TITLE 
II—PACIFIC 
ISLANDS 
PLANT CONSERVATION FUND 
ACT OF 2021 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Pacific Islands Plant 
Conservation Fund Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 202. PURPOSES. 
The purpose of this title is to assist in the conserva-
tion of threatened and endangered plant species in the Ha-
waiian Islands and the Pacific Island Territories of the 
United States by supporting and providing financial re-
sources for projects to conserve plant species, their eco-
systems, and address other threats to the survival of those 
plant species. 
SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘‘conservation’’ 
means the use of all methods and procedures nec-
essary to protect plants in the Pacific Islands includ-
ing— 
(A) protection, restoration, and manage-
ment of ecosystems; 
(B) onsite research and monitoring of pop-
ulations, ecosystems, annual reproduction, and 
plant population trends; 
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(C) assistance in the development, imple-
mentation, and improvement of management 
plans; 
(D) enforcement and implementation of 
applicable conservation laws; and 
(E) community outreach and education. 
(2) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Pa-
cific Islands Plant Conservation Fund established by 
section 205. 
(3) PACIFIC ISLANDS.—The term ‘‘Pacific Is-
lands’’ means the Hawaiian islands and the United 
States territories of Guam, American Samoa, and 
the Northern Mariana Islands. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 204. PACIFIC ISLANDS PLANT CONSERVATION ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
funds and in consultation with other Federal offi-
cials, the Secretary of Interior shall provide competi-
tive financial assistance, including multiyear grants, 
for projects for the conservation of plant species on 
the Pacific Islands for which project proposals are 
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approved by the Secretary in accordance with this 
section. 
(2) USE OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES.—Assist-
ance provided under this section shall be carried out 
in a manner consistent with authorities available to 
the Secretary under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(b) PROJECT PROPOSALS.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—A project proposal 
may be submitted to the Secretary under this section 
by— 
(A) a relevant State, territory, or Tribal 
agency with the research expertise required for 
the conservation of plant species on the Pacific 
Islands; and 
(B) any other individual or entity, as de-
termined appropriate by the Secretary, with the 
expertise required for the conservation of plant 
species on the Pacific Islands. 
(2) FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.— 
A Federal agency may not be a lead entity or receive 
funding for a project under this section, but may be 
included as a partner or collaborator on a project 
that receives such funding. 
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(3) REQUIRED ELEMENTS.—A project proposal 
shall include— 
(A) a statement of the purposes of the 
project; 
(B) the name of the entity or individual 
with overall responsibility for the project; 
(C) a description of— 
(i) the qualifications of the entity or 
individuals that will conduct the project; 
(ii) methods for project implementa-
tion and outcome assessment; 
(iii) staffing and stakeholder engage-
ment for the project; 
(iv) the logistics of the project, includ-
ing cost estimates and timelines; 
(v) anticipated outcomes; 
(vi) mechanisms to ensure adequate 
local public participation in project devel-
opment and implementation; and 
(vii) how the project will promote sus-
tainable, effective, long-term programs to 
conserve plant populations on the Pacific 
Islands; 
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(D) demonstrated sensitivity to local his-
toric and cultural resources and compliance 
with applicable laws; 
(E) assurances that the project will be im-
plemented in consultation with relevant wildlife 
management authorities, Tribes, and other ap-
propriate government officials; 
(F) information that demonstrates the 
clear potential of the project to contribute to 
the conservation of threatened and endangered 
plant species on the Pacific Islands; 
(G) information regarding the source and 
amount of matching funding available for the 
project; and 
(H) such other information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall annu-
ally— 
(A) not later than 30 days after receiving 
a project proposal, provide a copy of the pro-
posal to other Federal officials, as appropriate; 
and 
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(B) review each project proposal in a time-
ly manner to determine whether the proposal 
meets the criteria specified in subsection (d). 
(2) 
CONSULTATION; 
APPROVAL
OR
DIS-
APPROVAL.—Subject to the availability of funds, the 
Secretary shall, with respect to each project proposal 
submitted under this section, and after consulting 
with other Federal officials, as appropriate— 
(A) consult with respect to the proposal 
with the government of the State or territory in 
which such project is to be conducted; and 
(B) provide written notification of the ap-
proval or disapproval to the individual or entity 
that submitted the proposal, such other Federal 
officials, and each State described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may approve 
a project proposal under this section if the project 
will help recover and sustain viable populations of 
threatened and endangered plants by assisting ef-
forts on the Pacific Islands to implement plant con-
servation programs. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In selecting projects for assist-
ance, the Secretary shall give preference to projects 
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that conserve threatened and endangered species 
protected by the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.). 
