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[House Report 111-312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

111th Congress                                            Rept. 111-312
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     Part 1

======================================================================

 
                 PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS ACT OF 2009

                                _______
                                

October 23, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1612]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 1612) to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to 
expand the authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, 
Commerce, and the Interior to provide service-learning 
opportunities on public lands, help restore the Nation's 
natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
scenic resources, train a new generation of public land 
managers and enthusiasts, and promote the value of public 
service, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
with amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendments are as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Public Lands Service Corps Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCE.

  Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Public 
Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 
91-378).

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993.

  (a) Name and Project Description Changes.--The Act is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Public Lands Corps'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``Public Lands Service Corps'';
          (2) in the title heading, by striking ``PUBLIC LANDS CORPS'' 
        and inserting ``PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS'';
          (3) in the section 204--
                  (A) in the section heading, by striking ``PUBLIC 
                LANDS CORPS'' and inserting ``PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE 
                CORPS''; and
                  (B) in the heading of subsection (a), by striking 
                ``Public Lands Corps'' and inserting ``Public Lands 
                Service Corps'';
          (4) in the heading of paragraph (2) of section 210(a), by 
        striking ``Public lands corps'' and inserting ``Public lands 
        service corps'';
          (5) by striking ``conservation center'' each place it appears 
        and inserting ``residential conservation center''; and
          (6) by striking ``appropriate conservation projects'' each 
        place it appears (except in paragraph (1) of section 204(e) as 
        so redesignated) and inserting ``appropriate natural and 
        cultural resources conservation projects''.
  (b) Findings.--Section 202(a) of the Act is amended as follows:
          (1) In paragraph (1), by striking ``the natural and 
        cultural'' and inserting ``natural and cultural''.
          (2) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) 
        and (5), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
        following:
          ``(2) Participants in conservation corps receive meaningful 
        training and their experience with such corps provides 
        preparation for careers in public service.
          ``(3) Young men and women who participate in the 
        rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation's natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
        treasures will gain an increased appreciation and understanding 
        of our public lands and heritage, and of the value of public 
        service, and are likely to become life-long advocates for those 
        values.''.
          (3) In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by inserting ``, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic'' 
        after ``Many facilities and natural''.
          (4) By adding at the end the following:
          ``(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit communities 
        adjacent to public lands and facilities through renewed civic 
        engagement and participation by corps participants and those 
        they serve; improved student achievement; and restoration and 
        rehabilitation of public assets.''.
  (c) Purpose.--Section 202(b) of the Act is amended to read as 
follows:
  ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
          ``(1) introduce young men and women to public service while 
        furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation's 
        natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic resources;
          ``(2) facilitate training and recruitment opportunities in 
        which service is credited as qualifying experience for careers 
        in public land management;
          ``(3) instill in a new generation of young men and women from 
        across the Nation, including those from diverse backgrounds, 
        the desire to seek careers in natural and cultural resource 
        stewardship and public service by allowing them to work 
        directly with professionals in agencies responsible for the 
        management of the Nation's natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources;
          ``(4) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation projects where such 
        projects are not being performed by existing employees;
          ``(5) assist governments and Indian tribes in performing 
        research and public education tasks associated with natural and 
        cultural resources;
          ``(6) expand educational opportunities by rewarding 
        individuals who participate in national service with an 
        increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; 
        and
          ``(7) promote public understanding and appreciation of the 
        individual missions and natural and cultural resources 
        conservation work of the Federal agencies through training 
        opportunities, community service and outreach, and other 
        appropriate means.''.
  (d) Definitions.--Section 203 of the Act is amended as follows:
          (1) By amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows:
          ``(1) Appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        project.--The term `appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation project' means any project for the conservation, 
        restoration, construction, or rehabilitation of natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 
        resources.
          ``(2) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        `Corps' and `Public Lands Service Corps' mean the Public Lands 
        Service Corps established under section 204 of this title.''.
          (2) By striking paragraphs (3) and (8).
          (3) By redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), 
        (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (3) through (11), 
        respectively.
          (4) By amending paragraph (7) (as so redesignated) to read as 
        follows:
          ``(7) Public lands.--The term `public lands' means any lands 
        or waters (or interest therein) owned or administered by the 
        United States, including those areas of coastal and ocean 
        waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting waters, and 
        submerged lands over which the United States exercises 
        jurisdiction, except that such term does not include any Indian 
        lands.''.
          (5) In paragraph (8) (as so redesignated)--
                  (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                  (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(D) makes available for audit for each fiscal year 
                for which the qualified youth or conservation corps 
                receives Federal funds under this Act, information 
                pertaining to the expenditure of the funds, any 
                matching funds, and participant demographics.''.
          (6) In paragraph (10) (as so redesignated)--
                  (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                  (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following:
                  ``(C) with respect to the National Marine Sanctuary 
                System, coral reefs, and other coastal, estuarine, and 
                marine habitats, and other lands and facilities 
                administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.''.
          (7) By adding at the end the following:
          ``(12) Residential conservation centers.--The term 
        `residential conservation centers' means the facilities 
        authorized under section 205.
          ``(13) Consulting intern.--The term `consulting intern' means 
        a consulting intern selected under section 206.
          ``(14) Public lands service corps participant.--The term 
        `Public Lands Service Corps participant', `Corps participant' 
        or `participant of the Corps' means an individual who is 
        enrolled in the Public Lands Service Corps pursuant to section 
        204(b).''.
  (e) Public Lands Service Corps Program.--Section 204 of the Act is 
amended as follows:
          (1) In subsection (a)--
                  (A) in the heading, by adding at the end ``Program'';
                  (B) by striking ``and the Department of Agriculture 
                a'' and inserting ``, the Department of Agriculture, 
                and the Department of Commerce a service and training 
                program titled the''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
                Secretary of the Interior shall establish a department-
                level office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps 
                activities within the Department of the Interior. The 
                Secretary of Agriculture shall establish within the 
                U.S. Forest Service an office to coordinate Public 
                Lands Service Corps activities within that agency. The 
                Secretary of Commerce shall establish within the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an 
                office to coordinate Public Lands Service Corps 
                activities within that agency. The Secretary of each 
                department shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps 
                coordinator for each agency within that department that 
                administers Public Lands Service Corps activities.''.
          (2) By amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
  ``(b) Participants.--The Secretary may enroll in the Public Lands 
Service Corps individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who 
are either hired by an agency under the Secretary's jurisdiction to 
perform work authorized under this Act or who are members of a 
qualified youth or conservation corps with which the Secretary has 
entered into a cooperative agreement to perform work authorized under 
this Act. The Secretary may also enroll resource assistants and 
consulting interns. All enrollees shall be considered Public Lands 
Service Corps participants, and may be enrolled for a term of up to 24 
months of service, which may be served over more than two calendar 
years. The individuals may be enrolled without regard to the civil 
service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the enrollment in 
the Corps of individuals who are economically, physically, or 
educationally disadvantaged.''.
          (3) In subsection (c)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``contracts and'';
                          (ii) by inserting ``natural and cultural 
                        resources'' after ``appropriate''; and
                          (iii) by striking ``subsection (d)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsection (e)'';
                  (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
                  (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Recruitment.--The Secretary shall undertake, or enter 
        into cooperative agreements to provide, a program to attract 
        eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing Corps opportunities 
        through high schools, colleges, employment centers, electronic 
        media, and other appropriate institutions or means.''; and
                  (D) by amending paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) to 
                read as follows:
          ``(3) Preference.--For purposes of entering into cooperative 
        agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary may give 
        preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in 
        a specific area that have a substantial portion of members who 
        are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to 
        carry out projects within the area.''.
          (4) By redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as 
        subsections (e) through (g), respectively.
          (5) By inserting after subsection (c) the following:
  ``(d) Training.--The Secretary shall establish a training program 
based at appropriate residential conservation centers or at other 
suitable regional Federal or other appropriate facilities or sites to 
provide training for Corps participants. The Secretary shall--
          ``(1) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of the 
