Title: Save Our Sequoias Act
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Save Our Sequoias Act
This bill provides for the conservation of giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in California, including by

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8168 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8168

 To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2022

 Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Costa, Mr. 
 Valadao, Mr. Panetta, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Thompson of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Calvert, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. 
Garcia of California, Mr. Correa, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Bera, Mr. Obernolte, 
 Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Curtis, Mr. 
  Schrader, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Malinowski, Mrs. Kim of California, Ms. 
   Conway, and Mr. Kahele) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, 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 ``Save Our Sequoias 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias.
Sec. 4. Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
Sec. 5. Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment.
Sec. 6. Giant sequoia emergency response.
Sec. 7. Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.
Sec. 8. Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.
Sec. 9. Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants.
Sec. 10. Good neighbor authority for giant sequoias.
Sec. 11. Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias.
Sec. 12. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Assessment.--The term ``Assessment'' means the Giant 
        Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment required by section 5.
            (2) Coalition.--The term ``Coalition'' means the Giant 
        Sequoia Lands Coalition established under section 4.
            (3) Collaborative process.--The term ``collaborative 
        process'' means a process relating to the management of 
        National Forest System lands or public lands by which a project 
        or forest management activity is developed and implemented by 
        the Secretary concerned through collaboration with multiple 
        interested persons representing diverse interests.
            (4) Covered national forest system lands.--The term 
        ``covered National Forest System lands'' means the proclaimed 
        National Forest System lands reserved or withdrawn from the 
        public domain of the United States covering the Sequoia 
        National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra 
        National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest.
            (5) Giant sequoia.--The term ``giant sequoia'' means a tree 
        of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.
            (6) Grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan.--The 
        term ``grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan'' means a 
        plan developed by the applicable land management agency prior 
        to conducting an analysis under the National Environmental 
        Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to address hazardous fuels 
        in 1 or more giant sequoia groves.
            (7) Protection project.--The term ``Protection Project'' 
        means a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under 
        section 6.
            (8) Public lands.--The term ``public lands'' means--
                    (A) the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation 
                Management Area in California managed by the Bureau of 
                Land Management; and
                    (B) Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National 
                Park, and Yosemite National Park in California managed 
                by the National Park Service.
            (9) Reforestation.--The term ``reforestation'' means the 
        act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees through 
        natural regeneration, artificial or natural regeneration with 
        site preparation, planting or direct seeding, or vegetation 
        competition control following artificial or natural 
        regeneration.
            (10) Rehabilitation.--The term ``rehabilitation'' means any 
        action taken during the 5-year period beginning on the last day 
        of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire-impacted lands 
        which are unlikely to recover to management-approved 
        conditions.
            (11) Relevant congressional committees.--The term 
        ``relevant Congressional Committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committees on Natural Resources, 
                Agriculture, and Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and 
                Appropriations of the Senate.
            (12) Responsible official.--The term ``responsible 
        official'' means an employee of the Department of the Interior 
        or Forest Service who has the authority to make and implement a 
        decision on a proposed action.
            (13) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (14) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
                covered National Forest System lands, or their 
                designee; and
                    (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                public lands, or their designee.
            (15) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the Giant 
        Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established 
        under section 7.
            (16) Strike team.--The term ``Strike Team'' means a Giant 
        Sequoia Strike Team established under section 8.
            (17) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Tule River Indian 
        Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.

SEC. 3. SHARED STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after receiving a request 
from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the 
Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to 
jointly carry out the following:
            (1) Not later than 30 days after entering into the 
        agreement, establish the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition or 
        certify an existing group meeting the requirements of section 
        4(b) as the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
            (2) Not later than 120 days after the Giant Sequoia Lands 
        Coalition submits the Assessment under section 5, conduct 
        Protection Projects under section 6.
            (3) Not later than 120 days after entering into the 
        agreement, begin implementing the Giant Sequoia Reforestation 
        and Rehabilitation Strategy under section 7.
    (b) Participation.--
            (1) In general.--If the Secretary has not received a 
        request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
        Tribe under subsection (a) before the date that is 90 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        enter into the agreement under subsection (a) and jointly 
        implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.
            (2) Future participation.--If the Secretary receives a 
        request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
        Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the 
        Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the 
        Tribe as a party to such agreement.

