I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9120 
To establish an integrated national approach to respond to ongoing and 
expected effects of extreme weather and climate change by protecting, 
managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United 
States, and to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in 
cooperation with State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Native 
Hawaiians, and other entities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 24, 2024 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT
(for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. 
BROWNLEY, Ms. SCANLON, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. HUFFMAN, and Mr. 
LYNCH) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish an integrated national approach to respond to 
ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and 
climate change by protecting, managing, and conserving 
the fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States, and 
to maximize Government efficiency and reduce costs, in 
cooperation with State and local governments, Indian 
Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other entities, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safeguarding Amer-
ica’s Future and Environment Act’’ or the ‘‘SAFE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) healthy, diverse, and productive commu-
nities of fish, wildlife, and plants provide significant 
benefits to the people and economy of the United 
States, including— 
(A) abundant clean water supplies; 
(B) flood and coastal storm protection; 
(C) clean air; 
(D) a source of food, fiber, medicines, and 
pollination of the crops and other plants of the 
United States; 
(E) outdoor recreation, which is a source 
of jobs and economic stimulus; 
(F) hunting and fishing opportunities and 
support for subsistence communities; 
(G) opportunities for scientific research 
and education; 
(H) world-class tourism destinations that 
support local economies; 
(I) sequestration and storage of carbon to 
help mitigate changes to the global climate sys-
tem; and 
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(J) cultural values and sources of tradi-
tional knowledge and practice; 
(2) the United States Geological Survey, Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, and 
other agencies within the United States Global 
Change Research Program have observed that the 
fish, wildlife, and plants of the United States are 
facing increasing risks from changing patterns of ex-
treme weather and climate, including— 
(A) severe droughts and heatwaves; 
(B) severe storms and floods; 
(C) frequent and severe wildfires; 
(D) more frequent and severe outbreaks of 
forest pests and invasive species; 
(E) flooding and erosion of coastal areas 
due to rising sea levels; 
(F) melting glaciers and sea ice; 
(G) thawing permafrost; 
(H) shifting distributions of fish, wildlife, 
and plant populations; 
(I) disruptive shifts in the timing of fish, 
wildlife, and plant natural history cycles, such 
as blooming, breeding, and seasonal migrations; 
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(J) increasing ocean temperatures and 
acidification; 
(K) altered patterns of rain, snow, runoff, 
and streamflow; and 
(L) habitat loss, degradation, fragmenta-
tion, and movement; and 
(3) the Federal Government should provide 
leadership in preparing for and responding to the ef-
fects described in paragraph (2) to ensure that 
present and future generations continue to receive 
the benefits of the abundant and diverse fish, wild-
life, and plant resources of the United States. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish an integrated national approach— 
(1) to respond to ongoing and expected effects 
of extreme weather and climate change by pro-
tecting, managing, and conserving the fish, wildlife, 
and plants of the United States; and 
(2) to maximize Government efficiency and re-
duce costs, in cooperation with State and local gov-
ernments, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiians, and 
other entities. 
(c) NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLI-
MATE CHANGE ADAPTATION POLICY.—It is the policy of 
the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and 
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and Natural Resource Sciences established under 
section 6(b)(1). 
(3) ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical processes’’ means biological, chemical, or 
physical interaction between the biotic and abiotic 
components of an ecosystem, including— 
(A) decomposition; 
(B) disease epizootiology; 
(C) disturbance regimes, such as fire and 
flooding; 
(D) gene flow; 
(E) hydrological cycling; 
(F) larval dispersal and settlement; 
(G) nutrient cycling; 
(H) pollination; 
(I) predator-prey relationships; and 
(J) soil formation. 
(4) HABITAT.—The term ‘‘habitat’’ means the 
physical, chemical, and biological properties that 
fish, wildlife, or plants use for growth, reproduction, 
survival, food, water, or cover (whether on land, in 
water, or in an area or region). 
