I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1272 

To support State and tribal government efforts to promote research and 

education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup industry, market promotion of maple products, 

and greater access to lands containing maple trees for maple-sugaring 

activities, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 19, 2013 

Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. COURTNEY, and Mr. OWENS) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To support State and tribal government efforts to promote 

research and education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup 

industry, market promotion of maple products, and 

greater access to lands containing maple trees for maplesugaring activities, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Maple Tapping Access 

5 Program Act’’. 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1272 IH

1 SEC. 2. ACER ACCESS AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 

2 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri3 culture may make grants to States, tribal governments, 

4 and research institutions to support the efforts of such 

5 States, tribal governments, and research institutions to 

6 promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the 

7 following activities: 

8 (1) Promotion of research and education related 

9 to maple syrup production. 

10 (2) Promotion of natural resource sustainability 

11 in the maple syrup industry. 

12 (3) Market promotion for maple syrup and 

13 maple-sap products. 

14 (4) Encouragement of owners and operators of 

15 privately-held land containing species of trees in the 

16 genus Acer— 

17 (A) to initiate or expand maple-sugaring 

18 activities on the land; or 

19 (B) to voluntarily make the land available, 

20 including by lease or other means, for access by 

21 the public for maple-sugaring activities. 

22 (b) APPLICATION.—In submitting an application for 

23 a grant under this section, a State or tribal government 

24 shall include— 

25 (1) a description of the activities to be sup26 ported using the grant funds; 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1272 IH

1 (2) a description of the benefits that the State 

2 or tribal government intends to achieve as a result 

3 of engaging in such activities; and 

4 (3) an estimate of the increase in maple-sug5 aring activities or maple syrup production that the 

6 State or tribal government anticipates will occur as 

7 a result of engaging in such activities. 

8 (c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec9 tion shall be construed so as to preempt a State or tribal 

10 government law, including a State or tribal government 

11 liability law. 

12 (d) DEFINITION OF MAPLE-SUGARING.—In this sec13 tion, the term ‘‘maple-sugaring’’ means the collection of 

14 sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the 

15 purpose of boiling to produce food. 

16 (e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Agriculture 

17 shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to 

18 carry out this section. 

19 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

20 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

21 $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. 

Æ 


pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with BILLS