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. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall—
(1) develop and implement a strategy for monitoring insects in giant sequoia groves with a high-risk or previous history of insect infestations; and
(2) seek to enter into public-private partnerships to deploy technology to assist in the short-term and long-term monitoring of giant sequoia groves with current or potential insect infestations.
(b) Report. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit a report to the relevant Congressional Committees that contains—
(1) the strategy required under subsection (a)(1);
(2) an update on the effectiveness of the monitoring program in preventing or addressing insect infestations in giant sequoia groves; and
(3) program and policy recommendations to further address—
(A) research gaps regarding giant sequoia resiliency to insects; and
(B) opportunities to improve the resiliency of giant sequoias to insects.