SEC. 4. GIANT SEQUOIA LANDS COALITION.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--In accordance with the timeline and 
        agreement established in section 3(a)(1), the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the parties to such agreement, shall 
        establish, and appoint members to, the Giant Sequoia Lands 
        Coalition.
            (2) Existing coalition.--A previously established group 
        that meets the membership requirements under subsection (b) may 
        be designated by the Secretary as the Coalition under paragraph 
        (1) if the parties to the agreement established under section 3 
        approve such designation.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Members.--The Secretary shall appoint to the Coalition 
        1 member from each of--
                    (A) the National Park Service, representing Sequoia 
                and Kings Canyon National Parks;
                    (B) the National Park Service, representing 
                Yosemite National Park;
                    (C) the Forest Service, representing Sequoia 
                National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument;
                    (D) the Forest Service, representing Sierra 
                National Forest;
                    (E) the Forest Service, representing Tahoe National 
                Forest;
                    (F) the Bureau of Land Management, representing 
                Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area;
                    (G) the Tribe, representing the Black Mountain 
                Grove;
                    (H) the State of California, representing Calaveras 
                Big Trees State Park;
                    (I) the State of California, representing Mountain 
                Home Demonstration State Forest;
                    (J) an academic institution with demonstrated 
                experience managing and owning a giant sequoia grove, 
                representing Whitaker's Research Forest; and
                    (K) the County of Tulare, California, representing 
                Balch Park.
            (2) Affiliate partners.--The Coalition may designate 
        organizations or agencies with demonstrated experience and 
        knowledge on giant sequoia management and resiliency as 
        affiliate partners of the Coalition to enhance the work of the 
        Coalition under subsection (c).
            (3) Local government participation.--Upon the written 
        request of a local government in California whose 
        jurisdictional boundaries encompass at least 1 giant sequoia 
        grove, the Secretary shall appoint 1 member from such 
        government to serve as a member of the Coalition, subject to 
        the same requirements outlined in this section.
            (4) Term.--
                    (A) Length.--The term of an appointment as a member 
                of the Coalition shall be 5 years.
                    (B) Limit.--Members of the Coalition may serve no 
                more than 2 terms.
            (5) Vacancy.--The Secretary shall appoint a new member to 
        fill a vacancy on the Coalition not later than 6 months after 
        the date on which such vacancy occurs.
            (6) Decisions.--Decisions of the Coalition shall be made by 
        majority vote, a quorum of 6 members of the Coalition being 
        present.
            (7) Meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after all 
                members of the Coalition are appointed under subsection 
                (a), the Coalition shall hold its first meeting.
                    (B) Regular meetings.--The Coalition shall meet not 
                less than twice per year.
            (8) Priority.--The Secretary shall appoint members under 
        subsection (b)(1) who have a demonstrated experience and 
        knowledge on managing giant sequoia groves.
    (c) Duties.--The duties of the Coalition are to--
            (1) carry out the Assessment under section 5;
            (2) observe implementation, and provide policy 
        recommendations to the Secretary, with respect to--
                    (A) Protection Projects carried out under section 
                6; and
                    (B) the Strategy established under section 7;
            (3) facilitate collaboration and coordination on Protection 
        Projects, particularly projects that cross jurisdictional 
        boundaries;
            (4) facilitate information sharing, including best 
        available science as described in section 5(c) and mapping 
        resources; and
            (5) support the development and dissemination of 
        educational materials and programs that inform the public about 
        the threats to the health and resiliency of giant sequoia 
        groves and actions being taken to reduce the risk to such 
        groves from high-severity wildfire, insects, and drought.
    (d) Pay and Expenses.--
            (1) Compensation.--
                    (A) Federal employee members.--All members of the 
                Coalition who are officers or employees of the United 
                States shall serve without compensation in addition to 
                that received for their services as officers or 
                employees of the United States.
                    (B) Non-federal employee members.--All members of 
                the Coalition not described in subparagraph (A) shall 
                serve without compensation.
            (2) Reimbursement.--A member of the Coalition may be 
        reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses incurred while 
        attending a meeting of the Coalition or any other meeting of 
        members approved for reimbursement by the Coalition in the same 
        amounts and under the same conditions as Federal employees 
        under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
            (3) Expenses.--The Secretary may pay the expenses of the 
        Coalition that the Secretary determines to be reasonable and 
        appropriate.
            (4) Administrative support, technical services, and staff 
        support.--The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department 
        of the Interior available to the Coalition for administrative 
        support, technical services, development and dissemination of 
        educational materials, and staff support that the Secretary 
        determines necessary to carry out this section.
    (e) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Coalition.

