[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 143 (Monday, September 16, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE FOREST LEGACY MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 16, 2024

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Forest Legacy 
Management Flexibility Act.'' I thank my colleagues, Representatives 
Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Ann M. Kuster (D-NH), and 
Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) for cosponsoring my House bill.
  As the former Deputy Secretary of the Interior, I know our national 
conservation goals cannot be achieved through public land ownership 
alone. The federal and state governments can and must work with private 
landowners who want to do their part to conserve America's natural 
landscapes, as my family did for our cattle ranch in 1998. This Act 
would unlock billions in federal funding to help states conserve 
working forestlands, create local jobs, and support sustainable forest 
management practices that reduce wildfire risk.
  The ``Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act'' would allow States 
to choose to designate accredited, nonprofit land trusts to hold 
conservation easements purchased with federal funding under the U.S. 
Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program. Current law requires that only 
the federal or state governments can hold conservation easements 
purchased under the Forest Legacy Program.
  Allowing States participating in the federal Forest Legacy Program 
the flexibility to partner with accredited, nonprofit land trusts will 
help permanently conserve more land by working with private landowners 
who want to have their land conserved but are wary of selling the 
federal or state governments an easement on their property. Expanding 
opportunities to conserve working forestlands will benefit our rural 
economies and encourage sustainable forest management practices that 
help prevent wildfires.
  This Act maintains the integrity of the Forest Legacy Program by 
holding all accredited, nonprofit land trusts participating in the 
Program to the highest possible standards. In addition, it implements 
safeguards to prevent misuse of the Program and allows the U.S. Forest 
Service or State to reclaim easements if a land trust falls into 
noncompliance with the Program.
  We will need every tool in the toolbox to advance the Biden-Harris 
Administration's ``America the Beautiful'' National Conservation Goal 
to conserve at least 30 percent of the lands and waters in the United 
States by 2030 and Governor Newsom's similar conservation goal for the 
State of California. This Act takes a critical step towards meeting 
these goals and protecting our country's natural resources and forests 
for future generations.
  The ``Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act'' would unlock new 
opportunities and funding for permanent land conservation. My 
colleagues and I are honored to introduce this legislation to preserve 
America's working forests and bolster our rural economies. Mr. Speaker, 
I encourage all members to join us in cosponsoring this bill.

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