TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Pay It Back Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the
deficit for this fiscal year will reach $1.6 trillion or 11
percent of the Gross Domestic Product;
(2) this deficit represents the largest relative deficit
since the end of World War II;
(3) the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the
fiscal year 2010 deficit will reach $1.4 trillion; and
(4) given the choice between forcing our children to pay
for the national debt and requiring banks and other
beneficiaries of the goodwill of the taxpayer to make a down
payment now, we choose to help our kids.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO TARP AUTHORIZATION.

Section 115(a)(3) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of
2008 (12 U.S.C. 5225(a)(3)) is amended by striking ''outstanding at any
one time'' and inserting '', in the aggregate (or such higher amount,
in the aggregate, as has been obligated or expended under this Act as
of the date of enactment of the Pay It Back Act)''.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

Section 106 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12
U.S.C. 5216) is amended by inserting at the end the following:
''(f) Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall report to
Congress every 6 months on amounts received and transferred to the
general fund under subsection (d).''.

SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT OF 2008.

(a) Sale of Fannie Mae Obligations and Securities by the Treasury;
Deficit Reduction.--Section 304(g)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage
Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1719(g)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
''(C) Deficit reduction.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall--
''(i) deposit in the General Fund of the
Treasury any amounts received by the Secretary
for the sale of any obligation or security
acquired by the Secretary under this
subsection; and
''(ii) ensure that such amounts so
deposited--
''(I) are dedicated for the sole
purpose of deficit reduction; and
''(II) are prohibited from use as
an offset for other spending increases
or revenue reductions.''.
(b) Sale of Freddie Mac Obligations and Securities by the Treasury;
Deficit Reduction.--Section 306(l)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1455(l)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
''(C) Deficit reduction.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall--
''(i) deposit in the General Fund of the
Treasury any amounts received by the Secretary
for the sale of any obligation or security
acquired by the Secretary under this
subsection; and
''(ii) ensure that such amounts so
deposited--
''(I) are dedicated for the sole
purpose of deficit reduction; and
''(II) are prohibited from use as
an offset for other spending increases
or revenue reductions.''.
(c) Sale of Federal Home Loan Banks Obligations by the Treasury;
Deficit Reduction.--Section 11(l)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act
(12 U.S.C. 1431(l)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
''(C) Deficit reduction.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall--
''(i) deposit in the General Fund of the
Treasury any amounts received by the Secretary
for the sale of any obligation acquired by the
Secretary under this subsection; and
''(ii) ensure that such amounts so
deposited--
''(I) are dedicated for the sole
purpose of deficit reduction; and
''(II) are prohibited from use as
an offset for other spending increases
or revenue reductions.''.
(d) Repayment of Fees.--Any periodic commitment fee or any other
fee or assessment paid by the Federal National Mortgage Association or
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to the Secretary of the Treasury
as a result of any preferred stock purchase agreement, mortgage-backed
security purchase program, or any other program or activity authorized
or carried out pursuant to the authorities granted to the Secretary of
the Treasury under the amendments made by section 1117 of the Housing
and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289; 122 Stat. 2683),
including any fee agreed to by contract between the Secretary and the
Association or Corporation, shall be deposited in the General Fund of
the Treasury where such amounts shall be--
(1) dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit reduction;
and
(2) prohibited from use as an offset for other spending
increases or revenue reductions.

SEC. 6. FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY REPORT.

The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency shall submit to
Congress a report on the plans of the Agency to continue to support and
maintain the Nation's vital housing industry, while at the same time
guaranteeing that the American taxpayer will not suffer unnecessary
losses.

SEC. 7. REPAYMENT OF UNOBLIGATED ARRA FUNDS.

