Title: America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2021
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
America's Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2021
This bill addresses climate change through efforts to sequester, mitigate, or store carbon dioxide, such as salvage logging, revegetation, or reforestation efforts, on National Forest System land and other land as specified by the bill.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2836 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2836

  To improve revegetation and carbon sequestration activities in the 
                 United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 23, 2021

  Mr. Manchin (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. King, and Mr. Marshall) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To improve revegetation and carbon sequestration activities in the 
                 United States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 ``America's 
Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2021''.
    (b) Title of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
                         TITLE I--REVEGETATION

Sec. 101. Climate adaptation and resilient forests and rangeland 
                            measures.
Sec. 102. National revegetation effort.
Sec. 103. Experimental forests.
Sec. 104. Long-term contracts for tree and seed planting.
Sec. 105. Tree planting for communities.
Sec. 106. Revegetation on abandoned mine land.
Sec. 107. International reforestation.
TITLE II--CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH FOREST MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION

Sec. 201. Forest management from carbon credits.
Sec. 202. Recovery and restoration treatments following stand-replacing 
                            disturbances.
Sec. 203. Biochar and wood waste.
Sec. 204. Eradication of invasive grasses.
                         TITLE III--MASS TIMBER

Sec. 301. Definitions.
Sec. 302. Joint mass timber science and education program.
Sec. 303. Storing carbon in Federal buildings.
                           TITLE IV--RESEARCH

Sec. 401. Longevity of forest products.
Sec. 402. Forest inventory and analysis.
Sec. 403. Bioeconomy research.
Sec. 404. Insurance product to replace buffers.
Sec. 405. Forest health threat centers.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) revegetation efforts can meet multiple goals, including 
        guarding against climate change, improving conservation and 
        habitats, securing public water supplies, and providing for 
        economic and cultural benefits;
            (2) a range of practical constraints, including cost, 
        available infrastructure, and whether land has been converted 
        to other uses that are unlikely to be abandoned, significantly 
        limit the areas that are viable for revegetation projects, and 
        hence revegetation projects must be targeted;
            (3) reforestation projects should occur in areas that were 
        historically forested but have become degraded or impacted from 
        wildfire events, windstorms, or other events, rather than other 
        natural habitats, such as grasslands;
            (4) forests and rangelands are important for storing 
        carbon;
            (5) established forests and native rangelands, including 
        actively managed forests and rangelands, are preferable to new 
        forests and rangelands that are a result of revegetation 
        efforts, because intact forests and vegetation communities are 
        more effective at sequestration and are more resilient to fire, 
        storm, and drought;
            (6) natural regrowth of forests and rangelands is cheaper 
        and more efficient than revegetation projects, as long as 
        nonnative invasive species are not adversely impacting the 
        landscape;
            (7) native plant development and restoration generates 
        sustainable private sector jobs in a wide variety of sectors;
            (8) selecting the appropriate species of trees and of other 
        vegetation and promoting biodiversity using a mixture of 
        species naturally found in the local area, rare species, and 
        species of economic importance are crucial to the success of 
        revegetation efforts;
            (9) species selected for revegetation efforts and the 
        specified planting density and structure should be suitable for 
        the local climate, taking into account future climate 
        resilience and other considerations;
            (10) scientific knowledge should be combined with local 
        knowledge, and site conditions should be taken into account, in 
        developing revegetation projects, and ideally small-scale 
        planting trials should take place before planting large numbers 
        of trees;
            (11) partnerships with local communities are key to the 
        success of tree and vegetation planting projects because local 
        people often have the most to gain from those projects;
            (12) a successful planting project must include a plan on 
        how to source seeds or seedlings that match desired species and 
        genetics, and that plan should involve working with local 
        stakeholders;
            (13) the sustainability of revegetation projects is 
        dependent on the economic impacts for all stakeholders; and
            (14) invasive grasses are a catalyst for wildfires in 
        forests and rangelands.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Carbon sequestration.--The term ``carbon 
        sequestration'' means the capture and long-term storage of 
        atmospheric carbon dioxide.
            (2) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
        System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the 
        Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
        (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
            (3) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, 
        acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
            (4) Secretary.--Except in sections 103, 105(b), 201, 202, 
        and 302, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior.
            (5) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
        Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.

