[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3439 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3439

    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 17, 2023

 Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Costa, Ms. 
Lee of California, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Carbajal, and Ms. 
   Salinas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Natural 
Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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 ``Emergency Wildfire 
Act of 2023''.
    (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. Conservation finance agreements.
Sec. 104. Report evaluating implementation.
         TITLE II--INCREASING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO WILDFIRE

Sec. 201. Critical infrastructure and microgrid program.
Sec. 202. Retrofits for fire-resilient communities.
Sec. 203. Wildfire detection, monitoring, and analysis 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) for a conservation finance project--
                    (A) the term of which is not less than 2, and 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 
                or receipt of collections; and
                    (C) that may provide for a cancellation payment to 
                be made to the conservation finance project developer 
                if those appropriations are not made or collections are 
                not received.
            (2) Conservation finance project.--The term ``conservation 
        finance project'' means a project--
                    (A) conducted on National Forest System land and 
                may include land adjoining National Forest System land;
                    (B) that would--
                            (i) protect, restore, or improve National 
                        Forest System land; and
                            (ii) use a conservation finance model that 
                        employs a debt financing approach that uses 
                        loaned capital from a conservation finance 
                        project investor to cover up-front project 
                        costs, with the loaned capital repaid over time 
                        by conservation finance project beneficiaries; 
                        and
                    (C) the purpose of which is to conduct ecological 
                restoration treatments that, at the time of selection 
                for a conservation finance agreement under the pilot 
                program established under section 103(a)--
                            (i) are conducted 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)(I) were previously conducted under the 
                        Program described in clause (i);
                            (II) are no longer eligible for funding 
                        under that Program due to a time limitation 
                        under subsection (b)(1)(B) or (d)(4)(B) of that 
                        section; and
                            (III) are otherwise eligible for funding 
                        under that Program;
                            (iii) are conducted by a water source 
                        investment partnership established under 
                        section 303(c) of the Healthy Forests 
                        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542(c)); or
                            (iv) are conducted under the Joint Chiefs 
                        Landscape Restoration Partnership Program 
                        established under section 40808 of the 
                        Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 
                        U.S.C. 6592d).
            (3) Conservation finance project beneficiary.--The term 
        ``conservation finance project beneficiary'' means a nonprofit, 
        for-profit, or Federal, State, local, or Tribal governmental 
        entity or individual that--
                    (A) benefits from conservation finance project 
                outcomes; and
                    (B)(i) provides capital directly to fund a 
                conservation finance project; or
                    (ii) repays to a conservation finance project 
                investor up-front loaned capital for a conservation 
                finance project at a rate of return agreed to by the 
                entity or individual and the conservation finance 
                project investor.
            (4) Conservation finance project developer.--The term 
        ``conservation finance project developer'' means a nonprofit or 
        for-profit intermediary that assists in developing, financing, 
        funding, or implementing a conservation finance project.
            (5) Conservation finance project investor.--The term 
        ``conservation finance project investor'' means a nonprofit, 
        for-profit, or State, local, or Tribal governmental entity or 
        individual that provides up-front loaned capital for a 
        conservation finance project.
            (6) 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).
            (7) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' has the meaning given the term in section 45D(e) of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (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.
            (10) 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 land management projects across the National 
Forest System by--
            (1) authorizing a pilot program with conservation finance 
        agreement authority to leverage other Federal and non-Federal 
        investment (in addition to funds appropriated to the Forest 
        Service) in landscape-scale, multistakeholder land management 
        activities and related natural and built infrastructure and 
        associated local employment opportunities;
            (2) encouraging project planning and analysis that 
        effectively scale up to the landscape level of 100,000 acres or 
        more;
            (3) supporting projects that emphasize--
                    (A) 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;
                    (B) restoring terrestrial and aquatic areas that 
                lack ecological integrity; or
                    (C) reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire 
                and improving forest resiliency;
            (4) requiring ecological standards and collaboration for 
        landscape-scale projects; and
            (5) coordinating with Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
        entities to support the pilot program described in paragraph 
        (1) by taking full advantage of existing interagency agreements 
        and authorities.

