Title: Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021
This bill provides for programs and activities in support of forest restoration, wildfire mitigation, and energy resilience.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall select landscape-scale forest restoration projects to implement on National Forest System land and on land adjoining National Forest System land. USDA shall establish a pilot program under which USDA may enter into conservation finance agreements with public or private persons to implement and monitor such projects.
The Department of Energy shall establish a program to support critical infrastructure and microgrids, including by improving the energy resilience and power needs of critical facilities (e.g., hospitals) through the use of microgrids, renewable energy, energy efficiency, reduced electricity demand, and on-site storage.
USDA and the Department of the Interior shall establish one or more centers in western states to train individuals in methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk.
USDA shall establish a competitive grant program to support workforce development in forestry and fire management.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3534 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3534

    To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement 
 landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in 
    increasing their resilience to wildfire, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 25, 2021

  Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Costa, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. 
 Garamendi, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Correa, and Mr. Thompson of California) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Education 
 and Labor, 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 direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement 
 landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in 
    increasing their resilience to wildfire, 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 ``Wildfire Emergency 
Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
              TITLE I--LANDSCAPE-SCALE FOREST RESTORATION

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Purpose.
Sec. 103. Selection and implementation of landscape-scale forest 
                            restoration projects.
Sec. 104. Conservation finance agreements.
Sec. 105. Administration.
Sec. 106. Report evaluating implementation.
Sec. 107. Funding.
         TITLE II--INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE

Sec. 201. Critical infrastructure and microgrid program.
Sec. 202. Retrofits for fire-resilient communities.
Sec. 203. Hazard mitigation using disaster assistance.
Sec. 204. Wildfire detection equipment.
          TITLE III--RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND CAPACITY BUILDING

Sec. 301. Western prescribed fire centers.
Sec. 302. Innovative forest workforce development program.
Sec. 303. National community capacity and land stewardship grant 
                            program.

              TITLE I--LANDSCAPE-SCALE FOREST RESTORATION

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Conservation finance agreement.--The term 
        ``conservation finance agreement'' means a mutual benefit 
        agreement (excluding a procurement contract, grant, or 
        cooperative agreement described in chapter 63 of title 31, 
        United States Code)--
                    (A) the term of which is more than 1, but not more 
                than 20, years;
                    (B) that may provide that performance under the 
                agreement during the second and subsequent years of the 
                agreement is contingent on the appropriation of funds; 
                and
                    (C) if the agreement does so provide, that may 
                provide for a cancellation payment to be made to the 
                partner if those appropriations are not made.
            (2) Ecological conditions.--The term ``ecological 
        conditions'' has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 
        of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
        date of enactment of this Act).
            (3) Ecological integrity.--The term ``ecological 
        integrity'' has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of 
        title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
        of enactment of this Act).
            (4) Landscape assessment.--The term ``landscape 
        assessment'' means an assessment of a landscape that--
                    (A) meets the requirements described in section 
                103(c)(1)(C);
                    (B) does not constitute a decision document or 
                final agency action requiring a separate analysis under 
                the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and
                    (C) may be presented--
                            (i) in a separate analysis;
                            (ii) within 1 or more broader analyses, 
                        including analyses under the National 
                        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
                        4321 et seq.); or
                            (iii) through a combination of the analyses 
                        described in clauses (i) and (ii).
            (5) Restore.--The term ``restore'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
        Act).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (7) Wildland-urban interface.--The term ``wildland-urban 
        interface'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of 
        the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).

SEC. 102. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this title is to increase the pace and scale of 
forest restoration and reduction in the risk of uncharacteristic 
wildfire through--
            (1) authorizing a pilot program with conservation finance 
        agreement authority to leverage other Federal and non-Federal 
        investment (excluding funds appropriated to the Forest Service) 
        in landscape-scale forest restoration and related natural and 
        built infrastructure, equipment, and job training;
            (2) project planning and analysis practices that 
        effectively scale up to the landscape level of 100,000 acres or 
        more;
            (3) requiring ecological standards and collaboration for 
        landscape-scale projects; and
            (4) coordination with Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
        agencies to expand personnel options to support the pilot 
        program described in paragraph (1) by taking advantage of 
        interorganizational support.