(a) Rejection of ARRA Funds by State.--Section 1607 of division A
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-
5; 123 Stat. 303) is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(d) Statewide Rejection of Funds.--If funds provided to any State
in any division of this Act are not accepted for use by the Governor of
the State pursuant to subsection (a) or by the State legislature
pursuant to subsection (b), then all such funds shall be--
''(1) rescinded; and
''(2) deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury, where
such amounts shall be--
''(A) dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit
reduction; and
''(B) prohibited from use as an offset for other
spending increases or revenue reductions.''.
(b) Withdrawal or Recapture of Unobligated Funds.--Title XVI of
division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 302) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

''withdrawal or recapture of unobligated funds

''Sec. 1613. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if
the head of any executive agency withdraws or recaptures for any reason
funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this division, and
such funds have not been obligated by a State to a local government or
for a specific project, such recaptured funds shall be--
''(1) rescinded; and
''(2) deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury, where
such amounts shall be--
''(A) dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit
reduction; and
''(B) prohibited from use as an offset for other
spending increases or revenue reductions.''.
(c) Return of Unobligated Funds by End of 2012.--Section 1603 of
division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Public Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 302) is amended--
(1) by striking ''All funds'' and inserting ''(a) In
General.--All funds''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(b) Repayment of Unobligated Funds.--Any discretionary
appropriations made available in this division that have not been
obligated as of December 31, 2012, are hereby rescinded, and such
amounts shall be deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury, where
such amounts shall be--
''(1) dedicated for the sole purpose of deficit reduction;
and
''(2) prohibited from use as an offset for other spending
increases or revenue reductions.
''(c) Presidential Waiver Authority.--
''(1) In general.--The President may waive the requirements
under subsection (b), if the President determines that it is
not in the best interest of the Nation to rescind a specific
unobligated amount after December 31, 2012.
''(2) Requests.--The head of an executive agency may also
apply to the President for a waiver from the requirements under
subsection (b).''.

SEC. 8. REDUCTION OF STATUTORY LIMIT ON THE PUBLIC DEBT.

Section 3101 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ''minus the aggregate
amounts described in subsection (d)'' before '', outstanding at
one time''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(d) Amounts described in this subsection are any amounts received
by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to--
''(1) section 106(d) of the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008 before, on, or after the date of
enactment of this subsection; and
''(2) section 304(g) of the Federal National Mortgage
Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1719(g)), section 306(l) of
the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C.
1455(l)), section 11(l) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12
U.S.C. 1431(l)), section 1607(d) of division A of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5),
section 1613 of division A of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), and sections 5(d)
and 7(c) of the Pay It Back Act after the date of enactment of
this subsection.''.

SOLUTION: Pay It Back Act - Amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) to revise the limitation on the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase troubled assets under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to $700 billion outstanding at any one time. Changes the maximum authority to $700 billion, in the aggregate, or such higher amount, in the aggregate, as has been obligated or expended under TARP as of the enactment of this Act.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress every six months on transfer to the Treasury's General Fund for reduction of the public debt of revenues of, and proceeds from the sale of troubled assets purchased under TARP, or from the sale, exercise, or surrender of warrants or senior debt instruments acquired under TARP.

Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to require the Secretary to deposit in the Treasury solely for debt reduction any amounts received by the Secretary for the sale of any obligation or security acquired from the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), or a Federal Home Loan Bank for secondary market operations. Prohibits the use of any such amounts as an offset for other spending increases or revenue reductions.

Requires deposit in the Treasury solely for debt reduction of any periodic commitment fee or any other fee or assessment paid to the Secretary by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac as a result of any preferred stock purchase agreement, mortgage-backed security purchase program, or any other program or activity under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Requires the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to report to Congress on FHFA plans to continue to support and maintain the nation's vital housing industry, while at the same time guaranteeing that the American taxpayer will not suffer unnecessary losses.

Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to require: (1) rescission of any ARRA (stimulus) funds offered to but not accepted by the governor or legislature of a state; and (2) their deposit in the Treasury solely for debt reduction. Requires the same treatment for any funds withdrawn or recaptured by an executive agency head which have not been obligated by a state to a local government or for a specific project.

Rescinds for deposit in the Treasury solely for debt reduction specified discretionary appropriations that have not been obligated as of December 31, 2012.

Lowers the statutory limit on the public debt by the amounts the Secretary receives under this Act for deposit in the Treasury solely for debt reduction.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Water Technology Acceleration Act of
2016''.

SEC. 2. INNOVATION IN CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.

