SEC. 2. HABITAT CONNECTIVITY AREA DESIGNATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AMERICAN WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.—The term 
‘‘American wildlife corridor’’ means land identified, 
under subsection (b)(1), as a habitat connectivity 
area within a covered land, including any land adja-
cent to such identified habitat connectivity area, des-
ignated under subsection (c). 
(2) COVERED LAND.—The term ‘‘covered land’’ 
means land that is enrolled under, or otherwise re-
lated to, a conservation program that is adminis-
tered by the Secretary. 
(3) COVERED PRODUCER.—The term ‘‘covered 
producer’’ means an owner, operator, or producer of 
a covered land that has an American wildlife cor-
ridor on such covered land. 
(4) DIRECTORS.—The term ‘‘Directors’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior acting through— 
(A) the Director of the United States Geo-
logical Survey; and 
(B) the Director of the United Fish and 
Wildlife Service. 
(5) HABITAT CONNECTIVITY.—The term ‘‘habi-
tat connectivity’’ means the degree to which land-
scapes, waterscapes, and seascapes allow species to 
move freely, including during seasonal migration and 
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in response to changing environmental conditions, 
and ecological processes to function unimpeded. 
(6) HABITAT CONNECTIVITY AREA.—The term 
‘‘habitat connectivity area’’ means an area of intact 
habitat or a distinct component of the landscape, 
waterscape, or seascape the designation of which, 
under subsection (c)(2), may provide habitat 
connectivity. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION
OF HABITAT CONNECTIVITY 
AREAS.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and periodi-
cally thereafter, the Secretary, in collaboration with 
the Directors, shall identify habitat connectivity 
areas within covered lands, including any lands adja-
cent to such identified habitat connectivity areas 
that may provide additional habitat connectivity. 
(2) MAPS.—Subject to section 1244(b) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(b)), as 
amended by section 3 of this Act, upon identifying 
habitat connectivity areas under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary, in collaboration with the Directors, 
shall— 
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(A) develop maps of— 
(i) the identified habitat connectivity 
areas, including any adjacent lands de-
scribed in paragraph (1); and 
(ii) the covered land containing any 
identified habitat connectivity areas; and 
(B) expand and build upon any existing ef-
forts by the Department of Agriculture in devel-
oping such maps. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the Secretary identifies habitat 
connectivity areas under paragraph (1), and periodi-
cally thereafter upon any new such identifications, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that— 
(A) includes a description of habitat 
connectivity areas identified under paragraph 
(1); 
(B) includes a review of any associated 
data or surveys related to activities carried out 
under paragraph (1); 
(C) includes the maps developed under 
paragraph (2) in aggregate form; and 
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(D) identifies gaps in information with re-
spect to carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2), 
including— 
(i) information relating to whether the 
identified habitat connectivity areas are 
being used as a wildlife corridor; 
(ii) additional information required to 
identify additional habitat connectivity 
areas; and 
(iii) any other information the Sec-
retary, in collaboration with the Directors, 
determines necessary. 
(c) DESIGNATION
OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE COR-
RIDORS.— 
(1) CRITERIA.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
issue regulations to establish criteria, for the pur-
pose of designating habitat connectivity areas under 
paragraph (2), that— 
(A) considers whether a designation is in 
concert with existing land and resource man-
agement plans of the applicable covered land; 
and 
(B) determines, using the best-available 
science, whether a habitat connectivity area 
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identified under subsection (b)(1), including any 
adjacent lands as described in that subsection— 
(i) supports the persistence, resilience, 
adaptability, and movement of fish and 
wildlife; 
(ii) has the potential to benefit more 
than 1 species of fish and wildlife; or 
(iii) has the potential to benefit fish 
or wildlife species that is listed as threat-
ened or endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). 
(2) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date on which the Secretary establishes cri-
teria pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
designate habitat connectivity areas identified under 
subsection (b)(1), including any adjacent lands that 
may provide additional habitat connectivity, using 
the criteria established pursuant to paragraph (1), 
as an American wildlife corridor for the purposes of 
encouraging the long-term maintenance and con-
servation of the American wildlife corridor. 
(d) CONSERVATION OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE COR-
RIDORS.— 
(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in col-
laboration with the Directors, shall develop and 
establish technical standards and requirements, 
including best practices for the long-term con-
servation of an American wildlife corridor, to 
provide technical assistance, outreach, and edu-
cation to covered producers with respect to the 
conservation of the applicable American wildlife 
corridor. 
(B) 
AUTHORIZED
ACTIONS
OF
SEC-
RETARY.—In providing technical assistance 
under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may en-
courage a covered producer to— 
(i) implement strategies and activities 
that will provide sustainable production 
and conservation of wildlife habitats con-
currently on covered land; 
(ii) maintain or improve habitats and 
habitat connectivity in American wildlife 
corridors on covered land; 
(iii) 
establish 
wildlife 
monitoring 
plans; and 
(iv) implement strategies and activi-
ties that enhance the ability of fish and 
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wildlife to respond to changing environ-
mental conditions. 
(2) CONTRACT
MODIFICATION.—In furthering 
the purposes of an American wildlife corridor des-
ignation under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary may, 
with respect to a contract entered into with a cov-
ered producer relating to an American wildlife cor-
ridor on a covered land of such covered producer— 
(A) give priority for reenrollment in the 
conservation program administered by the Sec-
retary of such covered land; and 
(B) terminate or modify such contract if— 
(i) the covered producer agrees to the 
termination or modification of such con-
tract; and 
(ii) such covered land is enrolled in— 
(I) the agricultural conservation 
easement program established under 
section 1265 of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865); or 
(II) the healthy forests reserve 
program established under section 
501 of the Healthy Forests Restora-
tion Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571). 
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(e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—To carry out this 
section, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agree-
ments with— 
(1) Federal agencies; 
(2) State, Tribal, and local governments; 
(3) nongovernmental organizations; or 
(4) academic institutions. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) PRIVACY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION RELATING 
TO NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.— 
Section 1244(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3844(b)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, 
including the Wildlife Corridors and USDA Conservation 
Programs Act of 2024’’ after ‘‘Farm Service Agency’’. 
(b) REGULATORY CERTAINTY.—Section 1244(p) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(p)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ‘‘, or an 
American wildlife corridor (as such term is defined 
by section 2(a) of the Wildlife Corridors and USDA 
Conservation Programs Act of 2024),’’ after ‘‘wild-
life resource concern’’; and 
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(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, or an 
American wildlife corridor,’’ after ‘‘wildlife resource 
concern’’. 
Æ 
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