SEC. 103. SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LANDSCAPE-SCALE FOREST 
              RESTORATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall select, in accordance with 
this section, landscape-scale forest restoration projects--
            (1) to implement on National Forest System land; and
            (2) if applicable, to implement on land adjoining National 
        Forest System land, in coordination with other Federal and non-
        Federal entities.
    (b) Initial Phase.--During the 5-year period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations 
pursuant to section 107(a), the Secretary shall select not more than 20 
landscape-scale forest restoration projects under subsection (a).
    (c) Eligibility Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), to be eligible 
        for selection and implementation under subsection (a), a 
        landscape-scale forest restoration project shall satisfy the 
        following requirements:
                    (A) The purposes and needs for the project shall 
                be--
                            (i) to restore the ecological integrity and 
                        ecological resilience of terrestrial and 
                        aquatic areas that have departed from reference 
                        conditions within the forest landscape;
                            (ii) to restore appropriate natural fire 
                        regimes, including by reducing fuel loads and 
                        modifying forest structure in areas that have 
                        departed from reference conditions, taking into 
                        account the current and projected impacts of 
                        climate change; and
                            (iii) to conduct wildfire risk reduction 
                        activities within the wildland-urban interface 
                        to the extent that the project includes lands 
                        within the wildland-urban interface.
                    (B) The project shall be developed and supported by 
                a collaborative group that--
                            (i) includes multiple interested persons 
                        representing diverse interests;
                            (ii) is transparent and inclusive; and
                            (iii) has sufficient expertise, capacity, 
                        and scientific support to effectively plan, 
                        implement, and monitor landscape-level, 
                        ecologically based forest restoration 
                        activities.
                    (C) The project shall be based on a landscape 
                assessment that shall--
                            (i) cover a landscape of--
                                    (I) except as provided in 
                                subclauses (II) and (III), not less 
                                than 100,000 acres;
                                    (II) in such limited cases as the 
                                Secretary determines to be appropriate, 
                                not less than 80,000 acres if--
                                            (aa) the assessment is 
                                        completed or substantially 
                                        completed as of the date of 
                                        enactment of this Act; and
                                            (bb) in the determination 
                                        of the Secretary, assessing a 
                                        larger area is not necessary to 
                                        restore the integrity, 
                                        resilience, and fire regimes of 
                                        the landscape; or
                                    (III) not less than 50,000 acres in 
                                the case of a project that is carried 
                                out east of the 100th meridian;
                            (ii) evaluate ecological integrity and 
                        determine reference conditions for the 
                        landscape;
                            (iii) identify terrestrial and aquatic 
                        areas within the landscape that have departed 
                        from reference conditions;
                            (iv) identify criteria to determine 
                        appropriate restoration treatments within 
                        degraded areas of the landscape to achieve 
                        reference conditions, including management 
                        prescriptions, mitigation measures, and 
                        constraints to be applied when carrying out 
                        actions in those areas;
                            (v) be based on the best available 
                        scientific information and data, including, 
                        where applicable, high-resolution imagery, 
                        LiDAR, and similar technologies and 
                        information, and involve direct engagement by 
                        scientists; and
                            (vi) identify priority restoration 
                        strategies for terrestrial and aquatic areas, 
                        including prescribed fire and wildfires managed 
                        for multiple resource benefits, which shall 
                        focus on--
                                    (I) areas that are the most 
                                departed from reference conditions; and
                                    (II) areas that would benefit the 
                                most from reducing the risk of 
                                uncharacteristic wildfire, especially 
                                with respect to nearby communities, 
                                taking into account other completed, 
                                ongoing, and planned fuels-reduction 
                                projects.
                    (D) Restoration treatments under the project--
                            (i) shall emphasize the reintroduction of 
                        characteristic fire, based on forest ecology 
                        and reference conditions, through the use of 
                        prescribed fire, wildfire managed for resource 
                        benefits, or both;
                            (ii) that involve any proposed mechanical 
                        treatments shall be designed to promote--
                                    (I) the restoration of reference 
                                conditions in areas that lack 
                                ecological integrity, especially the 
                                reduction of surface and ladder fuels; 
                                and
                                    (II) the establishment of 
                                conditions that will facilitate 
                                prescribed fire or managed wildfire;
                            (iii) shall--
                                    (I) fully maintain or contribute to 
                                the restoration of reference old forest 
                                conditions, taking into account the 
                                current and projected impacts of 
                                climate change; and
                                    (II) protect or increase the number 
                                and distribution of large old trees, 
                                consistent with reference conditions, 
                                excepting any de minimis losses of 
                                large old trees from prescribed fire or 
                                hazardous tree removal; and
                            (iv) that involve prescribed fire shall 
                        provide advance notification, in accordance 
                        with notification procedures developed by the 
                        Secretary, to the owner or operator of critical 
                        infrastructure, such as a power line right-of-
                        way, of any prescribed fire treatments within 
                        close proximity to the infrastructure.
                    (E) The project shall be consistent with all 
                applicable environmental laws, including--
                            (i) the National Environmental Policy Act 
                        of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                            (ii) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
                        U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and
                            (iii) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
                        Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 
                        et seq.).
                    (F) The project shall be consistent with the 
                Roadless Area Conservation Rule established under part 
                294 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
                successor regulations), and the final rule and record 
                of decision of the Forest Service entitled ``Special 
                Areas; Roadless Area Conservation'' (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 
                (January 12, 2001)) (or a successor rule).
                    (G) The project shall require multiparty 
                monitoring, including opportunities for public 
                engagement, and an adaptive management approach that--
                            (i) conditions the future implementation of 
                        the project on the satisfactory completion of--
                                    (I) priority restoration actions; 
                                and
                                    (II) required monitoring;
                            (ii) validates conditions projected to 
                        occur in the environmental analysis for the 
                        project; and
                            (iii) requires modifications to the project 
                        if monitoring reveals impacts beyond the 
                        anticipated impacts of the project.
                    (H)(i) No new permanent road may be built as part 
                of the project.
                    (ii) Any new temporary roads needed to implement 
                the project shall be decommissioned not later than 3 
                years after completion of the project.
                    (I) The project shall use an efficient approach to 
                landscape-scale analysis and decisionmaking that is 
                consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act 
                of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), which may include--
                            (i) the preparation of a single 
                        environmental impact statement or environmental 
                        assessment, as applicable, for the entire 
