I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3244 
To amend the Plant Protection Act for purposes of mitigating the threat 
of invasive species, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2019 
Mr. WELCH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To amend the Plant Protection Act for purposes of miti-
gating the threat of invasive species, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Invasive Species Pre-
vention and Forest Restoration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXPANDING EMERGENCY AUTHORITY WITH RE-
SPECT TO INVASIVE SPECIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 442 of 
the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7772) is amended by 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:42 Jun 18, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3244.IH
H3244
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
striking ‘‘noxious weed threatens’’ and inserting ‘‘noxious 
weed directly or indirectly threatens’’. 
(b) EMERGENCY DEFINED.—Section 442 of the 
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7772) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) EMERGENCY DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘emergency’ means an outbreak of a plant pest or 
noxious weed that the Secretary determines is occurring 
at a time during which insufficient Federal funds are 
available to timely achieve the arrest, control, eradication, 
or prevention of the spread of such plant pest or noxious 
weed.’’. 
(c) DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—Subsection (b) of 
section 442 of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7772) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Any funds 
so transferred with respect to a designation of an emer-
gency under subsection (a) shall be transferred not later 
than 60 days after the date on which such designation 
is made.’’. 
SEC. 3. FOREST RECLAMATION GRANTS. 
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:42 Jun 18, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3244.IH
H3244
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 1473H. FOREST RECLAMATION GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—The Sec-
retary, for purposes of addressing the critical threat to 
numerous tree species posed by non-native plant pests and 
noxious weeds, shall award competitive grants to eligible 
institutions under which such eligible institutions— 
‘‘(1) conduct research to promote the restora-
tion of affected tree species, including research on— 
‘‘(A) biological control of plant pests or 
noxious weeds threatening native tree species 
heavily damaged by non-native pests; 
‘‘(B) exploration of genetic manipulation of 
plant pests or noxious weeds; 
‘‘(C) enhancement of host-resistance mech-
anisms; and 
‘‘(D) development of other strategies for 
restoring individual tree species; and 
‘‘(2) develop and disseminate to the public tools 
and information based on the research conducted 
under this section. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.—An entity eligible to 
receive a grant under this section is any of the following: 
‘‘(1) An agency of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(2) A State cooperative institution. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:42 Jun 18, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3244.IH
H3244
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
‘‘(3) A college or university offering a bacca-
laureate or higher degree in the study of food, for-
estry, and agricultural sciences. 
‘‘(4) A nonprofit entity described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (and exempt 
from tax under section 501(a) of such Code). 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—Each eligible institution seeking 
to receive a grant under this section shall submit a com-
prehensive forest restoration research program to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible institution re-
ceiving a grant under this section may use funds re-
ceived through such grant only to conduct research 
intended to address specific questions related to the 
recovery of tree species native to the United States 
suffering severe levels of mortality caused by non-na-
tive plant pests or noxious weeds. 
‘‘(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—An eligible in-
stitution receiving a grant under this section shall 
provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in 
an amount equal to not less than 20 percent of the 
grant. Indirect costs charged against a grant award-
ed under this section shall not exceed 30 percent of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:42 Jun 18, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3244.IH
H3244
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS