I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5011 
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State and tribal govern-
ment efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, 
ranch, and forest land containing maple trees to make their land available 
for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs 
administered by States and tribal governments. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 13, 2010 
Mr. OWENS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State 
and tribal government efforts to encourage owners and 
operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land 
containing maple trees to make their land available for 
access by the public for maple-tapping activities under 
programs administered by States and tribal governments. 
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 ‘‘Maple-Tapping Access 
Program Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PRO-
GRAMS. 
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 1240S. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PRO-
GRAMS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF MAPLE-TAPPING.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘maple-tapping’ means the collection of sap 
from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the purpose 
of boiling to produce food. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall make grants to 
States and tribal governments to support State and tribal 
government efforts to encourage owners and operators of 
privately held farm, ranch, and forest land— 
‘‘(1) to initiate or expand maple-tapping activi-
ties; or 
‘‘(2) to voluntarily make the land available, in-
cluding by lease or other means, for access by the 
public for maple-tapping activities under such pro-
grams. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATIONS.—In submitting an application 
for a grant under this section, a State or tribal govern-
ment shall include— 
‘‘(1) a description of the activities to be sup-
ported using the grant funds; 
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‘‘(2) a description of the benefits that the State 
or tribal government intends to achieve as a result 
of the activities; and 
‘‘(3) an estimate of the anticipated increase in 
maple-tapping activities and maple syrup production 
to occur as a result of the activities. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In approving applications and 
awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall 
give priority to States and tribal governments that pro-
pose— 
‘‘(1) to maximize participation by offering a 
program the terms of which are likely to meet with 
widespread acceptance among landowners; 
‘‘(2) to increase maple-tapping activities and 
maple syrup production; 
‘‘(3) to ensure that land enrolled under the 
State or tribal government program has an appro-
priate stock of trees suitable for maple-tapping ac-
tivities; and 
‘‘(4) to use additional Federal, State, tribal 
government, or private resources in carrying out the 
program. 
‘‘(e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in 
this section preempts a State or tribal government law, 
including any State or tribal government liability law. 
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‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promulgate 
such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015.’’. 
Æ 
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