Trillion Trees Act

Bill: 117-hr-2639
Sponsor: Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
Introduced: 2021-04-19 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Agricultural education
Agricultural practices and innovations
Air quality
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Congressional oversight
Ecology
Economic development
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Endangered and threatened species
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental education
Environmental technology
Fires
Foreign aid and international relief
Forests, forestry, trees
Government lending and loan guarantees
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Higher education
Horticulture and plants
Income tax credits
Indian lands and resources rights
Indian social and development programs
Infrastructure development
International organizations and cooperation
Land use and conservation
Outdoor recreation
Performance measurement
Pollution liability
Public-private cooperation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Small business
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local finance
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Technology assessment
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: 

Trillion Trees Act

 
This bills establishes a variety of requirements and incentives to plant trees and conduct other land management practices for the purposes of capturing and storing carbon in domestic and international trees and forests. Additionally, the bill provides incentives to research or develop other carbon sequestration tools.
 
Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to set targets to increase forest carbon stock through January 1, 2100, for the purposes of sequestering and storing carbon in U.S. forests. 
 
It also establishes and provides funding for the Trillion Trees Challenge Fund to provide grants to nonfederal entities for activities related to reforestation efforts on public or private lands. In addition, it raises the cap on the Reforestation Trust Fund to enhance forest health in the National Forest System and requires the USDA to establish a Tree City USA Grant Program.
 
The bill also allows the U.S. Agency for International Development to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to establish an International Forest Foundation to promote reforestation and prevent deforestation.
 
Additionally, it establishes requirements and incentives to address seedling shortages and support nurseries.
 
Finally, the bill provides market incentives to research or develop other carbon sequestration tools relating to biochar, sustainable building practices, biochemical and bioplastic products, and biomass energy.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources, Ways and Means, Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Introduced in House