118 HR 10042 IH: Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-10-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 10042IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESOctober 25, 2024Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo limit the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to penalize an owner of livestock for grazing by such livestock on certain Federal lands on which grazing is permitted on or after the date of enactment of this Act and subsequently prohibited, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Agricultural Spaces Through Effective Ranching Strategies Act or the PASTURES Act.

2.

Limitation on penalties for grazing livestock on certain covered lands

(a)

Limitation

The Secretary concerned may not impose a penalty on an owner of livestock for grazing by such livestock on covered lands on which a fence for the prevention of such grazing does not exist.(b)

Fence expenses

The Secretary concerned shall be responsible for any expense related to the construction or maintenance of any fence constructed or maintained on covered lands for the prevention of grazing by livestock on such covered lands.(c)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Covered lands

The term covered lands means National Forest System lands, lands administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or public lands—(A)on which grazing is permitted by grazing permit or lease on or after the date of enactment of this Act and subsequently prohibited; and(B)that borders private property.(2)

Grazing permit or lease

The term grazing permit or lease means—(A)a grazing permit as such term is defined in section 222.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);(B)a cooperative agreement referred to in section 29.2 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations) that permits grazing; or(C)a grazing permit or lease described in section 4130.2 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (3)

Livestock

The term livestock includes cattle, bison, horses, sheep, and goats.(4)

National Forest System

The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609).(5)

Public lands

The term public lands has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).(6)

Secretary concerned

The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands and lands administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.