(a) Innovative Water Technologies.--Section 603 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (10), by striking ''and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (11)(B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ''; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
''(12) for the deployment of innovative water technologies,
including--
''(A) green technologies, including manufactured
technology and natural systems, to address nonpoint
source pollution from agriculture;
''(B) resource recovery in water and wastewater
treatment systems, including--
''(i) energy conservation and production;
''(ii) water reuse and recycling; and
''(iii) recovery of valuable materials,
such as nutrients from wastewater streams; and
''(C) green infrastructure and other innovative
technologies, such as real-time system monitoring and
peak wet weather treatment technology, to reduce sewer
and storm water overflows due to wet weather events in
urban areas.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(j) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator shall carry out
technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision
of financial assistance for the purposes described in subsection
(c)(12).
''(k) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to
Congress a report that describes--
''(1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State
water pollution control revolving funds to deploy innovative
water technologies;
''(2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative
water technologies; and
''(3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future
infrastructure investments from emerging technologies.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 607 of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1387) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated), by striking ''There is'' and inserting the
following:
''(1) In general.--There are''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
''(2) Innovative water technologies.--In addition to any
other funds made available to carry out this title and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to make
additional allotments under this title to States to provide
financial assistance solely for purposes described in section
603(c)(12) $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.''.

SEC. 3. INNOVATION IN DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUNDS.

Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in the first sentence--
(i) by striking ''only''; and
(ii) by striking ''Except'' and inserting
the following:
''(A) In general.--Except'';
(B) in the second sentence, by striking
''Financial'' and inserting the following:
''(B) Financial assistance.--Financial'';
(C) in the third sentence, by striking ''The
funds'' and inserting the following:
''(C) Loans to public water systems.--The funds'';
(D) in the fourth sentence, by striking ''The
funds'' and inserting the following:
''(D) Innovative water technologies.--The funds may
be used for the deployment of innovative water
technologies, including technologies to improve water
quality and technologies to improve real-time water
quality information of water users.
''(E) Limitation.--The funds''; and
(E) in the fifth sentence, by striking ''Of the
amount'' and inserting the following:
''(F) Public water systems serving fewer than
10,000 persons.--Of the amount'';
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ''and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ''; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
''(6) for the deployment of innovative water technologies,
including technologies to improve water quality and
technologies to improve real-time water quality information of
water users.'';
(3) by striking subsection (m) and inserting the following:
''(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any other
funds made available to carry out this section and notwithstanding any
other provision of this Act, there is authorized to be appropriated to
the Administrator to make additional allotments under this section to
States to provide financial assistance solely for the deployment of
innovative water technologies, including technologies to improve water
quality and technologies to improve real-time water quality information
of water users, $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
''(s) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator shall carry out
technical assistance programs to facilitate and encourage the provision
of financial assistance for the deployment of innovative water
technologies, including technologies to improve water quality and
technologies to improve real-time water quality information of water
users.
''(t) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to
Congress a report that describes--
''(1) the amount of financial assistance provided by State
drinking water revolving funds to deploy innovative water
technologies;
''(2) the barriers impacting greater use of innovative
water technologies; and
''(3) the cost-saving potential to cities and future
infrastructure investments from emerging technologies.''.