                         TITLE I--REVEGETATION

SEC. 101. CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENT FORESTS AND RANGELAND 
              MEASURES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretaries shall each revise applicable regulations 
of the Secretary concerned to require the consideration and assessment 
of resiliency and adaptation factors in developing strategies and 
efforts for revegetation, including reforestation and rangeland 
planting, carried out by the Secretary concerned, including in 
selecting species for planting.
    (b) Effect.--Nothing in this section affects--
            (1) the reforestation requirements under section 3 of the 
        Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
        (16 U.S.C. 1601); or
            (2) the use of the forest plan revision process to make 
        changes to reforestation approaches in an individual unit of 
        the National Forest System.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL REVEGETATION EFFORT.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
                    (A) National Forest System land, except--
                            (i) the national grasslands and land 
                        utilization projects administered under title 
                        III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); and
                            (ii) National Forest System land east of 
                        the 100th meridian; and
                    (B) land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
            (2) Task force.--The term ``task force'' means an 
        interagency revegetation task force established under 
        subsection (d).
            (3) Zone.--The term ``zone'' means a zone described in 
        subsection (c).
    (b) Assessment of Revegetation Needs.--
            (1) Federal land assessment.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall 
                assess, using the revegetation assessment tool 
                described in paragraph (2), the number of acres of 
                Federal land in need of revegetation, including--
                            (i) acres that have experienced a stand-
                        replacing disturbance by a wildfire, windstorm, 
                        or other natural event;
                            (ii) acres on which a regeneration harvest 
                        has previously taken place; and
                            (iii) acres that could benefit from 
                        appropriate revegetation, as determined by the 
                        Secretaries.
                    (B) Ecological forestry.--In conducting the 
                assessment under subparagraph (A), the Secretaries 
                shall consider the role of recovery periods between 
                disturbances for the development of stand complexity.
            (2) Revegetation assessment tool.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall 
        jointly develop, or use or expand an existing, objective 
        revegetation assessment tool for each zone that uses a point 
        system or rating scale--
                    (A) to consistently assess in various geographic 
                areas, site classes, and forest and rangeland types 
                whether an acre of Federal land is adequately occupied 
                by well-distributed, countable, ecologically 
                appropriate trees or other desirable vegetation;
                    (B) to assist rapidly assessing revegetation needs 
                on Federal land; and
                    (C) to establish baseline conditions for Federal 
                land.
            (3) Forest and rangeland cover restoration on non-federal 
        land.--
                    (A) Partnership for forest and rangeland cover 
                restoration.--The Secretaries may enter into a 
                partnership with a non-Federal entity, including Indian 
                Tribes, with data or expertise in Federal 
                reforestation--
                            (i) to assess the opportunity to restore 
                        forest or rangeland cover across non-Federal 
                        land in the United States; or
                            (ii) to share existing data gathered by the 
                        non-Federal entity.
                    (B) Savings clause.--Nothing in this paragraph 
                grants the Secretary concerned any additional authority 
                over or additional access to non-Federal land.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall publish a report 
        describing--
                    (A) the number of acres of--
                            (i) Federal land in need of revegetation; 
                        and
                            (ii) non-Federal land in the United States 
                        on which forest or rangeland cover can be 
                        restored and the owner of which has requested 
                        to be included in a comprehensive revegetation 
                        strategy and implementation plan developed 
                        under subsection (e)(2)(A); and
                    (B) the approximate location of the land described 
                under subparagraph (A).
    (c) Regional Zones for Revegetation Efforts.--The Secretaries shall 
use the regions of the National Forest System as the zones for 
revegetation efforts conducted by the task forces under this section.
    (d) Interagency Task Forces.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish an 
interagency revegetation task force of Federal and non-Federal members, 
including Indian Tribes, for each zone--
            (1) to coordinate and carry out the activities described in 
        subsections (e), (f), and (g); and
            (2) to maximize collaboration and shared science and 
        mapping resources among Federal and non-Federal entities, 
        including Indian Tribes, in revegetating land in each zone, 
        including through the use of--
                    (A) Department of Agriculture climate hubs;
                    (B) collaboratives formed pursuant to section 4003 
                of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 
                U.S.C. 7303); and
                    (C) partnerships with States developed under shared 
                stewardship agreements.
    (e) Comprehensive Revegetation Strategy and Implementation Plans.--
            (1) Data review.--Each task force--
                    (A) shall review the report published under 
                subsection (b)(4); and
                    (B) may modify, for the applicable zone, the number 
                of acres of land in need of revegetation and the 
                approximate location of the land identified in the 
                report, as necessary.
            (2) Plan development.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date on which a task force is established, the task 
                force shall develop a 10-year comprehensive 
                revegetation strategy and implementation plan--
                            (i) to revegetate not less than 25 percent 
                        of the land identified in the report published 
                        under subsection (b)(4), as modified under 
                        paragraph (1)(B) (if applicable), for the 
                        applicable zone; and
                            (ii) to achieve any additional goals or 
                        targets established by the task force.
                    (B) Requirements.--A plan developed under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) take into account the best available 
                        science, best practices, and available 
                        deployment tools, including climate science 
                        that can inform the design of revegetated areas 
                        to assure resilience;
                            (ii) be based on, to the maximum extent 
                        practicable, the report published under 
                        subsection (b)(4);
                            (iii) identify resources and efforts needed 
                        to conduct appropriate revegetation treatments 
                        in the applicable zone, including identifying 
                        areas in which capacity exists to plant 
                        vegetation or conduct seed dispersal;
                            (iv) identify the desired, locally or 
                        regionally adapted native species of vegetation 
                        and the types planting stock required in the 
                        specific areas in the zone in need of 
                        revegetation, including ecosystems that do not 
                        include trees, such as sagebrush ecosystems, 
                        grasslands, or rangelands;
                            (v) identify under-represented species of 
                        trees and plants in each zone that can be 
                        acquired and should be planted under this 
                        section;
                            (vi) prioritize geographic areas in the 
                        applicable zone in need of revegetation, 
                        including giving priority to--
                                    (I) burned areas and any other 
                                destabilized land that pose heightened 
                                risks to homes, roads, and public water 
                                supplies if not revegetated;
                                    (II) areas at high risk of 
                                establishing invasive species;
                                    (III) mined land;
                                    (IV) floodplains and riparian 
                                areas; and
                                    (V) land with regionally 
                                significant carbon sequestration 
                                potential;
                            (vii) identify--
                                    (I) targets or goals for the number 
                                of acres planted annually; and
                                    (II) other implementation actions 
                                and opportunities;
                            (viii) identify areas in which--
                                    (I) vegetation restoration is 
                                needed; but
                                    (II) natural regeneration is the 
                                most effective means of restoration;
                            (ix) identify areas in which revegetation 
                        efforts--
                                    (I) may cause an increased risk of 
                                a stand-replacing wildfire, disease, or 
                                insect infestation, if not properly 
                                managed; or
                                    (II) would be adverse to livestock 
                                grazing or use by wildlife;
                            (x) consider treatments that increase the 
                        carbon sequestration capacity of forests, 
                        rangelands, and grasslands;
                            (xi) provide for--
                                    (I) consideration of palatability 
                                to support grazing by wildlife and 
                                livestock; and
                                    (II) coordination with State 
                                wildlife agencies, rangeland management 
                                professionals, and ranchers;
                            (xii) incorporate the data and strategy 
                        relating to nurseries and the availability of 
                        planting stock described in subsection (g);
                            (xiii) for activities recommended to be 
                        carried out on non-Federal land--
                                    (I) identify ways to address 
                                revegetation needs voluntarily by 
                                working with States, landowners, Indian 
                                Tribes, and other interested persons; 
                                and
                                    (II) ensure that revegetation 
                                efforts will not adversely impact 
                                existing markets for timber and other 
                                forest materials produced from private 
                                working forests;
                            (xiv) provide an explanation for any land 
                        not included in the implementation portion of 
                        the plan that was identified in the report 
                        published under subsection (b)(4), as modified 
                        under paragraph (1)(B) (if applicable);
                            (xv) utilize an experimental approach, 
                        where appropriate; and
                            (xvi) be consistent with any applicable 
                        agency land management plans.
                    (C) Exceptions.--Notwithstanding subparagraph 
                (B)(iv), a task force may determine that the selection 
                and use of certain desirable, noninvasive, nonnative 
                species is appropriate in certain limited 
                circumstances, based on localized ecological 
                conditions, as determined by the task force.
            (3) Plan modifications.--A task force may modify a plan 
        developed under paragraph (2) to address new circumstances or 
        changing conditions.
    (f) Implementation of Plans.--
            (1) In general.--During the 10-year period beginning on the 
        date on which a plan for a zone is completed under subsection 
        (e)(2), the task force, in coordination with applicable Federal 
        agencies, shall implement the plan.
            (2) Outside funding.--To implement a plan developed under 
        subsection (e)(2), the Secretary concerned may--
                    (A) accept non-Federal funds, including leveraging 
                funding opportunities relating to voluntary carbon 
                mitigation; and
                    (B) issue a certificate of donation, as 
                appropriate.
            (3) Voluntary participation.--In implementing a plan under 
        this subsection, any activities carried out on non-Federal land 
        shall be carried out--
                    (A) in cooperation with the owner of the non-
                Federal land; and
                    (B) only on a voluntary basis.
            (4) Enterprise team.--The Secretary concerned may employ a 
        Forest Service enterprise team to facilitate the implementation 
        of a plan developed under subsection (e)(2).
    (g) Challenges to the Reforestation Pipeline in the United 
States.--
            (1) In general.--A task force shall--
                    (A) not later than 60 days after the date on which 
                the task force is established, conduct an inventory of 
                nurseries, an assessment of nursery capacity, and a 
                tally of available planting stock in the applicable 
                zone; and
                    (B) based on the report published under subsection 
                (b)(4), as modified under subsection (e)(1)(B) (if 
                applicable)--
                            (i) estimate the capacity of nurseries that 
                        would be necessary to fulfill revegetation 
                        needs, including identifying the species and 
                        types of planting stock needed for 
                        revegetation; and
                            (ii) develop a plan for increasing the 
                        number and capacity of nurseries, in accordance 
                        with the estimates under clause (i).
            (2) Seed collecting.--A task force shall--
                    (A) assess the current capacity to locally collect 
                and store seed; and
                    (B) develop a plan for increasing capacity 
                described in subparagraph (A), if necessary.
            (3) Partnerships.--The Secretaries may enter into a 
        partnership with a non-Federal entity to assist a task force in 
        meeting the requirements of this subsection.
    (h) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date on which 
each plan developed under subsection (e)(2) is fully implemented, the 
Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
House of Representatives, and publish on the website of the Department 
of the Interior, a report that describes, with respect to the preceding 
year--
            (1) whether the Secretaries have achieved compliance with 
        the requirements of this section;
            (2) the total number of acres of land, reported by surface 
        ownership in each zone, in need of revegetation treatments;
            (3) the total number of acres of land, reported by surface 
        ownership in each zone, in which revegetation treatments have 
        been carried out;
            (4) any other accomplishments and improvements to carbon 
        sequestration capacity or other co-benefits as a result of 
        implementing a plan under subsection (e)(2); and
            (5) any barriers to implementation of a plan developed 
        under subsection (e)(2), including as a result of legal issues, 
        logistical issues, seed or sapling shortages, or lack of 
        funding.
    (i) Partnerships.--The Secretaries may enter into a memorandum of 
agreement with any member of a task force to carry out any activity 
described in subsection (e), (f), (g), or (h).
    (j) Effect.--Nothing in this section establishes new, extends 
existing, or otherwise affects post-fire rehabilitation no-grazing 
requirements.
    (k) Avoidance of Duplication.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretaries shall--
            (1) avoid duplicative efforts and, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, utilize existing efforts and personnel to develop 
        and implement an activity described in subsection (e), (f), 
        (g), or (h);
            (2) maximize non-Federal involvement; and
            (3) avoid using personnel who would otherwise be engaged in 
        forest management or wildfire mitigation efforts.

SEC. 103. EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS.

    (a) Purposes of This Section.--The purposes of this section are--
            (1) to formally authorize the experimental forests and 
        rangelands on National Forest System land existing on the date 
        of enactment of this Act; and
            (2) to require that--
                    (A) the network of those experimental forests and 
                rangelands be maintained in perpetuity; and
                    (B) climate resiliency research is continuously 
                conducted within the network.
    (b) Establishment of Network.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as 
the ``Secretary''), shall establish and manage a network of 
experimental forests and ranges on National Forest System land 
(referred to in this section as the ``network'').
    (c) Management Purposes.--The Secretary shall manage the network 
for the purposes of--
            (1) research;
            (2) technology transfer; and
            (3) education.
    (d) Criteria.--The network shall include--
            (1) each of the forest cover types that occur in the United 
        States, as defined by the Forest Cover Types of the United 
        States and Canada published by the Society of American Forests;
            (2) an experimental forest that contains forest cover types 
        found in the State of Hawaii; and
            (3) an experimental forest that contains forest cover types 
        found in the territories of the United States.
    (e) Climate Resiliency Research.--Within the network, the Secretary 
shall conduct research, including research on--
            (1) seedling establishment, site suitability, and tree 
        planting designs to inform and assist efforts undertaken in the 
        United States to establish stands of trees that are resilient 
        in future climate conditions; and
            (2) the sources and fates of carbon to construct and 
        improve models of carbon responses to land management 
        practices.
    (f) Public Access.--All data collected and research findings 
developed from projects undertaken on the network shall be made readily 
accessible to the public.
    (g) Partners.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement with a 
State (including a State forestry agency), an educational institution, 
or a third party to fund or conduct research on the network.
    (h) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives a report describing, with respect to 
the network--
            (1) the location of the network on National Forest System 
        land;
            (2) the forest cover types included in the network; and
            (3) any additional resources needed--
                    (A) to establish or maintain infrastructure in an 
                established experimental forest; or
                    (B) to conduct the research described in subsection 
                (d).
    (i) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section--
            (1) modifies, limits, or repeals the applicability of any 
        provision of law (including regulations) to National Forest 
        System land; or
            (2) precludes the Secretary from authorizing multiple-use 
        activities, including livestock grazing and other authorized 
        uses on land included within the network.