SEC. 5. GIANT SEQUOIA HEALTH AND RESILIENCY ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the first meeting of 
the Coalition, the Coalition shall submit to the relevant Congressional 
Committees a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment that, based 
on the best available science--
            (1) identifies--
                    (A) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced 
                a--
                            (i) stand-replacing disturbance; or
                            (ii) disturbance but continues to have 
                        living giant sequoias within the grove, 
                        including identifying the tree mortality and 
                        regeneration of giant sequoias within such 
                        grove;
                    (B) each giant sequoia grove that is at high risk 
                of experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance;
                    (C) lands located near giant sequoia groves that 
                are at risk of experiencing high-severity wildfires 
                that could adversely impact such giant sequoia groves; 
                and
                    (D) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a 
                disturbance and is unlikely to naturally regenerate and 
                is in need of reforestation;
            (2) analyzes the resiliency of each giant sequoia grove to 
        threats, such as--
                    (A) high-severity wildfire;
                    (B) insects, including beetle kill; and
                    (C) drought;
            (3) with respect to Protection Projects, proposes a list of 
        highest priority Protection Projects to be carried out under 
        section 6, giving priority to projects located on lands 
        identified under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection 
        (a)(1);
            (4) examines how historical, Tribal, or current approaches 
        to wildland fire suppression and forest management activities 
        across various jurisdictions have impacted the health and 
        resiliency of giant sequoia groves with respect to--
                    (A) high-severity wildfires;
                    (B) insects, including beetle kill; and
                    (C) drought; and
            (5) includes program and policy recommendations that 
        address--
                    (A) Federal and State policies that impede 
                activities to improve the health and resiliency of 
                giant sequoias and proposed policy changes to address 
                such impediments;
                    (B) new Federal and State policies necessary to 
                increase the pace and scale of treatments that improve 
                the health and resiliency of giant sequoias;
                    (C) options to enhance communication, coordination, 
                and collaboration, particularly for cross-boundary 
                projects, to improve the health and resiliency of giant 
                sequoias; and
                    (D) research gaps that should be addressed to 
                improve the best available science on the giant 
                sequoias.
    (b) Annual Updates.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of 
the Assessment under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the 
Coalition shall submit an updated Assessment to the relevant 
Congressional Committees that--
            (1) includes any new data, information, or best available 
        science that has changed or become available since the previous 
        Assessment was submitted;
            (2) with respect to Protection Projects--
                    (A) includes information on the number of 
                Protection Projects initiated the previous year and the 
                estimated timeline for completing those projects;
                    (B) includes information on the number of 
                Protection Projects planned in the upcoming year and 
                the estimated timeline for completing those projects;
                    (C) provides status updates and long-term 
                monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves after the 
                completion of Protection Projects;
                    (D) if the Secretary concerned failed to initiate 
                at least 1 Protection Project each in the previous 
                year, a written explanation that includes--
                            (i) a detailed explanation of what 
                        impediments resulted in failing to initiate at 
                        least 1 Protection Project;
                            (ii) a detailed explanation of what actions 
                        the Secretary concerned is taking to ensure 
                        that at least 1 Protection Project is initiated 
                        the following year; and
                            (iii) recommendations to Congress on any 
                        policies that need to be changed to assist the 