        training program shall be commensurate with the projects Corps 
        participants are expected to undertake;
          ``(2) develop department-wide standards for the program that 
        include training in--
                  ``(A) resource stewardship;
                  ``(B) ethics for those in public service;
                  ``(C) principles of national service;
                  ``(D) health and safety;
                  ``(E) teamwork and leadership; and
                  ``(F) interpersonal communications;
          ``(3) direct each participating agency to develop agency-
        specific training guidelines to ensure that Corps participants 
        enrolled to undertake projects for that agency are 
        appropriately informed about matters specific to that agency, 
        including--
                  ``(A) the history and organization of the agency;
                  ``(B) the agency's core values; and
                  ``(C) any agency-specific standards for the 
                management of natural, cultural, historic, 
                archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources; and
          ``(4) take into account training already received by Corps 
        participants enrolled from qualified youth or conservation 
        corps, including in the matters outlined in paragraph (2).''.
          (6) In subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``The Secretary may utilize 
                        the Corps or any qualified youth or 
                        conservation corps to carry out appropriate'' 
                        and inserting ``The Secretary may use Corps 
                        participants to carry out, under appropriate 
                        supervision and training, appropriate natural 
                        and cultural resource''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``law on public lands.'' and 
                        inserting the following: ``law. Such projects 
                        may include, but are not limited to--
                  ``(A) protection, restoration, or enhancement of 
                ecosystem components to promote species recovery, 
                improve biological diversity, enhance productivity and 
                carbon sequestration, and enhance adaptability and 
                resilience of public lands and resources in the face of 
                climate change and other natural and human 
                disturbances;
                  ``(B) promoting the health of forests and public 
                lands, refuges, and coastal and marine areas, 
                including--
                          ``(i) protection and restoration of 
                        watersheds and forest, riparian, estuarine, 
                        grassland, coral reef, intertidal, or other 
                        habitat;
                          ``(ii) reduction of wildfire risk and 
                        mitigation of damage from insects, disease, and 
                        disasters;
                          ``(iii) erosion control;
                          ``(iv) control or removal of invasive, 
                        noxious, or non-native species; and
                          ``(v) restoration of native species;
                  ``(C) collection of biological, archaeological, and 
                other scientific data, including monitoring of 
                climatological information, species populations and 
                movement, habitat status, and other factors;
                  ``(D) assisting in historical and cultural research, 
                archival and curatorial work, oral history projects, 
                documentary photography, and activities that support 
                the creation of public works of art related to public 
                lands; and
                  ``(E) construction, repair, rehabilitation, green 
                building retrofitting, and maintenance of roads, 
                trails, campgrounds, and other facilities, employee 
                housing, cultural and historic sites and structures, 
                and facilities that further the purposes of the Public 
                Lands Service Corps.''.
                  (B) By redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively.
                  (C) By inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Visitor services.--The Secretary may--
                  ``(A) enter into or amend an existing cooperative 
                agreement with a cooperating association, educational 
                institute, friends group, or similar nonprofit partner 
                organization for the purpose of providing training and 
                work experience to Corps participants in areas 
                including, but not limited to, sales, office work, 
                accounting, and management provided that the work 
                experience directly relates to the protection and 
                management of the public lands; and
                  ``(B) allow Corps participants to help promote 
                visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, and 
                assist in the gathering of visitor use data.
          ``(3) Interpretation.--The Secretary may assign Corps 
        participants to provide interpretation or education services 
        for the public under the appropriate direction and supervision 
        of agency personnel, including--
                  ``(A) providing orientation and information services 
                to visitors, including services for non-English 
                speaking visitors and visitors who use American Sign 
                Language;
                  ``(B) assisting agency personnel in the delivery of 
                interpretive or educational programs, including outdoor 
                learning and classroom learning;
                  ``(C) presenting programs on Federal lands or at 
                schools, after-school programs, and youth-serving 
                community programs that relate the personal experience 
                of the Corps participant for the purpose of promoting 
                public awareness of the Corps, its role in public land 
                management agencies, and its availability to potential 
                participants; and
                  ``(D) creating nonpersonal interpretive products, 
                such as Web site content, Junior Ranger program books, 
                printed handouts, and audiovisual programs.''.
                  (D) In paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``Appropriate conservation projects'' and 
                inserting ``Appropriate natural and cultural resources 
                conservation projects''.
          (7) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``appropriate conservation project'' inserting ``appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation project''.
          (8) By amending the text of subsection (f)(2) (as so 
        redesignated) to read as follows: ``will instill in Corps 
        participants a work ethic and a sense of public service;''.
          (9) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking ``on 
        eligible service lands''.
          (10) By adding at the end the following:
  ``(h) Other Participants.--The Secretary may allow volunteers from 
other programs administered or designated by the Secretary to 
participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this section on 
such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate.''.
  (f) Residential Conservation Centers and Program Support.--Section 
205 of the Act is amended as follows:
          (1) In the section heading, by striking ``CONSERVATION'' and 
        inserting ``RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION''.
          (2) In subsection (a)--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish residential 
        conservation centers for--
                  ``(A) such housing, food service, medical care, 
                transportation, and other services as the Secretary 
                deems necessary for the Public Lands Service Corps; and
                  ``(B) the conduct of appropriate residential 
                conservation projects under this Act.'';
                  (B) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating 
                paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), 
                respectively;
                  (C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)--
                          (i) in the text, by inserting ``residential'' 
                        before ``conservation centers''; and
                          (ii) in the heading, by inserting 
                        ``residential'' before ``conservation 
                        centers''; and
                  (D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking ``with a State or'' and inserting ``a 
                cooperative agreement with another Federal, State, 
                or''.
          (3) In subsection (b)--
                  (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
                following:
          ``(1) The Secretary''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(2) The Secretary may make arrangements with other Federal 
        agencies, States, local governments, or private organizations 
        to provide temporary housing as needed and available.
          ``(3) In project areas where Corps participants can 
        reasonably be expected to reside at their own homes, the 
        Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and from 
        project sites.''.
          (4) By redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (g).
          (5) By inserting after subsection (c) the following:
  ``(d) Facilities.--The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps participants to 
aid in the rehabilitation or construction of residential conservation 
center facilities, including housing.
  ``(e) Green Buildings.--The Secretary may seek the assistance of the 
Secretary of Energy in identifying and using solar and other green 
building technologies and modular housing designs that may be adapted 
for residential conservation center facilities, including--
          ``(1) designs from the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon 
        competition; and
          ``(2) logistical support, assistance, and training from Solar 
        Decathlon participants.
  ``(f) Mentors.--The Secretary may recruit from programs, such as 
agency volunteer programs, and from agency retirees, veterans groups, 
military retirees, active duty personnel, and from appropriate youth-
serving organizations, such adults as may be suitable and qualified to 
provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading services to Corps 
participants.''.
          (6) In subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking ``are 
        appropriate to carry out this title'' and inserting ``the 
        Secretary determines to be necessary for the residential 
        conservation center''.
  (g) Resource Assistants and Consulting Interns.--Section 206 of the 
Act is amended as follows:
          (1) In the section heading, by inserting ``AND CONSULTING 
        INTERNS'' before the period.
          (2) In subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary is 
        authorized to provide individual placements of resource'' and 
        inserting the following: ``The Secretary is authorized, to 
        provide individual placements of the following:
          ``(1) Resource''.
          (3) By inserting after subsection (a)(1) (as so designated), 
        the following:
          ``(2) Consulting interns with any Federal land, coastal, or 
        ocean management agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
        to carry out management analysis activities on behalf of the 
        agency. To be eligible for selection as a consulting intern, an 
        individual must be a current enrollee and have completed at 
        least one full year at a graduate or professional school that 
        has been accredited by an accrediting body that has been 
        recognized by the Secretary of Education. The Secretary may 
        select consulting interns without regard to the civil service 
        and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
        States.''.
          (4) In subsection (b)--
                  (A) by inserting ``or consulting interns'' before 
                ``through private sources'';
                  (B) in the second sentence, before the period, by 
                inserting ``; up to 15 percent may be in-kind''; and
                  (C) by striking ``Resource Assistants'' and inserting 
                ``resource assistants or consulting interns''.
          (5) By adding at the end the following:
  ``(c) Cost Sharing Requirements.--At the Secretary's discretion, the 
requirements for cost sharing applicable to participating nonprofit 
organizations for the expenses of resource assistants and consulting 
interns under subsection (b) may be reduced to not less than 10 
percent.''.
  (h) Technical Amendment.--The Act is amended by redesignating 
sections 207, 208, 209, 210, and 211 as sections 208, 209, 210, 211, 
and 212, respectively.
  (i) Guidance.--The Act is amended by inserting after section 206 the 
following:

``SEC. 207. GUIDANCE.