                        project, incorporating the landscape assessment 
                        described in subparagraph (C);
                            (ii) the use of, as applicable--
                                    (I) multiple records of decision to 
                                implement a single environmental impact 
                                statement; or
                                    (II) multiple decision notices to 
                                implement a single environmental 
                                assessment;
                            (iii) the preparation of a programmatic 
                        environmental impact statement or environmental 
                        assessment, as applicable, for the entire 
                        project, incorporating the landscape assessment 
                        described in subparagraph (C), followed by 
                        focused, concise, and site-specific--
                                    (I) environmental assessments; or
                                    (II) categorical exclusions 
                                consistent with the National 
                                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
                                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); or
                            (iv) the use of the landscape assessment 
                        described in subparagraph (C), through 
                        incorporation by reference and similar 
                        approaches, to support focused, concise, and 
                        site-specific--
                                    (I) environmental assessments; or
                                    (II) categorical exclusions 
                                consistent with the National 
                                Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
                                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
            (2) Exception.--If the Secretary determines that there are 
        an insufficient number of projects that fully comply with the 
        requirements described in paragraph (1) to implement based on 
        all available funding, then the Secretary may, during the 2-
        year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, 
        select under subsection (a) not more than a total of 5 
        landscape-scale forest restoration projects to implement that 
        do not fully comply with those requirements if the projects--
                    (A) fully comply with the requirements described in 
                subparagraphs (B), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of 
                that paragraph;
                    (B) in the determination of the Secretary, have 
                purposes and needs that are consistent with the 
                purposes and needs described in subparagraph (A) of 
                that paragraph; and
                    (C) are supported by landscape assessments that are 
                substantially (if not completely) consistent with the 
                requirements described in subparagraph (C) of that 
                paragraph, subject to the condition that the applicable 
                landscape assessments fully comply with the 
                requirements described in clauses (i) and (v) of that 
                subparagraph.
    (d) Evaluation of Eligible Projects.--
            (1) In general.--In determining which landscape-scale 
        forest restoration projects to select under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary shall consider--
                    (A) the criteria described in paragraph (2);
                    (B) the extent to which the project utilizes the 
                approaches to project implementation described in 
                paragraph (3); and
                    (C) the recommendations of the advisory panel 
                established under subsection (e).
            (2) Criteria.--The criteria referred to in paragraph (1)(A) 
        are--
                    (A) the demonstrated need, based on the best 
                available science, to restore ecological integrity to 
                degraded or departed areas within the landscape covered 
                by the project, taking into account the current and 
                projected impacts of climate change;
                    (B)(i) the importance of watersheds in the area 
                covered by the project for downstream waters supply; 
                and
                    (ii) the opportunity to improve the ecological 
                integrity and ecological conditions of those watersheds 
                and reduce risks to water resources through landscape-
                scale forest restoration;
                    (C)(i) the potential extent of cost sharing for the 
                development and implementation of the project from 
                diverse sources, such as State or local governments, 
                water or electric utilities, carbon credits, or private 
                entities; and
                    (ii) the proportion of the non-Federal cost share 
                that is in the form of cash contributions;
                    (D) whether the area covered by the project has 
                high-resolution, remote-sensing data and other 
                information available that enables a landscape 
                assessment and a robust analysis and disclosure of the 
                effects and outcomes of implementing restoration 
                activities;
                    (E) whether the project is using, or will use, 
                innovative approaches to completing resource surveys 
                that are less costly and less time-consuming than usual 
                practices while providing the information necessary for 
                project design and analysis;
                    (F) whether the project will reduce the number of 
                miles of permanent roads on National Forest System land 
                that are not necessary for resource management or 
                recreational access;
                    (G) whether the project will assess or quantify the 
                ecosystem service benefits of forest restoration within 
                the landscape covered by the project, such as water, 
                carbon, biodiversity, fire risk reduction, public 
                health, and community safety;
                    (H) whether the project has the potential to 
                support new or existing wood processing infrastructure 
                that can make economic use of the byproducts of forest 
                restoration;
                    (I) whether the project has the potential to 
                support local employment and investment opportunities, 
                particularly in economically disadvantaged communities;
                    (J) the scale of the landscape assessment for the 
                project, with a preference for projects for which the 
                landscape assessment covers a larger area; and
                    (K) whether the project--
                            (i) strives to restore ecological integrity 
                        and ecological conditions within areas across 
                        land ownerships, including State and private 
                        land; and
                            (ii) will reduce the risk of 
                        uncharacteristic wildfire, and, to the extent 
                        practicable, restore ecological integrity, 
                        within the wildland-urban interface.
            (3) Approaches to landscape-scale project implementation.--
        A landscape-scale restoration project carried out under this 
        section may use 1 or both of the following approaches to 
        project implementation:
                    (A) Conservation finance agreements.--The Secretary 
                may enter into a conservation finance agreement under 
                the pilot program established under section 104(a) to 
                carry out the project for the purpose of facilitating 
                private, other non-Federal, and other Federal 
                investment (excluding the investment of any other 
                amounts appropriated to the Forest Service)--
                            (i) to increase the pace and scale of 
                        forest restoration at the landscape level;
                            (ii) to support the use of prescribed fire 
                        at a greater scale; or
                            (iii) to make greater economic use of the 
                        byproducts of forest restoration to reduce the 
                        net cost of forest restoration.
                    (B) Interagency personnel collaboration.--The 
                Secretary may coordinate with Federal, State, local, 
                and Tribal agencies to expand personnel options to 
                support the project by using authorities such as--
                            (i) the good neighbor authority under 
                        section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
                        (16 U.S.C. 2113a);
                            (ii) sections 3371 through 3376 of title 5, 
                        United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
                        ``Intergovernmental Personnel Act''); and
                            (iii) part 334 of title 5, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations (or successor regulations).
    (e) Advisory Panel.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and maintain 
        an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to 
        evaluate, and provide recommendations on--
                    (A) each landscape-scale forest restoration project 
                that the Secretary is reviewing for potential selection 
                under subsection (a); and
                    (B) proposals for planning and developing 
                landscape-scale forest restoration projects that the 
                Secretary is reviewing for potential funding under 
                section 107(a)(1).
            (2) Representation.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        membership of the advisory panel established under paragraph 
        (1) is fairly balanced in terms of the points of view 
        represented and the functions to be performed by the advisory 
        panel.
            (3) Inclusion.--The advisory panel established under 
        paragraph (1) shall include experts in ecological forest 
        restoration, fire ecology, fire management, rural economic and 
        workforce development, strategies for ecological adaptation to 
        climate change, fish and wildlife ecology, and woody biomass 
        and small-diameter tree utilization.
            (4) Exemption.--The advisory panel established under 
        paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 104. CONSERVATION FINANCE AGREEMENTS.