SEC. 4. INNOVATIVE WATER TECHNOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ''Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ''eligible entity'' means--
(A) a public utility, including publicly owned
treatment works and clean water systems;
(B) a municipality;
(C) a private entity, including a farmer or
manufacturer;
(D) an institution of higher education;
(E) a research institution or foundation;
(F) a State;
(G) a regional organization; or
(H) a nonprofit organization.
(b) Grant Program Authorized.--The Administrator shall carry out a
grant program for purposes described in subsection (c) to accelerate
the development of innovative water technologies that address pressing
water challenges.
(c) Grants.--In carrying out the program under subsection (b), the
Administrator shall make to eligible entities grants that--
(1) finance projects that--
(A) are public-private partnerships; and
(B) deploy, test, and improve emerging water
technologies;
(2) fund entities that provide technical assistance to
deploy innovative water technologies more broadly, especially--
(A) to increase adoption of innovative water
technologies in--
(i) municipal water and wastewater
treatment systems; or
(ii) areas served by private wells; and
(B) in a manner that reduces ratepayer or community
costs over time, including the cost of future capital
investments; or
(3) specifically target investments that, as determined by
the Administrator--
(A) improve water quality of a water source;
(B) improve water quality through the improvement
of the safety and security of a drinking water delivery
system;
(C) minimize contamination of drinking water,
including contamination by lead, bacteria, and
nitrates;
(D) improve the quality and timeliness and decrease
the cost of drinking water tests, especially
technologies that can be deployed within water systems
and at individual faucets to provide accurate real-time
tests of water quality, especially with respect to
lead, bacteria, and nitrate content;
(E) treat edge-of-field runoff to improve water
quality;
(F) treat agricultural, municipal, and industrial
wastewater;
(G) manage urban storm water runoff;
(H) conserve water; or
(I) address urgent water quality and human health
needs.
(d) Priority Funding.--In making grants under this section, the
Administrator shall give priority to projects that have the potential--
(1) to provide substantial cost savings across a sector
(such as municipal or agricultural waste treatment); or
(2) to significantly improve human health or the
environment.
(e) Cost-Sharing.--The Federal share of the cost of activities
carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not more
than 70 percent.
(f) Limitation.--The maximum amount of a grant provided to a
project under this section shall be $5,000,000.
(g) Report.--Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress
and make publicly available on the website of the Administrator a
report that describes any advancements during the previous year in
development of innovative water technologies made as a result of
funding provided under this section.
(h) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this section $50,000,000 for each fiscal year.

SOLUTION: Water Technology Acceleration Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to accelerate the testing, deployment, and commercialization of innovative water technologies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)must evaluate the barriers impacting greater use of innovative water technology and provide technical assistance to facilitate financial assistance tohelp communities use new technology.The new technology is designed to help communities address wastewater, storm runoff, and drinking water challenges. Additionally, the EPA must carry out a grant program to accelerate the testing and deployment of innovative water technologies that address water challenges. Priority funding must be given to projects that have the potential to: (1)provide substantial cost savings across a sector, or (2)significantly improve human health or the environment.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Empowering State Forestry to Improve
Forest Health Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. STATE AND PRIVATE FOREST LANDSCAPE-SCALE RESTORATION PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Section 13A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a) is amended to read as follows:

''SEC. 13A. STATE AND PRIVATE FOREST LANDSCAPE-SCALE RESTORATION
PROGRAM.