  ``Not later than 18 months after funds are made available for this 
purpose, the Secretaries shall issue guidelines for the management of 
the Public Lands Service Corps programs for use by regional and State 
directors, and the supervisors of individual parks, forests, districts, 
sanctuaries, reserves, hatcheries, and refuges.''.
  (j) Living Allowances and Terms of Service.--Section 208 of the Act 
(as so redesignated) is amended--
          (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
  ``(a) Living Allowances.--The Secretary shall provide each Corps 
participant with a living allowance in an amount established by the 
Secretary. The Secretary may--
          ``(1) apply a cost-of-living differential to such allowances; 
        and
          ``(2) reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at the 
        beginning and end of their term of service if the Secretary 
        deems appropriate.'';
          (2) by amending the text of subsection (b) to read as 
        follows: ``Each Corp participant shall agree to participate in 
        the Corps for such term of service as may be established by the 
        Secretary enrolling or selecting the individual.'';
          (3) in the heading of subsection (c), by adding at the end 
        ``Preference and Future Employment''; and
          (4) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as 
                follows:
          ``(1) grant to a participant of the Public Lands Service 
        Corps credit for service time in the Corps to be used as 
        qualifying experience toward future Federal hiring;
          ``(2) provide to a former participant of the Public Lands 
        Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not 
        more than two years after the date on which the participant's 
        service with the Public Lands Service Corps is complete (not 
        counting any time spent enrolled in an academic institution or 
        trade school), if the candidate--
                  ``(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an 
                appropriate natural or cultural resource conservation 
                project that included at least 120 hours through the 
                Public Lands Service Corps; and
                  ``(B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position to which the 
                candidate is applying;''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(3) develop a system to provide consideration for 
        participants who cannot meet the requirements of paragraph (2);
          ``(4) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled 
        the resource assistant program noncompetitive hiring status for 
        a period of not more than two years after the date on which the 
        individual has completed an undergraduate degree from an 
        accredited institution;
          ``(5) provide to an individual who has successfully fulfilled 
        the consulting internship program noncompetitive hiring status 
        for a period of not more than two years after the date on which 
        the individual has completed a graduate degree from an 
        accredited institution; and
          ``(6) provide, or enter into cooperative agreements with 
        qualified employment agencies to provide, alumni services such 
        as job and education counseling, referrals, verification of 
        service, communications, and other appropriate services to 
        participants who have completed their Corps service.''.
  (k) National Service Educational Awards.--Section 209 of the Act (as 
so redesignated) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``If a'' and all that 
        follows through ``shall be eligible'' and inserting ``If a 
        Corps participant also serves in an approved national service 
        position designated under subtitle C of title I of the National 
        and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), 
        the Corps participant shall be eligible''; and
          (2) in subsection (b), by striking--
                  (A) ``either participants in the Corps or resource 
                assistants'' and inserting ``participants in the 
                Corps'' ; and
                  (B) ``or a resource assistant''.
  (l) Nondisplacement.--Section 210 of the Act (as so redesignated) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 210. NONDISPLACEMENT.

  ``The nondisplacement requirements of the National and Community 
Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all activities carried out 
by the Public Lands Service Corps participants.''.
  (m) Funding.--Section 211 of the Act (as so redesignated) is 
amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                  (A) by striking ``appropriate conservation project'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``appropriate 
                natural and cultural resources conservation project''; 
                and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
                Secretary may reduce to no less than 10 percent the 
                non-Federal costs of a project when the Secretary 
                determines that it is necessary to enable participation 
                in the Public Lands Service Corps from a greater range 
                of organizations.''; and
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) by inserting ``program'' after ``Corps''; and
                  (B) by inserting ``, consulting interns'' before 
                ``and qualified youth''.
  (n) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 212 of the Act (as so 
redesignated) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``to the Secretary'' 
        after ``authorized to be appropriated'';
          (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``to carry out'' the first 
        place it appears and all that follows through the period and 
        inserting ``such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
        title.'';
          (3) by striking subsection (b); and
          (4) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).

  Amend the title so as to read:

      A bill to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to 
expand the authorization of the Secretaries of Agriculture, 
Commerce, and the Interior to provide service opportunities for 
young Americans; help restore the nation's natural, cultural, 
historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; 
train a new generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; 
and promote the value of public service.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1612, as ordered reported, is to amend 
the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization 
of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior 
to provide service opportunities for young Americans; help 
restore the nation's natural, cultural, historic, 
archaeological, recreational and scenic resources; train a new 
generation of public land managers and enthusiasts; and promote 
the value of public service.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    H.R. 1612 builds on the already successful, but 
underfunded, program established in the Public Lands Corps Act 
of 1993 (Sec. 105 of P.L. 103-82). That program has employed 
thousands of young people to repair and restore our national 
parks.
    The program is currently authorized at $12 million annually 
for conservation projects by Department of the Interior land 
management agencies and the U.S. Forest Service. However, until 
fiscal year 2009, no money had been appropriated for the 
program. The National Park Service has utilized its authority 
to use fee revenues for backlog maintenance work to finance 
projects under the Public Lands Corps program. In fiscal year 
2009, $2.5 million was appropriated for healthy forests 
projects under the authority of 2005 amendments to the Public 
Lands Corps Act (P.L. 109-154).

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 1612 was introduced on March 19, 2009, by Natural 
Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV) and 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands 
Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
    On April 2, 2009, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the 
bill. Representatives of the Departments of Agriculture and the 
Interior testified in favor of H.R. 1612. The Subcommittee has 
also received a letter of support from the Department of 
Commerce.
    On June 10, 2009, the Subcommittee was discharged from 
further consideration of H.R. 1612 and the Full Natural 
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. Subcommittee 
Chairman Grijalva offered an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to clarify that the authorities granted in this bill 
apply across the entire Department of the Interior, and ensure 
that each Interior agency, as well as the Forest Service and 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), may 
engage in Public Land Service Corps activities, have a 
coordinator assigned by the Secretary, and develop specific 
training guidelines. Also at the request of the Administration, 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute alters the cost-
sharing language for resource assistants and consulting 
interns. The amendment in the nature of a substitute also made 
technical, clarifying and conforming changes to the bill.
    Representative Rob Bishop (R-UT) offered an amendment to 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute to identify 
projects under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
(P.L. 108-148) as priority projects and direct that half the 
funding appropriated for the Public Lands Service Corps be 
directed to those priority projects. The amendment was not 
agreed to by voice vote.
    Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA) offered an amendment to 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute to allow the 
Secretary to grant an enrollment preference to residents of 
counties eligible to receive funds under the Secure Rural 
Schools Program (P.L. 106-393). The amendment was withdrawn.
    Representative Bishop offered an amendment to the amendment 
in the nature of a substitute to clarify that appropriate 
natural and cultural resource conservation projects will take 
place on public lands, and to clarify what constitutes a 
preferred project. The amendment was withdrawn.
    The amendment in the nature of a substitute was then agreed 
to by voice vote, and H.R. 1612, as amended, was ordered 
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice 
vote.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 provides that the bill may be cited as the 
``Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009.''

Section 2. Reference

    Section 2 provides that all references to ``the Act'' in 
this bill are references to the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 
(16 U.S.C. 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91-378).

