H.R. 2709
Save Our Sequoias Act
Sponsor: Vince Fong · 29 cosponsors
Follow this billOfficial summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Save Our Sequoias Act
This bill provides for the conservation of giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in California.
Specifically, it provides statutory authority for the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition and outlines the coalition's duties. The coalition must submit a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment and annually update it. The information from the assessment must be made available so the information can be integrated into certain other plans. The coalition must also create and maintain a website that contains the assessment, educational materials, searchable information about individual giant sequoia groves, and a searchable database to track the status and costs of reforestation and rehabilitation activities.
In addition, the bill declares an emergency on certain public lands and allows officials to carry out protection plans during the emergency to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought. The emergency expires after seven years.
The Department of the Interior must develop and implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.
Finally, the bill establishes a variety of programs and funds to support the conservation of giant sequoias.
Text of the bill
(a) In general. Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:
101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
(a) Giant sequoia emergency protection program. The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, shall design and implement a comprehensive program to assist and promote philanthropic programs of support that benefit—
(1) primarily, the management and conservation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
(2) secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
(b) Giant sequoia emergency protection fund
(1) In general. The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, shall establish a joint special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund), to be administered in support of the program established under subsection (a).
(2) Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection. The Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are provided to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, or Foundation for America’s Public Lands for the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(3) Use of funds. Funds shall be available to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands without further appropriation, subject to the provisions in paragraph (4), for projects and activities approved by the Director of the National Park Service, Chief of the Forest Service, or Director of the Bureau of Land Management as appropriate, or their designees, to—
(A) primarily, support the management and conservation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
(B) secondarily, support the reforestation of giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
(4) Tribal support. Of the funds provided to the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands under paragraph (3), not less than 15 percent of such funds shall be used to support Tribal management and conservation of giant sequoias including funding for Tribal historic preservation officers.
(c) Summary. Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and Foundation for America’s Public Lands shall include with their annual reports a summary of the status of the program and Fund created under this section that includes—
(1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund during the fiscal year;
(2) the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year; and
(3) a description of the program and projects funded during the fiscal year.
(d) Definitions. In this section, the terms covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands have the meaning given such terms in section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
(e) Termination of effectiveness. The authority provided by this section shall terminate 7 years after the date of enactment of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
(b) Conforming amendment. The table of sections for chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:
101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.