IB 
Union Calendar No. 385 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2748 
[Report No. 116–481] 
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, local, and Tribal Governments and other entities, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2019 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT (for himself, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. NORTON, 
Mr. PANETTA, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. POCAN, Mr. COHEN, Ms. ESHOO, 
Ms. LEE of California, Ms. MENG, and Mr. MCGOVERN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 
Additional sponsors: Mr. ROUDA, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. TONKO, 
Mr. RASKIN, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. DESAULNIER, Ms. CLARKE of New 
York, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. CASE, Mr. THOMPSON 
of Mississippi, Mr. QUIGLEY, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. CASTEN of Illi-
nois 
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 
Reported with an amendment; committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 15, 2019] 
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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, local, and Tribal Governments 
and other entities, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘Safeguarding America’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 communities 
of fish, wildlife, and plants provide significant bene-
fits 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; and 
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(I) sequestration and storage of carbon to 
help mitigate changes to the global climate sys-
tem; 
(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 extreme 
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 lead-
ership in preparing for and responding to the effects 
described in paragraph (2) to ensure that present and 
future generations continue to receive the benefits of 
the abundant and diverse fish, wildlife, and plant re-
sources of the United States. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purpose of this Act is to establish 
an integrated national approach— 
(1) 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 
(2) to maximize Government efficiency and re-
duce costs, in cooperation with State, local, and Trib-
al Governments and other entities. 
(c) NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLIMATE 
CHANGE ADAPTATION POLICY.—It is the policy of the Fed-
eral Government, in cooperation with State and local gov-
ernments, Indian Tribes, and other interested stakeholders 
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to 
evaluate 
and 
reduce 
the 
increased 
risks 
and 
vulnerabilities associated with climate change and extreme 
weather events, and to use all practicable means to protect, 
manage, and conserve healthy, diverse, and productive fish, 
wildlife, and plant populations. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 
ADAPTATION.—The 
term 
‘‘adaptation’’ 
means— 
(A) the process of adjustment to actual or 
expected climate and the effects of climate 
change; and 
(B) with respect to fish, wildlife, and 
plants, protection, management, and conserva-
tion efforts designed to maintain or enhance the 
ability of fish, wildlife, and plants to withstand, 
adjust to, or recover from the effects of extreme 
weather and climate change (including, where 
applicable, ocean acidification, drought, flooding, 
and wildfire). 
(2) CENTER.—The term ‘‘Center’’ means the Na-
tional Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center 
established under section 6(a)(1). 
(3) COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Committee’’ means 
the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Nat-
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ural Resource Sciences established under section 
6(b)(1). 
(4) ECOLOGICAL
PROCESSES.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical processes’’ means biological, chemical, or phys-
ical interaction between the biotic and abiotic compo-
nents 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. 
(5) HABITAT.—The term ‘‘habitat’’ means the 
physical, chemical, and biological properties that fish, 
wildlife, or plants use for growth, reproduction, sur-
vival, food, water, or cover (whether on land, in 
water, or in an area or region). 
(6) HABITAT CONNECTIVITY.—The term ‘‘habitat 
connectivity’’ means areas that facilitate terrestrial, 
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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 expected 
effects of climate change (including, where appli-
cable, ocean acidification, drought, flooding, and 
wildfire). 
(7) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)). 
(8) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘National 
Strategy’’ means the National Fish, Wildlife, and 
Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy released March 
26, 2013. 
(9) RESILIENCE; RESILIENT.—The terms ‘‘resil-
ience’’ and ‘‘resilient’’ mean the ability to anticipate, 
prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and 
withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from dis-
ruptions. 
(10) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State of the United States; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
(C) American Samoa; 
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(D) Guam; 
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; 
(F) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and 
(G) the United States Virgin Islands. 
(11) WORKING
GROUP.—The term ‘‘Working 
Group’’ means the National Fish, Wildlife, and 
Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Joint Implemen-
tation Working Group established under section 4(a). 
