I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3534 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement landscape- 
scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in increasing their 
resilience to wildfire, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2021 
Mr. PANETTA (for himself, Mr. COSTA, Mr. HARDER of California, Mr. 
GARAMENDI, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CORREA, and Mr. THOMPSON of Cali-
fornia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Edu-
cation and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and imple-
ment landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist 
communities in increasing their resilience to wildfire, 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 
‘‘Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—LANDSCAPE-SCALE FOREST RESTORATION 
Sec. 101. Definitions. 
Sec. 102. Purpose. 
Sec. 103. Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest restoration 
projects. 
Sec. 104. Conservation finance agreements. 
Sec. 105. Administration. 
Sec. 106. Report evaluating implementation. 
Sec. 107. Funding. 
TITLE II—INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE 
Sec. 201. Critical infrastructure and microgrid program. 
Sec. 202. Retrofits for fire-resilient communities. 
Sec. 203. Hazard mitigation using disaster assistance. 
Sec. 204. Wildfire detection equipment. 
TITLE III—RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND CAPACITY BUILDING 
Sec. 301. Western prescribed fire centers. 
Sec. 302. Innovative forest workforce development program. 
Sec. 303. National community capacity and land stewardship grant program. 
TITLE I—LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
FOREST RESTORATION 
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) CONSERVATION
FINANCE
AGREEMENT.— 
The term ‘‘conservation finance agreement’’ means a 
mutual benefit agreement (excluding a procurement 
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement described 
in chapter 63 of title 31, United States Code)— 
(A) the term of which is more than 1, but 
not more than 20, years; 
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(B) that may provide that performance 
under the agreement during the second and 
subsequent years of the agreement is contingent 
on the appropriation of funds; and 
(C) if the agreement does so provide, that 
may provide for a cancellation payment to be 
made to the partner if those appropriations are 
not made. 
(2) ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical conditions’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regu-
lations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act). 
(3) ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical integrity’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act). 
(4) 
LANDSCAPE
ASSESSMENT.—The 
term 
‘‘landscape assessment’’ means an assessment of a 
landscape that— 
(A) meets the requirements described in 
section 103(c)(1)(C); 
(B) does not constitute a decision docu-
ment or final agency action requiring a separate 
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analysis under the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and 
(C) may be presented— 
(i) in a separate analysis; 
(ii) within 1 or more broader analyses, 
including analyses under the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.); or 
(iii) through a combination of the 
analyses described in clauses (i) and (ii). 
(5) RESTORE.—The term ‘‘restore’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(7) WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE.—The term 
‘‘wildland-urban interface’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Res-
toration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). 
SEC. 102. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this title is to increase the pace and 
scale of forest restoration and reduction in the risk of 
uncharacteristic wildfire through— 
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(1) authorizing a pilot program with conserva-
tion finance agreement authority to leverage other 
Federal and non-Federal investment (excluding 
funds appropriated to the Forest Service) in land-
scape-scale forest restoration and related natural 
and built infrastructure, equipment, and job train-
ing; 
(2) project planning and analysis practices that 
effectively scale up to the landscape level of 100,000 
acres or more; 
(3) requiring ecological standards and collabo-
ration for landscape-scale projects; and 
(4) coordination with Federal, State, local, and 
Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to sup-
port the pilot program described in paragraph (1) by 
taking advantage of interorganizational support. 
SEC. 103. SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND-
SCAPE-SCALE 
FOREST 
RESTORATION 
PROJECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select, in ac-
cordance with this section, landscape-scale forest restora-
tion projects— 
(1) to implement on National Forest System 
land; and 
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(2) if applicable, to implement on land adjoin-
ing National Forest System land, in coordination 
with other Federal and non-Federal entities. 
(b) INITIAL PHASE.—During the 5-year period begin-
ning on the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the 
availability of appropriations pursuant to section 107(a), 
the Secretary shall select not more than 20 landscape- 
scale forest restoration projects under subsection (a). 
(c) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), to 
be eligible for selection and implementation under 
subsection (a), a landscape-scale forest restoration 
project shall satisfy the following requirements: 
(A) The purposes and needs for the project 
shall be— 
(i) to restore the ecological integrity 
and ecological resilience of terrestrial and 
aquatic areas that have departed from ref-
erence conditions within the forest land-
scape; 
(ii) to restore appropriate natural fire 
regimes, including by reducing fuel loads 
and modifying forest structure in areas 
that have departed from reference condi-
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tions, taking into account the current and 
projected impacts of climate change; and 
(iii) to conduct wildfire risk reduction 
activities within the wildland-urban inter-
face to the extent that the project includes 
lands within the wildland-urban interface. 
(B) The project shall be developed and 
supported by a collaborative group that— 
(i) includes multiple interested per-
sons representing diverse interests; 
(ii) is transparent and inclusive; and 
(iii) has sufficient expertise, capacity, 
and scientific support to effectively plan, 
implement, and monitor landscape-level, 
ecologically based forest restoration activi-
ties. 