SEC. 104. LONG-TERM CONTRACTS FOR TREE AND SEED PLANTING.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the Federal Acquisition 
Regulation, the Secretary concerned may enter into a contract or 
cooperative agreement for re-establishing vegetation on Federal land 
described in subsection (b).
    (b) Federal Land.--Federal land referred to in subsection (a) is--
            (1) National Forest System land, other than--
                    (A) the national grasslands and land utilization 
                projects administered under title III of the Bankhead-
                Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); and
                    (B) National Forest System land east of the 100th 
                meridian;
            (2) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal 
        Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));
            (3) land that the Secretary holds in trust for an Indian 
        Tribe;
            (4) a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
            (5) land administered by the Bureau of Reclamation; and
            (6) a unit of the National Park System.
    (c) Term.--A contract or cooperative agreement described in 
subsection (a) shall be for a term of not more than 10 years.

SEC. 105. TREE PLANTING FOR COMMUNITIES.

    (a) Job Corps Program.--The Secretary of Labor shall--
            (1) develop a career and technical education and training 
        program focused on tree planting or tree maintenance; and
            (2) offer the program as part of the Job Corps program.
    (b) Retail Power Provider Tree Planting Grant Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in 
        this subsection as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the 
        Secretaries, shall establish a program under which the 
        Secretary shall award grants to States, Indian Tribes, local 
        governments, nonprofit organizations, and retail power 
        providers to conduct tree planting projects in accordance with 
        this subsection (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``program'').
            (2) Applications.--An entity seeking to receive a grant 
        under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application 
        at such time, in such form, and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require, including a description of how the 
        project to be carried out using the grant funds will reduce 
        residential energy consumption.
            (3) Priority.--In awarding grants under the program, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) give priority to tree planting projects that 
                would provide the largest potential reduction in 
                residential energy consumption for households; and
                    (B) for projects to be carried out in an urbanized 
                area of the United States, analyze tree equity scores 
                to prioritize socioeconomically disadvantaged 
                neighborhoods with the greatest need.
            (4) Variety of geographic locations.--In awarding grants 
        under the program, the Secretary shall ensure diverse and 
        equitable geographic representation among the grant recipients.
            (5) Cost-share.--
                    (A) Federal share.--Subject to subparagraph (C), 
                the Federal share of the cost of a tree planting 
                project carried out using a grant under the program 
                shall be not more than 50 percent.
                    (B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
                the cost of a tree planting project carried out using a 
                grant under the program may be in the form of--
                            (i) cash or donations received directly 
                        from non-Federal sources; or
                            (ii) in-kind contributions.
                    (C) Waiver.--The Secretary may, on a case-by-case 
                basis, increase the Federal share described in 
                subparagraph (A) if a tree planting project carried out 
                using a grant under the program is located wholly in an 
                economically distressed community.

SEC. 106. REVEGETATION ON ABANDONED MINE LAND.

    (a) Pilot Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--Using funding available to the 
        Secretary, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to 
        establish native trees, shrubs, or grasses (referred to in this 
        section as ``vegetation'') on eligible mined land described in 
        paragraph (6).
            (2) Financial assistance.--In carrying out the pilot 
        program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) in coordination with the Secretary of 
                Agriculture, establish vegetation on eligible mined 
                land located on Federal land;
                    (B) offer financial assistance to States to 
                establish native vegetation on eligible mined land 
                located on State land;
                    (C) offer financial assistance to Indian Tribes to 
                establish native vegetation on eligible mined land 
                located on Tribal land or land held in Trust for an 
                Indian Tribe; and
                    (D) establish vegetation or offer financial 
                assistance to States or other entities to establish 
                native vegetation on eligible mined land located on 
                private land.
            (3) Compatibility with existing operations.--
                    (A) Consultation.--Prior to selecting a project for 
                funding under the pilot program established under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with, as 
                applicable, the relevant Office of Surface Mining 
                Reclamation and Enforcement abandoned mine land program 
                office to confirm that the proposed project is 
                compatible with any current mining, exploration, or 
                reclamation activities.
                    (B) Restriction.--The Secretary shall not provide 
                financial assistance under paragraph (2) to a person or 
                entity with an ongoing legal obligation to revegetate 
                the land in a project area.
            (4) Activities.--The following activities associated with a 
        project to establish vegetation on eligible mined land shall be 
        eligible for financial assistance under paragraph (2):
                    (A) Site preparation, including ripping compacted 
                soils and incorporating soil amendments.
                    (B) Vegetation planting.
                    (C) Maintenance, including watering, to the extent 
                necessary to establish vegetation under this section.
                    (D) Managing competing vegetation.
            (5) Preference.--Under the pilot program established under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, seek to establish vegetation that--
                    (A) is ecologically appropriate; and
                    (B)(i) has a high capacity to sequester and store 
                carbon;
                    (ii) serves to reconnect established landscapes or 
                enhance habitat connectivity; or
                    (iii) would establish wildlife habitat that is 
                underrepresented in the State in which the project is 
                located.
            (6) Eligible mined land.--To be eligible for financial 
        assistance under paragraph (2), a tree planting project shall 
        be located on--
                    (A) land that was mined prior to the date of 
                enactment of this Act;
                    (B) in the case of State land or private land, land 
                that is accessible to the public for not less than 1 
                day per year; and
                    (C) in the case of private land, land owned by a 
                person, or a nongovernmental organization, that has 
                submitted to the Secretary or the State in which the 
                land is located a request seeking to participate in the 
                pilot program under this section.
            (7) Termination.--The pilot program established under 
        paragraph (1) shall be in effect for the 8-year period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources 
of the House of Representatives a report describing the accomplishments 
of the pilot program established under subsection (a)(1), including--
            (1) jobs created or supported in rural areas;
            (2) increases in the abundance of wildlife species, 
        including game species and song birds;
            (3) opportunities for hunting and other compatible outdoor 
        recreation; and
            (4) an estimate of--
                    (A) carbon sequestered during the 5-year period 
                beginning on the date on which the pilot program is 
                established; and
                    (B) projected additional carbon sequestration and 
                storage during the 15-year period beginning on the last 
                day of the period described in subparagraph (A).