(5) HABITAT CONNECTIVITY.—The term ‘‘habi-
tat connectivity’’ means areas that facilitate terres-
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trial, marine, estuarine, and freshwater fish, wildlife, 
or plant movement that is necessary— 
(A) for migration, gene flow, or dispersal; 
or 
(B) to respond to the ongoing and ex-
pected effects of climate change (including, 
where applicable, ocean acidification, drought, 
flooding, and wildfire). 
(6) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(7) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘National 
Strategy’’ means the National Fish, Wildlife, and 
Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy released March 
26, 2013. 
(8) NATIVE
AMERICAN.—The term ‘‘Native 
American’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2 of the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. 3001). 
(9) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘Native Hawaiian organization’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 6207 of the Elemen-
tary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7517). 
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(10) NETWORK.—The term ‘‘Network’’ means 
the Climate Adaptation Science Center Network es-
tablished under section 6(a)(1). 
(11) RESILIENCE; RESILIENT.—The terms ‘‘re-
silience’’ and ‘‘resilient’’ mean the ability to antici-
pate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions 
and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from 
disruptions. 
(12) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State of the United States; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) American Samoa; 
(D) Guam; 
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; 
(F) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
and 
(G) the United States Virgin Islands. 
(13) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘Working 
Group’’ means the National Fish, Wildlife, and 
Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Joint Imple-
mentation Working Group established under section 
4(a). 
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SEC. 4. NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLIMATE 
ADAPTATION STRATEGY JOINT IMPLEMENTA-
TION WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall es-
tablish a National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Ad-
aptation Strategy Joint Implementation Working Group 
composed of the heads of Federal and State agencies or 
departments with jurisdiction over fish, wildlife, and plant 
resources of the United States, and Tribal representatives, 
as follows: 
(1) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
(2) The Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency. 
(3) The Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
(4) The Chair of the Council on Environmental 
Quality. 
(5) The Chief of Engineers. 
(6) The Chief of the Forest Service. 
(7) The Commissioner of Reclamation. 
(8) The Director of the Bureau of Indian Af-
fairs. 
(9) The Director of the Bureau of Land Man-
agement. 
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(10) The Director of the National Park Service. 
(11) The Director of the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service. 
(12) The Director of the United States Geologi-
cal Survey. 
(13) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(14) The Secretary of Defense. 
(15) State representatives from each regional 
association of State fish and wildlife agencies. 
(16) Not less than 2 representatives of Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Working Group shall serve as a 
forum for interagency consultation on, and the coordina-
tion of, the development and implementation of the Na-
tional Strategy. 
(c) CO-CHAIRS.—There shall be 4 co-chairs, of 
whom— 
(1) 2 shall be representatives of the Federal 
Government; 
(2) 1 shall be a representative of a State; and 
(3) 1 shall be a representative of an Indian 
Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization. 
(d) FACA.—Notwithstanding section 1009 of title 5, 
United States Code, the Working Group may close a meet-
ing of the Working Group to the public or redact informa-
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tion from minutes of a meeting of the Working Group if 
the applicable Tribal or Native Hawaiian organization rep-
resentatives on the Working Group determine that a meet-
ing or minutes from a meeting, as applicable, will disclose 
sensitive traditional ecological knowledge. 
(e) FOIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), information described in paragraph (2) 
shall be exempt from disclosure under section 
552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—The informa-
tion referred to in paragraph (1) is information that 
a representative of an Indian Tribe or a Native Ha-
waiian organization on the Working Group or any 
other member of an Indian Tribe or a Native Ha-
waiian organization— 
(A) submits to or discusses with the Work-
ing Group; and 
(B) designates as sensitive or private ac-
cording to Tribal or Native Hawaiian custom, 
law, culture, or religion. 