(C) The project shall be based on a land-
scape assessment that shall— 
(i) cover a landscape of— 
(I) except as provided in sub-
clauses (II) and (III), not less than 
100,000 acres; 
(II) in such limited cases as the 
Secretary determines to be appro-
priate, not less than 80,000 acres if— 
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(aa) the assessment is com-
pleted or substantially completed 
as of the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(bb) in the determination of 
the Secretary, assessing a larger 
area is not necessary to restore 
the integrity, resilience, and fire 
regimes of the landscape; or 
(III) not less than 50,000 acres 
in the case of a project that is carried 
out east of the 100th meridian; 
(ii) evaluate ecological integrity and 
determine reference conditions for the 
landscape; 
(iii) identify terrestrial and aquatic 
areas within the landscape that have de-
parted from reference conditions; 
(iv) identify criteria to determine ap-
propriate restoration treatments within de-
graded areas of the landscape to achieve 
reference conditions, including manage-
ment prescriptions, mitigation measures, 
and constraints to be applied when car-
rying out actions in those areas; 
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(v) be based on the best available sci-
entific information and data, including, 
where applicable, high-resolution imagery, 
LiDAR, and similar technologies and infor-
mation, and involve direct engagement by 
scientists; and 
(vi) identify priority restoration strat-
egies for terrestrial and aquatic areas, in-
cluding prescribed fire and wildfires man-
aged for multiple resource benefits, which 
shall focus on— 
(I) areas that are the most de-
parted from reference conditions; and 
(II) areas that would benefit the 
most from reducing the risk of 
uncharacteristic 
wildfire, 
especially 
with respect to nearby communities, 
taking into account other completed, 
ongoing, and planned fuels-reduction 
projects. 
(D) Restoration treatments under the 
project— 
(i) shall emphasize the reintroduction 
of characteristic fire, based on forest ecol-
ogy and reference conditions, through the 
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use of prescribed fire, wildfire managed for 
resource benefits, or both; 
(ii) that involve any proposed mechan-
ical treatments shall be designed to pro-
mote— 
(I) the restoration of reference 
conditions in areas that lack ecological 
integrity, especially the reduction of 
surface and ladder fuels; and 
(II) the establishment of condi-
tions that will facilitate prescribed fire 
or managed wildfire; 
(iii) shall— 
(I) fully maintain or contribute 
to the restoration of reference old for-
est conditions, taking into account the 
current and projected impacts of cli-
mate change; and 
(II) protect or increase the num-
ber and distribution of large old trees, 
consistent with reference conditions, 
excepting any de minimis losses of 
large old trees from prescribed fire or 
hazardous tree removal; and 
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(iv) that involve prescribed fire shall 
provide advance notification, in accordance 
with notification procedures developed by 
the Secretary, to the owner or operator of 
critical infrastructure, such as a power line 
right-of-way, of any prescribed fire treat-
ments within close proximity to the infra-
structure. 
(E) The project shall be consistent with all 
applicable environmental laws, including— 
(i) the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); 
(ii) the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and 
(iii) the Forest and Rangeland Renew-
able Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1600 et seq.). 
(F) The project shall be consistent with 
the Roadless Area Conservation Rule estab-
lished under part 294 of title 36, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or successor regulations), and 
the final rule and record of decision of the For-
est Service entitled ‘‘Special Areas; Roadless 
Area Conservation’’ (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 (Janu-
ary 12, 2001)) (or a successor rule). 
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mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.); or 
(iv) the use of the landscape assess-
ment described in subparagraph (C), 
through incorporation by reference and 
similar approaches, to support focused, 
concise, and site-specific— 
(I) environmental assessments; or 
(II) categorical exclusions con-
sistent with the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.). 
(2) EXCEPTION.—If the Secretary determines 
that there are an insufficient number of projects 
that fully comply with the requirements described in 
paragraph (1) to implement based on all available 
funding, then the Secretary may, during the 2-year 
period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
Act, select under subsection (a) not more than a 
total of 5 landscape-scale forest restoration projects 
to implement that do not fully comply with those re-
quirements if the projects— 
(A) fully comply with the requirements de-
scribed in subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), (F), 
(G), (H), and (I) of that paragraph; 
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(B) in the determination of the Secretary, 
have purposes and needs that are consistent 
with the purposes and needs described in sub-
paragraph (A) of that paragraph; and 
(C) are supported by landscape assess-
ments that are substantially (if not completely) 
consistent with the requirements described in 
subparagraph (C) of that paragraph, subject to 
the condition that the applicable landscape as-
sessments fully comply with the requirements 
described in clauses (i) and (v) of that subpara-
graph. 
(d) EVALUATION OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining which land-
scape-scale forest restoration projects to select under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) the criteria described in paragraph (2); 
(B) the extent to which the project utilizes 
the approaches to project implementation de-
scribed in paragraph (3); and 
(C) the recommendations of the advisory 
panel established under subsection (e). 
