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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5125 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5125

   To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce 
 programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 2024

  Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. King, and Mr. Daines) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce 
 programs of Federal land management agencies, 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.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Land Manager 
Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2024''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                      TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY

Sec. 101. Prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing.
Sec. 102. Authorizing the National Park Service to address workforce 
                            housing off-park.
Sec. 103. Expanding National Park Service rental options.
Sec. 104. Leveraging National Park Service rental receipts for 
                            workforce housing programming.
Sec. 105. Empowering the Forest Service to address workforce housing 
                            needs.
                TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY

Sec. 201. Engaging partners to address National Park Service workforce 
                            housing.
Sec. 202. Leveraging philanthropic support to address National Park 
                            Service workforce housing.
                    TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE

Sec. 301. Supporting the permanent land manager workforce.
Sec. 302. Supporting the seasonal National Park Service workforce.
                    TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT

Sec. 401. Quantifying the workforce housing needs of land managers.
Sec. 402. Conducting oversight on the housing programming of land 
                            managers.
Sec. 403. Justifying emergency spending.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
                Forestry of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Covered agencies.--The term ``covered agencies'' 
        means--
                    (A) the National Park Service;
                    (B) the Bureau of Land Management;
                    (C) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
                and
                    (D) the Forest Service.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

                      TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY

SEC. 101. PRIORITIZING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

    Section 103502(a)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``quarters for field employees (as those 
        terms are defined in section 101331) (including related 
        infrastructure and amenities),'' after ``prioritize''; and
            (2) by inserting a comma after ``facilities''.

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE 
              HOUSING OFF-PARK.

    Section 100901 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Acquisition of Land for Administration of System Units.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 103501(c)(2) or 
        any other provision of law (including regulations), to 
        facilitate the administration of a System unit, the Secretary 
        may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation, 
        exchange, or transfer from another Federal agency, not more 
        than 10 acres of land or interests in land, cumulatively, not 
        more than a 1-hour driving commute (under normal commuting 
        conditions) outside the System unit boundary for the 
        development, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, 
        operation, or management of quarters for field employees (as 
        those terms are defined in section 101331) (including related 
        infrastructure and amenities) for the System unit.
            ``(2) Disposal.--If the Secretary determines that any land 
        or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) no longer 
        supports the administration of the System unit--
                    ``(A) the Secretary may determine the land and any 
                improvements to the land to be excess property for 
                disposal; and
                    ``(B) the proceeds from the disposal of excess 
                property under subparagraph (A) shall be retained by 
                the Secretary and deposited in the special fund 
                established for the development, construction, 
                rehabilitation, or management of quarters for field 
                employees (as so defined) (including related 
                infrastructure and amenities) under section 101338(b), 
                to be expended by the Secretary without further 
                appropriation.''.

SEC. 103. EXPANDING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL OPTIONS.

    Section 101336 of title 54, United States Code, is amended, in the 
first sentence, by striking ``management, repair, and maintenance of 
field employee quarters'' and inserting ``occupancy, development, 
construction, repair, maintenance, rehabilitation, or management of 
quarters for field employees (including related infrastructure and 
amenities)''.

SEC. 104. LEVERAGING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL RECEIPTS FOR 
              WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAMMING.

    Section 101338(b) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``maintenance and operation of quarters'' and inserting 
``development, construction, rehabilitation, or management of quarters 
for field employees (including related infrastructure and amenities)''.

SEC. 105. EMPOWERING THE FOREST SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE HOUSING 
              NEEDS.

    (a) Use of Forest Service Structures or Improvements.--Section 7 of 
the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as the ``Granger-Thye Act'') 
(64 Stat. 84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 580d), is amended by striking 
``thirty years as determined by him'' and inserting ``30 years, or in 
the case of a permit for workforce housing and related infrastructure 
(including amenities), any duration, as determined to be appropriate by 
the Secretary of Agriculture''.
    (b) Conveyances of Forest Service Administrative Sites.--Title V of 
the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 
U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-54) is amended--
            (1) in section 503--
                    (A) by striking subsection (f); and
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
                (f);
            (2) in section 504--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or over 
                time'' after ``conveyance of the administrative site'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``by 
                competitive sale'' and inserting ``through 
                competition''; and
                    (C) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 
                following:
            ``(5) Exemption from information collection requirements.--
        Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, 
        shall not apply to instruments used to convey administrative 
        sites under this title.
            ``(6) Foreclosure.--After a reasonable period of time for 
        removal and under conditions for cause considered to be 
        appropriate by the Secretary, a facility or improvement on an 
        administrative site remaining after the termination of a 
        conveyance under this title shall be conveyed to the United 
        States without consideration.''; and
            (3) in section 505(b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) the acquisition of land or any interests in land 
        (with or without improvements) for purposes of administration 
        of the National Forest System, including the construction of 
        Federal employee and private housing; and
            ``(4) the reacquisition by the Secretary of an 
        administrative site, a purchase agreement, or an option to buy 
        land with or without improvements conveyed under this title.''.

                TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY

SEC. 201. ENGAGING PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE 
              HOUSING.

