I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2682 
To establish an Outdoor Restoration Fund for restoration and resilience 
projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2021 
Mr. CROW (for himself and Mr. SIMPSON) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish an Outdoor Restoration Fund for restoration 
and resilience projects, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Outdoor Restoration 
Partnership Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
Restoration Fund Advisory Council established by 
section 4(a). 
(2) COVERED AUTHORITY.—The term ‘‘covered 
authority’’ means— 
(A) the good neighbor authority estab-
lished by section 8206 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); 
(B) the Water Source Protection Program 
under section 303 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542); 
(C) the Watershed Condition Framework 
established under section 304 of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6543); 
(D) the stewardship end result contracting 
program under section 604 of the Healthy For-
ests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c); 
(E) the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.); 
(F) the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restora-
tion Partnership program; 
(G) the Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.); 
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(H) the Collaborative Forest Landscape 
Restoration Program established under section 
4003 of Public Law 111–11 (16 U.S.C. 7303); 
(I) the legacy roads and trails program of 
the Department of Agriculture; 
(J) the working lands for wildlife program 
of the Department of Agriculture; and 
(K) a conservation program under title XII 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3801 et seq.), including the Regional Conserva-
tion Partnership program under subtitle I of 
that title (16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq.). 
(3) ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical integrity’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act). 
(4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a State agency; 
(B) a unit of local government; 
(C) a Tribal government; 
(D) a regional organization; 
(E) a special district; or 
(F) a nonprofit organization. 
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(5) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Out-
door Restoration Fund established by section 3(a). 
(6) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro-
gram’’ means the restoration and resilience grant 
program established by section 5(b). 
(7) RESTORATION.—The term ‘‘restoration’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of 
title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act). 
(8) 
RESTORATION
AND
RESILIENCE 
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘restoration and resilience 
project’’ means a project designed in accordance 
with the best available science to conduct restoration 
that improves— 
(A) forest conditions; 
(B) rangeland health; 
(C) watershed function; or 
(D) wildlife habitat. 
(9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(10) WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.—The term 
‘‘wildland-urban interface’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). 
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SEC. 3. OUTDOOR RESTORATION FUND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Treasury an Outdoor Restoration Fund. 
(b) USE.—Amounts in the Fund shall be used by the 
Secretary— 
(1) in coordination with the Council, to carry 
out the grant program; and 
(2) to carry out the Restoration and Resilience 
Partnership Program under section 6. 
(c) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 
(1) COMPLEMENTARY
PROGRAMS.—Activities 
carried out under this Act shall complement, not du-
plicate or replace, existing Federal conservation, res-
toration, and resilience programs. 
(2) APPLICABLE LAW.—A restoration and resil-
ience project on Federal land or non-Federal land 
developed or implemented using amounts provided 
under this Act shall be carried out in accordance 
with applicable law and available authorities. 
(d) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts pro-
vided under this Act shall supplement, not supplant, any 
Federal, State, or other funds otherwise made available 
to an eligible entity for activities described in this Act. 
(e) OVERSIGHT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture 
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shall prepare and submit to the Committees on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Appropriations of the 
Senate and the Committees on Agriculture, Natural Re-
sources, and Appropriations of the House of Representa-
tives a report describing the use, and any abuse or misuse, 
as applicable, of the Fund by the Secretary with respect 
to— 
(1) the grant program; and 
(2) the Restoration and Resilience Partnership 
Program established by section 6. 