(2) CRITERIA.—The criteria referred to in 
paragraph (1)(A) are— 
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(A) the demonstrated need, based on the 
best available science, to restore ecological in-
tegrity to degraded or departed areas within the 
landscape covered by the project, taking into 
account the current and projected impacts of 
climate change; 
(B)(i) the importance of watersheds in the 
area covered by the project for downstream 
waters supply; and 
(ii) the opportunity to improve the ecologi-
cal integrity and ecological conditions of those 
watersheds and reduce risks to water resources 
through landscape-scale forest restoration; 
(C)(i) the potential extent of cost sharing 
for the development and implementation of the 
project from diverse sources, such as State or 
local governments, water or electric utilities, 
carbon credits, or private entities; and 
(ii) the proportion of the non-Federal cost 
share that is in the form of cash contributions; 
(D) whether the area covered by the 
project has high-resolution, remote-sensing data 
and other information available that enables a 
landscape assessment and a robust analysis and 
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disclosure of the effects and outcomes of imple-
menting restoration activities; 
(E) whether the project is using, or will 
use, innovative approaches to completing re-
source surveys that are less costly and less 
time-consuming than usual practices while pro-
viding the information necessary for project de-
sign and analysis; 
(F) whether the project will reduce the 
number of miles of permanent roads on Na-
tional Forest System land that are not nec-
essary for resource management or recreational 
access; 
(G) whether the project will assess or 
quantify the ecosystem service benefits of forest 
restoration within the landscape covered by the 
project, such as water, carbon, biodiversity, fire 
risk reduction, public health, and community 
safety; 
(H) whether the project has the potential 
to support new or existing wood processing in-
frastructure that can make economic use of the 
byproducts of forest restoration; 
(I) whether the project has the potential to 
support local employment and investment op-
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portunities, particularly in economically dis-
advantaged communities; 
(J) the scale of the landscape assessment 
for the project, with a preference for projects 
for which the landscape assessment covers a 
larger area; and 
(K) whether the project— 
(i) strives to restore ecological integ-
rity and ecological conditions within areas 
across land ownerships, including State 
and private land; and 
(ii) 
will 
reduce 
the 
risk 
of 
uncharacteristic wildfire, and, to the extent 
practicable, restore ecological integrity, 
within the wildland-urban interface. 
(3) 
APPROACHES
TO
LANDSCAPE-SCALE 
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.—A landscape-scale res-
toration project carried out under this section may 
use 1 or both of the following approaches to project 
implementation: 
(A) 
CONSERVATION
FINANCE
AGREE-
MENTS.—The Secretary may enter into a con-
servation finance agreement under the pilot 
program established under section 104(a) to 
carry out the project for the purpose of facili-
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tating private, other non-Federal, and other 
Federal investment (excluding the investment of 
any other amounts appropriated to the Forest 
Service)— 
(i) to increase the pace and scale of 
forest restoration at the landscape level; 
(ii) to support the use of prescribed 
fire at a greater scale; or 
(iii) to make greater economic use of 
the byproducts of forest restoration to re-
duce the net cost of forest restoration. 
(B) INTERAGENCY PERSONNEL COLLABO-
RATION.—The Secretary may coordinate with 
Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies to ex-
pand personnel options to support the project 
by using authorities such as— 
(i) the good neighbor authority under 
section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); 
(ii) sections 3371 through 3376 of 
title 5, United States Code (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Intergovernmental Per-
sonnel Act’’); and 
(iii) part 334 of title 5, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or successor regulations). 
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(e) ADVISORY PANEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
and maintain an advisory panel composed of not 
more than 15 members to evaluate, and provide rec-
ommendations on— 
(A) each landscape-scale forest restoration 
project that the Secretary is reviewing for po-
tential selection under subsection (a); and 
(B) proposals for planning and developing 
landscape-scale forest restoration projects that 
the Secretary is reviewing for potential funding 
under section 107(a)(1). 
(2) REPRESENTATION.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the membership of the advisory panel es-
tablished under paragraph (1) is fairly balanced in 
terms of the points of view represented and the 
functions to be performed by the advisory panel. 
(3) INCLUSION.—The advisory panel estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall include experts in 
ecological forest restoration, fire ecology, fire man-
agement, rural economic and workforce development, 
strategies for ecological adaptation to climate 
change, fish and wildlife ecology, and woody biomass 
and small-diameter tree utilization. 
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(4) EXEMPTION.—The advisory panel estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
SEC. 104. CONSERVATION FINANCE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary 
shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary 
may enter into a conservation finance agreement with a 
public or private person, including a for-profit or nonprofit 
organization, to plan, implement, and monitor a land-
scape-scale forest restoration project selected by the Sec-
retary under section 103(a) if the Secretary finds each of 
the following: 
(1) There is a reasonable expectation that, 
throughout the contemplated agreement period, the 
Secretary will request funding for the agreement at 
the level required to avoid agreement cancellation. 
(2) The environmental analysis for the project 
demonstrates that there is a sufficient supply of 
small-diameter material to support a long-term 
agreement consistent with the landscape assessment 
and all applicable environmental laws. 
(3) The use of the conservation finance agree-
ment will, in the area of the applicable landscape- 
scale forest restoration project, assist in achieving 
the purpose described in section 102. 
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(4) The project involves an entity that dem-
onstrates experience in— 
(A) developing and implementing conserva-
tion finance public-private partnerships; and 
(B) raising capital commitments from 
concessional and market rate investors or other 
external financing. 
