summary
Introduced
04/27/2017
04/27/2017
In Committee
04/27/2017
04/27/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Empowering State Forestry to Improve Forest Health Act of 2017 This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to direct the Forest Service to establish a landscape-scale restoration program to provide financial and technical assistance for landscape-scale restoration projects on state and private forest lands that maintain or improve benefits from trees and forests on such lands. The program shall: address the national private forest conservation priorities specified under the Act; and enhance public benefits from trees and forests, as identified in a state-wide assessment and a long-term state-wide forest resource strategy under the Act. The program shall also have one or more objectives, including to: protect or improve water quality or quantity; reduce wildfire risk, including through hazardous fuels treatment; protect or enhance wildlife habitat; improve forest health and forest ecosystems, including addressing native, nonnative, and invasive pests; or enhance opportunities for new and existing markets in which the production and use of wood products strengthens local and regional economies. The Forest Service shall allocate from the amounts made available under this bill: 50% for the competitive process for distributing funds for landscape-scale restoration projects; and 50% proportionally to states to maximize the achievement of the restoration program's objectives and to address the highest national priorities, as identified in state-wide assessments and long-term state-wide forest resource strategies. The bill amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to allocate funds and use specified authorities of the Department of Agriculture or of the Department of the Interior, as appropriate, to assist cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation programs.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to establish a landscape-scale restoration program that provides financial and technical assistance for projects on state and private forest lands. The program aims to address national private forest conservation priorities, enhance public benefits from trees and forests, and have objectives such as protecting water quality, reducing wildfire risk, and improving forest health. The bill also allocates funds for this program, with 50% going towards a competitive process and 50% proportionally to states. Additionally, the bill modifies the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to support cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation programs.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (on 04/27/2017)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/962/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s962/BILLS-115s962is.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s962/BILLS-115s962is.pdf.pdf |
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