I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9945 
To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation Council, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2024 
Ms. MACE (for herself, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. 
THOMPSON of California) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a North American Grasslands Conservation 
Council, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘North American Grasslands Conservation Act of 2024’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Purpose. 
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Sec. 4. Definitions. 
Sec. 5. North American Grasslands Conservation Council. 
Sec. 6. Regional Grasslands Conservation Councils. 
Sec. 7. North American Grasslands Conservation Strategy. 
Sec. 8. Grasslands conservation grant program. 
Sec. 9. Approval of grasslands conservation projects. 
Sec. 10. Native seed crop systems research. 
Sec. 11. Regenerative grazing data collection. 
Sec. 12. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 14. Rules of construction. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) grasslands provide vital habitat for a mul-
titude of species which represent the lifeblood of 
local and regional economies that depend on income 
generated by sportsmen and women and other forms 
of outdoor recreation; 
(2) grasslands have been managed for millennia 
by Indian Tribes through the use of practices re-
ferred to as ‘‘Indigenous Traditional Ecological 
Knowledge’’ to conserve and restore habitat for na-
tive flora and fauna, including practices such as res-
toration and conservation of grassland ecosystems to 
support continued cultural traditions, including sub-
sistence agriculture, cultural burning, and manage-
ment of culturally significant wildlife and their eco-
systems; 
(3) the maintenance of healthy populations of 
grassland species and working lands that are critical 
for rural economies and carbon sequestration is de-
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pendent on the conservation, restoration, and man-
agement of grassland ecosystems, which are com-
posed of tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prai-
ries, sagebrush shrub-steppe, and savannah grass-
lands (referred to in this Act as ‘‘grassland eco-
systems’’); 
(4) grassland and rangeland ecosystems pro-
vide— 
(A) essential and significant habitat for 
mammals, pollinators, reptiles, and other wild-
life of commercial, recreational, scientific, aes-
thetic, and cultural value; and 
(B) an abundance of critical ecological 
services, including forage and hay for grazing 
livestock, carbon sequestration, carbon storage, 
drought and flood resilience, water filtration, 
and water storage; 
(5) grasslands cover 358,000,000 acres of the 
United States, 85 percent of which are privately 
owned and serve as an important habitat for 29 
breeding obligate grassland bird species; 
(6) sagebrush occupies 161,000,000 acres of 14 
Western States; 
(7) over the last decade alone, millions of acres 
of grassland ecosystems in North America have been 
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converted to cropland and residential and commer-
cial development; 
(8) grassland ecosystems are threatened by 
fragmentation, invasive species, wildfire, degrada-
tion, and land conversion; 
(9) on average, about 1,200,000 acres of sage-
brush burn each year in the United States due to 
invasive annual grasses that fuel catastrophic 
wildfires; 
(10) in addition to wildfires, there has been a 
decrease in the number of working farms and 
ranches due to— 
(A) pressures to convert or sell land; and 
(B) challenges in keeping ranching profit-
able; 
(11) effective restoration strategies for land 
managers of grassland ecosystems require— 
(A) access to adequate quantities of high- 
quality, regionally appropriate, and diverse na-
tive plant seeds; 
(B) science-based guidance on cultivating 
native plant species; and 
(C) as stated in the National Seed Strat-
egy for Rehabilitation and Restoration devel-
oped by the Plant Conservation Alliance and 
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chaired by the Director of the Bureau of Land 
Management, more research on seedling estab-
lishment and species interaction in order to in-
crease the use of native plant species; 
(12) many plant species most often associated 
with grassland and rangeland ecosystems are 
drought tolerant, characteristics that will help en-
sure the viability of critical wildlife habitat and other 
ecosystem services in the face of increased drought 
prevalence brought on by the effects of climate 
change; 
(13) grassland and rangeland ecosystems are 
often comprised of disturbance-dependent commu-
nities that rely on disturbances such as fire to main-
tain the desired plant community composition, re-
duce fuel loading, and arrest ecological succession; 
(14) beneficial fire, when scientifically applied 
and in accordance with local fire prescriptions, is a 
critical tool in the maintenance of grassland and 
rangeland ecosystems, particularly in the face of cli-
mate change which has been linked to an increase in 
the frequency and intensity of wildfires in areas in 
which beneficial fire has been excluded and fuel 
loading is high; 
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(15) the migratory bird treaty obligations of the 
United States with Canada, Mexico, and other coun-
tries require conservation of grasslands and range-
lands that are used by migratory birds for breeding, 
wintering, or migration and are needed to achieve 
and to maintain optimum population levels, distribu-
tions, and patterns of migration; 
(16) the 1988 amendments to the Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980 require the Sec-
retary of the Interior to identify conservation meas-
ures to assure that nongame migratory bird species 
do not reach the point at which measures of the En-
dangered Species Act are necessary; and 
(17) conservation of migratory birds and their 
habitats requires long-term planning and the close 
cooperation and coordination of management activi-
ties by Canada, Mexico, and the United States with-
in the framework of the North American Wetlands 
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.), the 
1916, 1969, and 1986 Migratory Bird Conventions, 
and the Convention on Nature Protection and Wild-
life Preservation in the Western Hemisphere. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to take bold action to con-
serve and restore grasslands in North America while sup-
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porting ranchers, farmers, Indian Tribes, sportsmen and 
sportswomen, rural communities, and other interests by 
drawing from existing conservation plans, programs, and 
models with a proven track record of success through— 
(1) encouraging voluntary grassland conserva-
tion and restoration as an alternative to additional 
conversion and loss of native grasslands ecosystems 
and sustaining those ecosystems as working lands by 
creating a flexible, voluntary, and innovative grant 
program; 
(2) improving grassland and rangeland health 
and management; 
(3) restoring marginal lands to native grass-
lands in areas that were historically grasslands; 
(4) mitigating the impacts of severe drought 
and wildfire on grasslands; 
(5) supporting farmer and rancher stewards, 
private landowners, and Tribal partners; 
(6) improving biodiversity and habitat for 
grassland and sagebrush birds, pollinators, and 
other wildlife; 
(7) increasing carbon sequestration and carbon 
storage; 
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(8) providing increased wildlife-dependent rec-
reational and hunter and angler access opportuni-
ties, at the discretion of private landowners; 
(9) encouraging stronger public-private partner-
ships in support of landscape-level grassland con-
servation efforts conducted by State fish and wildlife 
agencies, Indian Tribes, regional and Federal enti-
ties, nongovernmental organizations, farmers and 
ranchers, and other stakeholders both in the United 
States and in Canada and Mexico, and comple-
menting the public-private partnerships working on 
grassland conservation as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, such as the Partners for Fish and 
Wildlife; 
(10) identifying voluntary opportunities for 
grassland conservation, restoration, and manage-
ment not currently available through existing pro-
grams; and 
(11) providing opportunities for Indian Tribes 
and Tribal organizations to conserve, restore, and 
manage grasslands, including through— 
(A) the ethical incorporation of Indigenous 
Traditional Ecological Knowledge into grass-
land management and restoration activities; and 
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(B) identifying, encouraging, and providing 
funding for partnerships between Indian Tribes 
and Federal agencies to co-manage grassland 
ecosystems, including ecologically important 
flora and fauna. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission 
established by section 2 of the Migratory Bird Con-
servation Act (16 U.S.C. 715a). 
(2) 
CONSERVATION
STRATEGY.—The 
term 
‘‘Conservation Strategy’’ means the North American 
Grasslands Conservation Strategy established under 
section 7(a). 
(3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
North American Grasslands Conservation Council 
established by section 5(a). 
(4) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. 
(5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a grazing land coalition; 
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(B) an agricultural or livestock producer 
group; 
(C) an Indian Tribe; 
(D) a Tribal organization; 
(E) a land trust; 
(F) a State or local government; 
(G) a Federal agency; 
(H) a nongovernmental organization; 
(I) a community-based organization; 
(J) a group of individuals that are private 
landowners; and 
(K) a regional fish and wildlife agency. 
(6) 
GRASSLANDS.—The 
term 
‘‘grasslands’’ 
means tallgrass, mixed grass, shortgrass, native 
prairie, sagebrush shrub-steppe, savanna grasslands, 
glades, wet meadows, coastal grasslands, and other 
related grassland ecosystems, including certain 
rangelands. 
(7) GRASSLANDS
CONSERVATION
PROJECT.— 
The term ‘‘grasslands conservation project’’ means 
any conservation, restoration, protection, or en-
hancement activity that is carried out with a grant 
awarded under the Program. 
(8) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
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Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(9) INDIGENOUS
TRADITIONAL
ECOLOGICAL 
KNOWLEDGE; ITEK.—The terms ‘‘Indigenous Tradi-
tional Ecological Knowledge’’ and ‘‘ITEK’’ mean ob-
servations, oral and written knowledge, practices, 
and beliefs of Indian Tribes that promote environ-
mental sustainability and the responsible steward-
ship of natural resources through relationships be-
tween humans and environmental systems and are 
applied to phenomena across biological, physical, cul-
tural, and spiritual systems. 
(10) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the grant program established under section 8(a). 
(11) REGIONAL
GRASSLANDS
CONSERVATION 
COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Regional Grasslands Con-
servation Council’’ means a Regional Grasslands 
Conservation Council established by section 6(a). 
(12) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of the Interior. 
(13) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘Trib-
al organization’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
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SEC. 5. NORTH AMERICAN GRASSLANDS CONSERVATION 
COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the 
North American Grasslands Conservation Council. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be com-
posed of the following 13 members: 
(A) The Director, who shall be the respon-
sible Federal official for ensuring Council com-
pliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
(B) The Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service of the Department of Ag-
riculture, who shall coordinate interdepart-
mental efforts with the Director. 
(C) 1 representative of the National Fish 
and Wildlife Foundation, appointed by the Sec-
retary. 
