,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ejae ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ae1 #bjbj,mr4 ,bennet introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish an ,outdoor ,restoration ,fund for restoration and resilience projects1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,outdoor ,restoration ,force ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,council ,the term ,council means the ,restoration ,fund ,advisory ,council established by section #d7;a74 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,state agency2 7,b7 a unit of local government2 7,c7 a ,tribal government2 7,d7 a regional organization2 7,e7 a special district2 or 7,f7 a nonprofit organization4 7#c7 ,eligible project 7,a7 ,in general ,the term eligible project means a project or initiative-- 7i7 that improves-- 7,i7 ecosystem health and resilience1 including forest1 watershed1 and rangeland ecosystems across public and private land1 including-- 7aa7 fire mitigation efforts2 7bb7 forest and river restoration2 7cc7 reforestation efforts2 or 7dd7 natural infrastructure projects1 including projects that sequester carbon1 mitigate emissions1 or improve climate resilience2 7,,ii7 air and water quality1 including the cleanup and restoration of-- 7aa7 abandoned coal or hardrock mines2 7bb7 toxic waste sites2 or 7cc7 orphaned oil or gas wells2 or 7,,iii7 wildlife habitats1 including projects that-- 7aa7 expand wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity2 7bb7 create or improve habitats for at-risk species2 7cc7 manage or remove invasive species from wildlife habitats2 or 7dd7 conserve working land2 7ii7 that is carried out in accordance with-- 7,i7 the management objectives of an applicable land management plan adopted under-- 7aa7 section #bjb of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agab72 or 7bb7 section #f of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afjd72 7,,ii7 any other authorized use not in the applicable land management plan described in subclause 7,i72 and 7,,iii7 applicable law and available authorities2 and 7iii7 that does not include efforts to remove old growth stands 7as defined in section #ajb7;e7 of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feab7;e7774 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term eligible project may include1 if a project or initiative described in subparagraph 7,a7 is administered in coordination with an eligible entity1 efforts to improve public access and outdoor recreation1 including efforts-- 7i7 to enhance recreational facilities or trails2 7ii7 to improve equitable access to the outdoors2 or 7iii7 to reduce the negative effects of recreation on forests1 watersheds1 or wildlife4 7#d7 ,fund ,the term ,fund means the ,outdoor ,restoration ,fund established by section #c7;a74 #c4 ,outdoor ,restoration ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,treasury an ,outdoor ,restoration ,fund4 7b7 ,use ,amounts in the ,fund shall be used-- 7#a7 by the ,council to carry out the restoration and resilience project grant program established by section #e2 and 7#b7 by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to carry out the restoration and resilience partnership established by section #f4 7c7 ,savings provisions 7#a7 ,complementary programs ,activities carried out under this ,act shall complement1 not duplicate or replace1 existing programs for ,federal conservation and restoration1 including initiatives for-- 7,a7 at-risk wildlife and wildlife habitats2 7,b7 fire mitigation and forest restoration2 7,c7 the improvement of water quality2 or 7,d7 environmental remediation4 7#b7 ,applicable law ,amounts made available under this ,act may be used for eligible projects on ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and private land1 in accordance with applicable law and available authorities4 7d7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,amounts provided under this ,act shall supplement1 not supplant1 any ,federal1 ,state1 or other funds otherwise made available to an eligible entity for activities described in this ,act4 #d4 ,restoration ,fund ,advisory ,council 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a ,restoration ,fund ,advisory ,council-- 7#a7 to disburse amounts from the ,fund for the restoration and resilience project grant program established by section #e2 and 7#b7 to gather public input and provide recommendations to the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency for the use of the ,fund for the restoration and resilience partnership established by section #f4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,council shall be composed of-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of the ,interior2 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7#c7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 and 7#d7 #ae members1 to be appointed by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 of whom-- 7,a7 #e shall be representatives from resource-dependent industries1 including the agriculture1 oil and gas1 outdoor recreation1 and forest product industries2 7,b7 #e shall be national experts in the fields of natural resource restoration1 economic development1 and community and climate resilience2 and 7,c7 #e shall be representatives of eligible entities4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,council shall submit to ,congress a report describing-- 7#a7 the status of funded eligible projects1 including-- 7,a7 scientifically defensible estimates of environmental benefits2 7,b7 restoration achievements2 7,c7 attainment of restoration and habitat improvement objectives2 7,d7 adaptive measures undertaken2 7,e7 jobs created and retained through-- 7i7 grants made from the ,fund2 and 7ii7 activities carried out under the restoration and resilience partnership established by section #f2 7,f7 the growth in outdoor industries2 and 7,g7 progress towards ,state and community level resilience goals2 7#b7 ,federal programs and existing authorities1 including funding1 financing1 technical assistance1 and coordination efforts1 that contribute to1 support1 or otherwise complement funded eligible projects2 and 7#c7 recommendations to improve delivery1 align ,federal resources1 and expand the workforce in outdoor industries through legislative and administrative changes4 7d7 ,review ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,inspector ,generals of the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 and the ,environmental ,protection ,agency shall review1 and submit to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry1 ,environment and ,public ,works1 ,energy and ,natural ,resources1 and ,appropriations of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 ,energy and ,commerce1 ,natural ,resources1 and ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives a report describing-- 7#a7 the use of the ,fund by the ,council for the restoration and resilience project grant program established by section #e2 7#b7 the use of the ,fund by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency for the restoration and resilience partnership established by section #f2 and 7#c7 any abuse or misuse of the ,fund4 #e4 ,restoration and resilience project grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a restoration and resilience project grant program 7referred to in this section as the grant program71 to be administered by the ,council in conjunction with a regional entity under subsection 7b71 to provide grants from the ,fund to eligible entities for eligible projects4 7b7 ,regional entities 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,council shall coordinate with not less than #a existing regional entity1 or a regional entity established by the ,council1 in a specific geographic region to assist with the grant program under this section4 7#b7 ,membership ,a regional entity shall include representatives1 who have a strong understanding of the economic and environmental challenges in the geographic region1 from-- 7,a7 ,federal and ,state agencies2 7,b7 ,tribal governments2 7,c7 resource-dependent industries2 7,d7 economic development organizations2 and 7,e7 conservation organizations4 7#c7 ,role of regional entities ,a regional entity shall-- 7,a7 act as an advisor and intermediary between the ,council and an eligible entity2 7,b7 assist with the development of competitive funding applications made to the ,council2 7,c7 provide advice1 resources1 and best practice recommendations to any eligible entity that is interested in applying for a grant2 7,d7 review an application made by an eligible entity under this section2 7,e7 recommend eligible projects to the ,council for priority funding2 and 7,f7 assist with data collection to develop the report to ,congress made by the ,council under section #d7;c74 7c7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to appropriations1 the ,council shall use amounts in the ,fund to provide capacity grants under paragraph 7#b7 and implementation grants under paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,capacity grants 7,a7 ,in general ,grants shall be made available to an eligible entity for the planning and monitoring of eligible projects4 7,b7 ,application 7i7 ,in general ,a grant under this paragraph may only be made to an eligible entity that submits to the ,council an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing or accompanied by such information as the ,council1 in consultation with a regional entity1 may require4 7ii7 ,contents ,an application shall-- 7,i7 contain-- 7aa7 a clear and concise expression of interest2 7bb7 an explanation for how the funds would advance ,state actions plans or regional conservation projects2 7cc7 an explanation for how funds would complement existing ,federal funds2 and 7dd7 an estimate of the number and duration of jobs that would be created1 or sustained1 with the funds2 and 7,,ii7 be consistent with applications for other ,federal funding opportunities for eligible entities4 7,c7 ,priority ,the ,council1 in consultation with a regional entity1 in approving applications under this paragraph1 shall give priority to eligible entities-- 7i7 with demonstrated restoration needs2 7ii7 whose funded projects would create or sustain jobs2 7iii7 whose funded projects would have the greatest community benefit2 and 7iv7 in a location with a significant ,federal interest4 7#c7 ,implementation grants 7,a7 ,in general ,grants shall be made available to an eligible entity for the implementation of eligible projects4 7,b7 ,application 7i7 ,in general ,a grant under this paragraph may be made only to an eligible entity that submits to the ,council an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing or accompanied by such information as the ,council1 in consultation with a regional entity1 may require4 7ii7 ,contents ,an application shall be consistent with applications for other ,federal funding opportunities for eligible entities4 7,c7 ,priority ,the ,council1 in consultation with a regional entity1 in approving applications under this paragraph1 shall give priority to eligible projects that-- 7i7 employ local or regional labor1 or expand the outdoor workforce through training and education programs2 7ii7 are developed through a collaborative process with multiple stakeholders representing diverse interests2 7iii7 would address shared conservation and restoration priorities for ,federal and non-,federal partners2 7iv7 advance ,state plans related to water1 wildlife1 or forests2 or 7v7 improve long-term economic security or viability in the geographic region1 particularly in geographic regions transitioning from fossil-fuel extraction4 #f4 ,restoration and resilience partnership 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established a partnership1 to be known as the restoration and resilience partnership1 and to be administered by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7b7 ,use of funds ,amounts in the ,fund shall be made available to the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to supplement the existing budgets of the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 and the ,environmental ,protection ,agency for efforts that-- 7#a7 enhance forest and watershed health through fuel reduction1 forest restoration1 fire mitigation1 and road and trail maintenance2 7#b7 support ,state1 private1 and ,tribal forestry2 7#c7 remediate or reclaim abandoned oil and gas wells1 coal mines1 and hardrock mines2 7#d7 mitigate1 or eradicate1 invasive species on public1 private1 and ,tribal land2 or 7#e7 enhance carbon sequestration1 water resources1 and improve wildlife habitats4 7c7 ,priority ,the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency shall prioritize the use of the ,fund for efforts that-- 7#a7 complement and accelerate eligible projects that received funds under the restoration and resilience grant program established by section #e2 7#b7 advance ,state1 local1 or ,tribal plans with respect to forests1 water1 or wildlife2 or 7#c7 reduce existing agency backlogs or advance projects that can be immediately carried out4 7d7 ,outreach by the ,council ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter until fiscal year #bjbf1 the ,council shall perform outreach efforts and solicit public comments on the use of the ,fund by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency for the partnership under this section4 7e7 ,recommendations from the ,council ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and after the ,council has conducted the outreach efforts under subsection 7d71 the ,council shall make formal recommendations for the use of supplemental monies from the ,fund by the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency for the partnership under this section4 #g4 ,funding ,there is appropriated1 out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #fj1jjj1jjj1jjj for the ,fund1 to remain available until expended1 of which-- 7#a7 #bj1jjj1jjj1jjj shall be for the restoration and resilience project grant program under section #e2 and 7#b7 #dj1jjj1jjj1jjj shall be for the partnership under section #f4