White oak research

(a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a memorandum of understanding with an Indian Tribe or institution, including a covered land grant college, to collaboratively conduct research on— (1) white oak genes with resistance or tolerance to stress; (2) white oak trees that exhibit vigor for the purpose of increasing survival and growth; (3) establishing a genetically diverse white oak seeds bank capable of responding to stressors; (4) providing a sustainable supply of white oak seedlings and genetic resources; (5) improved methods for aligning seed sources with the future climate at planting sites; (6) reforestation of white oak through natural and artificial regeneration; (7) improved methods for retaining and increasing white oak trees in forests; (8) improved methods for reforesting abandoned mine land sites; and (9) economic and social aspects of white oak forest management across land ownerships. (b) Consult In carrying out the research under subsection (a), the Indian Tribe or institution, including a covered land grant college, that enters into the memorandum of understanding under such subsection may consult with such States, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other scientific bodies, as the entity subject to such memorandum determines appropriate. (c) Sunset The authority under this section shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Covered land grant college defined In this section, the term covered land grant college means an 1862 Institution, an 1890 Institution, or a 1994 Institution (as such terms are defined, respectively, in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)).