                        Secretary concerned in initiating Protection 
                        Projects; and
            (3) with respect to reforestation and rehabilitation of 
        giant sequoias--
                    (A) contains updates on the implementation of the 
                Strategy under section 7, including grove-level data on 
                reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and
                    (B) provides status updates and monitoring reports 
                on giant sequoia groves that have experienced natural 
                or artificial regeneration as part of the Strategy 
                under section 7.
    (c) Dashboard.--
            (1) Requirement to maintain.--The Coalition shall create 
        and maintain a website that--
                    (A) publishes the Assessment, annual updates to the 
                Assessment, and other educational materials developed 
                by the Coalition;
                    (B) contains searchable information about 
                individual giant sequoia groves, including the--
                            (i) resiliency of such groves to threats 
                        described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
                        subsection (a);
                            (ii) Protection Projects that have been 
                        proposed, initiated, or completed in such 
                        groves; and
                            (iii) reforestation and rehabilitation 
                        activities that have been proposed, initiated, 
                        or completed in such groves; and
                    (C) maintains a searchable database to track--
                            (i) the status of Federal environmental 
                        reviews and authorizations for specific 
                        Protection Projects and reforestation and 
                        rehabilitation activities; and
                            (ii) the projected cost of Protection 
                        Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation 
                        activities.
            (2) Searchable database.--The Coalition shall include 
        information on the status of Protection Projects in the 
        searchable database created under paragraph (1)(C), including--
                    (A) a comprehensive permitting timetable;
                    (B) the status of the compliance of each lead 
                agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency 
                with the permitting timetable;
                    (C) any modifications of the permitting timetable 
                required under subparagraph (A), including an 
                explanation as to why the permitting timetable was 
                modified; and
                    (D) information about project-related public 
                meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods, 
                which shall be presented in English and the predominant 
                language of the community or communities most affected 
                by the project, as that information becomes available.
    (d) Best Available Science.--In utilizing the best available 
science for the Assessment, the Coalition shall include--
            (1) data and peer-reviewed research from academic 
        institutions with a demonstrated history of studying giant 
        sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management 
        strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency;
            (2) traditional ecological knowledge from the Tribe related 
        to improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves; 
        and
            (3) data from Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments 
        or agencies.
    (e) Technology Improvements.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding or agreements 
with other Federal agencies or departments, State or local governments, 
Tribal governments, private entities, or academic institutions to 
improve, with respect to the Assessment, the use and integration of--
            (1) advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;
            (2) statistical modeling and analysis; or
            (3) any other technology the Secretary determines will 
        benefit the quality of information used in the Assessment.
    (f) Planning.--The Coalition shall make information from this 
Assessment available to the Secretary concerned and State of California 
to integrate into the--
            (1) State of California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience 
        Action Plan; and
            (2) Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy (or 
        successor plan).
    (g) Relation to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.--The 
development and submission of the Assessment under subsection (a) shall 
not be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 6. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

