate the impacts of climate change.

SEC. 12. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The Director shall biennially submit to Congress, and make publicly 
available, a report regarding the implementation of this Act, which 
shall include an assessment of the status of grasslands conservation 
projects during the preceding 2 years, including an accounting of 
expenditures by Federal, State, and other entities.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated, to remain 
available until expended--
            (1) to carry out section 7, $5,000,000;
            (2) beginning on the date the Conservation Strategy is 
        first publicly posted under section 7(d), to carry out the 
        Program--
                    (A) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                    (B) $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                    (C) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                    (D) $82,500,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
                    (E) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
            (3) to Partners for Fish and Wildlife to work with 
        ranchers, landowners, Tribes, and eligible entities to carry 
        out activities under the Program, $1,500,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2025 through 2029;
            (4) to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out section 
        10, $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027; and
            (5) to carry out section 11, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2024 through 2026.
    (b) Administrative Costs for the Program.--Of the amounts made 
available under subsection (a)(3), not more than 10 percent may be used 
for administrative costs relating to the Council, Regional Grasslands 
Conservation Councils, and the Program.
    (c) Limitation.--None of the funds made available under this 
section may be--
            (1) used for species or habitat mitigation under any 
        Federal law; or
            (2) applied in a manner that requires nonvoluntary changes 
        in agricultural or domestic livestock production, permitted 
        forestry practices, access to valid existing rights, or 
        compatible energy development and mining.

SEC. 14. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed--
            (1) to enlarge or diminish the authority, jurisdiction, or 
        responsibility of a State to manage, control, or regulate fish 
        and wildlife under the law and regulations of the State on 
        lands and waters within the State, including on Federal lands 
        and waters;
            (2) as modifying or abrogating a treaty with any Indian 
        Tribe, or as enlarging or diminishing the authority, 
        jurisdiction, or responsibility of an Indian Tribe to manage, 
        control, or regulate wildlife on Tribal land;
            (3) to impact the private property or privacy rights of 
        landowners without the express written consent of such 
        landowners; or
            (4) to authorize restrictions or reductions to public 
        access for hunting, angling, recreational shooting, or other 
        compatible types of outdoor recreation.
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