SEC. 107. INTERNATIONAL REFORESTATION.

    The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service, may--
            (1) evaluate a request from another country for technical 
        assistance for tree planting activities;
            (2) subject to the evaluation under paragraph (1) and the 
        availability of Forest Service personnel and funding, provide 
        to another country technical assistance for tree planting 
        activities, including sharing--
                    (A) personnel; and
                    (B) knowledge through communications and technical 
                on-site instruction; and
            (3) enter into a partnership with a nongovernmental entity 
        that is located outside the United States or that is located in 
        the United States and operates internationally--
                    (A) to engage in activities that restore 
                vegetation; and
                    (B) to promote and improve global carbon 
                sequestration through revegetation activities.

TITLE II--CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH FOREST MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATION

SEC. 201. FOREST MANAGEMENT FROM CARBON CREDITS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Carbon credit.--The term ``carbon credit'' means a 
        carbon or greenhouse gas credit, offset, or other defined 
        unit--
                    (A) approved by a credible, third-party entity; and
                    (B) as determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Carbon credit program.--The term ``carbon credit 
        program'' means a voluntary program or market that issues, 
        assigns, trades, or sells carbon credits.
            (3) Covered activity.--The term ``covered activity'' means 
        an improved forest management activity, including a hazardous 
        fuel treatment, mechanical thinning, or timber harvesting 
        project, that is--
                    (A) ecologically appropriate;
                    (B) carried out on National Forest System land;
                    (C) designed--
                            (i) to increase rates of carbon 
                        sequestration;
                            (ii) to increase long-term carbon storage 
                        in durable wood products; or
                            (iii) to mitigate or avoid carbon 
                        emissions;
                    (D) carried out by--
                            (i) the Secretary; or
                            (ii) a non-Federal entity under any 
                        existing authority available to the Secretary; 
                        and
                    (E) not in competition with or adverse to the 
                issuance, assignment, trading, or selling of forest 
                carbon in the private sector.
            (4) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
        System'' does not include--
                    (A) the national grasslands and land utilization 
                projects administered under title III of the Bankhead-
                Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); or
                    (B) National Forest System land east of the 100th 
                meridian.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
    (b) Funds Associated With Carbon Credits for Forest Management.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may use to support the 
        implementation of covered activities, without further 
        appropriation or fiscal year limitation, funds received from a 
        non-Federal entity--
                    (A) through a carbon credit program; or
                    (B) for a carbon credit generated from National 
                Forest System land.
            (2) Supplement, not supplant.--Amounts made available under 
        paragraph (1) shall supplement, and not supplant, any other 
        amounts made available for covered activities.
    (c) Management of Carbon Credit Transactions by National Forest 
Foundation.--
            (1) In general.--The National Forest Foundation shall 
        receive and distribute any funds received under subsection 
        (b)(1).
            (2) Other partners.--The National Forest Foundation may 
        work with other entities that use funds received through a 
        carbon credit program or for a carbon credit generated from 
        National Forest System land to design, manage, account for, or 
        implement a covered activity.
            (3) Methodology.--For the management of transactions 
        described in this section, the National Forest Foundation, in 
        collaboration with the Secretary, shall develop and use a 
        methodology that calculates the predicted increase in carbon 
        sequestration or in the longevity of long-term carbon storage 
        for a project or the avoided release of carbon due to reduction 
        of the risk of high-severity fire and other disturbances, by 
        considering--
                    (A) retention of forest cover;
                    (B) carbon sequestration rates before and after the 
                implementation of a covered activity;
                    (C) reduction in the risk of tree mortality;
                    (D) restoration of historic fire regimes; and
                    (E) the long-term storage of carbon in long-lasting 
                wood products.
    (d) Reports to Congress.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
National Forest Foundation, shall annually submit to Congress a report 
describing the status of the program under this section, including--
            (1) the extent to which additional covered activities that 
        were implemented with funding received under subsection (b)(1) 
        have been carried out; and
            (2) any recommendations to improve or expand the program, 
        including expansion of the authorities under this section to 
        land managed by the Secretary of the Interior.
    (e) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes any activity that 
is inconsistent with--
            (1) any applicable forest plan; or
            (2) any other provision of law (including regulations).

SEC. 202. RECOVERY AND RESTORATION TREATMENTS FOLLOWING STAND-REPLACING 
              DISTURBANCES.

    (a) Definition of Stand-Replacing Disturbance.--In this section, 
the term ``stand-replacing disturbance'' means a natural disturbance 
event, including a wildland fire or other event, that kills all or most 
of the living overstory trees in a stand and initiates forest 
succession or regrowth on a unit of the National Forest System.
    (b) Pilot National Forests.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Chief of the Forest Service (referred to in this section as the 
``Secretary''), shall identify units of the National Forest System that 
the Secretary determines to be at high or very high risk of 
experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance during the 10-year period 
following the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Interdisciplinary Teams.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
        interdisciplinary post-disturbance planning team (referred to 
        in this section as the ``team'') to assist in carrying out the 
        requirements of this section.
            (2) TEAMS enterprise.--The Secretary may employ a Forest 
        Service enterprise team or a regional planning center to meet 
        the requirement of this subsection.
    (d) Model Land and Resource Management Plan Amendment.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in cooperation with the 
        team, shall develop a model land and resource management plan 
        amendment establishing plan content for future site-specific 
        project-level decisions if a stand-replacing disturbance occurs 
        on units of the National Forest System identified under 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Content.--The model amendment required under paragraph 
        (1) shall include direction regarding post-disturbance 
        management, including salvage logging and reforestation 
        activities, to achieve desired conditions, objectives, 
        standards, guidelines, suitability of lands, and other plan 
        content, including goals and monitoring provisions, of the 
        existing land and resource management plan on the applicable 
        unit of the National Forest System, if a stand-replacing 
        disturbance occurs.
            (3) Use of model land and resource management plan 
        amendment.--The Secretary shall utilize the Model Land and 
        Resource Management Plan Amendment, as adapted to the unique 
        ecological and socioeconomic setting for each unit of the 
        National Forest System identified under subsection (b), in 
        carrying out subsection (e).
    (e) Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments.--
            (1) In general.--As soon as practicable, but not later than 
        10 years, after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
        Secretary, assisted by the team, shall amend the applicable 
        land and resource management plan of each unit of the National 
        Forest System identified under subsection (b).
            (2) Process.--The Secretary shall comply with all relevant 
        laws in carrying out this section.
            (3) Election.--The Secretary may comply with the provisions 
        of this section by incorporating the requirements of this 
        section into an ongoing land and resource management plan 
        revision or amendment process.