    Section 101701(a) of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting, ``, including projects 
        for field employee quarters (as those terms are defined in 
        section 101331),'' after ``responsibilities of the 
        Secretary.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, Tribal,'' after ``State'';
                    (B) by inserting ``(including an organization that 
                has a philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise 
                generate donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of, 
                a Federal agency)'' after ``organization''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``(including an individual that 
                has a philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise 
                generate donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of, 
                a Federal agency)'' after ``individual''.

SEC. 202. LEVERAGING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK 
              SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

    Section 103501(c)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ``, services,'' after ``goods''.

                    TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE

SEC. 301. SUPPORTING THE PERMANENT LAND MANAGER WORKFORCE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
applicable, may recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals into 
the competitive service who are certified, in accordance with 
procedures established by the Secretary or the Secretary of 
Agriculture, as applicable, as maintaining a permanent and exclusive 
residence within, contiguous to, or not more than a 1-hour driving 
commute (under normal commuting conditions) from a site administered by 
the National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or 
Forest Service to which the individual would report to work into any 
position at or below grade GS-11 of the General Schedule, WG-15 of the 
Federal Wage System, or equivalent within the applicable site.
    (b) Requirements.--In exercising the authority provided under 
subsection (a), the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
applicable, shall ensure that any action taken by the Secretary or the 
Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable--
            (1) is consistent with the merit principles of section 2301 
        of title 5, United States Code;
            (2) complies with the public notice requirements of section 
        3327 of that title; and
            (3) is based on a determination by the Secretary or 
        Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, that there is a need 
        for workforce housing that cannot be supplied by the Federal 
        Government.
    (c) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under 
subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

SEC. 302. SUPPORTING THE SEASONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
purposes of determining the noncompetitive rehire eligibility of 
temporary seasonal employees of the National Park Service--
            (1) the Secretary shall establish a definition of what 
        constitutes a major subdivision of the National Park Service; 
        and
            (2) any requirement that a position be in the same local 
        commuting area shall not apply.
    (b) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under 
subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.

                    TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT

SEC. 401. QUANTIFYING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS OF LAND MANAGERS.

    Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a needs assessment report that 
describes, with respect to housing the workforce of covered agencies, 
as applicable--
            (1) housing unit types and utilization;
            (2) year-round, seasonal, and required occupancy rates;
            (3) alternatives to onsite housing;
            (4) local rental market availability and affordability;
            (5) local housing market trends; and
            (6) housing needs by position type.

SEC. 402. CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMMING OF LAND 
              MANAGERS.

    (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
            (1) assesses, in consultation with the National Housing 
        Council described in Office of Management and Budget Circular 
        A-45, the effect of Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
        45R on the housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
            (2) assesses the effect of Office of Management and Budget 
        Circular A-11 on the housing of the workforce of covered 
        agencies;
            (3) assesses the effect of department-level guidance on the 
        housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
            (4) assesses the effect of agency-level guidance on the 
        housing of the workforce of covered agencies; and
             (5) identifies suggested administrative actions and 
        legislative proposals to reform the guidance assessed under 
        paragraphs (1) through (4), including--
                    (A) improvements to tenant experience;
                    (B) improvements to workforce housing supply, 
                including--
                            (i) housing managed by the covered 
                        agencies; and
                            (ii) leased private market housing;
                    (C) improvements to financing options;
                    (D) improvements to public-private partnerships;
                    (E) improvements to philanthropic engagement; and
                    (F) improvements to commuting times to report 
                stations, including--
                            (i) available housing in the gateway 
                        communities;
                            (ii) available housing in the nearest 
                        established community (as defined in Office of 
                        Management and Budget Circular A-45);
                            (iii) discrepancies in Office of Management 
                        and Budget, Department of the Interior, and 
                        National Park Service definitions for 
                        reasonable commuting time; and
                            (iv) differences between normal commuting 
                        conditions and peak-commute traffic conditions, 
                        including considerations for--
                                    (I) road quality and condition;
                                    (II) availability of public 
                                transportation;
                                    (III) winter driving; and
                                    (IV) visitor traffic.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
the report is submitted under subsection (a), the heads of the covered 
agencies shall carry out the administrative actions identified under 
paragraph (5) of that subsection.

SEC. 403. JUSTIFYING EMERGENCY SPENDING.

    Section 5 of the Act of August 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 1033, chapter 950; 
7 U.S.C. 2228), is amended--
            (1) by striking the section designation and all that 
        follows through ``The Department'' and inserting the following:

``SEC. 5. EMERGENCY SUBSISTENCE FOR EMPLOYEES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Department''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Required Notice for Forest Service Employees.--Not less than 
30 days before the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture exercises 
the authority under subsection (a) with respect to Forest Service 
employees, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives notice providing--
            ``(1) 1 or more justifications for the use of the 
        authority;
            ``(2) the estimated cost of using the authority, as 
        verified by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office; 
        and
            ``(3) the name of the office within the Forest Service 
        employing the individuals that would be provided subsistence 
        payments.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
Secretary of Agriculture exercises the authority under subsection (a) 
with respect to Forest Service employees, the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives a report providing the number and grade level of the 
General Schedule of Forest Service employees to be provided subsistence 
payments.''.
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