I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5971 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to direct a study on soil health 
of Federal lands, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 17, 2023 
Mr. NEGUSE introduced the following bill 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to direct a study 
on soil health of Federal lands, 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 ‘‘Study on Improving 
Lands Act’’. 
SEC. 2. STUDY. 
The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Interior, shall direct the National Acad-
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emies of Science to study and report on the state of soil 
health on Federal lands in the United States. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES. 
The National Academies of Science shall determine 
the parameters by which to measure soil health, includ-
ing— 
(1) soil organic matter and other measure-
ments; 
(2) soil qualities that lead to the sequester of 
carbon; and 
(3) soil qualities that support strong ecosystems 
and resilient environments. 
SEC. 4. DATABASE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination 
with the Secretary of the Interior and the National Acad-
emies of Science, shall— 
(1) commence a study on the state of soil 
health on Federal lands that determines impacts 
such as grazing, wildfire, recreation, invasive species, 
and other relevant impacts on soil health on Federal 
lands; and 
(2) create a database of the information col-
lected during the study. 
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SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the commencement of the study under section 4, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
evaluate the progress of that study and report any short- 
term findings to the Committee on Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate. 
(b) REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 2 years after the commencement of the study under 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate a report summarizing the results of the study together 
with any recommendations for legislative or regulatory ac-
tion to improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, 
and improve community benefits of soil health programs 
on Federal lands. 
Æ 
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