SEC. 203. BIOCHAR AND WOOD WASTE.

    (a) Food and Drug Administration Biochar Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Food and Drugs 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``Commissioner''), in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and in 
        coordination with States, shall establish a pilot program to 
        grant a nationwide food use authorization of biochar as a feed 
        additive for cattle.
            (2) Terms.--The pilot program described in this subsection 
        shall be--
                    (A) for a period of not more than 5 years; and
                    (B) subject to any conditions that the Commissioner 
                determines appropriate.
            (3) Savings clause.--The Commissioner shall ensure that 
        participation in the pilot program under this subsection is 
        voluntary.
    (b) USGS Commercialization Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the United States Geological Survey, in 
        coordination with any relevant non-Federal entities, shall 
        develop and publish a national commercialization plan for the 
        production, sale, and use of biochar as a soil amendment for 
        plant growth improvement, including for commercial, 
        agricultural, and residential use.
            (2) Requirement.--The commercialization plan required under 
        paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum--
                    (A) identify--
                            (i) impediments to producing large 
                        quantities of biochar for agricultural, 
                        forestry, or other commercial uses; and
                            (ii) solutions for those impediments; and
                    (B) propose a framework for demonstration efforts 
                to increase consumer demand for biochar.

SEC. 204. ERADICATION OF INVASIVE GRASSES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Action plan.--The term ``action plan'' means the action 
        plan developed under subsection (b).
            (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means--
                    (A) National Forest System land, except--
                            (i) the national grasslands and land 
                        utilization projects administered under title 
                        III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 
                        U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); and
                            (ii) National Forest System land east of 
                        the 100th meridian; and
                    (B) land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
            (3) Invasive grass.--The term ``invasive grass'' means--
                    (A) cheatgrass;
                    (B) ventenata;
                    (C) medusahead; and
                    (D) any additional invasive, nonnative annual grass 
                species that the Secretaries determine pose a risk by--
                            (i) increasing fire vulnerability and fire 
                        spread; and
                            (ii) altering fire regimes.
            (4) Target treatment area.--The term ``target treatment 
        area'' means a target treatment area described in subsection 
        (b)(2)(D).
    (b) Action Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretaries shall jointly develop and 
        implement an action plan to map, treat, and control invasive 
        grass--
                    (A) to promote the resiliency, biodiversity, and 
                carbon sequestration capacity of forests, rangelands, 
                and grasslands;
                    (B) to minimize risks from wildfire; and
                    (C) to enhance the quality of forage for wildlife 
                and livestock.
            (2) Requirements.--The action plan shall--
                    (A) consider or incorporate existing efforts;
                    (B) take into account--
                            (i) the latest science;
                            (ii) best practices; and
                            (iii) available deployment tools;
                    (C) be prepared in coordination with State and 
                local governmental entities and the heads of other 
                Federal agencies, including the Chief of the Natural 
                Resources Conservation Service, that are engaged in 
                activities to control invasive grass to leverage and 
                maximize funding and resources;
                    (D) identify and depict on a map target treatment 
                areas that focus on--
                            (i) areas with a large quantity of invasive 
                        grass where revegetation with native species is 
                        most likely to succeed;
                            (ii) areas at high risk of wildfire;
                            (iii) areas in which invasive grass 
                        negatively impacts livestock grazing or other 
                        uses;
                            (iv) wildlife habitat and forage needs, 
                        particularly sagebrush habitat;
                            (v) areas prone to infestations; or
                            (vi) areas deemed important by the 
                        Secretaries;
                    (E) establish--
                            (i) specific goals;
                            (ii) specific implementation actions that 
                        the Secretaries and partners of the Secretaries 
                        will conduct over a 5-year period; and
                            (iii) targets, including acres to be 
                        treated annually in the target treatment areas;
                    (F) provide for a combination of treatment methods 
                for the most effective control of an invasive grass, 
                including--
                            (i) mechanical treatment methods;
                            (ii) cultural treatment methods;
                            (iii) biological treatment methods, which 
                        may include livestock grazing;
                            (iv) prescribed fire; and
                            (v) chemical treatment methods;
                    (G) identify and implement, to the extent 
                practicable, best practices, such as the use of spray 
                washing stations, to reduce the spreading of invasive 
                grass seed adjacent to infested areas or into 
                noninfested areas;
                    (H) identify methods and tools for the post-
                treatment monitoring of target treatment areas to 
                determine the effectiveness of a treatment and control 
                efforts;
                    (I) initiate and expedite environmental reviews for 
                treatments, as required by applicable law, including 
                identifying--
                            (i) methods for achieving timely decisions 
                        and implementation for treatments, monitoring, 
                        and follow-up treatments based on monitoring; 
                        and
                            (ii) maximizing opportunities to cooperate 
                        with other Federal and State agencies in 
                        analysis, assessments, and studies; and
                    (J) establish guidelines that--
                            (i) if native, intact grasses are absent 
                        within a target treatment area and the target 
                        treatment area is prone to high-risk vectors or 
                        pathways--
                                    (I) identify geographically based 
                                desirable, native seed mix and seed 
                                reserves;
                                    (II) prioritize reseeding the area 
                                in the target treatment area; and
                                    (III) monitor for the presence of 
                                new invasive grass and promptly treat 
                                any invasive grass present; and
                            (ii) if, after conducting a treatment, 
                        desirable native grasses are established and 
                        dominant in a target treatment area, provide 
                        for the natural restoration of native grasses.
            (3) Deadline to finalize action plan.--Not later than 270 
        days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries 
        shall finalize the action plan.
            (4) Implementation of action plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date on which the action plan is finalized under 
                paragraph (3), the Secretaries shall begin implementing 
                the action plan.
                    (B) Memoranda of understanding and agreements.--In 
                implementing the action plan, the Secretary concerned 
                may enter into a memorandum of understanding or an 
                agreement with non-Federal entities, as appropriate, to 
                carry out activities under the action plan to control 
                the spread of an invasive grass on Federal land or land 
                adjacent to Federal land.
                    (C) Cooperating agency coordination.--The Secretary 
                concerned shall, to the extent practicable, offer to 
                assist in the preparation of environmental reviews that 
                may be necessary in implementing treatment and control 
                activities on non-Federal land.
    (c) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter during the period in 
which the action plan is being implemented, the Secretaries shall 
submit to Congress a report assessing the effectiveness of the action 
plan that includes a description of--
            (1) the location of the target treatment areas;
            (2) the number of acres within target treatment areas on 
        which treatments were conducted;
            (3) the agreements or partnerships entered into under 
        subsection (b)(4)(B) to advance the implementation of the 
        action plan;
            (4) monitoring information described in subsection 
        (b)(2)(H); and
            (5) recommendations for studies to explore innovative 
        methods and practices to treat and control invasive grass.
    (d) Funding.--
            (1) Outside funding.--The Secretary concerned may accept 
        non-Federal funds to implement any provision of this section.
            (2) Other funding.--In addition to any funding received 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretaries may expend to carry out 
        this section up to $30,000,000 of any funding made available to 
        the Secretary concerned for invasive species control.
            (3) Limitations.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
        out this section, not more than 10 percent shall be used for 
        development of the action plan.