    (a) Pilot Program Authority.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot 
program under which the Secretary may enter into a conservation finance 
agreement with a public or private person, including a for-profit or 
nonprofit organization, to plan, implement, and monitor a landscape-
scale forest restoration project selected by the Secretary under 
section 103(a) if the Secretary finds each of the following:
            (1) There is a reasonable expectation that, throughout the 
        contemplated agreement period, the Secretary will request 
        funding for the agreement at the level required to avoid 
        agreement cancellation.
            (2) The environmental analysis for the project demonstrates 
        that there is a sufficient supply of small-diameter material to 
        support a long-term agreement consistent with the landscape 
        assessment and all applicable environmental laws.
            (3) The use of the conservation finance agreement will, in 
        the area of the applicable landscape-scale forest restoration 
        project, assist in achieving the purpose described in section 
        102.
            (4) The project involves an entity that demonstrates 
        experience in--
                    (A) developing and implementing conservation 
                finance public-private partnerships; and
                    (B) raising capital commitments from concessional 
                and market rate investors or other external financing.
    (b) Limited Delegation.--The Secretary may not delegate the pilot 
program authority under subsection (a) to a Federal official that 
serves under the Chief of the Forest Service.
    (c) Limitations.--The pilot program authority under subsection 
(a)--
            (1) may be used for the obligation under conservation 
        finance agreements of not more than--
                    (A) $250,000,000 in the aggregate; and
                    (B) $50,000,000 for any 1 landscape-scale forest 
                restoration project; and
            (2) may not be used to pay interest to any other entity 
        providing funds for the applicable landscape-scale forest 
        restoration project.
    (d) Cancellation, Termination, or Modification for Insufficient 
Funding.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Insufficient funding.--If funds are not made 
                available for the continuation of a conservation 
                finance agreement made under this section into a 
                subsequent fiscal year, the agreement shall be 
                canceled, terminated, or modified.
                    (B) Payment of costs.--If the Secretary determines 
                that it is necessary to cancel or terminate a 
                conservation finance agreement pursuant to subparagraph 
                (A), and the conservation finance agreement includes a 
                cancellation provision described in paragraph (2)(A), 
                the Secretary may pay the costs of that cancellation or 
                termination using any of the following amounts:
                            (i) Appropriations originally available for 
                        the performance of the applicable conservation 
                        finance agreement.
                            (ii) Appropriations currently available for 
                        the type of services concerned under the 
                        applicable conservation finance agreement, and 
                        not otherwise obligated.
                            (iii) Funds appropriated for payments for 
                        those costs of cancellation or termination.
            (2) Provisions in agreements.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide for 
                cancellation provisions in conservation finance 
                agreements under this section to the extent that those 
                provisions are necessary and in the best interests of 
                the United States.
                    (B) Considerations.--The cancellation provisions 
                described in subparagraph (A) may include consideration 
                of the recurring and nonrecurring costs of the partner 
                under the applicable conservation finance agreement.
            (3) Cancellation ceilings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may obligate funds 
                in stages that are economically or programmatically 
                viable to cover any potential cancellation or 
                termination costs for a conservation finance agreement 
                under paragraph (1)(B) and implement the agreement 
                pursuant to this section.
                    (B) Advance notice to congress of cancellation 
                ceiling in excess of $25,000,000.--Not later than 30 
                days before entering into a conservation finance 
                agreement under this section that includes a 
                cancellation ceiling in excess of $25,000,000, but does 
                not include proposed funding for the costs of 
                cancelling the agreement up to that cancellation 
                ceiling, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
                Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on 
                Agriculture of the House of Representatives a written 
                notice that includes--
                            (i) a description of the cancellation 
                        ceiling amounts proposed for each program year 
                        in the agreement;
                            (ii) the reasons why the cancellation 
                        ceiling amounts described under clause (i) were 
                        selected;
                            (iii) a description of the extent to which 
                        the costs of agreement cancellation are not 
                        included in the budget for the agreement; and
                            (iv) an assessment of the financial risk of 
                        not including budgeting for the costs of 
                        agreement cancellation.
                    (C) Transmittal of notice to omb.--Not later than 
                14 days after the date on which written notice is 
                provided under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall 
                transmit a copy of the notice to the Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget.
                    (D) Relationship of cancellation ceiling to 
                conservation finance agreement.--The Secretary may 
                enter into a conservation finance agreement pursuant to 
                this section that includes partner services in return 
                for payments by the Secretary in future years that are 
                contingent on the appropriation of funds, subject to 
                the requirement that the Secretary shall pay the 
                partner cancellation costs pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) 
                up to the cancellation ceiling applicable to the 
                agreement if funding for the completion of the 
                agreement is not appropriated.