Section 3. Amendments to the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993

    Section 3 renames the corps as the Public Lands Service 
Corps, and makes numerous amendments to expand the scope of the 
program by including all Interior Department agencies and the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the 
Department of Commerce. Current law applies only to the 
National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
Bureau of Land Management and the Agriculture Department's U.S. 
Forest Service.
    Section 3(c) adds additional purposes to the act, including 
instilling in a new generation of young people, including those 
from diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in natural 
and cultural resource stewardship and public service by 
allowing them to work directly with professionals in the 
agencies responsible for managing the nation's natural, 
cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational and scenic 
resources.
    Section 3(d) refines the definitions in the original act to 
conform to the new version of the program, including making 
clear that the ``appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation projects'' authorized in the bill mean any project 
for the conservation, restoration, construction or 
rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 
recreational, or scenic resources. This section also expands 
the definition of public lands to include those areas of 
coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and their connecting 
waters, and submerged lands over which the United States has 
jurisdiction; and clarify that in the case of the National 
Marine Sanctuary system and other lands and facilities 
administered by NOAA, the term ``Secretary'' refers to the 
Secretary of Commerce.
    Section 3(e)(1) establishes the Public Lands Service Corps 
and directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to 
establish a coordinating office and a coordinator for the corps 
within the Forest Service and NOAA, respectively. For the 
Department of the Interior, this provision directs the 
Secretary to establish a department-wide coordinating office 
and a coordinator for each agency that administers Corps 
activities.
    Section 3(e)(2) outlines who may be enrolled in the Corps, 
allows the Secretaries to enter into agreements with qualified 
youth or conservation corps to perform the projects authorized 
under the bill.
    Section 3(e)(3) directs the Secretaries to undertake, or 
enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a recruiting 
program to attract eligible youth to the program and allows the 
Secretaries to give preference to qualified youth or 
conservation corps from disadvantaged areas.
    Section 3(e)(5) directs the Secretaries to establish 
training programs based at residential conservation centers or 
other appropriate facilities to ensure that, during their 
service term, participants receive adequate training for the 
work they have been assigned, including agency-specific 
standards, principles and practices. This provision also 
provides guidance as to the matters in which Corps participants 
should be instructed.
    Section 3(e)(6) modernizes the scope of eligible projects 
that may be performed by Corps participants to reflect new 
challenges, such as climate change.
    Section 3(f) authorizes agencies to provide housing for 
Corps participants, including allowing Corps participants to 
construct such housing if needed. The Secretaries may also make 
arrangements with other federal agencies, states, local 
governments, or private organizations to provide temporary 
housing as needed and available. The section also allows the 
Secretaries to seek the assistance of the Secretary of Energy 
in identifying and using solar and other green building design 
for those residential conservation centers. This section also 
allows the Secretaries to fund or provide transportation in 
project areas where Corps participants can reasonably be 
expected to reside at home.
    Another provision of Section 3(f) authorizes agencies to 
enlist current employees and volunteers, public lands agency 
retirees, military personnel and/or veterans to serve as 
mentors and allows agency volunteers to participate as crew 
members on Corps projects.
    Section 3(g) establishes a new category of Corps 
participants, to be known as consulting interns, to carry out 
management analysis activities for the agencies. The category, 
aimed at graduate students, is similar to the existing category 
of resource assistants, a position aimed at college students 
who are selected to carry out research or resource activities 
for the agencies.
    Section 3(i) requires the Secretaries to issue guidelines 
for the management of the Public Lands Service Corps for use by 
agency managers.
    Section 3(j) directs the Secretaries to provide each Corps 
participant with a living allowance, to which the Secretaries 
may apply a cost-of-living differential, and provide 
reimbursement for transportation at the beginning and end of a 
participant's term if appropriate. This section also broadens 
existing preferential hire provisions and authorizes the 
agencies to provide alumni services such as verification of 
service and/or references for students and other appropriate 
career development assistance.
    Section 3(m) allows the Secretaries to reduce the existing 
25 percent cost-share required of qualified youth or 
conservation corps who are participating in a project to no 
less than 10 percent if the Secretaries find the reduction is 
needed to enable participation by a greater range of 
organizations.
    Section 3(n) repeals the $12 million appropriations ceiling 
contained in existing law, and authorizes the appropriation to 
the Secretaries of such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
the legislation.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority 
to enact this bill.

                    Compliance With House Rule XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill, as ordered reported, is to amend the 
Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to expand the authorization of 
the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior to 
provide service opportunities for young Americans; help restore 
the nation's natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, 
recreational and scenic resources; train a new generation of 
public land managers and enthusiasts; and promote the value of 
public service.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

H.R. 1612--Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2009

    Summary: H.R. 1612 would amend the Public Lands Corps Act 
of 1993, which governs programs that assist and employ young 
adults to work on lands managed by the Department of the 
Interior (DOI), the Forest Service, and other federal agencies. 
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates 
that implementing the legislation would cost $120 million over 
the 2010-2014 period. Enacting the bill would not affect 
revenues or direct spending.
    H.R. 1612 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1612 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                                               2010    2011    2012    2013    2014    2010-2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Authorization Level...............................      30      30      30      30      30         150
Estimated Outlays...........................................      10      20      30      30      30         120
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 
1612 will be enacted near the beginning of fiscal year 2010 and 
that the amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated 
for each year. Estimated outlays are based on historical 
spending patterns for similar programs.
    In addition to changing the name of the Public Lands Corps 
(PLC) to the Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC), the bill would:
           Expand the program to include the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
           Require DOI to establish a department-level 
        office to coordinate PLSC programs among its various 
        bureaus;
           Emphasize that training for participants 
        should be provided at federal residential centers;
           Authorize federal appropriations to be used 
        for transportation subsidies; and
           Eliminate the program's current 
        authorization ceiling of $12 million a year.

Public Lands Corps under current law

    The Public Lands Corps is a network of young men and women, 
most of whom are recruited by federal land management agencies 
through nonprofit organizations such as the Student 
Conservation Association and over 100 local conservation 
service corps.
    Several agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, the 
National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), use 
members of the corps and students from other programs to build 
trails, perform maintenance, and carry out other projects in 
exchange for benefits such as training, living allowances, and 
medical care.
    Existing corps programs vary by agency and funding source. 
Currently, only the Forest Service receives specific 
appropriations for some PLC projects, but the funding (less 
than $3 million in 2009) may only be used for hazardous fuels 
reduction. The NPS also receives funding for PLC projects, but 
that funding is derived from recreation fees that the agency is 
able to use without appropriations action. (The President's 
2010 budget for the NPS requested $5 million of appropriated 
funds to expand youth activities at parks.) Other agencies work 
with student conservation groups using funds from their annual 
operating budgets.

Public Lands Service Corps (PLSC)

    H.R. 1612 would significantly expand PLC programs and 
change the corps' name to the Public Lands Service Corps. Under 
the bill, participants could receive classroom education, more 
job training, transportation subsidies, housing during their 
time in the program, and hiring preferences upon completion of 
their tenure. The bill also would expand the types of 
activities in which PLSC members could participate.
    The effect of H.R. 1612 on discretionary spending is 
uncertain, largely because total costs would depend on how the 
Administration chooses to implement the legislation and on how 
much funding the Congress would provide in appropriations acts. 
Based on information provided by the affected agencies, CBO 
expects that all of those agencies, including the newly added 
NOAA, would take advantage of the authorities provided by the 
bill.
    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the land management 
agencies and NOAA would, over the next five years, implement 
H.R. 1612 by expanding their use of federal-nonprofit 
partnerships. We expect that the affected agencies would need a 
total of about $30 million annually for this purpose. Such 
funding would allow agencies that have smaller PLSC programs 
(including the USFWS and BLM) to expand their programs, 
primarily by working with nonprofit corps in areas such as 
wildlife refuges and national monuments. The funding would also 
enable the Forest Service to expand the scope of its corps 
programs to encompass more activities such as trail 
construction and facility maintenance. This level of funding 
also would allow the NPS to expand its existing program--the 
largest of any of the agencies--using discretionary funding as 
requested in the 2010 President's budget. The estimated annual 
cost of $30 million also includes funds to operate an office at 
DOI to coordinate the department's activities and to provide 
participants with extra training, allowances, and 
transportation subsidies.
    CBO estimates that funding for the PLSC would grow after 
2014 as the Administration uses the enhanced authorities 
contained in the bill to recruit participants directly to 
agency programs. CBO estimates that implementing the expanded 
program would require a significant increase in funding after 
2015.
    This estimate is based on information provided by the NPS, 
the Forest Service, BLM, and nonprofit organizations that 
operate local conservation corps.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1612 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact 
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell; 
Impact on the Private Sector: Marin Randall.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                           Earmark Statement

    H.R. 1612 does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9 of rule XXI.

                Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                     PUBLIC LANDS CORPS ACT OF 1993

       TITLE II--[PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

  This title may be cited as the ``[Public Lands Corps] Public 
Lands Service Corps Act of 1993''.

SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

  (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          (1) Conserving or developing natural and cultural 
        resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally 
        important lands and waters through the use of the 
        Nation's young men and women in a [Public Lands Corps] 
        Public Lands Service Corps can benefit those men and 
        women by providing them with education and work 
        opportunities, furthering their understanding and 
        appreciation of [the natural and cultural] natural and 
        cultural resources, and providing a means to pay for 
        higher education or to repay indebtedness they have 
        incurred to obtain higher education while at the same 
        time benefiting the Nation's economy and its 
        environment.
          (2) Participants in conservation corps receive 
        meaningful training and their experience with such 
        corps provides preparation for careers in public 
        service.
          (3) Young men and women who participate in the 
        rehabilitation and restoration of our Nation's natural, 
        cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and 
        scenic treasures will gain an increased appreciation 
        and understanding of our public lands and heritage, and 
        of the value of public service, and are likely to 
        become life-long advocates for those values.
          [(2)] (4) Many facilities and natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
        resources located on eligible service lands are in 
        disrepair or degraded and in need of labor intensive 
        rehabilitation, restoration, and enhancement work which 
        cannot be carried out by Federal agencies at existing 
        personnel levels.
          [(3)] (5) Youth conservation corps have established a 
        good record of restoring and maintaining these kinds of 
        facilities and resources in a cost effective and 
        efficient manner, especially when they have worked in 
        partnership arrangements with government land 
        management agencies.
          (6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 
        communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 
        through renewed civic engagement and participation by 
        corps participants and those they serve; improved 
        student achievement; and restoration and rehabilitation 
        of public assets.
  [(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this title to--
          [(1) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation projects on 
        eligible service lands where such projects will not be 
        performed by existing employees;
          [(2) assist governments and Indian tribes in 
        performing research and public education tasks 
        associated with natural and cultural resources on 
        eligible service lands;
          [(3) expose young men and women to public service 
        while furthering their understanding and appreciation 
        of the Nation's natural and cultural resources;
          [(4) expand educational opportunities by rewarding 
        individuals who participate in national service with an 
        increased ability to pursue higher education or job 
        training; and
          [(5) stimulate interest among the Nation's young men 
        and women in conservation careers by exposing them to 
        conservation professionals in land managing agencies.]
  (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
          (1) introduce young men and women to public service 
        while furthering their understanding and appreciation 
        of the Nation's natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources;
          (2) facilitate training and recruitment opportunities 
        in which service is credited as qualifying experience 
        for careers in public land management;
          (3) instill in a new generation of young men and 
        women from across the Nation, including those from 
        diverse backgrounds, the desire to seek careers in 
        natural and cultural resource stewardship and public 
        service by allowing them to work directly with 
        professionals in agencies responsible for the 
        management of the Nation's natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources;
          (4) perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation projects 
        where such projects are not being performed by existing 
        employees;
          (5) assist governments and Indian tribes in 
        performing research and public education tasks 
        associated with natural and cultural resources;
          (6) expand educational opportunities by rewarding 
        individuals who participate in national service with an 
        increased ability to pursue higher education or job 
        training; and
          (7) promote public understanding and appreciation of 
        the individual missions and natural and cultural 
        resources conservation work of the Federal agencies 
        through training opportunities, community service and 
        outreach, and other appropriate means.

SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

  For purposes of this title:
          [(1) Appropriate conservation project.--The term 
        ``appropriate conservation project'' means any project 
        for the conservation, restoration, construction or 
        rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, 
        archaeological, recreational, or scenic resources.
          [(2) Corps and public lands corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Corps'' mean the Public 
        Lands Corps established under section 204.
          [(3) Eligible service lands.--The term ``eligible 
        service lands'' means public lands, Indian lands, and 
        Hawaiian home lands.]
          (1) Appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation project.--The term ``appropriate natural 
        and cultural resources conservation project'' means any 
        project for the conservation, restoration, 
        construction, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, 
        historic, archaeological, recreational, or scenic 
        resources.
          (2) Corps and public lands service corps.--The terms 
        ``Corps'' and ``Public Lands Service Corps'' mean the 
        Public Lands Service Corps established under section 
        204 of this title.
          [(4)] (3) Hawaiian home lands.--The term ``Hawaiian 
        home lands'' means all lands given the status of 
        Hawaiian home lands under section 204 of the Hawaiian 
        Homes Commission Act, 1920 (42 Stat. 110), or under the 
        corresponding provision of the Constitution of the 
        State of Hawaii adopted under section 4 of the Act 
        entitled ``An Act to provide for the admission of the 
        State of Hawaii into the Union'', approved March 18, 
        1959 (Public Law 86-3; 73 Stat. 5).
          [(5)] (4) Indian.--The term ``Indian'' means a person 
        who--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(6)] (5) Indian lands.--The term ``Indian lands'' 
        means--
                  (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(7)] (6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' 
        means an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized 
        group or community, including any Native village, 
        Regional Corporation, or Village Corporation, as 
        defined in subsection (c), (g), or (j), respectively, 
        of section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
        (43 U.S.C. 1602 (c), (g), or (j)), that is recognized 
        as eligible for the special programs and services 
        provided by the United States under Federal law to 
        Indians because of their status as Indians.
          [(8) Priority project.--The term ``priority project'' 
        means an appropriate conservation project conducted on 
        eligible service lands to further 1 or more of the 
        purposes of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
        (16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.), as follows:
                  [(A) To reduce wildfire risk to a community, 
                municipal water supply, or other at-risk 
                Federal land.
                  [(B) To protect a watershed or address a 
                threat to forest and rangeland health, 
                including catastrophic wildfire.
                  [(C) To address the impact of insect or 
                disease infestations or other damaging agents 
                on forest and rangeland health.
                  [(D) To protect, restore, or enhance forest 
                ecosystem components to--
                          [(i) promote the recovery of 
                        threatened or endangered species;
                          [(ii) improve biological diversity; 
                        or
                          [(iii) enhance productivity and 
                        carbon sequestration.
          [(9) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any lands or waters (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, except that such 
        term does not include any Indian lands.]
          (7) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means 
        any lands or waters (or interest therein) owned or 
        administered by the United States, including those 
        areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great Lakes and 
        their connecting waters, and submerged lands over which 
        the United States exercises jurisdiction, except that 
        such term does not include any Indian lands.
          [(10)] (8) Qualified youth or conservation corps.--
        The term ``qualified youth or conservation corps'' 
        means any program established by a State or local 
        government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, 
        or by a nonprofit organization that--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) gives participants a mix of work 
                experience, basic and life skills, education, 
                training, and support services; [and]
                  (C) provides participants with the 
                opportunity to develop citizenship values and 
                skills through service to their community and 
                the United States[.]; and
                  (D) makes available for audit for each fiscal 
                year for which the qualified youth or 
                conservation corps receives Federal funds under 
                this Act, information pertaining to the 
                expenditure of the funds, any matching funds, 
                and participant demographics.
          [(11)] (9) Resource assistant.--The term ``resource 
        assistant'' means a resource assistant selected under 
        section 206.
          [(12)] (10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' 
        means--
                  (A) with respect to National Forest System 
                land, the Secretary of Agriculture; [and]
                  (B) with respect to Indian lands, Hawaiian 
                home lands, or land administered by the 
                Department of the Interior, the Secretary of 
                the Interior[.]; and
                  (C) with respect to the National Marine 
                Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other 
                coastal, estuarine, and marine habitats, and 
                other lands and facilities administered by the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Secretary of Commerce.
          [(13)] (11) State.--The term ``State'' means any 
        State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
        the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin 
        Islands of the United States, American Samoa, and the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
          (12) Residential conservation centers.--The term 
        ``residential conservation centers'' means the 
        facilities authorized under section 205.
          (13) Consulting intern.--The term ``consulting 
        intern'' means a consulting intern selected under 
        section 206.
          (14) Public lands service corps participant.--The 
        term ``Public Lands Service Corps participant'', 
        ``Corps participant'' or ``participant of the Corps'' 
        means an individual who is enrolled in the Public Lands 
        Service Corps pursuant to section 204(b).