(b) LIMITED DELEGATION.—The Secretary may not 
delegate the pilot program authority under subsection (a) 
to a Federal official that serves under the Chief of the 
Forest Service. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.—The pilot program authority 
under subsection (a)— 
(1) may be used for the obligation under con-
servation finance agreements of not more than— 
(A) $250,000,000 in the aggregate; and 
(B) $50,000,000 for any 1 landscape-scale 
forest restoration project; and 
(2) may not be used to pay interest to any 
other entity providing funds for the applicable land-
scape-scale forest restoration project. 
(d) CANCELLATION, TERMINATION, OR MODIFICA-
TION FOR INSUFFICIENT FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
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(A) INSUFFICIENT FUNDING.—If funds are 
not made available for the continuation of a 
conservation finance agreement made under 
this section into a subsequent fiscal year, the 
agreement shall be canceled, terminated, or 
modified. 
(B) PAYMENT OF COSTS.—If the Secretary 
determines that it is necessary to cancel or ter-
minate a conservation finance agreement pursu-
ant to subparagraph (A), and the conservation 
finance agreement includes a cancellation provi-
sion described in paragraph (2)(A), the Sec-
retary may pay the costs of that cancellation or 
termination using any of the following amounts: 
(i) Appropriations originally available 
for the performance of the applicable con-
servation finance agreement. 
(ii) Appropriations currently available 
for the type of services concerned under 
the applicable conservation finance agree-
ment, and not otherwise obligated. 
(iii) Funds appropriated for payments 
for those costs of cancellation or termi-
nation. 
(2) PROVISIONS IN AGREEMENTS.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
provide for cancellation provisions in conserva-
tion finance agreements under this section to 
the extent that those provisions are necessary 
and in the best interests of the United States. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—The cancellation 
provisions described in subparagraph (A) may 
include consideration of the recurring and non-
recurring costs of the partner under the appli-
cable conservation finance agreement. 
(3) CANCELLATION CEILINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may ob-
ligate funds in stages that are economically or 
programmatically viable to cover any potential 
cancellation or termination costs for a conserva-
tion finance agreement under paragraph (1)(B) 
and implement the agreement pursuant to this 
section. 
(B) ADVANCE
NOTICE
TO
CONGRESS
OF 
CANCELLATION
CEILING
IN
EXCESS
OF 
$25,000,000.—Not later than 30 days before en-
tering into a conservation finance agreement 
under this section that includes a cancellation 
ceiling in excess of $25,000,000, but does not 
include proposed funding for the costs of can-
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celling the agreement up to that cancellation 
ceiling, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on 
Natural Resources and the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives a writ-
ten notice that includes— 
(i) a description of the cancellation 
ceiling amounts proposed for each program 
year in the agreement; 
(ii) the reasons why the cancellation 
ceiling amounts described under clause (i) 
were selected; 
(iii) a description of the extent to 
which the costs of agreement cancellation 
are not included in the budget for the 
agreement; and 
(iv) an assessment of the financial 
risk of not including budgeting for the 
costs of agreement cancellation. 
(C) TRANSMITTAL OF NOTICE TO OMB.— 
Not later than 14 days after the date on which 
written notice is provided under subparagraph 
(B), the Secretary shall transmit a copy of the 
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notice to the Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget. 
(D) RELATIONSHIP
OF
CANCELLATION 
CEILING
TO
CONSERVATION
FINANCE
AGREE-
MENT.—The Secretary may enter into a con-
servation finance agreement pursuant to this 
section that includes partner services in return 
for payments by the Secretary in future years 
that are contingent on the appropriation of 
funds, subject to the requirement that the Sec-
retary shall pay the partner cancellation costs 
pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) up to the can-
cellation ceiling applicable to the agreement if 
funding for the completion of the agreement is 
not appropriated. 
SEC. 105. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue guid-
ance on the implementation of this title. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—A landscape-scale forest res-
toration project under this title shall be implemented con-
sistent with— 
(1) the requirements for the project described 
in section 103(c); and 
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(2) all project commitments described in the 1 
or more decisions or decision notices relating to the 
project. 
SEC. 106. REPORT EVALUATING IMPLEMENTATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report 
evaluating the implementation of this title, including— 
(1) a list of the landscape-scale forest restora-
tion projects selected under section 103(a) and the 
accomplishments under those projects; 
(2) an evaluation of the approaches to project 
planning and implementation described in section 
103(d)(3) based on the experience of the implemen-
tation of those approaches in the projects described 
in paragraph (1); and 
(3) an evaluation of the pilot authority for con-
servation finance agreements described in section 
104, including whether that authority has— 
(A) increased the availability of non-Fed-
eral funding sources to assist in landscape-scale 
forest restoration projects; and 
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(B) promoted private or other non-Federal 
investment in— 
(i) new or existing infrastructure and 
related equipment that can make use of 
the byproducts of forest restoration; 
(ii) the use of prescribed fire at a 
greater scale; 
(iii) related economic development and 
workforce training and development; 
(iv) land management activities en-
hancing natural infrastructure with bene-
fits for downstream water users; or 
(v) 
mitigating 
the 
risk 
of 
uncharacteristic wildfire. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the report under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the advi-
sory panel established under section 103(e). 