SEC. 4. RESTORATION FUND ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Res-
toration Fund Advisory Council to provide advice to the 
Secretary with respect to the disbursement of amounts 
from the Fund for the grant program. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall be composed 
of— 
(1) the Secretary; 
(2) 12 members, to be appointed by the Sec-
retary, of whom— 
(A) 3 shall be representatives from re-
source-dependent industries, including the agri-
culture, oil and gas, outdoor recreation, or for-
est products industries; 
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(B) 3 shall be national experts in the fields 
of natural resource restoration, economic devel-
opment, and community and climate resilience; 
(C) 3 shall be representatives of conserva-
tion, wildlife, or watershed organizations; 
(D) 1 shall be a representative of State 
government; 
(E) 1 shall be a representative of a unit of 
local government; and 
(F) 1 shall be a representative of a Tribal 
government; and 
(3) as determined to be necessary by the Sec-
retary, not more than 3 representatives from other 
Federal agencies. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Council, shall submit to 
Congress a report describing— 
(1) the status of any restoration and resilience 
projects that received amounts from the Fund, in-
cluding— 
(A) environmental benefits; 
(B) restoration achievements; 
(C) attainment of restoration and habitat 
improvement objectives; 
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(D) jobs created and retained; 
(E) the growth in outdoor industries; and 
(F) progress towards State-, Tribal-, and 
community-level resilience goals; and 
(2) recommendations to improve coordination, 
align Federal resources or existing authorities, and 
expand workforce capacity in outdoor industries 
through legislative and administrative changes. 
SEC. 5. RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to increase the capacity for planning, co-
ordinating, and monitoring restoration and resilience 
projects on Federal land and non-Federal land; and 
(2) to support, on non-Federal land, State, 
local, and Tribal— 
(A) restoration and resilience projects; 
(B) projects to reduce the risk of, or miti-
gate damage from, wildfires; and 
(C) projects to expand equitable outdoor 
access. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a res-
toration and resilience grant program, to be administered 
by the Secretary, with the advice of the Council, to provide 
grants from the Fund to eligible entities for the purposes 
described in subsection (a). 
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(c) REGIONAL COORDINATION.—The Secretary and 
the Council shall, to the maximum extent practicable, seek 
input from, coordinate with, and support existing State 
or regional efforts, initiatives, and partnerships to restore 
ecological integrity on Federal land and non-Federal land. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use 
amounts in the Fund to provide capacity grants 
under paragraph (2) and implementation grants 
under paragraph (3). 
(2) CAPACITY GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Capacity grants shall 
be made available to eligible entities for the 
purpose described in subsection (a)(1). 
(B) APPLICATION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—A grant under this 
paragraph may only be made to an eligible 
entity that submits to the Secretary an ap-
plication at such time, in such manner, 
and containing or accompanied by such ad-
ditional information as the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Council, may require, 
including the information required under 
clause (ii). 
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(ii) CONTENTS.—An application sub-
mitted under clause (i) shall contain— 
(I) a clear and concise expression 
of interest; 
(II) an explanation for how funds 
would complement existing Federal 
funds; and 
(III) an estimate of the number 
and duration of jobs that would be 
created, or sustained, with the funds. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Implementation grants 
shall be made available to eligible entities for 
the purpose described in subsection (a)(2). 
(B) APPLICATION.—A grant under this 
paragraph may be made only to an eligible enti-
ty that submits to the Secretary an application 
at such time, in such manner, and containing 
or accompanied by such information as the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Council, may 
require. 
(e) PRIORITY.—In carrying out the grant program, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Council, shall give 
priority to projects that— 
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(1) create or sustain jobs, employ local or re-
gional labor, or expand the outdoor workforce 
through training and education programs; 
(2) are developed through a collaborative proc-
ess with multiple stakeholders representing diverse 
interests; 
(3) would address shared priorities for Federal 
and non-Federal partners; 
(4) advance State, local, and Tribal plans relat-
ing to forests, water, or wildlife; or 
(5) improve long-term economic security or via-
bility in the geographic region, particularly in geo-
graphic regions transitioning from fossil-fuel extrac-
tion. 
(f) AUTHORITIES.—Eligible entities may use existing 
authorities when carrying out a restoration and resilience 
project, including a covered authority. 