(3) EXCEPTION.—If a representative of an In-
dian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization on the 
Working Group or any other member of an Indian 
Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization requests 
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information that the Tribal or Native Hawaiian or-
ganization representative or member submitted to 
the Working Group and designated as sensitive or 
private, as described in paragraph (2), the Tribal or 
Native Hawaiian organization representative or 
member shall receive that information. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLIMATE 
ADAPTATION STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall adopt 
the National Strategy to protect, manage, and conserve 
fish, wildlife, and plants to maintain the inherent resil-
ience and adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to with-
stand the ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather 
and climate change. 
(b) REVIEW AND REVISION.—Not later than 1 year 
after each release of the assessment required under section 
106 of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 
U.S.C. 2936), the Working Group shall— 
(1) use sound science and traditional ecological 
knowledge to review and revise the National Strat-
egy to incorporate— 
(A) new information regarding the ongoing 
and expected effects of climate change on fish, 
wildlife, and plants; and 
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(B) advances in the development of fish, 
wildlife, and plant adaptation strategies; and 
(2) in carrying out paragraph (1)— 
(A) provide public notice and opportunity 
for comment; and 
(B) include robust consultation or engage-
ment with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, as appropriate. 
(c) CONTENTS.—A revised National Strategy shall— 
(1) assess the vulnerability of fish, wildlife, and 
plants to climate change, including short-term, me-
dium-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts; 
(2) describe current, observation, and moni-
toring activities at the Federal, State, Tribal, and 
local levels relating to the ongoing and expected ef-
fects of climate change on fish, wildlife, and plants; 
(3) identify and prioritize research and data 
needs and areas to incorporate traditional ecological 
knowledge; 
(4) identify fish, wildlife, and plants likely to 
have the greatest need for protection, restoration, 
and conservation due to the ongoing and expanding 
effects of extreme weather and climate change; 
(5) include specific protocols for integrating 
fish, wildlife, and plant adaptation strategies and ac-
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tivities into the conservation and management of 
natural resources by Federal agencies to ensure con-
sistency across agency jurisdictions; 
(6) identify opportunities for maintaining, re-
storing, or enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants to re-
duce the risks of extreme weather and climate 
change on other vulnerable sectors of society; 
(7) identify opportunities to increase co-stew-
ardship and co-management of fish, wildlife, and 
plants between Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian or-
ganizations, and Federal and State partners; 
(8) identify Federal policies and actions that 
may reduce resilience and increase the vulnerability 
of fish, wildlife, and plants to extreme weather and 
climate change; 
(9) include specific actions that Federal agen-
cies shall take to protect, conserve, and manage fish, 
wildlife, and plants to maintain the inherent resil-
ience and adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to 
withstand, adjust to, or recover from the ongoing 
and expected effects of climate change, including a 
timeline to implement those actions; 
(10) include specific mechanisms for ensuring 
communication and coordination— 
(A) among Federal agencies; and 
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(B) between Federal and State agencies, 
territories of the United States, Indian Tribes, 
Native Hawaiian organizations, private land-
owners, conservation organizations, and other 
countries that share jurisdiction over fish, wild-
life, and plants with the United States; 
(11) include specific actions to develop and im-
plement coordinated fish, wildlife, and plants inven-
tory and monitoring protocols through— 
(A) interagency coordination and collabora-
tion with States, local governments, and private 
organizations; and 
(B) robust consultation or engagement 
with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian orga-
nizations, as appropriate; and 
(12) include procedures for guiding the develop-
ment of detailed strategy implementation plans re-
quired under section 7. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with other laws 
and Federal trust responsibilities concerning Indian 
land or rights of Indians under treaties with the 
United States, and through collaboration, engage-
ment, and resource co-stewardship and co-manage-
ment, as appropriate, with Indian Tribes and Native 
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Hawaiian organizations, each Federal agency shall 
integrate the elements of the National Strategy that 
relate to conservation, management, and protection 
of fish, wildlife, and plants into agency plans, envi-
ronmental reviews, and programs. 