SEC. 204. [PUBLIC LANDS CORPS] PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment of [Public Lands Corps] Public Lands 
Service Corps Program.--There is hereby established in the 
Department of the Interior [and the Department of Agriculture a 
Public Lands Corps], the Department of Agriculture, and the 
Department of Commerce a service and training program titled 
the Public Lands Service Corps. The Secretary of the Interior 
shall establish a department-level office to coordinate Public 
Lands Service Corps activities within the Department of the 
Interior. The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish within 
the U.S. Forest Service an office to coordinate Public Lands 
Service Corps activities within that agency. The Secretary of 
Commerce shall establish within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration an office to coordinate Public Lands 
Service Corps activities within that agency. The Secretary of 
each department shall designate a Public Lands Service Corps 
coordinator for each agency within that department that 
administers Public Lands Service Corps activities.
  [(b) Participants.--The Corps shall consist of individuals 
between the ages of 16 and 25, inclusive, who are enrolled as 
participants in the Corps by the Secretary. To be eligible for 
enrollment in the Corps, an individual shall satisfy the 
criteria specified in section 137(b) of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990. The Secretary may enroll such 
individuals in the Corps without regard to the civil service 
and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United 
States. The Secretary may establish a preference for the 
enrollment in the Corps of individuals who are economically, 
physically, or educationally disadvantaged.]
  (b) Participants.--The Secretary may enroll in the Public 
Lands Service Corps individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, 
inclusive, who are either hired by an agency under the 
Secretary's jurisdiction to perform work authorized under this 
Act or who are members of a qualified youth or conservation 
corps with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative 
agreement to perform work authorized under this Act. The 
Secretary may also enroll resource assistants and consulting 
interns. All enrollees shall be considered Public Lands Service 
Corps participants, and may be enrolled for a term of up to 24 
months of service, which may be served over more than two 
calendar years. The individuals may be enrolled without regard 
to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or 
regulations of the United States. The Secretary may establish a 
preference for the enrollment in the Corps of individuals who 
are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.
  (c) Qualified Youth or Conservation Corps.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to enter 
        into [contracts and] cooperative agreements with any 
        qualified youth or conservation corps to perform 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        projects referred to in [subsection (d)] subsection 
        (e).
          (2) Recruitment.--The Secretary shall undertake, or 
        enter into cooperative agreements to provide, a program 
        to attract eligible youth to the Corps by publicizing 
        Corps opportunities through high schools, colleges, 
        employment centers, electronic media, and other 
        appropriate institutions or means.
          [(2) Preference.--
                  [(A) In general.--For purposes of entering 
                into contracts and cooperative agreements under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary may give 
                preference to qualified youth or conservation 
                corps located in a specific area that have a 
                substantial portion of members who are 
                economically, physically, or educationally 
                disadvantaged to carry out projects within the 
                area.
                  [(B) Priority projects.--In carrying out 
                projects in a specific area, the Secretary 
                shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give 
                preference to qualified youth or conservation 
                corps located in that specific area that have a 
                substantial portion of members who are 
                economically, physically, or educationally 
                disadvantaged.]
          (3) Preference.--For purposes of entering into 
        cooperative agreements under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or 
        conservation corps located in a specific area that have 
        a substantial portion of members who are economically, 
        physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out 
        projects within the area.
  (d) Training.--The Secretary shall establish a training 
program based at appropriate residential conservation centers 
or at other suitable regional Federal or other appropriate 
facilities or sites to provide training for Corps participants. 
The Secretary shall--
          (1) ensure that the duration and comprehensiveness of 
        the training program shall be commensurate with the 
        projects Corps participants are expected to undertake;
          (2) develop department-wide standards for the program 
        that include training in--
                  (A) resource stewardship;
                  (B) ethics for those in public service;
                  (C) principles of national service;
                  (D) health and safety;
                  (E) teamwork and leadership; and
                  (F) interpersonal communications;
          (3) direct each participating agency to develop 
        agency-specific training guidelines to ensure that 
        Corps participants enrolled to undertake projects for 
        that agency are appropriately informed about matters 
        specific to that agency, including--
                  (A) the history and organization of the 
                agency;
                  (B) the agency's core values; and
                  (C) any agency-specific standards for the 
                management of natural, cultural, historic, 
                archaeological, recreational, and scenic 
                resources; and
          (4) take into account training already received by 
        Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or 
        conservation corps, including in the matters outlined 
        in paragraph (2).
  [(d)] (e) Projects To Be Carried Out.--
          (1) In general.--[The Secretary may utilize the Corps 
        or any qualified youth or conservation corps to carry 
        out appropriate] The Secretary may use Corps 
        participants to carry out, under appropriate 
        supervision and training, appropriate natural and 
        cultural resource conservation projects which the 
        Secretary is authorized to carry out under other 
        authority of [law on public lands.] law. Such projects 
        may include, but are not limited to--
                  (A) protection, restoration, or enhancement 
                of ecosystem components to promote species 
                recovery, improve biological diversity, enhance 
                productivity and carbon sequestration, and 
                enhance adaptability and resilience of public 
                lands and resources in the face of climate 
                change and other natural and human 
                disturbances;
                  (B) promoting the health of forests and 
                public lands, refuges, and coastal and marine 
                areas, including--
                          (i) protection and restoration of 
                        watersheds and forest, riparian, 
                        estuarine, grassland, coral reef, 
                        intertidal, or other habitat;
                          (ii) reduction of wildfire risk and 
                        mitigation of damage from insects, 
                        disease, and disasters;
                          (iii) erosion control;
                          (iv) control or removal of invasive, 
                        noxious, or non-native species; and
                          (v) restoration of native species;
                  (C) collection of biological, archaeological, 
                and other scientific data, including monitoring 
                of climatological information, species 
                populations and movement, habitat status, and 
                other factors;
                  (D) assisting in historical and cultural 
                research, archival and curatorial work, oral 
                history projects, documentary photography, and 
                activities that support the creation of public 
                works of art related to public lands; and
                  (E) construction, repair, rehabilitation, 
                green building retrofitting, and maintenance of 
                roads, trails, campgrounds, and other 
                facilities, employee housing, cultural and 
                historic sites and structures, and facilities 
                that further the purposes of the Public Lands 
                Service Corps.
          (2) Visitor services.--The Secretary may--
                  (A) enter into or amend an existing 
                cooperative agreement with a cooperating 
                association, educational institute, friends 
                group, or similar nonprofit partner 
                organization for the purpose of providing 
                training and work experience to Corps 
                participants in areas including, but not 
                limited to, sales, office work, accounting, and 
                management provided that the work experience 
                directly relates to the protection and 
                management of the public lands; and
                  (B) allow Corps participants to help promote 
                visitor safety and enjoyment of public lands, 
                and assist in the gathering of visitor use 
                data.
          (3) Interpretation.--The Secretary may assign Corps 
        participants to provide interpretation or education 
        services for the public under the appropriate direction 
        and supervision of agency personnel, including--
                  (A) providing orientation and information 
                services to visitors, including services for 
                non-English speaking visitors and visitors who 
                use American Sign Language;
                  (B) assisting agency personnel in the 
                delivery of interpretive or educational 
                programs, including outdoor learning and 
                classroom learning;
                  (C) presenting programs on Federal lands or 
                at schools, after-school programs, and youth-
                serving community programs that relate the 
                personal experience of the Corps participant 
                for the purpose of promoting public awareness 
                of the Corps, its role in public land 
                management agencies, and its availability to 
                potential participants; and
                  (D) creating nonpersonal interpretive 
                products, such as Web site content, Junior 
                Ranger program books, printed handouts, and 
                audiovisual programs.
          [(2)] (4) Projects on indian lands.--[Appropriate 
        conservation projects] Appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation projects may also be carried out 
        under this title on Indian lands with the approval of 
        the Indian tribe involved and on Hawaiian home lands 
        with the approval of the Department of Hawaiian Home 
        Lands of the State of Hawaii.
          [(3)] (5) Disaster prevention or relief projects.--
        The Secretary may authorize [appropriate conservation 
        projects] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
        conservation projects and other appropriate projects to 
        be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private 
        land as part of a Federal disaster prevention or relief 
        effort.
  [(e)] (f) Preference for Certain Projects.--In selecting 
[appropriate conservation projects] appropriate natural and 
cultural resources conservation projects to be carried out 
under this title, the Secretary shall give preference to those 
projects which--
          (1) will provide long-term benefits to the public;
          (2) [will instill in the enrollee involved a work 
        ethic and a sense of public service;] will instill in 
        Corps participants a work ethic and a sense of public 
        service;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  [(f)] (g) Consistency.--Each [appropriate conservation 
project] appropriate natural and cultural resources 
conservation project carried out under this title [on eligible 
service lands] shall be consistent with the provisions of law 
and policies relating to the management and administration of 
such lands, with all other applicable provisions of law, and 
with all management, operational, and other plans and documents 
which govern the administration of the area.
  (h) Other Participants.--The Secretary may allow volunteers 
from other programs administered or designated by the Secretary 
to participate as volunteers in projects carried out under this 
section on such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. 205. [CONSERVATION] RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND PROGRAM 
                    SUPPORT.