SEC. 105. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall issue guidance on the implementation of 
this title.
    (b) Implementation.--A landscape-scale forest restoration project 
under this title shall be implemented consistent with--
            (1) the requirements for the project described in section 
        103(c); and
            (2) all project commitments described in the 1 or more 
        decisions or decision notices relating to the project.

SEC. 106. REPORT EVALUATING IMPLEMENTATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the 
implementation of this title, including--
            (1) a list of the landscape-scale forest restoration 
        projects selected under section 103(a) and the accomplishments 
        under those projects;
            (2) an evaluation of the approaches to project planning and 
        implementation described in section 103(d)(3) based on the 
        experience of the implementation of those approaches in the 
        projects described in paragraph (1); and
            (3) an evaluation of the pilot authority for conservation 
        finance agreements described in section 104, including whether 
        that authority has--
                    (A) increased the availability of non-Federal 
                funding sources to assist in landscape-scale forest 
                restoration projects; and
                    (B) promoted private or other non-Federal 
                investment in--
                            (i) new or existing infrastructure and 
                        related equipment that can make use of the 
                        byproducts of forest restoration;
                            (ii) the use of prescribed fire at a 
                        greater scale;
                            (iii) related economic development and 
                        workforce training and development;
                            (iv) land management activities enhancing 
                        natural infrastructure with benefits for 
                        downstream water users; or
                            (v) mitigating the risk of uncharacteristic 
                        wildfire.
    (b) Consultation.--In preparing the report under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall consult with the advisory panel established under 
section 103(e).

SEC. 107. FUNDING.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended--
            (1) to plan and develop potential landscape-scale forest 
        restoration projects under this title that the Secretary and a 
        collaborative group described in section 103(c)(1)(B) shall 
        design--
                    (A) to meet the requirements of section 103(c); and
                    (B) to satisfy the criteria described in section 
                103(d)(2), to the maximum extent practicable; and
            (2) to implement landscape-scale forest restoration 
        projects selected under section 103.
    (b) Sources of Funding.--Landscape-scale forest restoration 
projects under this Act may be carried out using--
            (1) amounts appropriated under subsection (a);
            (2) other sources of Forest Service funding;
            (3) other sources of Federal funding;
            (4) non-Federal funding sources; or
            (5) any combination of the amounts described in paragraphs 
        (1) through (4).
    (c) Cost-Share.--
            (1) Federal share.--
                    (A) Planning and development.--The Federal share of 
                the cost of planning and developing a potential 
                landscape-scale forest restoration project under this 
                title shall not exceed 75 percent.
                    (B) Implementation and monitoring.--The Federal 
                share of the cost of carrying out and monitoring each 
                landscape-scale forest restoration project on National 
                Forest System land under this title shall not exceed 60 
                percent.
            (2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
        the cost of a project carried out using funds made available 
        pursuant to this title may include in-kind contributions.
    (d) Adaptive Management.--Not less than 5 percent of the amount 
made available for each landscape-scale forest restoration project 
under this title shall be used for monitoring and adaptive management 
in the applicable landscape.
    (e) Stewardship Contracting.--In the case of a landscape-scale 
forest restoration project under this title that is covered by an 
agreement or a contract under section 604 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c), the Secretary may use monies 
retained by the Secretary under subsection (e)(2)(A) of that section to 
plan, analyze, and implement landscape-scale forest restoration 
projects within the area covered by that agreement or contract 
consistent with this title.
    (f) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 5 percent of any amounts 
appropriated to carry out this title may be used for administrative 
management and program oversight.

         TITLE II--INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE

SEC. 201. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND MICROGRID PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Critical facility.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``critical facility'' 
                means a facility that provides services or may be 
                used--
                            (i) to save lives;
                            (ii) to protect property, public health, 
                        and public safety; or
                            (iii) to lessen or avert the threat of a 
                        catastrophe.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``critical facility'' 
                includes--
                            (i) a hospital;
                            (ii) an outpatient clinic;
                            (iii) a nursing home;
                            (iv) a police station;
                            (v) an emergency operation center;
                            (vi) a jail or prison;
                            (vii) a fire station;
                            (viii) a facility in the communications 
                        sector, as determined by the Secretary;
                            (ix) a facility in the chemical sector, as 
                        determined by the Secretary;
                            (x) a school or other large building that 
                        may serve as a temporary gathering space;
                            (xi) a utility station, such as a water and 
                        wastewater station;
                            (xii) a facility described in subparagraph 
                        (A) that is owned or operated by, or provides 
                        services to, an Indian Tribe (as defined in 
                        section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
                        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
                            (xiii) a Federal facility, including a 
                        military base or installation; and
                            (xiv) any other facility described in 
                        subparagraph (A), as determined by the 
                        Secretary.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
    (b) Critical Infrastructure and Microgrid Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program--
                    (A) to improve the energy resilience and power 
                needs of critical facilities through the use of 
                microgrids, renewable energy, energy efficiency, 
                reduced electricity demand, and on-site storage;
                    (B) to improve the energy efficiency of critical 
                facilities by decreasing the size and cost of 
                generators;
                    (C) to provide technical assistance and facilitate 
                the distribution and sharing of information to develop 
                more resilient electricity systems (including bulk 
                systems and localized systems); and
                    (D) to promulgate consumer-facing information and 
                resources to inform the public on best practices and 
                resources related to increasing resilience of 
                electricity systems and reducing the impacts of extreme 
                weather events on electricity systems.
            (2) Requirements.--In carrying out the program established 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure, with respect 
        to critical facilities--
                    (A) provision of on-site back-up power with 
                renewable resources, low-carbon liquid fuels, and on-
                site energy storage technologies; and
                    (B) installation, at the transmission and 
                distribution level, of interoperable technologies, 
                advanced power flow control, dynamic line rating, 
                topology optimization, and communications systems.
            (3) Interested party input.--In establishing the program 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek the input of 
        State energy regulators, electric utilities (as defined in 
        section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 796)), regional 
        transmission organizations and independent system operators, 
        electric utility customers and ratepayer organizations, local 
        governments, community choice aggregators or regional energy 
        collaboratives, and other interested parties.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary $100,000,000 to carry out this section, to remain 
        available until expended.
            (2) Administrative costs.--Of the amount used to carry out 
        this section, not more than 10 percent shall be used for 
        salaries and expenses, administrative management, and oversight 
        of the program established under subsection (b)(1).

