,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cajf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ai1 #bjai,mr4 ,udall 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,portman1 and ,ms4 ,stabenow7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd to promote reforestation following unplanned events on ,federal land1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reforestation ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,reforestation following wildfires and other unplanned events 7a7 ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#a7 ,national forest cover policy 7,a7 ,in general ,section #c of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afja7 is amended-- 7i7 by redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7f72 7ii7 by redesignating the second subsection 7d7 7relating to the policy of ,congress regarding forested land in the ,national ,forest ,system7 as subsection 7e72 and 7iii7 in subsection 7e7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,i7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7aa7 in the first sentence-- 7,,aa7 by striking #i of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall annually for eight years following the enactment of this subsection and inserting #i1 the ,secretary shall1 annually during each of the #aj years beginning after the date of enactment of the ,reforestation ,act of #bjai2 and 7,,bb7 by striking eight-year and inserting #aj-year2 7bb7 in the second sentence1 by striking such eight-year period and inserting the #aj-year period2 and 7cc7 in the third sentence1 by striking #aigh and inserting #bjba2 7,,ii7 in paragraph 7#c71 in the first sentence1 by striking subsection 7d7 and inserting subsection2 and 7,,iii7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,reforestation requirements 7,a7 ,definitions ,in this paragraph3 7i7 ,natural regeneration 7,i7 ,in general ,the term natural regeneration means the establishment of a tree or tree age class from natural seeding1 sprouting1 or suckering in accordance with the management objectives of an applicable land management plan4 7,,ii7 ,inclusion ,the term natural regeneration may include any site preparation activity to enhance the success of regeneration to the desired species composition and structure4 7ii7 ,priority land ,the term priority land means ,national ,forest ,system land that1 due to an unplanned event-- 7,i7 is unstocked2 7,,ii7 requires reforestation to meet the objectives of an applicable land management plan2 and 7,,iii7 is unlikely to experience natural regeneration without assistance4 7iii7 ,reforestation ,the term reforestation means the act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees through-- 7,i7 natural regeneration2 7,,ii7 natural regeneration with site preparation2 or 7,,iii7 planting direct seeding1 taking into consideration species composition and resilience4 7iv7 ,unplanned event 7,i7 ,in general ,the term unplanned event means any unplanned disturbance that-- 7aa7 disrupts ecosystem or forest structure or composition2 or 7bb7 changes resources1 substrate availability1 or the physical environment4 7,,ii7 ,inclusions ,the term unplanned event may include-- 7aa7 a wildfire2 7bb7 an infestation of insects or disease2 7cc7 a weather event2 and 7dd7 animal damage4 7v7 ,unstocked ,the term unstocked1 with respect to forest land1 means that a percentage of forested land area of the forest land fails to achieve compliance with a stocking level required under an applicable land management plan4 7,b7 ,requirement ,each reforestation activity under this section shall be carried out in accordance with applicable ,forest ,service management practices and definitions1 including those contained in-- 7i7 the amendment numbered #bdjj-bjad-a to chapter #bdgj 7relating to silvicultural practices7 of the ,forest ,service document numbered ,,fsm #bdjj 7relating to forest management7 7or a successor amendment or manual72 and 7ii7 section #bai4ai of title #cf1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7,c7 ,reforestation priority 7i7 ,in general ,in carrying out this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to projects on the priority list described in clause 7ii74 7ii7 ,priority list 7,i7 ,in general ,the ,chief of the ,forest ,service shall1 based on recommendations from regional foresters1 create a priority list of reforestation projects that-- 7aa7 primarily take place on priority land2 7bb7 promote effective reforestation following unplanned events2 and 7cc7 may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed availability4 7,,ii7 ,ranking ,the ,chief of the ,forest ,service shall rank projects on the priority list under subclause 7,i7 based on-- 7aa7 documentation of an effective reforestation project plan2 7bb7 the ability to measure the progress and success of the project2 and 7cc7 the ability of a project to provide benefits relating to forest function and health1 soil health and productivity1 wildlife habitat1 improved air and water quality1 carbon sequestration potential1 resilience1 job creation1 and enhanced recreational opportunities4 4 7,b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #i of the ,cooperative ,forestry ,assistance ,act of #aigh 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #baje7 is amended1 in the undesignated matter following paragraph 7#e7 of subsection 7g7-- 7i7 by striking section #c7;d7 and inserting subsection 7e7 of section #c2 and 7ii7 by striking #afja7;d7 and inserting #afja4 7#b7 ,national ,forest ,system program elements ,section #i of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjg7 is amended1 in the second sentence1 by striking #bjjj and inserting #bjbi4 7b7 ,reforestation ,trust ,fund ,section #cjc of ,public ,law #if-dea 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b77#b71 by striking #cj1jjj1jjj and inserting #fj1jjj1jjj2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7d77#a7-- 7,a7 by striking section #c7;d7 and inserting subsection 7e7 of section #c2 and 7,b7 by striking #afja7;d7 and inserting #afja4 7c7 ,stewardship end result contracting projects ,section #fjd7;c7 of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feia;c7c77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#h7 ,with respect to projects under subsection 7b7 entered into only by the ,chief1 reforestation in accordance with subsection 7e77#d77;,c77ii7 of section #c of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afja74 4 7d7 ,good neighbor authority ,section #hbjf of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #baac;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#d77;,a7-- 7,a7 in clause 7ii71 by striking and at the end2 7,b7 by redesignating clause 7iii7 as clause 7iv72 and 7,c7 by inserting after clause 7ii7 the following3 7iii7 with respect to ,national ,forest ,system land only1 reforestation activities2 and 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#a71 by adding at the end the following3 7,c7 ,reforestation priority ,the ,secretary shall enter into good neighbor agreements under this section with respect to forest1 rangeland1 and watershed restoration services described in subsection 7a77#d77;,a77iii7 in accordance with subsection 7e77#d77;,c77ii7 of section #c of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afja74 4 #c4 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives1 and make publicly available on the website of the ,forest ,service1 a report that describes1 with respect to the preceding year-- 7#a7 an evaluation of the degree to which the ,secretary has achieved compliance with the requirements contained in the amendments made by this ,act1 including1 as a result of those amendments1 the number of acres covered by reforestation projects that follow unplanned events 7such as wildfires72 7#b7 the authorities1 expressed by the number of acres replanted1 used to replant forests impacted by unplanned events1 including through-- 7,a7 stewardship contracts under section #fjd of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feia;c72 and 7,b7 good neighbor agreements under section #hbjf of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #baac;a72 7#c7 the number of acres of ,national ,forest ,system land affected by1 and the substance of reforestation needs on that land resulting from1 unplanned events2 and 7#d7 the number of acres in need of reforestation under subsection 7e77#a7 of section #c of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afja74