  (a) Establishment and Use.--
          [(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish and use 
        conservation centers owned and operated by the 
        Secretary for--
                  [(A) use by the Public Lands Service Corps; 
                and
                  [(B) the conduct of appropriate natural and 
                cultural resources conservation projects under 
                this title.
          [(2) Assistance for conservation centers.--The 
        Secretary may provide to a residential conservation 
        center established under paragraph (1) any services, 
        facilities, equipment, and supplies that the Secretary 
        determines to be necessary for the residential 
        conservation center.]
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may establish 
        residential conservation centers for--
                  (A) such housing, food service, medical care, 
                transportation, and other services as the 
                Secretary deems necessary for the Public Lands 
                Service Corps; and
                  (B) the conduct of appropriate residential 
                conservation projects under this Act.
          [(3)] (2) Standards for residential conservation 
        centers.--The Secretary shall--
                  (A) establish basic standards of health, 
                nutrition, sanitation, and safety for all 
                residential conservation centers established 
                under paragraph (1); and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          [(4)] (3) Management.--As the Secretary determines to 
        be appropriate, the Secretary may enter into a contract 
        or other appropriate arrangement [with a State or] a 
        cooperative agreement with another Federal, State, or 
        local government agency or private organization to 
        provide for the management of a [conservation center] 
        residential conservation center.
  (b) Logistical Support.--[The Secretary]
          (1) The Secretary may make arrangements with the 
        Secretary of Defense to have logistical support 
        provided by the Armed Forces to the Corps and any 
        [conservation center] residential conservation center 
        established under this section, where feasible. 
        Logistical support may include the provision of 
        temporary tent shelters where needed, transportation, 
        and residential supervision.
          (2) The Secretary may make arrangements with other 
        Federal agencies, States, local governments, or private 
        organizations to provide temporary housing as needed 
        and available.
          (3) In project areas where Corps participants can 
        reasonably be expected to reside at their own homes, 
        the Secretary may fund or provide transportation to and 
        from project sites.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (d) Facilities.--The Secretary may, as an appropriate natural 
and cultural resources conservation project, direct Corps 
participants to aid in the rehabilitation or construction of 
residential conservation center facilities, including housing.
  (e) Green Buildings.--The Secretary may seek the assistance 
of the Secretary of Energy in identifying and using solar and 
other green building technologies and modular housing designs 
that may be adapted for residential conservation center 
facilities, including--
          (1) designs from the Department of Energy's Solar 
        Decathlon competition; and
          (2) logistical support, assistance, and training from 
        Solar Decathlon participants.
  (f) Mentors.--The Secretary may recruit from programs, such 
as agency volunteer programs, and from agency retirees, 
veterans groups, military retirees, active duty personnel, and 
from appropriate youth-serving organizations, such adults as 
may be suitable and qualified to provide training, mentoring, 
and crew-leading services to Corps participants.
  [(d)] (g) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide any 
services, facilities, equipment, supplies, technical 
assistance, oversight, monitoring, or evaluations that [are 
appropriate to carry out this title] the Secretary determines 
to be necessary for the residential conservation center.

SEC. 206. RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING INTERNS.

  (a) Authorization.--[The Secretary is authorized to provide 
individual placements of resource] The Secretary is authorized, 
to provide individual placements of the following:
          (1) Resource assistants with any Federal land 
        managing agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
        to carry out research or resource protection activities 
        on behalf of the agency. To be eligible for selection 
        as a resource assistant, an individual must be at least 
        17 years of age. The Secretary may select resource 
        assistants without regard to the civil service and 
        classification laws, rules, or regulations of the 
        United States. The Secretary shall give a preference to 
        the selection of individuals who are enrolled in an 
        institution of higher education or are recent graduates 
        from an institution of higher education, with 
        particular attention given to ensure full 
        representation of women and participants from 
        historically black, Hispanic, and Native American 
        schools.
          (2) Consulting interns with any Federal land, 
        coastal, or ocean management agency under the 
        jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out management 
        analysis activities on behalf of the agency. To be 
        eligible for selection as a consulting intern, an 
        individual must be a current enrollee and have 
        completed at least one full year at a graduate or 
        professional school that has been accredited by an 
        accrediting body that has been recognized by the 
        Secretary of Education. The Secretary may select 
        consulting interns without regard to the civil service 
        and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the 
        United States.
  (b) Use of Existing Nonprofit Organizations.--Whenever one or 
more existing nonprofit organizations can provide, in the 
judgment of the the Secretary, appropriate recruitment and 
placement services to fulfill the requirements of this section, 
the Secretary may implement this section through such existing 
organizations. Participating nonprofit organizations shall 
contribute to the expenses of providing and supporting the 
resource assistants, or consulting interns through private 
sources of funding, at a level equal to 25 percent of the total 
costs of each participant in the Resource Assistant program who 
has been recruited and placed through that organization; up to 
15 percent may be in-kind. Any such participating nonprofit 
conservation service organization shall be required, by the 
respective land managing agency, to submit an annual report 
evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the program, 
including the value of work contributed by the [Resource 
Assistants] resource assistants or consulting interns, to the 
mission of the agency.
  (c) Cost Sharing Requirements.--At the Secretary's 
discretion, the requirements for cost sharing applicable to 
participating nonprofit organizations for the expenses of 
resource assistants and consulting interns under subsection (b) 
may be reduced to not less than 10 percent.

SEC. 207. GUIDANCE.

  Not later than 18 months after funds are made available for 
this purpose, the Secretaries shall issue guidelines for the 
management of the Public Lands Service Corps programs for use 
by regional and State directors, and the supervisors of 
individual parks, forests, districts, sanctuaries, reserves, 
hatcheries, and refuges.

SEC. [207.] 208. LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERVICE.