                         TITLE III--MASS TIMBER

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Local approving agency.--The term ``local approving 
        agency'' means an agency or unit of a local government that is 
        responsible for the issuance of permits for building 
        construction.
            (2) Mass timber.--The term ``mass timber'' includes--
                    (A) cross-laminated timber;
                    (B) nail laminated timber;
                    (C) glue laminated timber;
                    (D) dowel laminated timber;
                    (E) laminated strand lumber; and
                    (F) laminated veneer lumber.
            (3) Procuring agency.--The term ``procuring agency'' means 
        the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, or a person 
        that is a party to a contract with the Department of the 
        Interior or the Forest Service, with respect to work performed 
        under such a contract.
            (4) Tall wood building.--The term ``tall wood building'' 
        means a building designed to be--
                    (A) constructed with mass timber; and
                    (B)(i) if a residential building, more than 4 
                stories in height; and
                    (ii) if a commercial building, more than 5 stories 
                in height.

SEC. 302. JOINT MASS TIMBER SCIENCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Mass Timber Science and Education Program With the Forest 
Products Laboratory.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Director of the Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), shall establish a 
mass timber science and education program to respond to the emerging 
research needs of architects, developers, and the forest products 
industry.
    (b) Coordination.--The Secretary shall work closely with research 
programs at colleges and universities in administering the mass timber 
science and education program established under subsection (a) to 
supplement the current research and educational efforts of colleges and 
universities.
    (c) Purposes.--The mass timber science and education program 
established under subsection (a) shall have the following principal 
purposes:
            (1) To provide practical research responsive to the needs 
        of architects, developers, and the forest products industry, 
        including assessments of carbon impacts in the originating 
        forests and the end use of mass timber in the built 
        environment.
            (2) To engage and listen to clients and then develop 
        focused, strategic lines of new research responsive to those 
        needs, which may include research relating to flammability and 
        performance during a fire, structural characteristics, energy 
        use and savings, acoustics, and slab construction composed of 
        hybrid materials.
            (3) To solicit proposals from scientists who compete for 
        funding through a rigorous peer-review process designed to 
        ensure the best projects are funded.
            (4) To disseminate research findings using a suite of 
        communication tools to ensure that architects, developers, and 
        the forest products industry are aware of, understand, and can 
        use the information to make sound decisions and implement 
        projects.
            (5) To develop and facilitate the adoption, on a voluntary 
        basis, of a curriculum for building structures using mass 
        timber for use in schools of engineering and architecture that 
        includes--
                    (A) structural design; and
                    (B) the possibilities, benefits, and limitations of 
                using mass timber in construction.
    (d) Mass Timber Plan.--Not later than September 30, 2022, the 
Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a mass 
timber plan that includes--
            (1) an assessment of the current state of knowledge about 
        mass timber and tall wood buildings;
            (2) an integrated approach to improve knowledge sharing;
            (3) an approach for project monitoring and evaluation; and
            (4) an approach for setting research priorities.
    (e) Stakeholder Advisory Group.--
            (1) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint a stakeholder 
        advisory group of technical experts that consists, at a 
        minimum, of--
                    (A) a Forest Service scientist;
                    (B) a researcher from a college or university;
                    (C) a representative of a trade association;
                    (D) an architect or developer;
                    (E) a representative of a local approving agency;
                    (F) a representative of a forest products company; 
                and
                    (G) a representative of a nongovernmental 
                organization with experience--
                            (i) designing or constructing tall wood 
                        buildings; or
                            (ii) complying with or revising related 
                        building codes.
            (2) Duties.--The stakeholder advisory group shall meet at 
        least annually--
                    (A) to consider immediate and long-term science 
                needs;
                    (B) to suggest to the Secretary appropriate topic 
                areas, specific issues within those topic areas, and 
                information transfer needs for which the Secretary 
                shall solicit proposals described in subsection (c)(3); 
                and
                    (C) to assist the Secretary in drafting the mass 
                timber plan required under subsection (d).
    (f) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to the Secretary of 
Transportation and to States technical assistance relating to the use 
of wood in bridges when undergoing revisions to a State bridge design 
manual.
    (g) Availability of Appropriations.--From amounts appropriated for 
Forest Service research, excluding funding made available for the 
Forest Inventory and Analysis program, the Secretary may use $4,000,000 
to carry out the activities described in this section.