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 estab-
lish a National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adapta-
tion Strategy Joint Implementation Working Group com-
posed of the heads of Federal and State agencies or depart-
ments with jurisdiction over fish, wildlife, and plant re-
sources of the United States, and Tribal representatives, as 
follows: 
(1) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
(2) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency. 
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(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 Affairs. 
(9) The Director of the Bureau of Land Manage-
ment. 
(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 Geological 
Survey. 
(13) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(14) The Secretary of Defense. 
(15) State representatives from each regional as-
sociation of State fish and wildlife agencies. 
(16) Not less than 2 Tribal representatives. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Working Group shall serve as a 
forum for interagency consultation on, and the coordination 
of, the development and implementation of the National 
Strategy. 
(c) CO-CHAIRS.—There shall be 4 co-chairs, of whom— 
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(1) two shall be representatives of the Federal 
Government; 
(2) one shall be a representative of a State; and 
(3) one shall be a Tribal representative. 
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 resilience and 
adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to withstand 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 to review and revise the 
National Strategy to incorporate— 
(A) new information regarding the ongoing 
and expected effects of climate change on fish, 
wildlife, and plants; and 
(B) advances in the development of fish, 
wildlife, and plant adaptation strategies; and 
(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), provide pub-
lic notice and opportunity for comment. 
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(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 monitoring 
activities at the Federal, State, Tribal, and local lev-
els relating to the ongoing and expected effects of cli-
mate change on fish, wildlife, and plants; 
(3) identify and prioritize research and data 
needs; 
(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 activi-
ties into the conservation and management of natural 
resources by Federal agencies to ensure consistency 
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 Federal policies and actions that 
may reduce resilience and increase the vulnerability 
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of fish, wildlife, and plants to extreme weather and 
climate change; 
(8) include specific actions that Federal agencies 
shall take to protect, conserve, and manage fish, wild-
life, and plants to maintain the inherent resilience 
and adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to with-
stand, adjust to, or recover from the ongoing and ex-
pected effects of climate change, including a timeline 
to implement those actions; 
(9) include specific mechanisms for ensuring 
communication and coordination— 
(A) among Federal agencies; and 
(B) between Federal agencies and State 
agencies, territories of the United States, Indian 
Tribes, private landowners, conservation organi-
zations, and other countries that share jurisdic-
tion over fish, wildlife, and plants with the 
United States; 
(10) include specific actions to develop and im-
plement coordinated fish, wildlife, and plants inven-
tory and monitoring protocols through interagency 
coordination and collaboration with States and local 
governments, Indian Tribes, and private organiza-
tions; and 
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(11) 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, each Federal agency shall integrate the 
elements of the National Strategy that relate to con-
servation, management, and protection of fish, wild-
life, and plants into agency plans, environmental re-
views, 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 report docu-
menting any actions implementing the Strategy. 
(3) COORDINATION.—The Working Group shall 
coordinate the implementation of the National Strat-
egy with Federal agencies 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) NATIONAL
CLIMATE
CHANGE
AND
WILDLIFE 
SCIENCE CENTER.— 
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(1) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior, in collaboration with the States, Indian Tribes, 
and other partner organizations, shall establish a Na-
tional Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center. 
(2) DUTIES OF CENTER.—The Center shall assess 
and develop scientific information, tools, strategies, 
and techniques to support the Working Group, Fed-
eral and State agencies, Tribes, 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. 
(3) GENERAL AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO CON-
TRACTS, GRANTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
The Secretary may enter into contracts, grants, or co-
operative agreements with State agencies, State coop-
erative extension services, institutions of higher edu-
cation, other research or educational institutions and 
organizations, Tribal organizations, Federal and pri-
vate agencies and organizations, individuals, and any 
other contractor or recipient, to further the duties 
under paragraph (2) without regard to— 
(A) any requirements for competition; 
(B) section 6101 of title 41, United States 
Code; or 
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(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 pursuant to the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the 
Secretary of the Interior shall establish an Advisory 
Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource 
Sciences. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be com-
prised of 25 members who— 
(A) represent— 
(i) Federal agencies; 
(ii) State, local, and Tribal Govern-
ments; 
(iii) nongovernmental organizations; 
(iv) academic institutions; and 
(v) the private sector; and 
(B) have expertise in— 
(i) biology (including fish, wildlife, 
plant, aquatic, coastal, and marine biol-
ogy); 
(ii) ecology; 
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(iii) climate change (including, where 
applicable, ocean acidification, drought, 
flooding, and wildfire); and 
(iv) 
other 
relevant 
scientific 
dis-
ciplines. 