  [(a) Living Allowances.--The Secretary shall provide each 
participant in the Public Lands Service Corps and each resource 
assistant with a living allowance in an amount established by 
the Secretary.]
  (a) Living Allowances.--The Secretary shall provide each 
Corps participant with a living allowance in an amount 
established by the Secretary. The Secretary may--
          (1) apply a cost-of-living differential to such 
        allowances; and
          (2) reimburse Corps participants for travel costs at 
        the beginning and end of their term of service if the 
        Secretary deems appropriate.
  (b) Terms of Service.--[Each participant in the Corps and 
each resource assistant shall agree to participate in the Corps 
or serve as a resource assistant, as the case may be, for such 
term of service as may be established by the Secretary 
enrolling or selecting the individual.] Each Corp participant 
shall agree to participate in the Corps for such term of 
service as may be established by the Secretary enrolling or 
selecting the individual.
  (c) Hiring Preference and Future Employment.--The Secretary 
may--
          [(1) grant to a member of the Public Lands Service 
        Corps credit for time served with the Public Lands 
        Service Corps, which may be used toward future Federal 
        hiring; and
          [(2) provide to a former member of the Public Lands 
        Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a period 
        of not more than 120 days after the date on which the 
        member's service with the Public Lands Service Corps is 
        complete.]
          (1) grant to a participant of the Public Lands 
        Service Corps credit for service time in the Corps to 
        be used as qualifying experience toward future Federal 
        hiring;
          (2) provide to a former participant of the Public 
        Lands Service Corps noncompetitive hiring status for a 
        period of not more than two years after the date on 
        which the participant's service with the Public Lands 
        Service Corps is complete (not counting any time spent 
        enrolled in an academic institution or trade school), 
        if the candidate--
                  (A) has served a minimum of 960 hours on an 
                appropriate natural or cultural resource 
                conservation project that included at least 120 
                hours through the Public Lands Service Corps; 
                and
                  (B) meets Office of Personnel Management 
                qualification standards for the position to 
                which the candidate is applying;
          (3) develop a system to provide consideration for 
        participants who cannot meet the requirements of 
        paragraph (2);
          (4) provide to an individual who has successfully 
        fulfilled the resource assistant program noncompetitive 
        hiring status for a period of not more than two years 
        after the date on which the individual has completed an 
        undergraduate degree from an accredited institution;
          (5) provide to an individual who has successfully 
        fulfilled the consulting internship program 
        noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more 
        than two years after the date on which the individual 
        has completed a graduate degree from an accredited 
        institution; and
          (6) provide, or enter into cooperative agreements 
        with qualified employment agencies to provide, alumni 
        services such as job and education counseling, 
        referrals, verification of service, communications, and 
        other appropriate services to participants who have 
        completed their Corps service.

SEC. [208.] 209. NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.

  (a) Educational Benefits and Awards.--[If a participant in 
the Public Lands Corps or a resource assistant also serves in 
an approved national service position designated under subtitle 
C of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, 
the participant or resource assistant shall be eligible] If a 
Corps participant also serves in an approved national service 
position designated under subtitle C of title I of the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.), 
the Corps participant shall be eligible for a national service 
educational award in the manner prescribed in subtitle D of 
such title upon successfully complying with the requirements 
for the award. The period during which the national service 
educational award may be used, the purposes for which the award 
may be used, and the amount of the award shall be determined as 
provided under such subtitle.
  (b) Forbearance in the Collection of Stafford Loans.--For 
purposes of section 428 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, in 
the case of borrowers who are [either participants in the Corps 
or resource assistants] participants in the Corps, upon written 
request, a lender shall grant a borrower forbearance on such 
terms as are otherwise consistent with the regulations of the 
Secretary of Education, during periods in which the borrower is 
serving as such a participant [or a resource assistant].

[SEC. 209. NONDISPLACEMENT.

  [The nondisplacement requirements of section 177 of the 
National and Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable 
to all activities carried out by the Public Lands Service 
Corps, to all activities carried out under this title by a 
qualified youth or conservation corps, and to the selection and 
service of resource assistants.]

SEC. 210. NONDISPLACEMENT.

  The nondisplacement requirements of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990 shall be applicable to all 
activities carried out by the Public Lands Service Corps 
participants.

SEC. [210.] 211. FUNDING.

  (a) Cost Sharing.--
          (1) Projects by qualified youth or conservation 
        corps.--The Secretary is authorized to pay not more 
        than 75 percent of the costs of any [appropriate 
        conservation project] appropriate natural and cultural 
        resources conservation project carried out pursuant to 
        this title on public lands by a qualified youth or 
        conservation corps. The remaining 25 percent of the 
        costs of such a project may be provided from nonfederal 
        sources in the form of funds, services, facilities, 
        materials, equipment, or any combination of the 
        foregoing. No cost sharing shall be required in the 
        case of any [appropriate conservation project] 
        appropriate natural and cultural resources conservation 
        project carried out on Indian lands or Hawaiian home 
        lands under this title. The Secretary may reduce to no 
        less than 10 percent the non-Federal costs of a project 
        when the Secretary determines that it is necessary to 
        enable participation in the Public Lands Service Corps 
        from a greater range of organizations.
          (2) [Public lands corps] Public lands service corps 
        projects.--The Secretary is authorized to accept 
        donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or 
        equipment for the purposes of operating the [Public 
        Lands Corps] Public Lands Service Corps and carrying 
        out [appropriate conservation projects] appropriate 
        natural and cultural resources conservation projects by 
        the Corps. However, nothing in this title shall be 
        construed to require any cost sharing for any project 
        carried out directly by the Corps.
  (b) Funds Available Under National and Community Service 
Act.--In order to carry out the [Public Lands Corps] Public 
Lands Service Corps program or to support resource assistants, 
consulting interns and qualified youth or conservation corps 
under this title, the Secretary shall be eligible to apply for 
and receive assistance under section 121(b) of the National and 
Community Service Act of 1990.
  (c) Other Funds.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
authorization of appropriations under section 211 are in 
addition to amounts allocated to the [Public Lands Corps] 
Public Lands Service Corps through other Federal programs or 
projects.

SEC. [211.] 212. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated [to 
carry out this title $12,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which 
$8,000,000 is authorized to carry out priority projects and 
$4,000,000 of which is authorized to carry out other 
appropriate conservation projects.] to the Secretary such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this title.
  [(b) Disaster Relief or Prevention Projects.--Notwithstanding 
subsection (a), any amounts made available under that 
subsection shall be available for disaster prevention or relief 
projects.]
  [(c)] (b) Availability of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, amounts appropriated for any fiscal year to 
carry out this title shall remain available for obligation and 
expenditure until the end of the fiscal year following the 
fiscal year for which the amounts are appropriated.

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

    H.R. 1612 expands the ability of the Secretary of the 
Interior to recruit young people and improve living conditions 
for the participants in the program. We support the goals of 
this program and want to encourage public participation in the 
care of America's vast expanse of public lands. Many facilities 
on our public lands are in need of improvement and a job corps 
program, if wisely managed, can be a cost-effective way of 
restoring public lands for the use and enjoyment of all 
Americans.
    However, despite efforts made at full committee markup and 
agreements on several points of conflict with the Majority, we 
remain concerned that this legislation backtracks on previous 
commitments in this program to address deteriorating conditions 
in our forests by committing at least half of the funds to 
projects under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 
(HRFA).
    As this Public Lands Job Corps program is currently 
devised, it places the highest priority on helping to create a 
new generation of land managers who would have the training and 
proper understanding of how to prevent catastrophic wildfires. 
It was understood that the best way of doing this was using 
this program to help implement the Healthy Forest Restoration 
Act. HFRA was passed with bipartisan support, including support 
from Democrats who are sitting on this Committee today, and 
five current Chairmen. Unfortunately, this legislation strips 
out any reference to HFRA in this Act. This is harmful to 
forest health, unfair to the timber dependent communities that 
have been hurt by unwise federal policies and dangerous to our 
federal land neighbors now exposed to increased fire danger.
    We are also deeply concerned that the recent CBO scoring of 
this bill estimates that implementing the legislation would 
cost $120 million over the 2010-2014 period--a huge increase 
over current spending levels and the President's requested 
amount.
    Mr. Bishop offered an amendment that would have made 
wildfire prevention a priority by putting back in a reference 
to HFRA and set at a minimum of 50% of the funding to go to 
promotion of the health of our public lands. This is a step, 
admittedly a small one, in the right direction when it comes to 
fighting catastrophic wildfires. Unfortunately, this thoughtful 
amendment was defeated by the Majority, and the legislation 
moves to the House of Representatives without appropriate 
requirements to steer funds to where they are critically 
needed.
    We hope that with a thorough debate, under an open rule on 
the Floor, we will be able to remedy this flaw and send an 
improved bill to the Senate.
                                   Doc Hastings.
                                   Rob Bishop.

                                  
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