SEC. 202. RETROFITS FOR FIRE-RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

    (a) Definition of Weatherization Materials.--Section 412(9) of the 
Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6862(9)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
                    ``(J) materials that are resistant to high heat and 
                fire; and''.
    (b) Weatherization Program.--
            (1) In general.--Section 413(b)(6) of the Energy 
        Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6863(b)(6)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) owners of such dwelling units shall use fire- 
                and drought-resistant building materials and 
                incorporate wildfire and drought prevention and 
                mitigation planning, as directed by the State.''.
            (2) Limitations.--Section 415(c) of the Energy Conservation 
        and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), 
                        respectively, and indenting appropriately;
                            (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as 
                        so redesignated), in the second sentence, by 
                        striking ``Labor'' and all that follows through 
                        ``to--'' and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Labor and weatherization materials.--Labor, 
                weatherization materials, and related matter described 
                in subparagraph (A) includes--'';
                            (iii) by striking ``(c)(1) Except'' and 
                        inserting the following:
    ``(c) Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) Average cost.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (A) (as so 
                        designated)--
                                    (I) by striking ``exceed an average 
                                of $6,500'' and inserting the 
                                following: ``exceed--
                            ``(i) an average of $13,000 (adjusted 
                        annually for inflation)'';
                                    (II) in clause (i) (as so 
                                designated), by striking the period at 
                                the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(ii) another average amount that is 
                        greater than the amount described in clause 
                        (i), if the Secretary determines it necessary 
                        to waive or adjust the average amount 
                        established under that clause.''; and
                            (v) in subparagraph (B) (as so 
                        designated)--
                                    (I) in clause (iv) (as so 
                                redesignated), by striking ``, and'' 
                                and inserting ``; and''; and
                                    (II) in clause (v) (as so 
                                redesignated), by adding a period at 
                                the end; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$3,000'' and 
                inserting ``$6,000 (adjusted annually for inflation)''.

SEC. 203. HAZARD MITIGATION USING DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    Section 404(f)(12) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c(f)(12)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and wildfire'' after ``windstorm'';
            (2) by striking ``including replacing'' and inserting the 
        following: ``including--
                    ``(A) replacing'';
            (3) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, wildfire,'' after ``extreme 
                wind''; and
                    (B) by adding ``and'' after the semicolon at the 
                end; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) the installation of fire-resistant wires and 
                infrastructure and the undergrounding of wires;''.

SEC. 204. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Title VI of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 607. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.

    ``To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of the Interior shall--
            ``(1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection 
        equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant 
        equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;
            ``(2) expand the use of satellite data to assist wildfire 
        response; and
            ``(3) expedite any permitting required by the Secretary of 
        Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior for the 
        installation, maintenance, or removal of wildfire detection 
        equipment.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6501 note; Public Law 108-
148) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI 
the following:

``Sec. 607. Wildfire detection equipment.''.

          TITLE III--RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND CAPACITY BUILDING

SEC. 301. WESTERN PRESCRIBED FIRE CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of 
the Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretaries'') shall 
establish 1 or more centers to train individuals in prescribed fire 
methods and other methods relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk 
(referred to in this section as a ``center'').
    (b) Host Institutions.--The 1 or more centers shall be--
            (1) located at 1 or more institutions of higher education; 
        or
            (2) developed in collaboration with 1 or more institutions 
        of higher education.
    (c) Goals.--The 1 or more centers shall advance the following 
goals:
            (1) Training individuals and conducting research on 
        prescribed fire methods and other restoration methods relevant 
        to the mitigation of wildfire risk.
            (2) Developing and advancing interdisciplinary science 
        relating to wildfire, including social science and human 
        dimensions of wildfire, in consultation with stakeholders who--
                    (A) need that science;
                    (B) will benefit from the outcomes of that science; 
                and
                    (C) will coordinate with 1 or more other centers in 
                developing and advancing that science.
            (3) Conducting ongoing and forward-looking needs 
        assessments among stakeholders, including Federal and State 
        agencies and Indian Tribes, to determine common need 
        requirements and emerging challenges to reduce wildfire risk 
        and adapt communities to increased risk from wildfire, 
        including the following hazard-related focus areas:
                    (A) Increasing disaster resilience.
                    (B) Mitigation and management methods.
                    (C) Air quality.
                    (D) Firestorm weather forecasting and burn-area 
                debris flow forecasting, including empirical and 
                modeling research.
            (4) Collaborating with Federal wildfire scientists at the 
        Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and other 
        related agencies.
            (5) Identifying, through a detailed engagement process 
        targeting defined end-users, the requirements and delivery 
        mechanisms for products and services that are practical and 
        will have an impact on mitigating wildfire risk.
            (6) Promoting technology transfer with pathways for 
        dissemination, implementation, and application of research 
        results on the ground, using and enhancing previous research.
            (7) Ensuring the connectivity and interoperability of 
        distributed services to maximize synergies and benefits across 
        services.
            (8) Developing open digital infrastructure to make research 
        data, science, and models open for all sectors to use.
    (d) Location.--
            (1) In general.--The 1 or more centers shall be located in 
        any State the entirety of which is located west of the 100th 
        meridian.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretaries shall consult with the 
        Joint Fire Science Program to solicit and evaluate proposals 
        for the location of the 1 or more centers.
            (3) Selection.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, based on the consultation under 
        paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall select a location for the 
        1 or more centers.