SEC. 303. STORING CARBON IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS.

    (a) Mass Timber Buildings Database and Plan.--
            (1) Database.--The Secretaries, in coordination with any 
        other relevant agencies, shall develop and maintain a running 
        database of mass timber buildings that are owned or leased by 
        the Federal Government and are occupied primarily by employees 
        of the Secretaries (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``database'').
            (2) Assessment.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
        through the Director of the Forest Products Laboratory of the 
        Forest Service, shall conduct an assessment of each mass timber 
        building included in the database, which shall include 
        collecting data on the embodied carbon of the materials used in 
        the construction of the mass timber buildings included in the 
        database.
            (3) Plan.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretaries shall prepare a 
                plan to increase the quantity of carbon stored in 
                buildings that are owned or leased by the Federal 
                Government and are occupied primarily by employees of 
                Secretaries.
                    (B) Plan submission.--Not later than 1 year after 
                the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries 
                shall submit the plan under subparagraph (A) to the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
                and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives.
                    (C) Material neutrality.--The plan submitted by the 
                Secretaries shall be, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, material neutral, and may include using 
                mass timber, carbon concrete, and any other materials.
    (b) Minimum Purchases.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than September 30, 2025, subject 
        to the exceptions listed in paragraph (2), the Secretaries 
        shall procure facilities, buildings, or structures, including 
        not fewer than 100 single-occupancy restrooms, using domestic 
        mass timber.
            (2) Exceptions.--The Secretaries may decide not to procure 
        facilities, buildings, or structures using domestic mass timber 
        if the Secretaries determine that the items--
                    (A) are not reasonably available within a 
                reasonable period of time;
                    (B) fail to meet the reasonable performance 
                standards of the procuring agencies;
                    (C) are not necessary to support the mission of the 
                applicable agency; or
                    (D) are available only at an unreasonable price.
    (c) Coordination and Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of 
Agriculture, acting through the Director of the Forest Products 
Laboratory of the Forest Service, may coordinate with other Federal 
agencies and non-Federal partners for the purpose of improving the 
management and efficiency of constructing mass timber buildings and 
infrastructure.

                           TITLE IV--RESEARCH

SEC. 401. LONGEVITY OF FOREST PRODUCTS.

    The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, shall--
            (1) develop more accurate and efficient methods and 
        technologies to measure and monitor the amount and average 
        lifespan of carbon stored in woody biomass energy feedstocks 
        and building materials;
            (2) by not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, publish estimates of the amount and average 
        lifespan of carbon stored in different woody biomass energy 
        feedstocks and building materials, including in short-lived 
        forest products and long-lived wood products; and
            (3) by not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, publish an estimate of the total amount of carbon 
        stored in--
                    (A) short-lived forest products;
                    (B) building materials; and
                    (C) other long-lived wood products.

SEC. 402. FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.

    (a) In General.--To bring more innovation and efficiency to 
climate-resilient forestry actions in the United States, the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service--
            (1) shall publish a report, or expand on a report being 
        published pursuant to another provision of law, that 
        demonstrates the efforts of the Forest Service--
                    (A) to measure a consistent historical series of 
                field plots while using advanced technology, including 
                remote sensing, to improve data and information; and
                    (B) to use advanced geospatial technologies to 
                improve area and volume estimates, especially for sub-
                State regions and smaller area estimates;
            (2) may use remote sensing technologies and other 
        technologies to develop more accurate and efficient methods and 
        to reduce costs to facilitate the measuring and monitoring of 
        forest carbon in the United States, in a manner that can--
                    (A) assess landscape-scale or regional-scale carbon 
                stocking;
                    (B) improve the quantity and quality of the 
                information available to policy makers and forest 
                managers, including with regard to forest inventories 
                and verification activities;
                    (C) empower private forest owners to participate in 
                voluntary carbon crediting opportunities; and
                    (D) enable--
                            (i) a policy maker to compare the 
                        consequences of policy options to increase 
                        climate benefits from forests; and
                            (ii) an assessment of the effectiveness of 
                        a policy implemented to increase the climate 
                        benefits from forests; and
            (3) may accelerate, or increase the frequency of, current 
        inventories and data collection activities across all forest 
        types to ensure consistent nationwide estimates of forest 
        carbon pools that can reflect short-term changes from 
        disturbances, such as wildfires, and management activities.
    (b) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service, may annually use to carry out this section 
not more than $10,000,000 of any amount made available to the Forest 
Service for research.

SEC. 403. BIOECONOMY RESEARCH.

    The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Director of the 
Forest Products Laboratory of the Forest Service, shall expand research 
relating to the use of wood--
            (1) to facilitate the establishment of new markets, 
        including nontraditional markets, for material produced from 
        forest management projects that typically has little or no 
        commercial value;
            (2) to increase the economic viability of manufacturing 
        products using material described in paragraph (1); and
            (3) including structural testing of hardwood species for 
        use in mass timber.

SEC. 404. INSURANCE PRODUCT TO REPLACE BUFFERS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service, may--
            (1) establish an intragovernmental revolving fund to 
        maintain adequate buffer reserves for a project implementing a 
        covered activity (as defined in subsection (a) of section 201) 
        under that section to cover unforeseen losses in carbon stocks 
        to address nonpermanence; and
            (2) transfer amounts into and out of the intragovernmental 
        revolving fund established under paragraph (1) to serve as a 
        buffer pool for covered activities referred to in paragraph 
        (1).

SEC. 405. FOREST HEALTH THREAT CENTERS.

    The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the 
Forest Service, shall--
            (1) seek to expand the services provided by the Western 
        Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center and the Eastern 
        Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center such that those 
        Centers become centers of excellence to inform large-scale 
        climate-resilient forest management; and
            (2) share the syntheses, models, and application tools 
        developed by the Western Wildland Environmental Threat 
        Assessment Center and the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat 
        Assessment Center with--
                    (A) the Department of Agriculture climate hubs; and
                    (B) the Climate Adaptation Science Centers managed 
                by the Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
                United States Geological Survey.
                                 <all>