SEC. 107. FUNDING. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
$250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026, to remain available until expended— 
(1) to plan and develop potential landscape- 
scale forest restoration projects under this title that 
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the Secretary and a collaborative group described in 
section 103(c)(1)(B) shall design— 
(A) to meet the requirements of section 
103(c); and 
(B) to satisfy the criteria described in sec-
tion 103(d)(2), to the maximum extent prac-
ticable; and 
(2) to implement landscape-scale forest restora-
tion projects selected under section 103. 
(b) SOURCES OF FUNDING.—Landscape-scale forest 
restoration projects under this Act may be carried out 
using— 
(1) amounts appropriated under subsection (a); 
(2) other sources of Forest Service funding; 
(3) other sources of Federal funding; 
(4) non-Federal funding sources; or 
(5) any combination of the amounts described 
in paragraphs (1) through (4). 
(c) COST-SHARE.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.—The 
Federal share of the cost of planning and devel-
oping a potential landscape-scale forest restora-
tion project under this title shall not exceed 75 
percent. 
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(B) 
IMPLEMENTATION
AND
MONI-
TORING.—The Federal share of the cost of car-
rying out and monitoring each landscape-scale 
forest restoration project on National Forest 
System land under this title shall not exceed 60 
percent. 
(2) FORM OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non- 
Federal share of the cost of a project carried out 
using funds made available pursuant to this title 
may include in-kind contributions. 
(d) ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.—Not less than 5 per-
cent of the amount made available for each landscape- 
scale forest restoration project under this title shall be 
used for monitoring and adaptive management in the ap-
plicable landscape. 
(e) STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING.—In the case of a 
landscape-scale forest restoration project under this title 
that is covered by an agreement or a contract under sec-
tion 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
(16 U.S.C. 6591c), the Secretary may use monies retained 
by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section 
to plan, analyze, and implement landscape-scale forest res-
toration projects within the area covered by that agree-
ment or contract consistent with this title. 
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(f) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 5 per-
cent of any amounts appropriated to carry out this title 
may be used for administrative management and program 
oversight. 
TITLE II—INCREASING COMMU-
NITY RESILIENCE TO WILD-
FIRE 
SEC. 201. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND MICROGRID 
PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CRITICAL FACILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘critical fa-
cility’’ means a facility that provides services or 
may be used— 
(i) to save lives; 
(ii) to protect property, public health, 
and public safety; or 
(iii) to lessen or avert the threat of a 
catastrophe. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘critical facil-
ity’’ includes— 
(i) a hospital; 
(ii) an outpatient clinic; 
(iii) a nursing home; 
(iv) a police station; 
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(v) an emergency operation center; 
(vi) a jail or prison; 
(vii) a fire station; 
(viii) a facility in the communications 
sector, as determined by the Secretary; 
(ix) a facility in the chemical sector, 
as determined by the Secretary; 
(x) a school or other large building 
that may serve as a temporary gathering 
space; 
(xi) a utility station, such as a water 
and wastewater station; 
(xii) a facility described in subpara-
graph (A) that is owned or operated by, or 
provides services to, an Indian Tribe (as 
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-De-
termination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 5304)); 
(xiii) a Federal facility, including a 
military base or installation; and 
(xiv) any other facility described in 
subparagraph (A), as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
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(b) CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
AND MICROGRID 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program— 
(A) to improve the energy resilience and 
power needs of critical facilities through the use 
of microgrids, renewable energy, energy effi-
ciency, reduced electricity demand, and on-site 
storage; 
(B) to improve the energy efficiency of 
critical facilities by decreasing the size and cost 
of generators; 
(C) to provide technical assistance and fa-
cilitate the distribution and sharing of informa-
tion to develop more resilient electricity systems 
(including bulk systems and localized systems); 
and 
(D) to promulgate consumer-facing infor-
mation and resources to inform the public on 
best practices and resources related to increas-
ing resilience of electricity systems and reducing 
the impacts of extreme weather events on elec-
tricity systems. 
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(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the pro-
gram established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall ensure, with respect to critical facilities— 
(A) provision of on-site back-up power with 
renewable resources, low-carbon liquid fuels, 
and on-site energy storage technologies; and 
(B) installation, at the transmission and 
distribution level, of interoperable technologies, 
advanced power flow control, dynamic line rat-
ing, topology optimization, and communications 
systems. 
(3) INTERESTED
PARTY
INPUT.—In estab-
lishing the program under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall seek the input of State energy regu-
lators, electric utilities (as defined in section 3 of the 
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796)), regional trans-
mission organizations and independent system oper-
ators, electric utility customers and ratepayer orga-
nizations, local governments, community choice 
aggregators or regional energy collaboratives, and 
other interested parties. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 to carry 
out this section, to remain available until expended. 
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(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Of the amount 
used to carry out this section, not more than 10 per-
cent shall be used for salaries and expenses, admin-
istrative management, and oversight of the program 
established under subsection (b)(1). 