    (a) Emergency Response To Protect Giant Sequoias.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Emergency determination.--Congress determines 
                that--
                            (i) an emergency exists on public lands and 
                        covered National Forest System lands that makes 
                        it necessary to carry out Protection Projects 
                        that take needed actions to respond to the 
                        threat of wildfires, insects, and drought to 
                        giant sequoias; and
                            (ii) Protection Projects are necessary to 
                        control the immediate impacts of the emergency 
                        described in subparagraph (i) and are needed to 
                        mitigate harm to life, property, or important 
                        natural or cultural resources on public lands 
                        and covered National Forest System lands.
                    (B) Application.--The emergency determination 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall apply to all 
                public lands and covered National Forest System lands.
                    (C) Effect.--The emergency determination 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall go into effect 
                on the date the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition submits 
                the Assessment under section 5.
                    (D) Expiration.--The emergency determination 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall expire on the 
                date that is 10 years after the effective date of the 
                emergency determination established in paragraph (C).
            (2) Implementation.--While the emergency determination 
        established under subsection (a) is in effect--
                    (A) a responsible official may carry out a 
                Protection Project described by paragraph (4) before 
                initiating--
                            (i) an analysis under section 102 of the 
                        National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
                        U.S.C. 4332);
                            (ii) consultation under section 7 of the 
                        Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
                        1536); and
                            (iii) consultation under section 106 of the 
                        National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
                        470(f)); and
                    (B) the rules established under subsections (d) and 
                (e) section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and 
                Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c(d) and (e)) shall apply with 
                respect to Protection Projects by substituting 
                ``Protection Projects'' for ``authorized emergency 
                action under this section'' each place it appears in 
                such subsections; and
                    (C) Protection Projects shall be subject to the 
                requirements of section 106 of title I of the Healthy 
                Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511 et 
                seq.).
            (3) Protection projects.--The responsible official shall 
        carry out the following forest management activities as 
        Protection Projects under the emergency determination under 
        this section:
                    (A) Activities recommended by the Assessment under 
                section 5.
                    (B) Conducting hazardous fuels management, 
                including mechanical thinning, mastication, and 
                prescribed burning.
                    (C) Removing hazard trees, dead trees, dying trees, 
                or trees at risk of dying, as determined by the 
                responsible official.
                    (D) Removing trees to address overstocking or 
                crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the 
                appropriate basal area of the forest stand as 
                determined by the responsible official.
                    (E) Activities included in the applicable grove-
                specific hazardous fuels reduction plan.
                    (F) Using chemical treatments to address insects 
                and disease and control vegetation competition.
                    (G) Any combination of activities described in this 
                paragraph.
            (4) Requirements.--
                    (A) In general.--Protection Projects carried out 
                under paragraph (3) and reforestation and 
                rehabilitation activities carried out under this Act 
                that are described by subparagraph (D) are a category 
                of actions hereby designated as being categorically 
                excluded from the preparation of an environmental 
                assessment or an environmental impact statement under 
                section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
                1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
                    (B) Availability.--The Secretary concerned shall 
                use the categorical exclusion established under 
                subparagraph (A) in accordance with this section.
                    (C) Interagency cooperation.--
                            (i) Findings.--Congress finds that 
                        Protection Projects carried out under this 
                        section are consistent with improving the 
                        health and resiliency of critical habitat for 
                        threatened and endangered species, including 
                        the pacific fisher and California spotted owl.
                            (ii) Consultation.--The informal 
                        consultation requirements in sections 402.05 of 
                        title 50 and 800.12 of title 36, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations (or a successor 
                        regulation), shall apply to Protection 
                        Projects.
                    (D) Requirements.--A Protection Project or 
                reforestation or rehabilitation activity is described 
                by this subparagraph if such Protection Project or 
                reforestation or rehabilitation activity--
                            (i) covers an area of no more than--
                                    (I) 2,000 acres within giant 
                                sequoia groves where a grove-specific 
                                hazardous fuels reduction plan has been 
                                developed by the relevant land 
                                management agency or on lands 
                                identified under section 5(a)(1)(B); 
                                and
                                    (II) 3,000 acres on lands 
                                identified under section 5(a)(1)(C); 
                                and
                            (ii) was--
                                    (I) proposed by the Assessment 
                                under section 5(a)(3);
                                    (II) developed through a 
                                collaborative process; or
                                    (III) proposed by a resource 
                                advisory committee (as defined in 
                                section 201 of the Secure Rural Schools 
                                and Community Self-Determination Act of 
                                2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121)); and
                            (iii) occurs on Federal land or non-Federal 
                        land with the consent of the non-Federal 
                        landowner.
                    (E) Use of other authorities.--To the maximum 
                extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use 
                the authorities provided under this section in 
                combination with other authorities to carry out 
                Protection Projects, including--
                            (i) good neighbor agreements entered into 
                        under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 
                        2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and
                            (ii) stewardship contracting projects 
                        entered into under section 604 of the Healthy 
                        Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
                        6591c).
                    (F) Savings clause.--With respect to joint 
                Protection Projects and reforestation and 
                rehabilitation activities involving the Tribe, nothing 
                in this section shall be construed to add any 
                additional regulatory requirements onto the Tribe.
    (b) Implementation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary concerned shall initiate no fewer than 1 Protection Project 
each year.

