H.R. 2709

Save Our Sequoias Act

Sponsor: Vince Fong · 29 cosponsors

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Official 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

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Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias

(a) In general. Not later than 90 days after receiving a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the Secretary shall enter into or expand an existing shared stewardship agreement or enter into a similar agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to jointly carry out the short-term and long-term management and conservation of giant sequoias.

(b) Participation

(1) In general. If the Secretary has not received a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe under subsection (a) before the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into the agreement under subsection (a) and jointly implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.

(2) Future participation. If the Secretary receives a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe as a party to such agreement.