SEC. 202. RETROFITS FOR FIRE-RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. 
(a) 
DEFINITION
OF
WEATHERIZATION
MATE-
RIALS.—Section 412(9) of the Energy Conservation and 
Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6862(9)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as sub-
paragraph (K); and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(J) materials that are resistant to high 
heat and fire; and’’. 
(b) WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 413(b)(6) of the En-
ergy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 
6863(b)(6)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) owners of such dwelling units shall 
use fire- and drought-resistant building mate-
rials and incorporate wildfire and drought pre-
vention and mitigation planning, as directed by 
the State.’’. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.—Section 415(c) of the En-
ergy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 
6865(c)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately; 
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so redesignated), in the second sen-
tence, by striking ‘‘Labor’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘to—’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) LABOR AND WEATHERIZATION MATE-
RIALS.—Labor, weatherization materials, and 
related matter described in subparagraph (A) 
includes—’’; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘(c)(1) Except’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
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‘‘(1) AVERAGE COST.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
ignated)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘exceed an aver-
age of $6,500’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘exceed— 
‘‘(i) an average of $13,000 (adjusted 
annually for inflation)’’; 
(II) in clause (i) (as so des-
ignated), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(ii) another average amount that is 
greater than the amount described in 
clause (i), if the Secretary determines it 
necessary to waive or adjust the average 
amount established under that clause.’’; 
and 
(v) in subparagraph (B) (as so des-
ignated)— 
(I) in clause (iv) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘, and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(II) in clause (v) (as so redesig-
nated), by adding a period at the end; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘$3,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$6,000 (adjusted annually for 
inflation)’’. 
SEC. 203. HAZARD MITIGATION USING DISASTER ASSIST-
ANCE. 
Section 404(f)(12) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170c(f)(12)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘and wildfire’’ after ‘‘wind-
storm’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘including replacing’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘including— 
‘‘(A) replacing’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, wildfire,’’ after ‘‘ex-
treme wind’’; and 
(B) by adding ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon 
at the end; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) the installation of fire-resistant wires 
and infrastructure and the undergrounding of 
wires;’’. 
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TITLE 
III—RESEARCH, 
TRAIN-
ING, AND CAPACITY BUILD-
ING 
SEC. 301. WESTERN PRESCRIBED FIRE CENTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture and 
the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘Secretaries’’) shall establish 1 or more centers to 
train individuals in prescribed fire methods and other 
methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk (re-
ferred to in this section as a ‘‘center’’). 
(b) HOST INSTITUTIONS.—The 1 or more centers 
shall be— 
(1) located at 1 or more institutions of higher 
education; or 
(2) developed in collaboration with 1 or more 
institutions of higher education. 
(c) GOALS.—The 1 or more centers shall advance the 
following goals: 
(1) Training individuals and conducting re-
search on prescribed fire methods and other restora-
tion methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire 
risk. 
(2) Developing and advancing interdisciplinary 
science relating to wildfire, including social science 
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and human dimensions of wildfire, in consultation 
with stakeholders who— 
(A) need that science; 
(B) will benefit from the outcomes of that 
science; and 
(C) will coordinate with 1 or more other 
centers in developing and advancing that 
science. 
(3) Conducting ongoing and forward-looking 
needs assessments among stakeholders, including 
Federal and State agencies and Indian Tribes, to de-
termine common need requirements and emerging 
challenges to reduce wildfire risk and adapt commu-
nities to increased risk from wildfire, including the 
following hazard-related focus areas: 
(A) Increasing disaster resilience. 
(B) Mitigation and management methods. 
(C) Air quality. 
(D) Firestorm weather forecasting and 
burn-area debris flow forecasting, including em-
pirical and modeling research. 
(4) Collaborating with Federal wildfire sci-
entists at the Forest Service, the Department of the 
Interior, and other related agencies. 
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(5) Identifying, through a detailed engagement 
process targeting defined end-users, the require-
ments and delivery mechanisms for products and 
services that are practical and will have an impact 
on mitigating wildfire risk. 
(6) Promoting technology transfer with path-
ways for dissemination, implementation, and applica-
tion of research results on the ground, using and en-
hancing previous research. 
(7) Ensuring the connectivity and interoper-
ability of distributed services to maximize synergies 
and benefits across services. 
(8) Developing open digital infrastructure to 
make research data, science, and models open for all 
sectors to use. 
(d) LOCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The 1 or more centers shall 
be located in any State the entirety of which is lo-
cated west of the 100th meridian. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Secretaries shall con-
sult with the Joint Fire Science Program to solicit 
and evaluate proposals for the location of the 1 or 
more centers. 
(3) SELECTION.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, based on the con-
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sultation under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall 
select a location for the 1 or more centers. 
SEC. 302. INNOVATIVE FOREST WORKFORCE DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CAREER IN FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGE-
MENT.—The term ‘‘career in forestry and fire man-
agement’’ means a career in a field relating to for-
ests and the restoration to the natural fire regimes 
of forests, including— 
(A) in timber operations; 
(B) as a registered professional forester; 
(C) in vegetation treatment, including as a 
member of a hand crew, a machine operator, 
and in conducting prescribed fires as part of a 
fire restoration workforce that is capable of 
conducting large landscape restorative and 
maintenance prescribed fires; 
(D) in ecological restoration, including res-
toration of watersheds; 
(E) in wildland fire fighting; and 
(F) in community fire resilience, including 
workforce development projects. 