''(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a
landscape-scale restoration program to support landscape-scale
restoration and management that results in measurable improvements to
public benefits derived from State and private forest land, as
identified in--
''(1) a State-wide assessment described in section
2A(a)(1); and
''(2) a long-term State-wide forest resource strategy
described in section 2A(a)(2).
''(b) Definitions.--In this section:
''(1) Private forest land.--The term 'private forest land'
means land that--
''(A)(i) has existing tree cover; or
''(ii) is suitable for growing trees; and
''(B) is owned by--
''(i) an Indian tribe (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or
''(ii) any private individual or entity.
''(2) Regional.--The term 'regional' means of any region of
the National Association of State Foresters.
''(3) Secretary.--The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
''(4) State forest land.--The term 'State forest land'
means land that is owned by a State or unit of local
government.
''(5) State forester.--The term 'State Forester' means a
State Forester or equivalent State official.
''(c) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with State
Foresters or other appropriate State agencies, shall establish a
landscape-scale restoration program--
''(1) to provide financial and technical assistance for
landscape-scale restoration projects on State forest land or
private forest land; and
''(2) that maintains or improves benefits from trees and
forests on that land.
''(d) Requirements.--The landscape-scale restoration program
established under subsection (c) shall--
''(1) measurably address the national private forest
conservation priorities described in section 2(c);
''(2) enhance public benefits from trees and forests, as
identified in--
''(A) a State-wide assessment described in section
2A(a)(1); and
''(B) a long-term State-wide forest resource
strategy described in section 2A(a)(2); and
''(3) in accordance with the purposes described in section
2(b), have one or more objectives including--
''(A) protecting or improving water quality or
quantity;
''(B) reducing wildfire risk, including through
hazardous fuels treatment;
''(C) protecting or enhancing wildlife habitat,
consistent with wildlife objectives established by the
applicable State fish and wildlife agency;
''(D) improving forest health and forest
ecosystems, including addressing native, nonnative, and
invasive pests; or
''(E) enhancing opportunities for new and existing
markets in which the production and use of wood
products strengthens local and regional economies.
''(e) Measurement.--The Secretary, in consultation with State
Foresters, shall establish a measurement system, including measurement
tools, that--
''(1) consistently measures the results of landscape-scale
restoration projects described in subsection (c); and
''(2) is consistent with the measurement systems of other
Federal programs delivered by State Foresters.
''(f) Use of Amounts.--
''(1) Allocation.--Of amounts made available for the
landscape-scale restoration program established under
subsection (c), the Secretary shall allocate--
''(A) 50 percent for the competitive process in
accordance with subsection (g); and
''(B) 50 percent proportionally to States, in
consultation with State Foresters--
''(i) to maximize the achievement of the
objectives described in subsection (d)(3); and
''(ii) to address the highest national
priorities, as identified in--
''(I) State-wide assessments
described in section 2A(a)(1); and
''(II) long-term State-wide forest
resource strategies described in
section 2A(a)(2).
''(2) Multiyear projects.--The Secretary may provide
amounts under this section for multiyear projects.
''(g) Competitive Process.--
''(1) In general.--The Secretary shall distribute amounts
described in subsection (f)(1)(A) through a competitive process
for landscape-scale restoration projects described in
subsection (c) to maximize the achievement of the objectives
described in subsection (d)(3).
''(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible for funding through the
competitive process described in paragraph (1), a State
Forester, or another entity on approval of the State Forester,
shall submit to the Secretary one or more landscape-scale
restoration proposals that--
''(A) in accordance with paragraph (3)(A), include
priorities identified in--
''(i) State-wide assessments described in
section 2A(a)(1); and
''(ii) long-term State-wide forest resource
strategies described in section 2A(a)(2);
''(B) identify one or more measurable results to be
achieved through the project;
''(C) to the maximum extent practicable, include
activities on all land necessary to accomplish the
measurable results in the applicable landscape;
''(D) to the maximum extent practicable, are
developed in collaboration with other public and
private sector organizations and local communities; and
''(E) derive not less than 50 percent of the
funding for the project from non-Federal sources,
unless the Secretary determines--
''(i) the applicant is unable to derive not
less than 50 percent of the funding for the
project from non-Federal sources; and
''(ii) the benefits of the project justify
pursuing the project.
''(3) Prioritization.--The Secretary--
''(A) shall give priority to projects that, as
determined by the Secretary, best carry out priorities
identified in State-wide assessments described in
section 2A(a)(1) and long-term State-wide forest
resource strategies described in section 2A(a)(2),
including--
''(i) involvement of public and private
partnerships;
''(ii) inclusion of cross-boundary
activities on--
''(I) Federal forest land;
''(II) State forest land; or
''(III) private forest land;
''(iii) involvement of areas also
identified for cost-share funding by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service or any
other relevant Federal agency;
''(iv) protection or improvement of water
quality or quantity;
''(v) reduction of wildfire risk;
''(vi) protection or enhancement of
wildlife habitat, consistent with wildlife
objectives established by the applicable State
fish and wildlife agency;
''(vii) improvement of forest health,
including addressing native, nonnative, and
invasive pests;
''(viii) enhancement of opportunities for
new and existing markets in which the
production and use of wood products strengthens
local and regional economies; and
''(ix) otherwise addressing the national
private forest conservation priorities
described in section 2(c); and
''(B) may give priority to projects in proximity to
other landscape-scale projects on other land under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary, the Secretary of the
Interior, or a Governor of a State, including--
''(i) ecological restoration treatments
under the Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program established under section
4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act
of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303);
''(ii) projects on landscape-scale areas
designated for insect and disease treatment
under section 602 of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591a);
''(iii) authorized restoration services
under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a);
''(iv) watershed restoration and protection
services under section 331 of the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law 106-291;
16 U.S.C. 1011 note);
''(v) stewardship end result contracting
projects under section 604 of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6591c); or
''(vi) projects under other relevant
programs, as determined by the Secretary.
''(4) Proposal review.--
''(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
process for the review of proposals submitted under
paragraph (2) that ranks each proposal based on--
''(i) the extent to which the proposal
would achieve the requirements described in
subsection (d); and
''(ii) the priorities described in
paragraph (3)(A).
''(B) Regional review.--The Secretary may carry out
the process described in subparagraph (A) at a regional
level.
''(h) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of the Empowering State Forestry to Improve Forest Health Act of 2017,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate a report describing--
''(1) the status of the development, execution, and
administration of landscape-scale projects selected under the
program under this section;
''(2) an accounting of expenditures under the program under
this section; and
''(3) specific accomplishments that have resulted from
landscape-scale projects under the program under this section.
''(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for the landscape-scale restoration
program established under subsection (c) $30,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2017 through 2021, to remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 3. PROMOTING CROSS-BOUNDARY WILDFIRE MITIGATION.