SEC. 6. RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to restore and improve the ecological integ-
rity of forest, grassland, and rangeland ecosystems 
across the United States in partnership with State, 
local, and Tribal governments; 
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(2) to create or sustain outdoor jobs by reduc-
ing the backlog of restoration and resilience projects 
on Federal land and non-Federal land; 
(3) to improve the resilience and carrying ca-
pacity of rangelands in the United States by pre-
venting or mitigating invasive species, such as cheat-
grass, that contribute to rangeland fire; and 
(4) to reduce uncharacteristic wildfires in the 
highest risk areas of the United States by carrying 
out, in accordance with applicable law, restoration 
and resilience projects. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Res-
toration and Resilience Partnership Program, under which 
the Secretary shall carry out restoration and resilience 
projects in partnership areas designated under subsection 
(c)(1). 
(c) DESIGNATION OF PARTNERSHIP AREAS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall designate, for the purposes of carrying out res-
toration and resilience projects under subsection (e), 
any areas of Federal land and non-Federal land that 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(2) SUBMISSION
OF
PARTNERSHIP
AREAS
BY 
STATES AND TRIBES.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Governor of a 
State or an authorized representative of an In-
dian Tribe may submit to the Secretary, in 
writing, a request to designate certain Federal 
land or non-Federal land in the State or Indian 
Country, respectively, for restoration and resil-
ience projects under subsection (e). 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—A written request sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) may include 1 
or more maps or recommendations. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligible for designation 
under subsection (c), an area shall— 
(1) have a high or very high wildfire potential 
as determined by— 
(A) the map of the Forest Service entitled 
‘‘Wildfire Hazard Potential Version 2020’’; or 
(B) any other mapping resource or data 
source approved by the Secretary that depicts 
the risk of wildfires; 
(2) have high-priority wildlife habitat urgently 
in need of restoration, as determined by the Sec-
retary, in consultation with eligible entities and the 
applicable Governor or representative of an Indian 
Tribe; or 
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(3) in the case of Federal land, be in the 
wildland-urban interface. 
(e) RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3), the Secretary shall carry out restoration 
and resilience projects on land designated under sub-
section (c). 
(2) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give pri-
ority to restoration and resilience projects that— 
(A) focus on the reintroduction of char-
acteristic, low-intensity fire in frequent fire re-
gime ecosystems; 
(B) would reduce hazardous fuels by focus-
ing on small-diameter trees, thinning, and stra-
tegic fuel breaks; 
(C) maximize the retention of old and 
large trees, as appropriate for the forest type; 
(D) improve habitat conditions for at-risk 
wildlife; and 
(E) improve community resilience in the 
wildland-urban interface. 
(3) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall carry 
out restoration and resilience projects under this 
subsection— 
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(A) on Federal land, in coordination with 
the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable; and 
(B) on non-Federal land, in coordination 
with eligible entities and other relevant stake-
holders, as determined by the Secretary. 
(4) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A restoration and resil-
ience project shall be carried out in accordance 
with— 
(i) the management objectives of an 
applicable land or resource management 
plan; and 
(ii) applicable law. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The Secretary may use 
existing authorities when carrying out a res-
toration and resilience project on land des-
ignated under subsection (c), including any cov-
ered authority. 
(C) EXCLUSIONS.—A restoration and resil-
ience project may not be carried out— 
(i) in a wilderness area or designated 
wilderness study area; 
(ii) to construct a permanent road or 
trail; 
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(iii) on any Federal land on which, by 
an Act of Congress or Presidential procla-
mation, the removal of vegetation is re-
stricted or prohibited; 
(iv) in an inventoried roadless area; or 
(v) to remove old growth stands (as 
defined in section 102(e)(1) of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 
U.S.C. 6512(e)(1))). 
SEC. 7. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
$60,000,000,000 for the Fund, to remain available until 
expended, of which— 
(1) $20,000,000,000 shall be for the grant pro-
gram; and 
(2) $40,000,000,000 shall be for the Restora-
tion and Resilience Partnership Program under sec-
tion 6, of which not less than $20,000,000,000 shall 
be for the conduct of restoration and resilience 
projects on Federal land under that section. 
(b) WORKFORCE NEEDS
AND EXPENSES.—Funds 
made available under subsection (a)(2) shall be available 
for staffing, salary, and other workforce needs and ex-
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penses relating to the administration of the Restoration 
and Resilience Partnership Program under section 6. 
Æ 
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