(D) 4 members who shall each— 
(i) be appointed by the Secretary; 
(ii) be a director of a State fish and 
wildlife agency; and 
(iii) represent a different regional as-
sociation. 
(E) 2 members who shall each— 
(i) be appointed by the Secretary; 
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(ii) be a director, or an equivalent 
role, of a natural resources agency of an 
Indian Tribe; and 
(iii) represent a different intertribal 
organization dedicated to natural resources 
and the environment. 
(F) 2 members who shall each— 
(i) be appointed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture; and 
(ii) represent a separate working 
lands organization that represents land-
owners, farmers, or ranchers actively par-
ticipating in carrying out voluntary grass-
lands conservation projects. 
(G) 2 members, of whom— 
(i) both shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary; 
(ii) both shall be a member of a chari-
table nonprofit conservation organization; 
and 
(iii) 1 shall be a member of a wildlife 
hunting conservation organization. 
(2) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), a member of the Council 
shall serve for a term of 3 years. 
(B) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.— 
(i) DIRECTORS OF STATE FISH AND 
WILDLIFE
AGENCIES.—Of the members 
first appointed under paragraph (1)(D)— 
(I) 1 shall be appointed for a 
term of 1 year; 
(II) 2 shall be appointed for a 
term of 2 years; and 
(III) 1 shall be appointed for a 
term of 3 years. 
(ii) OTHER MEMBERS.—Of the mem-
bers first appointed under subparagraphs 
(E), (F), and (G) of paragraph (1)— 
(I) 2 shall be appointed for a 
term of 1 year; 
(II) 2 shall be appointed for a 
term of 2 years; and 
(III) 2 shall be appointed for a 
term of 3 years. 
(C) VACANCIES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a 
member appointed to the Council under 
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subparagraphs (C) through (G) of para-
graph (1), a vacancy in the Council shall 
be filled in accordance with that subpara-
graph for the remainder of the applicable 
term of that member. 
(ii) ALTERNATE MEMBERS.—Until a 
vacancy referred to in clause (i) is filled, or 
in the event of an anticipated absence of a 
member described in that clause from any 
meeting of the Council, the Secretary shall 
appoint an alternate member to the Coun-
cil who shall— 
(I) be knowledgeable and experi-
enced in matters relating to grass-
lands conservation and restoration; 
and 
(II) perform the duties of a mem-
ber appointed to the Council under 
subparagraphs (C) through (G) of 
paragraph (1). 
(3) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Secretary may 
include as ex officio, nonvoting members of the 
Council— 
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(A) the Under Secretary for Farm Produc-
tion and Conservation of the Department of Ag-
riculture; 
(B) the Under Secretary for Natural Re-
sources and Environment of the Department of 
Agriculture; and 
(C) representatives of— 
(i) other appropriate Federal, State, 
or Tribal Government agencies that are ac-
tively participating in grasslands conserva-
tion projects or have technical expertise in 
grasslands conservation; 
(ii) the Federal, provincial, territorial, 
Indigenous, or State government agencies 
of Canada and Mexico that are actively 
participating in carrying out grasslands 
conservation projects; 
(iii) nonprofit charitable organizations 
that are actively participating in grass-
lands conservation projects; and 
(iv) Tribal organizations that are ac-
tively participating in grasslands conserva-
tion projects. 
(4) CHAIRPERSON.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall select 
a Chairperson from among the members of the 
Council. 
(B) TERM.—A Chairperson shall serve for 
a 3-year term, except that the first selected 
Chairperson may serve for an initial term of 
less than 3 years. 
(5) VICE CHAIR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson shall 
select a Vice Chair from among the members of 
the Council. 
(B) TERM.—A Vice Chair shall serve for a 
2-year term, except that the first selected Vice 
Chair may serve for an initial term of less than 
2 years. 
(c) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall meet at 
the call of the Chairperson. 
(2) FREQUENCY.—The Council shall meet not 
less frequently than once per year. 
(3) FORMAT.—A meeting of the Council may be 
conducted in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format. 
(4) AVAILABILITY.—Meetings of the Council 
shall be open to the public, and the Council shall 
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give public notice of the time and place of such 
meetings. 
(5) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 
the Council shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business. 
(d) DUTIES.—The Council shall— 
(1) provide input to the Director in the develop-
ment of the Conservation Strategy; 
(2) establish publicly available project evalua-
tion criteria for applications submitted under the 
Program; 
(3) recommend grasslands conservation projects 
to the Commission in accordance with section 9; 
(4) receive input from regional conservation en-
tities who have a vested interest in developing multi- 
State and Tribal conservation plans; and 
(5) provide annual updates on the status of the 
objectives and goals identified in the Conservation 
Strategy to the Commission. 
(e) COMPENSATION.—A member of the Council shall 
receive no compensation as a result of serving on the 
Council. 
(f) FACA APPLICABILITY.—Chapter 10 of part I of 
title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the Council. 
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