(2) FORESTRY AND FIRE MANAGEMENT.—The 
term ‘‘forestry and fire management’’ includes the 
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areas of fields relating to forests described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a competitive grant program— 
(1) to assist in the development and utilization 
of innovative activities relating to workforce develop-
ment in forestry and fire management and opportu-
nities for careers in forestry and fire management; 
and 
(2) to expand public awareness about forestry 
and fire management and connect individuals to ca-
reers in forestry and fire management. 
(c) SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.—In award-
ing grants under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to 
the extent practicable, select nonprofit professional or 
service organizations, labor organizations, State agencies, 
community colleges, institutions of higher education, or 
other training and educational institutions— 
(1) that have qualifications and experience— 
(A) in the development of training pro-
grams and curricula relevant to the workforce 
needs of forestry and fire management; 
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(B) working in cooperation with forestry 
and fire management; or 
(C) developing public education materials 
appropriate for communicating with groups of 
various ages and educational backgrounds; and 
(2) that will address the human resources and 
workforce needs of forestry and fire management. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants awarded under sub-
section (b) may be used for activities such as— 
(1) targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-ap-
prenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs 
for skilled forestry and fire management trades that 
provide— 
(A) on-the-job training; 
(B) skills development; 
(C) test preparation for skilled trade ap-
prenticeships; 
(D) advance training in forestry and fire 
management 
relating 
to 
jobs 
as 
forest 
restorationists, 
members 
of 
hand 
crews, 
wildland fire fighters, machine operators, li-
censed timber operators, registered professional 
foresters, ecologists, biologists, or workers in 
construction in support of resilient infrastruc-
ture, including residential buildings; or 
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(E) other support services to facilitate 
post-secondary success; 
(2) education programs designed for elemen-
tary, secondary, and higher education students 
that— 
(A) inform people about the role of for-
estry, vegetation management, and ecological 
restoration in the communities of those people; 
(B) increase the awareness of opportunities 
for careers in forestry and fire management 
and exposure of students to those careers 
through various work-based learning opportuni-
ties inside and outside the classroom; and 
(C) connect students to pathways to ca-
reers in forestry and fire management; 
(3) the development of a model curriculum and 
related vocational programs to be adopted by com-
munity colleges, which, to the extent practicable and 
feasible, shall— 
(A) provide professional training in imple-
menting prescribed fire projects, including the 
knowledge and skills necessary to plan and im-
plement broad-scale surface and ladder fuel 
treatments within the wildland-urban interface, 
wildlands, and urbanized areas, as appropriate; 
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(B) include a focus on the ecological con-
cerns, economics, and practices necessary to im-
prove community safety and forest resilience; 
and 
(C) train students in— 
(i) the retrofitting of houses, including 
the use of fire-resistant materials and the 
maintenance of defensible space; 
(ii) urban forestry; and 
(iii) policies or guidance relating to 
the management of vegetation near utility 
infrastructure and relevant portions of 
electric utility wildfire mitigation plans; 
(4) regional industry and workforce develop-
ment collaborations, including the coordination of 
candidate development, particularly in areas of high 
unemployment; 
(5) integrated learning laboratories in sec-
ondary educational institutions that provide students 
with— 
(A) hands-on, contextualized learning op-
portunities; 
(B) dual enrollment credit for post-sec-
ondary education and training programs; and 
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(C) direct connection to industry or gov-
ernment employers; and 
(6) leadership development, occupational train-
ing, mentoring, or cross-training programs that en-
sure that workers are prepared for high-level super-
visory or management-level positions. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section such sums as are necessary. 
SEC. 303. NATIONAL COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND LAND 
STEWARDSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMUNITY
CAPACITY.—The term ‘‘com-
munity capacity’’ means the ability of an eligible en-
tity to carry out or assist in a land stewardship ac-
tivity. 
(2) DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITY.—The term 
‘‘disadvantaged community’’ means— 
(A) a low-income community (as defined in 
section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986); and 
(B) a community that includes a signifi-
cant population that has been systematically de-
nied a full opportunity to participate in aspects 
of economic, social, and civic life based on a 
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particular characteristic, such as Black, Latino, 
Indigenous, and Native American persons, 
Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other 
persons of color. 
(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means any the following entities that is located 
in or represents a disadvantaged community: 
(A) An organization described in section 
501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) 
of that Code. 
(B) A collaborative group fiscally spon-
sored by an organization described in subpara-
graph (A). 
(C) A unit of local government. 
(D) An Indian Tribe. 
(E) A special district government, as de-
fined by the Director of the Bureau of the Cen-
sus. 
(4) ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical integrity’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act). 
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(5) 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). 
(6) LAND STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITY.—The term 
‘‘land stewardship activity’’ means any of the fol-
lowing activities, as applied to a qualifying project: 
(A) Planning. 
