Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects

(a) Reforestation reports submitted to additional committees Section 70303 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 1601 note; Public Law 117–58) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking inserting, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, after Senate. (b) Interior reforestation program (1) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Covered institution of higher education The term covered institution of higher education means a land-grant college or university, including— (i) an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)); (ii) an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section); (iii) an institution that is eligible to receive funding under Public Law 87–788 (commonly known as the McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962); and (iv) a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)). (B) Natural regeneration; reforestation; unplanned event The terms natural regeneration, reforestation, and unplanned event have the meanings given those terms in section 3(e)(4)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(A)). (C) Priority land The term priority land means historically forested land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned that, due to an unplanned event— (i) requires reforestation to meet the objectives described in an applicable land use plan; and (ii) is unlikely to experience natural regeneration. (2) Program establishment Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to implement reforestation projects on priority land identified under paragraph (4)(A), in accordance with this section. (3) Support In carrying out the program established under paragraph (2), the Secretary may enter into— (A) cooperative agreements in accordance with processes established by the Secretary; and (B) contracts, including contracts entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). (4) Annual identification of priority projects Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall— (A) identify priority land within the United States; (B) establish a list of reforestation projects on priority land for the upcoming year, which may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling availability to further the objectives of other priority projects; and (C) estimate the costs necessary to implement the list established under subparagraph (B). (5) Consultation In carrying out the program under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult or coordinate with, as appropriate— (A) applicable State and local governments; (B) applicable Indian Tribes; (C) covered institutions of higher education; (D) Federal agencies that administer Federal land that adjoins, or is adjacent to, land that is the subject of a project identified under paragraph (4)(B); and (E) other stakeholders, at the discretion of the Secretary. (6) Annual report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following 6 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following, with respect to the period covered by the report: (A) An accounting of all priority land. (B) A list of projects identified under paragraph (4)(B). (C) An accounting of any progress made on projects identified in any previous report under this paragraph. (D) An accounting of each contract and cooperative agreement established under the program under this subsection. (E) The amounts necessary to be appropriated, in addition to amounts available from other sources, to implement reforestation projects on all priority land by not later than 10 years after the date of submission of the report. (7) Nonduplication In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to ensure the nonduplication of activities carried out under section 214.