(3) CHAIR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
appoint a Committee Chair from among the members 
of the Committee. 
(4) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
(A) advise the Working Group on the state 
of the science regarding— 
(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; 
(B) identify and recommend priorities for 
ongoing research needs on the issues described in 
subparagraph (A) to inform the research prior-
ities of the Center described in subsection (a) and 
other Federal climate science institutions; and 
(C) review and comment on each revised 
National Strategy before that National Strategy 
is finalized. 
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(5) COLLABORATION.—The Committee shall col-
laborate 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. 
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; and 
(3) 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— 
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(A) protection, management, and conserva-
tion of terrestrial, marine, estuarine, and fresh-
water habitats and ecosystems; 
(B) establishment of terrestrial, marine, es-
tuarine, and freshwater habitat connectivity cor-
ridors; 
(C) restoration and conservation of ecologi-
cal processes; 
(D) protection of a broad diversity of spe-
cies of fish, wildlife, and plant populations; and 
(E) protection of fish, wildlife, and plant 
health, recognizing that climate can alter the dis-
tribution and ecology of parasites, pathogens, 
and vectors; 
(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 
(B) to update those strategies and actions to 
respond to new information and changing condi-
tions; 
(3) describe current and proposed mechanisms to 
enhance cooperation and coordination of fish, wildlife, 
and plant adaptation efforts with other Federal agen-
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cies, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and 
nongovernmental 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 ad-
aptation plans and strategies. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On approval by the President, 
each Federal agency shall, consistent with existing 
authority, implement the strategy implementation 
plan under subsection (a)(1) through existing and 
new plans, policies, programs, activities, and actions. 
(2) CONSIDERATION OF EFFECTS.—To the max-
imum extent practicable and consistent with existing 
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 im-
plementation plan under subsection (a)(1) to incorporate 
the best available science, including advice and information 
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pursuant to section 6 and other information, regarding the 
ongoing and expected effects of climate change on fish, wild-
life, 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 Inte-
rior and the Secretary of Commerce, a State fish, wildlife, 
and plant adaptation plan detailing current and future ef-
forts of the State to address the ongoing and expected 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 Inte-
rior 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— 
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(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 ecosystems 
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 
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by 
the Director of the United States Fish and Wild-
life 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; and 
(4) in the case of a State with coastal areas, in-
clude the adaptation provisions of a Coastal Zone 
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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. 
(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 Agen-
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cies Appropriations Act, 2002 (16 U.S.C. 
1456d); and 
(iii) programs established under the Cooper-
ative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2101 et seq.). 
(e) PUBLIC INPUT.—In developing an adaptation 
plan, a State shall solicit and consider input from the pub-
lic and independent scientists. 
(f) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PLANS.—A State ad-
aptation plan shall, where appropriate, integrate the goals 
and measures set forth in other climate adaptation, hazard 
mitigation, and fish, wildlife, and plant conservation strat-
egies and plans. 
(g) UPDATES.—Each State adaptation plan shall be 
updated at least every 4 years. 
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Union Calendar No. 385 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2748 
[Report No. 116–481] 
A BILL 
To establish an integrated national approach to re-
spond to ongoing and expected effects of extreme 
weather and climate change by protecting, man-
aging, and conserving the fish, wildlife, and 
plants of the United States, and to maximize 
Government efficiency and reduce costs, in co-
operation with State, local, and Tribal Govern-
ments and other entities, and for other purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 
Reported with an amendment; committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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