A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to convene a blue ribbon panel to review the forest inventory and analysis program of the Forest Service, and for other purposes.

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convene a blue ribbon panel to review the forest inventory and analysis program of the Forest Service, and for other purposes. 1. Forest inventory and analysis program blue ribbon panel Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 1642 (f) Forest inventory and analysis program blue ribbon panel (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Association of State Foresters, shall convene a blue ribbon panel (referred to in this subsection as the Panel program (2) Composition (A) Number The Panel shall be composed of not fewer than 10, and not more than 20, members. (B) Members Members of the Panel shall— (i) include recognized national leaders from across State and Federal agencies, universities, industry, and nongovernmental organizations; and (ii) have knowledge of and expertise in forest biometrics, inventory, and remote sensing technology. (3) Duties (A) Review The Panel shall conduct a review of the past progress, current priorities, and future needs of the program with respect to national monitoring of forest carbon, climate change, forest health, and sustainable wood products. (B) Considerations The review under subparagraph (A) shall include consideration of— (i) the modernization of the program— (I) broadly; and (II) specifically relating to the integration of advanced remote sensing technologies and methods such as small area estimation; and (ii) the possibility of more public-private-academic partnerships under the program to help meet the goals of the program and external needs, particularly relating to research priorities, operational implementation of current or ongoing science, and decision support. (C) Report Not later than March 31, 2024, the Panel shall submit to the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, and Congress a report describing the review conducted under subparagraph (A). (4) Administrative matters (A) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson The Panel shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the nongovernmental members of the Panel. (B) Committees The Panel may establish 1 or more committees within the Panel as the Panel determines to be appropriate. (C) Compensation A member of the Panel shall serve without compensation. (D) Administrative support The Secretary shall provide such administrative support as is necessary for the Panel to carry out its duties. (E) Federal Advisory Committee Act The Panel shall be exempt from chapter 10 Federal Advisory Committee Act .

Summary: This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to convene a blue ribbon panel to review the forest inventory and analysis program (a program that accounts for public and private forests and their resources in the United States). The panel shall conduct a review of the past progress, current priorities, and future needs of such program with respect to national monitoring of forest carbon, climate change, forest health, and sustainable wood products. The review shall include consideration of the modernization of the program broadly and specifically relating to the integration of advanced remote sensing technologies and methods such as small area estimation; and the possibility of more public-private-academic partnerships under the program to help meet the goals of the program and external needs, particularly relating to research priorities, operational implementation of current or ongoing science, and decision support. The panel shall report to USDA, the Department of the Interior, and Congress describing the review by March 31, 2024.