,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afjc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ac1 #bjba,mr4 ,bennet 7for himself and ,mr4 ,hoeven7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,agriculture to establish a ,joint ,chiefs ,landscape ,restoration ,partnership program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,joint ,chiefs ,landscape ,restoration ,partnership ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,joint ,chiefs ,landscape ,restoration ,partnership program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,chiefs ,the term ,chiefs means the ,chief of the ,forest ,service and the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service4 7#b7 ,eligible activity ,the term eligible activity means an activity-- 7,a7 to reduce the risk of wildfire2 7,b7 to protect water quality and supply2 or 7,c7 to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species4 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means the ,joint ,chiefs ,landscape ,restoration ,partnership program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#e7 ,wildland-urban interface ,the term wildland-urban interface has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feaa74 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a ,joint ,chiefs ,landscape ,restoration ,partnership program to improve the health and resilience of forest landscapes across ,national ,forest ,system land and ,state1 ,tribal1 and private land4 7#b7 ,administration ,the ,secretary shall administer the program by coordinating eligible activities conducted on ,national ,forest ,system land and ,state1 ,tribal1 or private land across a forest landscape to improve the health and resilience of the forest landscape by-- 7,a7 assisting producers and landowners in implementing eligible activities on eligible private or ,tribal land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service under title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chja et seq471 not including the conservation reserve program established under subchapter ,b of chapter #a of subtitle ,d of that title 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chca et seq472 and 7,b7 conducting eligible activities on ,national ,forest ,system land or assisting landowners in implementing eligible activities on ,state1 ,tribal1 or private land using the applicable programs and authorities administered by the ,chief of the ,forest ,service4 7c7 ,selection of eligible activities ,the appropriate ,regional ,forester and ,state ,conservationist shall jointly submit to the ,chiefs on an annual basis proposals for eligible activities under the program4 7d7 ,evaluation criteria ,in evaluating and selecting proposals submitted under subsection 7c71 the ,chiefs shall consider-- 7#a7 criteria including whether the proposal-- 7,a7 reduces wildfire risk in a municipal watershed or the wildland-urban interface2 7,b7 was developed through a collaborative process with participation from diverse stakeholders2 7,c7 increases forest workforce capacity or forest business infrastructure and development2 7,d7 leverages existing authorities and non-,federal funding2 7,e7 provides measurable outcomes2 or 7,f7 supports established ,state and regional priorities2 and 7#b7 such other criteria relating to the merits of the proposals as the ,chiefs determine to be appropriate4 7e7 ,outreach ,the ,secretary shall provide-- 7#a7 public notice on the websites of the ,forest ,service and the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service describing-- 7,a7 the solicitation of proposals under subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 the criteria for selecting proposals in accordance with subsection 7d72 and 7#b7 information relating to the program and activities funded under the program to ,states1 ,indian ,tribes1 units of local government1 and private landowners4 7f7 ,exclusions ,an eligible activity may not be carried out under the program-- 7#a7 in a wilderness area or designated wilderness study area2 7#b7 in an inventoried roadless area2 7#c7 on any ,federal land on which1 by ,act of ,congress or ,presidential proclamation1 the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited2 or 7#d7 in an area in which the eligible activity would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan4 7g7 ,accountability 7#a7 ,initial report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report providing recommendations to ,congress relating to the program1 including a review of-- 7,a7 funding mechanisms for the program2 7,b7 staff capacity to carry out the program2 7,c7 privacy laws applicable to the program2 7,d7 data collection under the program2 7,e7 monitoring and outcomes under the program2 and 7,f7 such other matters as the ,secretary considers to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,annual reports ,the ,chiefs shall annually submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,agriculture and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives a report describing projects for which funding is provided under the program1 including the status and outcomes of those projects4 7h7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to amounts otherwise available to the ,secretary to carry out the program1 there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out the program #ij1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjcj4 7#b7 ,duration of availability ,funds made available under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available until expended4 7#c7 ,distribution of funds ,of the funds made available under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 not less than #dj percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 7,b7 not less than #dj percent shall be allocated to carry out eligible activities through the ,forest ,service2 and 7,c7 the remaining funds shall be allocated by the ,chiefs to the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service or the ,forest ,service-- 7i7 to carry out eligible activities2 or 7ii7 for other purposes1 such as technical assistance1 project development1 or local capacity building4