I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1272 
To support State and tribal government efforts to promote research and 
education related to maple syrup production, natural resource sustain-
ability in the maple syrup industry, market promotion of maple products, 
and greater access to lands containing maple trees for maple-sugaring 
activities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2013 
Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. COURTNEY, and Mr. OWENS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To support State and tribal government efforts to promote 
research and education related to maple syrup produc-
tion, natural resource sustainability in the maple syrup 
industry, market promotion of maple products, and 
greater access to lands containing maple trees for maple- 
sugaring activities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Maple Tapping Access 
Program Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ACER ACCESS AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make grants to States, tribal governments, 
and research institutions to support the efforts of such 
States, tribal governments, and research institutions to 
promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the 
following activities: 
(1) Promotion of research and education related 
to maple syrup production. 
(2) Promotion of natural resource sustainability 
in the maple syrup industry. 
(3) Market promotion for maple syrup and 
maple-sap products. 
(4) Encouragement of owners and operators of 
privately-held land containing species of trees in the 
genus Acer— 
(A) to initiate or expand maple-sugaring 
activities on the land; or 
(B) to voluntarily make the land available, 
including by lease or other means, for access by 
the public for maple-sugaring activities. 
(b) APPLICATION.—In submitting an application for 
a grant under this section, a State or tribal government 
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 engaging in such activities; and 
(3) an estimate of the increase in maple-sug-
aring activities or maple syrup production that the 
State or tribal government anticipates will occur as 
a result of engaging in such activities. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed so as to preempt a State or tribal 
government law, including a State or tribal government 
liability law. 
(d) DEFINITION OF MAPLE-SUGARING.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘maple-sugaring’’ means the collection of 
sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the 
purpose of boiling to produce food. 
(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. 
Æ 
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