(3) PROJECT
SUSTAINABILITY.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, in determining whether to 
approve project proposals under this section, the 
Secretary shall give preference to conservation 
projects that are designed to ensure effective, long- 
term conservation of plants and their ecosystems. 
(4) MATCHING FUNDS.—In determining wheth-
er to approve project proposals under this section, 
the Secretary shall give preference to projects for 
which matching funds are available. 
(5) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the ap-
plication of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) if the Sec-
retary finds that such waiver is necessary to support 
a conservation project that the Secretary has identi-
fied as of high priority. 
(e) PROJECT REPORTING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each individual or entity 
that receives assistance under this section for a 
project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports 
(at such intervals as the Secretary may require) that 
include all information that the Secretary, after con-
sultation with other government officials, determines 
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is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of 
such project for the purposes of ensuring positive re-
sults, assessing problems, and fostering improve-
ments. 
(2) AVAILABILITY
TO
THE
PUBLIC.—Reports 
under paragraph (1), and any other documents re-
lating to projects for which financial assistance is 
provided under this title, shall be made available to 
the public in a timely manner. 
SEC. 205. PACIFIC ISLANDS PLANT CONSERVATION FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury a separate account, to be known as the ‘‘Pacific 
Islands Plant Conservation Fund’’, consisting of— 
(1) amounts transferred to the Secretary of the 
Treasury for deposit into the Fund under subsection 
(e); 
(2) amounts appropriated to the Fund under 
section 206; and 
(3) any interest earned on investment of 
amounts in the Fund under subsection (c). 
(b) EXPENDITURES FROM FUND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), at 
the request of the Secretary, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall transfer from the Fund to the Sec-
retary, without further appropriation, such amounts 
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as the Secretary determines are necessary to carry 
out section 204. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—Of 
the 
amounts in the account available for each fiscal 
year, the Secretary may expend not more than 3 
percent, or up to $80,000, whichever is greater, to 
pay the administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out this title. 
(c) INVESTMENT OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, 
in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, 
required to meet current withdrawals. Investments 
may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of 
the United States. 
(2) ACQUISITION
OF
OBLIGATIONS.—For the 
purpose of investments under paragraph (1), obliga-
tions may be acquired— 
(A) on original issue at the issue price; or 
(B) by purchase of outstanding obligations 
at market price. 
(3) SALE OF OBLIGATIONS.—Any obligation ac-
quired by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of 
the Treasury at market price. 
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(4) CREDITS TO FUND.—The interest on, and 
the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any ob-
ligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and 
form a part of the Fund. 
(d) TRANSFERS OF AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amounts required to be 
transferred to the Fund under this section shall be 
transferred at least monthly from the general fund 
of the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of esti-
mates made by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
(2) ADJUSTMENTS.—Proper adjustment shall 
be made in amounts subsequently transferred to the 
extent prior estimates were in excess of or less than 
the amounts required to be transferred. 
(e) ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF DONATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may accept 
for the Government a gift of any of the following to 
provide assistance under section 204: 
(A) Money. 
(B) An obligation of the Government in-
cluded in the public debt made only on the con-
dition that the obligation be canceled and re-
tired and not reissued. 
(C) Other intangible personal property 
made only on the condition that the property is 
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sold on the best terms available and the pro-
ceeds are deposited in the Fund. 
(2) DISCRETION TO REJECT A GIFT.—The Sec-
retary may reject a gift under this section when the 
rejection is in the interest of the Government. 
(3) TAXES.—If a gift received under this sub-
section is subject to a gift or inheritance tax, the 
Secretary may pay the tax out of the proceeds of the 
gift or the proceeds of the redemption or sale of the 
gift. 
SEC. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 
2027 to carry out this title. 
SEC. 207. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
The Secretary shall submit an annual report to Con-
gress not later than January 31 of each year regarding 
the Fund and the status of threatened and endangered 
plant species on the Hawaiian Islands. Each such report 
shall include with respect to the year for which the report 
is submitted a description of— 
(1) the total amounts deposited into and ex-
pended from the Fund; 
(2) the costs associated with the administration 
of the Fund; 
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