(B) Collaboration and building community 
support. 
(C) Implementation on land other than 
National Forest System land. 
(D) Monitoring, including multiparty moni-
toring, and adaptive management. 
(7) QUALIFYING PROJECT.—The term ‘‘quali-
fying project’’ means any of the following activities 
that takes place at least in substantial part on Na-
tional Forest System land or national grasslands: 
(A) Restoration of the ecological integrity 
of a forest, meadow, grassland, prairie, or other 
habitat. 
(B) Tribal management for aligned cul-
tural and ecological values. 
(C) Enhancing community wildfire resil-
ience in the wildland-urban interface. 
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(D) Increasing equitable access to environ-
mental education and volunteerism opportuni-
ties. 
(8) RESTORATION.—The term ‘‘restoration’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of 
title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
the date of enactment of this Act). 
(9) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through— 
(A) the regional offices of the State and 
Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest 
Service; and 
(B) as appropriate, regional offices of 
other Deputy Areas of the Forest Service. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to sup-
port increasing community capacity, partnerships, and col-
laborations within and involving disadvantaged commu-
nities for land stewardship activities and restoration of ec-
ological integrity on— 
(1) National Forest System land; 
(2) national grasslands; and 
(3) adjacent private, State, and trust land asso-
ciated with the health and resilience of land de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue 
grants to eligible entities for increasing community 
capacity for land stewardship activities and related 
activities based on the criteria described in sub-
section (d). 
(2) FEDERAL COST-SHARE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
fund up to 100 percent of the cost of land stew-
ardship activities and related activities carried 
out using a grant issued under paragraph (1). 
(B) MATCHING
ELIGIBILITY.—A grant 
issued under this section may be considered a 
non-Federal matching contribution from the eli-
gible entity that received the grant towards 
other sources of Federal funding. 
(3) DURATION.—The Secretary may issue a 
grant under paragraph (1) for a period of 1 or more 
years. 
(4) MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT.—The amount of 
a grant issued under paragraph (1) shall be not 
more than $50,000 per year. 
(5) APPLICABLE
LAWS.—The Secretary shall 
administer grants under paragraph (1) in accord-
ance with all applicable Federal and State laws. 
(d) CRITERIA FOR AWARDING GRANTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities 
under subsection (c)(1) on a competitive basis in ac-
cordance with the following criteria: 
(A) The extent to which the proposed land 
stewardship activities benefit units of the Na-
tional Forest System and national grasslands 
over the short and long term. 
(B) The extent to which valuable ecologi-
cal, economic, and social benefits to disadvan-
taged communities, including job creation and 
business development or retention, are likely to 
result from the scope of the land stewardship 
activities. 
(C) The extent to which the grant would 
benefit disadvantaged communities that have 
historically received less investment in collabo-
rative capacity. 
(D) The extent to which the proposal 
brings together diverse interests through plan-
ning, collaboration, implementation, or moni-
toring of land stewardship activities to benefit 
units of the National Forest System or national 
grasslands. 
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(E) The extent to which the grant funds 
appear to be critical for the success of the eligi-
ble entity and the identified land stewardship 
activities. 
(F) The extent to which the budget for the 
land stewardship activities is reasonable given 
the anticipated outcomes. 
(2) SET-ASIDE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—The Sec-
retary shall allocate not less than 10 percent of the 
funding awarded under this section to Indian Tribes 
or eligible entities representing Indian Tribes. 
(e) ANNUAL REVIEWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
and maintain an advisory panel composed of not 
more than 15 members to provide feedback each 
year to each regional office of the State and Private 
Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service on the 
extent to which the implementation of this section by 
the regional office is fulfilling the purpose described 
in subsection (b). 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—The advisory panel estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall include representa-
tion from a diversity of public land stakeholders 
from across interest groups, including— 
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(A) not fewer than 8 members rep-
resenting the interests of a diversity of dis-
advantaged communities; and 
(B) not fewer than 2 members rep-
resenting not fewer than 2 Indian Tribes. 
(3) EXEMPTION.—The advisory panel estab-
lished under paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(f) REPORT EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTA-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the Senate a report evaluating the 
implementation of this section, including— 
(A) a list of the eligible entities and land 
stewardship activities selected for funding under 
this section and the accomplishments of those 
activities; and 
(B) an evaluation of the extent to which 
the implementation of this section is fulfilling 
the purpose described in subsection (b). 
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(2) CONSULTATION; CONTRACTING.—In pre-
paring the report under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary— 
(A) shall consult with the advisory panel 
established under subsection (e)(1); and 
(B) may contract with a third party to 
complete an evaluation of the implementation of 
this section to inform the report. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this sec-
tion $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 
through 2026. 
(2) DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall dis-
tribute amounts made available under paragraph (1) 
to the regional offices of the State and Private For-
estry Deputy Area and, as appropriate, regional of-
fices of other Deputy Areas, of the Forest Service to 
administer the grants under this section. 
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Not more than 
10 percent of any amounts made available to carry 
out this section may be used for administrative man-
agement and program oversight. 
Æ 
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