SEC. 7. GIANT SEQUOIA REFORESTATION AND REHABILITATION STRATEGY.

    (a) Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--In accordance with the timeline and 
        agreement established in section 3(a)(3), the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the parties to such agreement, shall develop 
        and implement a strategy, to be known as the Giant Sequoia 
        Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy, to enhance the 
        reforestation and rehabilitation of giant sequoia groves that--
                    (A) identifies giant sequoia groves in need of 
                natural or artificial regeneration, giving highest 
                priority to groves identified under section 
                5(a)(1)(A)(i);
                    (B) creates a priority list of reforestation and 
                rehabilitation activities;
                    (C) identifies and addresses--
                            (i) barriers to reforestation or 
                        rehabilitation including--
                                    (I) regulatory barriers;
                                    (II) seedling shortages or related 
                                nursery infrastructure capacity 
                                constraints;
                                    (III) labor and workforce 
                                shortages;
                                    (IV) technology and science gaps; 
                                and
                                    (V) site preparation challenges;
                            (ii) potential public-private partnership 
                        opportunities to complete high-priority 
                        reforestation or rehabilitation projects;
                            (iii) a timeline for addressing the backlog 
                        of reforestation for giant sequoias in the 10-
                        year period after the agreement is entered into 
                        under section 3; and
                            (iv) strategies to ensure genetic diversity 
                        across giant sequoia groves; and
                    (D) includes program and policy recommendations 
                needed to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of 
                the Strategy.
            (2) Assessment.--The Secretary may incorporate the Strategy 
        into the Assessment under section 5.
    (b) Priority Reforestation Projects Amendment.--Section 
3(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I)) is amended--
            (1) in item (bb), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in item (cc), by striking the period and inserting ``; 
        and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                                            ``(dd) shall include 
                                        reforestation and 
                                        rehabilitation activities 
                                        conducted under section 7 of 
                                        the Save Our Sequoias Act.''.
    (c) Implementation.--Section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1133(d)) is amended by inserting ``Nothing in this Act shall 
restrict or prohibit the Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of 
Agriculture from conducting reforestation (as such term is defined in 
section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act) activities to reestablish giant 
sequoias following a wildfire.'' after the period at the end.

SEC. 8. GIANT SEQUOIA STRIKE TEAMS.

    (a) Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall each 
        establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team to assist the Secretary 
        concerned with the implementation of--
                    (A) primarily, section 6; and
                    (B) secondarily, section 7.
            (2) Duties.--Each Strike Team shall--
                    (A) assist the Secretary concerned with any 
                reviews, including analysis under the National 
                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
                seq.), consultations under the National Historic 
                Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), and 
                consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
                (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
                    (B) implement any necessary site preparation work 
                in advance of or as part of a Protection Project or 
                reforestation or rehabilitation activity;
                    (C) implement Protection Projects under section 6; 
                and
                    (D) implement reforestation or rehabilitation 
                activities under section 7.
            (3) Members.--The Secretary concerned may appoint no more 
        than 10 individuals each to serve on a Strike Team comprised 
        of--
                    (A) employees of the Department of the Interior;
                    (B) employees of the Forest Service;
                    (C) private contractors from any nonprofit 
                organization, State government, Tribal Government, 
                local government, academic institution, or private 
                organization; and
                    (D) volunteers from any nonprofit organization, 
                State government, Tribal Government, local government, 
                academic institution, or private organization.

SEC. 9. GIANT SEQUOIA COLLABORATIVE RESTORATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the parties to 
the agreement under section 3, shall establish a program to award 
grants to eligible entities to advance, facilitate, or improve giant 
sequoia health and resiliency.
    (b) Eligible Entity.--The Secretary may award grants under this 
section to any nonprofit organization, Tribal Government, local 
government, academic institution, or private organization to help 
advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that--
            (1) primarily, are likely to have the greatest impact on 
        giant sequoia health and resiliency; and
            (2) secondarily--
                    (A) are small businesses, particularly in rural 
                areas; and
                    (B) create or support jobs, particularly in rural 
                areas.
    (d) Use of Grant Funds.--Funds from grants awarded under this 
section shall be used to--
            (1) create, expand, or develop markets for hazardous fuels 
        removed under section 6, including markets for biomass and 
        biochar;
            (2) facilitate hazardous fuel removal under section 6, 
        including by reducing the cost of transporting hazardous fuels 
        removed as part of a Protection Project;
            (3) expand, enhance, develop, or create permanent or 
        temporary facilities or land that can store or process 
        hazardous fuels removed under section 6; and
            (4) establish, develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery 
        capacity or infrastructure necessary to facilitate the Strategy 
        established under section 7.