(2) PUBLIC
REPORT.—The Working Group 
shall, on a biannual basis, between revisions to the 
National Strategy, make available to the public a re-
port documenting any actions implementing the 
Strategy. 
(3) COORDINATION.—The Working Group shall 
coordinate the implementation of the National Strat-
egy with Federal agencies, Indian Tribes, and Na-
tive Hawaiian organizations not represented on the 
Working Group to achieve the policy of the United 
States described in section 2(c). 
SEC. 
6. 
FISH, 
WILDLIFE, 
AND 
PLANTS 
ADAPTATION 
SCIENCE AND INFORMATION. 
(a) CLIMATE ADAPTATION SCIENCE CENTER NET-
WORK.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the In-
terior, in collaboration with the States, Indian 
Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other 
partner organizations, shall establish a Climate Ad-
aptation Science Center Network. 
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(2) STRUCTURE.—The Network shall consist of 
a National Climate Adaptation Science Center and a 
network of Regional Climate Adaptation Science 
Centers (referred to in this section as ‘‘Centers’’) 
that adequately represent the ecological diversity, cli-
mate risks, and adaptation science needs across 
States and territories of the United States. 
(3) DUTIES OF CENTERS.—The Centers shall 
assess and develop scientific information, tools, 
strategies, and techniques to support the Working 
Group, Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, 
Native Hawaiian organizations, regionally based 
science and conservation centers, regional coordi-
nating entities, and other interested parties in ad-
dressing the effects of extreme weather and climate 
change on fish, wildlife, and plants. 
(4) GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CON-
TRACTS, 
GRANTS, 
AND
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—The Secretary may enter into contracts, 
grants, or cooperative agreements with State agen-
cies, State cooperative extension services, institutions 
of higher education, other research or educational 
institutions and organizations, Tribal organizations, 
Native Hawaiian organizations, Federal and private 
agencies and organizations, individuals, and any 
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other contractor or recipient, to further the duties 
under paragraph (3) without regard to— 
(A) any requirements for competition; 
(B) section 6101 of title 41, United States 
Code; or 
(C) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 
of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ON CLIMATE CHANGE 
AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and pursu-
ant to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act’’), the Secretary of the Interior shall es-
tablish an Advisory Committee on Climate Change 
and Natural Resource Sciences. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be 
comprised of 25 members who— 
(A) represent— 
(i) Federal agencies; 
(ii) State and local governments; 
(iii) Indian Tribes and Native Hawai-
ian organizations; 
(iv) nongovernmental organizations; 
(v) academic institutions; and 
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(vi) the private sector; and 
(B) have expertise in— 
(i) biology (including fish, wildlife, 
plant, aquatic, coastal, and marine biol-
ogy); 
(ii) ecology; 
(iii) climate change (including, where 
applicable, ocean acidification, drought, 
flooding, and wildfire); 
(iv) traditional ecological knowledge; 
and 
(v) other relevant scientific disciplines. 
(3) CHAIR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
appoint a Committee Chair from among the mem-
bers of the Committee. 
(4) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
(A) advise the Secretary of the Interior on 
the establishment, implementation, and evalua-
tion of the Network and the integration of cli-
mate adaptation science into the operation of 
bureaus and programs of the Department of 
the Interior; 
(B) advise the Working Group on the state 
of the science regarding— 
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(i) the ongoing and expected effects of 
extreme weather and climate change on 
fish, wildlife, and plants; and 
(ii) scientific strategies and mecha-
nisms for fish, wildlife, and plant adapta-
tion; 
(C) identify and recommend priorities for 
ongoing research needs on the issues described 
in subparagraph (B) to inform the research pri-
orities of the Centers and other Federal climate 
science institutions; and 
(D) review and comment on each revised 
National Strategy before that National Strategy 
is finalized. 
(5) COLLABORATION.—The Committee shall 
collaborate with climate change and fish, wildlife, 
and plant research entities in other Federal agencies 
and departments. 
