[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4009 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4009

     To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service funding 
   allocations among the nine regions of the National Forest System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 10, 1994

  Mr. Richardson (for himself, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Stump, Mr. 
Kolbe, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Pastor, and Ms. English of Arizona) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service funding 
   allocations among the nine regions of the National Forest System.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Forest Service Equity Study Act of 
1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Data supplied by the Forest Service indicates that some 
        of the regions of the National Forest System receive more 
        funding on a per unit basis than other regions for recreation 
        management, wildlife and fish management, road maintenance, and 
        other activities.
            (2) The ecological integrity of some of the regions is 
        compromised by the funding disparity between regions.
            (3) The funding levels of the Forest Service for the 
        various regions should be equitable, and significant 
        disparities in funding should be eliminated.
            (4) The funding methodology and practices of the Forest 
        Service should support the policy goals of the National Forest 
        System, particularly ecosystem management.
            (5) The regional funding methodology and practices of the 
        Forest Service should reflect the diverse needs of the national 
        forests.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) The term ``funding'' means the annual fiscal year 
        allocation received by each region.
            (2) The term ``region'' means one of the nine regions into 
        which the Forest Service divides the United States for purposes 
        of planning and implementing activities in the National Forest 
        System.
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Agriculture.
            (4) The term ``unit'' refers to measures of use or activity 
        in the National Forest System, including--
                    (A) visitor days;
                    (B) nontimber acreage;
                    (C) miles maintained;
                    (D) animal unit months;
                    (E) people at one time (PAOT) days; and
                    (F) any other measure of use or activity commonly 
                associated with the regions.

SEC. 4. STUDY OF THE EQUITY OF FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AMONG REGIONS OF THE 
              NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM.

    (a) Authorization to Conduct Study.--During the one-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
conduct a study examining the system by which the Forest Service 
allocates funding to each region of the National Forest System.
    (b) Subject of Study.--As part of the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall--
            (1) analyze the methodology and rationale behind funding 
        decisions regarding the regions that were made prior to the 
        date the study is conducted;
            (2) examine the equity of allocations among regions, taking 
        into account the unit burdens of each region; and
            (3) examine the relationships between funding allocations, 
        Forest Service goals, and the diverse needs of the regions 
        based on ecological factors, such as threatened, endangered, 
        and sensitive species, forest health, rangeland and watershed 
        conditions, and public demand for multiple use services.
    (c) Contract.--The Secretary may enter into a contract with an 
independent entity to carry out the study under subsection (a).
    (d) Report.--Upon completion of the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that includes the 
following:
            (1) The results of the study.
            (2) Recommendations for changes and improvements in the 
        system by which the Forest Service allocates funding among the 
        regions to ensure equitable funding for each region and to 
        eliminate funding disparities among regions.
            (3) Recommendations for changes in funding patterns among 
        the regions to reflect Forest Service goals and regional needs.
            (4) An assessment of whether the recommended changes can be 
        implemented administratively or will require congressional 
        action.
            (5) A plan for implementation of the recommended changes.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

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