SEC. 10. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

    Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (ii) by redesignating clause (iii) as 
                        clause (iv);
                            (iii) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
                        following:
                            ``(iii) activities conducted under section 
                        6 of the Save Our Sequoias Act;'';
                            (iv) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by 
                        striking the period at the end and inserting 
                        ``; or''; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) any combination of activities 
                        specified in clauses (i) through (iv).''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (10)(B) by striking ``land.'' and 
                inserting ``land, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia 
                National Park, and Yosemite National Park.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by amending subparagraph (C) to 
        read as follows--
                    ``(C) Treatment of revenue.--Funds received from 
                the sale of timber by a Governor of a State under a 
                good neighbor agreement shall be retained and used by 
                the Governor--
                            ``(i) to carry out authorized restoration 
                        services under such good neighbor agreement; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) if there are funds remaining after 
                        carrying out the services under clause (i), to 
                        carry out authorized restoration services 
                        within the State under other good neighbor 
                        agreements.''.

SEC. 11. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

    (a) National Park Service.--Section 604(a)(2) of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)) is amended to 
read--
            ``(2) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Bureau of Land Management with respect to Bureau of Land 
        Management lands and the Director of the National Park Service 
        with respect to lands within Kings Canyon National Park, 
        Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.''.
    (b) Giant Sequoia Stewardship Contracts.--Section 604(c) of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Promoting the health and resiliency of giant 
        sequoias.''.

SEC. 12. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FUND.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``Sec. 101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
    ``(a) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program.--The National 
Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, 
shall design and implement a comprehensive program to assist and 
promote philanthropic programs of support that benefit--
            ``(1) primarily, the management and conservation of giant 
        sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest 
        System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and 
        drought; and
            ``(2) secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on 
        National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands 
        impacted by wildfire.
    ``(b) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund.--The National Park 
Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, shall 
establish a joint special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia 
Emergency Protection Fund (referred to as `the Fund' in this section), 
to be administered in support of the program established under 
subsection (a).
            ``(1) Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection.--The 
        following shall apply to the Fund:
                    ``(A) The Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, 
                or bequests that are provided to the National Park 
                Foundation or National Forest Foundation for such 
                purpose.
                    ``(B) The National Park Foundation and National 
                Forest Foundation shall deposit any funds received for 
                the Fund in a federally insured interest-bearing 
                account or may invest funds in appropriate security 
                obligations, as mutually agreed upon.
                    ``(C) Any accrued interest or dividends earned on 
                funds received for the Fund shall be added to the 
                principal and form a part of the Fund.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--Funds shall be available to the 
        National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation without 
        further appropriation for projects and activities approved by 
        the Chief of the Forest Service or the Director of the National 
        Park Service as appropriate, or their designees, to--
                    ``(A) primarily, support the management and 
                conservation of giant sequoias on National Park Service 
                and covered National Forest System lands to promote 
                resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
                    ``(B) secondarily, support the reforestation of 
                giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered 
                National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
    ``(c) Summary.--Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation 
shall include with their annual reports a summary of the status of the 
program and Fund created under this section that includes--
            ``(1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund 
        during the fiscal year;
            ``(2) the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at 
        the end of the fiscal year; and
            ``(3) a description of the program and projects funded 
        during the fiscal year.
    ``(d) Covered National Forest System Lands Defined.--In this 
section, the term `covered National Forest System lands' has the 
meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter of 
title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following:

``Sec. 101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.''.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act--
            (1) for fiscal year 2024, $10,000,000;
            (2) for fiscal year 2025, $25,000,000;
            (3) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028, 
        $30,000,000; and
            (4) for each of fiscal years 2029 through 2033, 
        $40,000,000.
    (b) Limitation.--Of the amounts authorized under subsection (a), 
not less than 90 percent of funds shall be used to carry out section 6 
and section 9 of this Act.
                                 <all>