(6) AVAILABILITY TO PUBLIC.—The advice and 
recommendations of the Committee shall be made 
available to the public. 
(7) FACA.—Notwithstanding section 1009 of 
title 5, United States Code, the Committee may 
close a meeting of the Committee to the public or re-
dact information from minutes of a meeting of the 
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Committee if a member representing an Indian 
Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization on the 
Committee determines that a meeting or minutes 
from a meeting, as applicable, will disclose sensitive 
traditional ecological knowledge. 
(8) FOIA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (C), information described in 
subparagraph (B) shall be exempt from disclo-
sure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(B) INFORMATION
DESCRIBED.—The in-
formation referred to in subparagraph (A) is in-
formation that a member representing an In-
dian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian organization 
on the Committee— 
(i) submits to or discusses with the 
Committee; and 
(ii) designates as sensitive or private 
according to Native American custom, law, 
culture, or religion. 
(C) 
EXCEPTION.—If 
a 
member 
rep-
resenting an Indian Tribe or a Native Hawaiian 
organization on the Committee requests infor-
mation that the member submitted to the Com-
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mittee and designated as sensitive or private, as 
described in subparagraph (B), that member 
shall receive that information. 
SEC. 7. STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act and not later than 1 year 
after the date of each revision of the National Strategy, 
the Working Group shall— 
(1) complete a strategy implementation plan; 
(2) provide opportunities for public review and 
comment on the plan; 
(3) conduct robust consultation or engagement 
with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organiza-
tions, as appropriate; and 
(4) submit the plan to the President for ap-
proval. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy implementation 
plan shall— 
(1) identify and prioritize specific conservation 
and management strategies and actions that address 
the ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather 
and climate change on fish, wildlife, and plants, in-
cluding— 
(A) protection, management, co-steward-
ship, co-management, and conservation of ter-
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restrial, marine, estuarine, and freshwater habi-
tats and ecosystems; 
(B) establishment of terrestrial, marine, 
estuarine, and freshwater habitat connectivity 
corridors; 
(C) restoration and conservation of ecologi-
cal processes; 
(D) protection of a broad diversity of spe-
cies of fish, wildlife, and plant populations; 
(E) protection of fish, wildlife, and plant 
health, recognizing that climate can alter the 
distribution and ecology of parasites, pathogens, 
and vectors; and 
(F) management of human-wildlife con-
flict, recognizing climate-induced movements of 
wildlife are likely to result in increased inter-
actions between wildlife and human commu-
nities; 
(2) establish methods— 
(A) to assess the effectiveness of strategies 
and conservation actions implemented by the 
agencies to protect, manage, and conserve fish, 
wildlife, and plants; and 
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(B) to update those strategies and actions 
to respond to new information and changing 
conditions; 
(C) to consult or engage, as appropriate, 
with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian orga-
nizations; and 
(D) to incorporate traditional ecological 
knowledge into plans and strategies; 
(3) describe current and proposed mechanisms 
to enhance cooperation and coordination of fish, 
wildlife, and plant adaptation efforts with other Fed-
eral agencies, State and local governments, Indian 
Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and non-
governmental stakeholders; 
(4) include written guidance to resource man-
agers; and 
(5) identify and assess data and information 
gaps necessary to develop fish, wildlife, and plant 
adaptation plans and strategies. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On approval by the Presi-
dent, each Federal agency shall, consistent with ex-
isting authority, implement the strategy implementa-
tion plan under subsection (a)(1) through existing 
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and new plans, policies, programs, activities, and ac-
tions. 
(2) CONSIDERATION
OF
EFFECTS.—To the 
maximum extent practicable and consistent with ex-
isting authority, fish, wildlife, and plant conservation 
and management decisions made by each Federal 
agency shall consider and promote resilience to the 
ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and 
climate change. 