Section 103 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6513) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
''(3) Cross-boundary considerations.--For any fiscal year
for which the amount appropriated for hazardous fuels reduction
is in excess of $300,000,000, the Secretary--
''(A) is encouraged to use the excess amounts for
projects that include cross-boundary consideration; and
''(B) of that excess amount, may use, through
grants to State Foresters, to support hazardous fuel
reduction projects on non-Federal land in accordance
with subsection (e) an amount equal to the greater of--
''(i) 20 percent; and
''(ii) $20,000,000.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(e) Cross-Boundary Fuels Reduction Projects.--
''(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall use the funds described in subsection (d)(3) to
support hazardous fuel reduction projects that incorporate
treatments in landscapes across ownership boundaries on
Federal, State, county, or tribal land, private land, and other
non-Federal land, particularly in areas identified as
priorities in applicable State-wide forest resource assessments
or strategies under section 2A(a) of the Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a(a)), as mutually agreed
to by the State Forester and the Regional Forester.
''(2) Land treatments.--To conduct and fund treatments for
projects that include Federal and non-Federal land, the
Secretary may--
''(A) use the authorities of the Secretary relating
to cooperation and technical and financial assistance,
including the good neighbor authority under--
''(i) section 8206 of the Agricultural Act
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and
''(ii) section 331 of the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2001 (16 U.S.C. 1011 note; Public Law 106-
291); and
''(B) allocate cross-boundary wildfire mitigation
funds, in accordance with subsection (d)(3) and
paragraph (1), for projects carried out pursuant to
that section (16 U.S.C. 2113a).
''(3) Cooperation.--In carrying out this subsection, the
State Forester, in consultation with the Secretary (or a
designee)--
''(A) shall consult with the owners of State,
county, tribal, and private land and other non-Federal
land with respect to hazardous fuels reduction
projects; and
''(B) shall not implement any project on non-
Federal land without the consent of the owner of the
non-Federal land.
''(4) Existing laws.--Regardless of the individual or
entity implementing a project on non-Federal land under this
subsection, only the laws and regulations that apply to non-
Federal land shall be applicable with respect to the
project.''.

SOLUTION:
Empowering State Forestry to Improve Forest Health Act of 2017 This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to direct the Forest Service to establish a landscape-scale restoration program to provide financial and technical assistance for landscape-scale restoration projects on state and private forest lands that maintain or improve benefits from trees and forests on such lands. The program shall: address the national private forest conservation priorities specified under the Act; and enhance public benefits from trees and forests, as identified in a state-wide assessment and a long-term state-wide forest resource strategy under the Act. The program shall also have one or more objectives, including to: protect or improve water quality or quantity; reduce wildfire risk, including through hazardous fuels treatment; protect or enhance wildlife habitat; improve forest health and forest ecosystems, including addressing native, nonnative, and invasive pests; or enhance opportunities for new and existing markets in which the production and use of wood products strengthens local and regional economies. The Forest Service shall allocate from the amounts made available under this bill: 50% for the competitive process for distributing funds for landscape-scale restoration projects; and 50% proportionally to states to maximize the achievement of the restoration program's objectives and to address the highest national priorities, as identified in state-wide assessments and long-term state-wide forest resource strategies. The bill amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to allocate funds and use specified authorities of the Department of Agriculture or of the Department of the Interior, as appropriate, to assist cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation programs.