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103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4009

To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service funding allocations

among the nine regions of the National Forest System.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 10, 1994

Mr. RICHARDSON (for himself, Mr. SKEEN, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. STUMP, Mr.

KOLBE, Mr. KYL, Mr. PASTOR, and Ms. ENGLISH of Arizona) introduced

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

A BILL

To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service funding

allocations among the nine regions of the National Forest

System.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Forest Service Equity

5 Study Act of 1994’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress finds the following:

8 (1) Data supplied by the Forest Service indi9 cates that some of the regions of the National For-
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1 est System receive more funding on a per unit basis

2 than other regions for recreation management, wild3 life and fish management, road maintenance, and

4 other activities.

5 (2) The ecological integrity of some of the re6 gions is compromised by the funding disparity be7 tween regions.

8 (3) The funding levels of the Forest Service for

9 the various regions should be equitable, and signifi10 cant disparities in funding should be eliminated.

11 (4) The funding methodology and practices of

12 the Forest Service should support the policy goals of

13 the National Forest System, particularly ecosystem

14 management.

15 (5) The regional funding methodology and prac16 tices of the Forest Service should reflect the diverse

17 needs of the national forests.

18 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

19 As used in this Act:

20 (1) The term ‘‘funding’’ means the annual fis21 cal year allocation received by each region.

22 (2) The term ‘‘region’’ means one of the nine

23 regions into which the Forest Service divides the

24 United States for purposes of planning and imple25 menting activities in the National Forest System.
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1 (3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

2 of Agriculture.

3 (4) The term ‘‘unit’’ refers to measures of use

4 or activity in the National Forest System, includ5 ing—

6 (A) visitor days;

7 (B) nontimber acreage;

8 (C) miles maintained;

9 (D) animal unit months;

10 (E) people at one time (PAOT) days; and

11 (F) any other measure of use or activity

12 commonly associated with the regions.

13 SEC. 4. STUDY OF THE EQUITY OF FUNDING ALLOCATIONS

14 AMONG REGIONS OF THE NATIONAL FOREST

15 SYSTEM.

16 (a) AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT STUDY.—During

17 the one-year period beginning on the date of the enact18 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study ex19 amining the system by which the Forest Service allocates

20 funding to each region of the National Forest System.

21 (b) SUBJECT OF STUDY.—As part of the study under

22 subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

23 (1) analyze the methodology and rationale be24 hind funding decisions regarding the regions that

25 were made prior to the date the study is conducted;
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1 (2) examine the equity of allocations among re2 gions, taking into account the unit burdens of each

3 region; and

4 (3) examine the relationships between funding

5 allocations, Forest Service goals, and the diverse

6 needs of the regions based on ecological factors, such

7 as threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, for8 est health, rangeland and watershed conditions, and

9 public demand for multiple use services.

10 (c) CONTRACT.—The Secretary may enter into a con11 tract with an independent entity to carry out the study

12 under subsection (a).

13 (d) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study under

14 subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report to Con15 gress that includes the following:

16 (1) The results of the study.

17 (2) Recommendations for changes and improve18 ments in the system by which the Forest Service al19 locates funding among the regions to ensure equi20 table funding for each region and to eliminate fund21 ing disparities among regions.

22 (3) Recommendations for changes in funding

23 patterns among the regions to reflect Forest Service

24 goals and regional needs.
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1 (4) An assessment of whether the recommended

2 changes can be implemented administratively or will

3 require congressional action.

4 (5) A plan for implementation of the rec5 ommended changes.

6 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

7 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

8 as are necessary to carry out this Act.

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