(d) REVISION AND REVIEW.—Not later than 1 year 
after the National Strategy is revised under section 5(b), 
the Working Group shall review and revise the strategy 
implementation plan under subsection (a)(1) to incor-
porate the best available science, including advice and in-
formation pursuant to section 6 and other information, re-
garding the ongoing and expected effects of climate 
change on fish, wildlife, and plants. 
SEC. 8. STATE FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS ADAPTATION 
PLANS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—To be eligible to receive funds 
pursuant to subsection (d), not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act and not later than 1 year 
after the date of each revision of the National Strategy, 
each State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of 
the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce a State fish, 
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wildlife, and plant adaptation plan detailing current and 
future efforts of the State to address the ongoing and ex-
pected effects of climate change on fish, wildlife, and 
plants and coastal areas within the jurisdiction of the 
State. 
(b) REVIEW OR APPROVAL.—The Secretary of the In-
terior and the Secretary of Commerce shall— 
(1) review each State adaptation plan; and 
(2) approve a State adaptation plan if the 
plan— 
(A) meets the requirements of subsection 
(c); and 
(B) is consistent with the National Strat-
egy. 
(c) CONTENTS.—A State adaptation plan shall— 
(1) meet the requirements described in section 
7(b), except that the requirements of that section re-
lating to marine habitats or ecosystems shall not 
apply to a State in which those habitats or eco-
systems do not exist; 
(2) include the adaptation provisions of any 
State comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy 
(or State wildlife action plan) that has been— 
(A) submitted to the Director of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and 
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(B) approved, or is pending approval, by 
the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 
(3) include the adaptation provisions of a state-
wide assessment and strategy for forest resources re-
quired under section 2A of the Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a) that has 
been— 
(A) submitted to the Secretary of Agri-
culture; and 
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by 
the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(4) in the case of a State with coastal areas, in-
clude the adaptation provisions of a Coastal Zone 
Management Plan or a Coastal and Estuarine Land 
Conservation Program Plan that has been— 
(A) submitted to the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion; and 
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by 
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration; and 
(5) include documentation describing efforts 
and opportunities to conduct robust consultation or 
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engagement with Indian Tribes and Native Hawai-
ian organizations, as appropriate. 
(d) DISTRIBUTION
OF FUNDS
TO STATES.—Any 
funds made available pursuant to this Act shall be— 
(1) used to carry out activities in accordance 
with adaptation plans approved under this section; 
and 
(2) made available through— 
(A) the State and Tribal wildlife grant pro-
gram under title I of division F of the Consoli-
dated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 
110–161; 121 Stat. 2103); and 
(B)(i) the grant program under section 
306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455); 
(ii) the Coastal and Estuarine Land Con-
servation Program established under title II of 
the Department of Commerce and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 (16 U.S.C. 
1456d); and 
(iii) programs established under the Coop-
erative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 
U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). 
(e) TRIBAL CLIMATE PRIORITIES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts made avail-
able to a State pursuant to this Act, not less than 
2 percent shall be used to implement Tribal and Na-
tive Hawaiian climate priorities, as determined by 
consultation or engagement with relevant Indian 
Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, as appli-
cable and appropriate. 
(2) FUNDING TO INDIAN TRIBES AND NATIVE 
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATIONS.—A State may award 
amounts described in paragraph (1) to Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations located in the 
State to implement Tribal or Native Hawaiian cli-
mate priorities, as applicable and appropriate. 
(f) PUBLIC INPUT.—In developing an adaptation 
plan, a State shall— 
(1) solicit and consider input from the public 
and independent scientists; and 
(2) conduct robust consultation or engagement 
with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organiza-
tions, as appropriate. 
(g) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PLANS.—A State 
adaptation plan shall, where appropriate, integrate the 
goals and measures set forth in other climate adaptation, 
hazard mitigation, and fish, wildlife, and plant conserva-
tion strategies and plans. 
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(h) UPDATES.—Each State adaptation plan shall be 
updated at least every 4 years. 
Æ 
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