SEC. 302. INNOVATIVE FOREST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Career in forestry and fire management.--The term 
        ``career in forestry and fire management'' means a career in a 
        field relating to forests and the restoration to the natural 
        fire regimes of forests, including--
                    (A) in timber operations;
                    (B) as a registered professional forester;
                    (C) in vegetation treatment, including as a member 
                of a hand crew, a machine operator, and in conducting 
                prescribed fires as part of a fire restoration 
                workforce that is capable of conducting large landscape 
                restorative and maintenance prescribed fires;
                    (D) in ecological restoration, including 
                restoration of watersheds;
                    (E) in wildland fire fighting; and
                    (F) in community fire resilience, including 
                workforce development projects.
            (2) Forestry and fire management.--The term ``forestry and 
        fire management'' includes the areas of fields relating to 
        forests described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph 
        (1).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall establish a competitive 
grant program--
            (1) to assist in the development and utilization of 
        innovative activities relating to workforce development in 
        forestry and fire management and opportunities for careers in 
        forestry and fire management; and
            (2) to expand public awareness about forestry and fire 
        management and connect individuals to careers in forestry and 
        fire management.
    (c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--In awarding grants under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, select 
nonprofit professional or service organizations, labor organizations, 
State agencies, community colleges, institutions of higher education, 
or other training and educational institutions--
            (1) that have qualifications and experience--
                    (A) in the development of training programs and 
                curricula relevant to the workforce needs of forestry 
                and fire management;
                    (B) working in cooperation with forestry and fire 
                management; or
                    (C) developing public education materials 
                appropriate for communicating with groups of various 
                ages and educational backgrounds; and
            (2) that will address the human resources and workforce 
        needs of forestry and fire management.
    (d) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under subsection (b) may be used 
for activities such as--
            (1) targeted internship, apprenticeship, pre-
        apprenticeship, and post-secondary bridge programs for skilled 
        forestry and fire management trades that provide--
                    (A) on-the-job training;
                    (B) skills development;
                    (C) test preparation for skilled trade 
                apprenticeships;
                    (D) advance training in forestry and fire 
                management relating to jobs as forest restorationists, 
                members of hand crews, wildland fire fighters, machine 
                operators, licensed timber operators, registered 
                professional foresters, ecologists, biologists, or 
                workers in construction in support of resilient 
                infrastructure, including residential buildings; or
                    (E) other support services to facilitate post-
                secondary success;
            (2) education programs designed for elementary, secondary, 
        and higher education students that--
                    (A) inform people about the role of forestry, 
                vegetation management, and ecological restoration in 
                the communities of those people;
                    (B) increase the awareness of opportunities for 
                careers in forestry and fire management and exposure of 
                students to those careers through various work-based 
                learning opportunities inside and outside the 
                classroom; and
                    (C) connect students to pathways to careers in 
                forestry and fire management;
            (3) the development of a model curriculum and related 
        vocational programs to be adopted by community colleges, which, 
        to the extent practicable and feasible, shall--
                    (A) provide professional training in implementing 
                prescribed fire projects, including the knowledge and 
                skills necessary to plan and implement broad-scale 
                surface and ladder fuel treatments within the wildland-
                urban interface, wildlands, and urbanized areas, as 
                appropriate;
                    (B) include a focus on the ecological concerns, 
                economics, and practices necessary to improve community 
                safety and forest resilience; and
                    (C) train students in--
                            (i) the retrofitting of houses, including 
                        the use of fire-resistant materials and the 
                        maintenance of defensible space;
                            (ii) urban forestry; and
                            (iii) policies or guidance relating to the 
                        management of vegetation near utility 
                        infrastructure and relevant portions of 
                        electric utility wildfire mitigation plans;
            (4) regional industry and workforce development 
        collaborations, including the coordination of candidate 
        development, particularly in areas of high unemployment;
            (5) integrated learning laboratories in secondary 
        educational institutions that provide students with--
                    (A) hands-on, contextualized learning 
                opportunities;
                    (B) dual enrollment credit for post-secondary 
                education and training programs; and
                    (C) direct connection to industry or government 
                employers; and
            (6) leadership development, occupational training, 
        mentoring, or cross-training programs that ensure that workers 
        are prepared for high-level supervisory or management-level 
        positions.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as 
are necessary.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND LAND STEWARDSHIP GRANT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Community capacity.--The term ``community capacity'' 
        means the ability of an eligible entity to carry out or assist 
        in a land stewardship activity.
            (2) Disadvantaged community.--The term ``disadvantaged 
        community'' means--
                    (A) a low-income community (as defined in section 
                45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); and
                    (B) a community that includes a significant 
                population that has been systematically denied a full 
                opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, 
                social, and civic life based on a particular 
                characteristic, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous, and 
                Native American persons, Asian Americans, Pacific 
                Islanders, and other persons of color.
            (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
        any the following entities that is located in or represents a 
        disadvantaged community:
                    (A) An organization described in section 501(c) of 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
                taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
                    (B) A collaborative group fiscally sponsored by an 
                organization described in subparagraph (A).
                    (C) A unit of local government.
                    (D) An Indian Tribe.
                    (E) A special district government, as defined by 
                the Director of the Bureau of the Census.