SEC. 103. 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 carry out a conservation finance project 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 supply sufficient to support a conservation 
        finance agreement of--
                    (A) small-diameter material; or
                    (B) other hazardous fuels, the removal of which 
                would reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire.
            (3) The use of the conservation finance agreement will 
        assist in achieving the purpose described in section 102.
            (4) The project involves a conservation finance project 
        developer.
    (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 not be used to enter into more than 20 conservation 
        finance agreements;
            (2) may be used for the obligation under conservation 
        finance agreements of--
                    (A) during the 10-year period beginning on the date 
                of enactment of this Act, not more than $250,000,000 in 
                the aggregate; and
                    (B) not more than $50,000,000 for any 1 
                conservation finance agreement; and
            (3) may not be used to reimburse for interest paid to any 
        other entity providing funds for the applicable conservation 
        finance project.
    (d) Priority.--In entering into conservation finance agreements 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to projects 
described in that subsection that are based on restoration strategies 
addressing larger landscapes, particularly landscapes of 100,000 acres 
or more.
    (e) 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 or termination provision as 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 payment of the 
                        costs of cancellation or termination.
            (2) Provisions in agreements.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may include 
                cancellation or termination 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 or 
                termination provisions described in subparagraph (A) 
                may include consideration of the recurring and 
                nonrecurring costs of the conservation finance project 
                developer under the applicable conservation finance 
                agreement.
            (3) Cancellation and termination costs.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary may obligate funds 
                in stages that are economically or programmatically 
                viable to cover any potential cancellation or 
                termination costs related to the Federal share of the 
                costs under a conservation finance agreement under 
                paragraph (1)(B) and implement the agreement pursuant 
                to this section.
                    (B) Advance notice to congress of cancellation or 
                termination costs in excess of $25,000,000.--Not later 
                than 30 days before entering into a conservation 
                finance agreement under this section that includes 
                cancellation or termination costs in excess of 
                $25,000,000, but does not include proposed funding for 
                the costs of cancelling or terminating the agreement up 
                to the maximum cancellation or termination costs in the 
                agreement, 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 or 
                        termination cost amounts proposed for each 
                        program year in the agreement;
                            (ii) the reasons why the cancellation or 
                        termination cost amounts described under clause 
                        (i) were selected;
                            (iii) a description of the extent to which 
                        the costs of agreement cancellation or 
                        termination 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 or termination.
                    (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) Determination of cancellation or termination 
                costs specific to a conservation finance agreement.--
                The Secretary may enter into a conservation finance 
                agreement pursuant to this section that includes 
                conservation finance project developer 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 conservation finance project developer the Federal 
                share of the cancellation or termination costs under 
                the agreement pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) up to the 
                limitation on cancellation or termination costs 
                applicable to the agreement if funding for the 
                completion of the agreement is not appropriated.
    (f) Non-Federal Cost Share.--
            (1) In general.--The non-Federal share of the costs of 
        implementing a conservation finance agreement carried out using 
        amounts made available under this title shall be not less than 
        40 percent of the costs of implementing the conservation 
        finance agreement, of which, subject to paragraph (2)--
                    (A) up to 50 percent may be reimbursed by the 
                Forest Service, subject to the availability of 
                appropriations and subsections (c)(3) and (e); and
                    (B) not less than 50 percent shall be covered by 
                non-Federal funding, which may include in-kind 
                contributions.
            (2) Cost share for low-income communities.--In the case of 
        a conservation finance project that the Secretary determines 
        would primarily benefit 1 or more low-income communities and 
        for which the non-Federal entities involved cannot meet the 
        cost share requirement under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) subparagraph (A) of that paragraph shall be 
                applied by substituting ``75 percent'' for ``50 
                percent''; and
                    (B) subparagraph (B) of that paragraph shall be 
                applied by substituting ``25 percent'' for ``50 
                percent''.
            (3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection limits 
        additional non-Federal financing or funding for a conservation 
        finance project above the 40 percent minimum non-Federal cost 
        share described in paragraph (1).
    (g) Stewardship End Result Contracting Project Authorities.--A 
conservation finance agreement developed under this section may 
incorporate the authorities provided to the Secretary and the Chief of 
the Forest Service to enter into stewardship contracting projects under 
section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c).

SEC. 104. REPORT EVALUATING IMPLEMENTATION.

    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 conservation finance agreements entered into 
        under this title and the accomplishments under the projects 
        carried out under those agreements; and
            (2) an evaluation of the pilot authority for conservation 
        finance agreements described in section 103, including whether 
        that authority has--
                    (A) increased the availability of non-Federal 
                funding sources to assist in landscape-scale forest 
                restoration projects;
                    (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; and
                    (C) any barriers limiting the broader use or 
                implementation of the pilot project authority to 
                additional projects, including risks that may 
                discourage further participation and investment by 
                outside parties.

         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 
                        station, wastewater station, community water 
                        system, or irrigation works;
                            (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 development 
                and 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, including 
                mass timber, 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. WILDFIRE DETECTION, MONITORING, AND ANALYSIS 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, MONITORING, AND ANALYSIS 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 and remote sensing data 
        and mobile technologies to assist wildfire response, 
        management, and firefighter safety through improved situational 
        awareness;
            ``(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;
            ``(4) review permitting described in paragraph (3) and 
        procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment 
        within the context of modern and innovative technology;
            ``(5) pursuant to the OPEN Government Data Act (title II of 
        Public Law 115-435; 132 Stat. 5534), the amendments made by 
        that Act, and any guidance issued by the Director of the Office 
        of Management and Budget under that Act or those amendments, 
        support the disclosure to the public of nonconfidential data 
        assets the disclosure of which does not pose security risks to 
        the public so that wildland fire data is discoverable, 
        understandable, and actionable; and
            ``(6) utilize new and existing technologies to analyze 
        performance measurements and suppression effectiveness of 
        wildland fire incidents.''.
    (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, monitoring, and analysis 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.
            (9) Understanding the effectiveness of historical and 
        current wildfire management and suppression strategies, 
        including on wildfires that start in wilderness areas, 
        wilderness study areas, or inventoried roadless areas.
    (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 internships, apprenticeships, pre-
        apprenticeships, 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 2024 through 2028.
            (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.
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