            (4) Ecological integrity.--The term ``ecological 
        integrity'' has the meaning given the term in section 219.19 of 
        title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 
        of enactment of this Act).
            (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (6) Land stewardship activity.--The term ``land stewardship 
        activity'' means any of the following activities, as applied to 
        a qualifying project:
                    (A) Planning.
                    (B) Collaboration and building community support.
                    (C) Implementation on land other than National 
                Forest System land.
                    (D) Monitoring, including multiparty monitoring, 
                and adaptive management.
            (7) Qualifying project.--The term ``qualifying project'' 
        means any of the following activities that takes place at least 
        in substantial part on National Forest System land or national 
        grasslands:
                    (A) Restoration of the ecological integrity of a 
                forest, meadow, grassland, prairie, or other habitat.
                    (B) Tribal management for aligned cultural and 
                ecological values.
                    (C) Enhancing community wildfire resilience in the 
                wildland-urban interface.
                    (D) Increasing equitable access to environmental 
                education and volunteerism opportunities.
            (8) Restoration.--The term ``restoration'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal 
        Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this 
        Act).
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through--
                    (A) the regional offices of the State and Private 
                Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service; and
                    (B) as appropriate, regional offices of other 
                Deputy Areas of the Forest Service.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to support increasing 
community capacity, partnerships, and collaborations within and 
involving disadvantaged communities for land stewardship activities and 
restoration of ecological integrity on--
            (1) National Forest System land;
            (2) national grasslands; and
            (3) adjacent private, State, and trust land associated with 
        the health and resilience of land described in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2).
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may issue grants to eligible 
        entities for increasing community capacity for land stewardship 
        activities and related activities based on the criteria 
        described in subsection (d).
            (2) Federal cost-share.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may fund up to 100 
                percent of the cost of land stewardship activities and 
                related activities carried out using a grant issued 
                under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Matching eligibility.--A grant issued under 
                this section may be considered a non-Federal matching 
                contribution from the eligible entity that received the 
                grant towards other sources of Federal funding.
            (3) Duration.--The Secretary may issue a grant under 
        paragraph (1) for a period of 1 or more years.
            (4) Maximum grant amount.--The amount of a grant issued 
        under paragraph (1) shall be not more than $50,000 per year.
            (5) Applicable laws.--The Secretary shall administer grants 
        under paragraph (1) in accordance with all applicable Federal 
        and State laws.
    (d) Criteria for Awarding Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall award grants to eligible entities under subsection (c)(1) 
        on a competitive basis in accordance with the following 
        criteria:
                    (A) The extent to which the proposed land 
                stewardship activities benefit units of the National 
                Forest System and national grasslands over the short 
                and long term.
                    (B) The extent to which valuable ecological, 
                economic, and social benefits to disadvantaged 
                communities, including job creation and business 
                development or retention, are likely to result from the 
                scope of the land stewardship activities.
                    (C) The extent to which the grant would benefit 
                disadvantaged communities that have historically 
                received less investment in collaborative capacity.
                    (D) The extent to which the proposal brings 
                together diverse interests through planning, 
                collaboration, implementation, or monitoring of land 
                stewardship activities to benefit units of the National 
                Forest System or national grasslands.
                    (E) The extent to which the grant funds appear to 
                be critical for the success of the eligible entity and 
                the identified land stewardship activities.
                    (F) The extent to which the budget for the land 
                stewardship activities is reasonable given the 
                anticipated outcomes.
            (2) Set-aside for indian tribes.--The Secretary shall 
        allocate not less than 10 percent of the funding awarded under 
        this section to Indian Tribes or eligible entities representing 
        Indian Tribes.
    (e) Annual Reviews.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and maintain 
        an advisory panel composed of not more than 15 members to 
        provide feedback each year to each regional office of the State 
        and Private Forestry Deputy Area of the Forest Service on the 
        extent to which the implementation of this section by the 
        regional office is fulfilling the purpose described in 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Inclusions.--The advisory panel established under 
        paragraph (1) shall include representation from a diversity of 
        public land stakeholders from across interest groups, 
        including--
                    (A) not fewer than 8 members representing the 
                interests of a diversity of disadvantaged communities; 
                and
                    (B) not fewer than 2 members representing not fewer 
                than 2 Indian Tribes.
            (3) Exemption.--The advisory panel established under 
        paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    (f) Report Evaluating Program Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the 
        implementation of this section, including--
                    (A) a list of the eligible entities and land 
                stewardship activities selected for funding under this 
                section and the accomplishments of those activities; 
                and
                    (B) an evaluation of the extent to which the 
                implementation of this section is fulfilling the 
                purpose described in subsection (b).
            (2) Consultation; contracting.--In preparing the report 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary--
                    (A) shall consult with the advisory panel 
                established under subsection (e)(1); and
                    (B) may contract with a third party to complete an 
                evaluation of the implementation of this section to 
                inform the report.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the 
        period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
            (2) Distribution.--The Secretary shall distribute amounts 
        made available under paragraph (1) to the regional offices of 
        the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area and, as appropriate, 
        regional offices of other Deputy Areas, of the Forest Service 
        to administer the grants under this section.
            (3) Administrative costs.--Not more than 10 percent of any 
        amounts made available to carry out this section may be used 
        for administrative management and program oversight.
                                 <all>