,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dfci ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bg1 #bjbb,mr4 ,wyden 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 and ,ms4 ,klobuchar7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,council1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the maintenance of healthy populations of grassland bird species and working lands that are critical for rural economies and carbon sequestration are dependent on the conservation1 restoration1 and management of grassland ecosystems1 which are composed of tallgrass1 mixed grass1 and shortgrass prairies1 sagebrush shrub-steppe1 and savannah grasslands 7referred to in this section as grassland ecosystems72 7#b7 grasslands cover #ceh1jjj1jjj acres of the ,united ,states1 #he percent of which are privately owned and serve as an important habitat for #bi breeding obligate grassland bird species2 7#c7 sagebrush occupies #afa1jjj1jjj acres of #ad western ,states2 7#d7 over the last decade alone1 millions of acres of grassland ecosystems in ,north ,america have been converted to cropland and residential and commercial development2 7#e7 grassland ecosystems are threatened by fragmentation1 invasive species1 wildfire1 degradation1 and land conversion2 7#f7 on average1 about #a1bjj1jjj acres of sagebrush burn each year in the ,united ,states due to invasive annual grasses that fuel catastrophic wildfires2 7#g7 in addition to the wildfires described in paragraph 7#f71 there has been a decrease in the number of working farms and ranches due to-- 7,a7 pressures to convert or sell land2 and 7,b7 challenges in keeping ranching profitable2 and 7#h7 effective restoration strategies for land managers of grassland ecosystems require-- 7,a7 access to adequate quantities of high quality1 regionally appropriate1 and diverse native plant seeds2 7,b7 science-based guidance on cultivating native plant species2 and 7,c7 as stated in the ,national ,seed ,strategy for ,rehabilitation and ,restoration developed by the ,plant ,conservation ,alliance and chaired by the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management1 more research on seedling establishment and species interaction in order to increase the use of native plant species4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to take bold action to conserve and restore grasslands in ,north ,america while supporting ranchers1 farmers1 ,indian ,tribes1 sportsmen and sportswomen1 rural communities1 and other interests by-- 7#a7 preventing additional conversion and loss of native grasslands and loss of sagebrush biome and sustaining those ecosystems as working lands by creating a flexible1 voluntary1 and innovative grant program2 7#b7 improving grassland and rangeland health and management2 7#c7 mitigating the impacts of severe drought and wildfire on grasslands2 7#d7 supporting farmer and rancher stewards and ,tribal partners2 7#e7 improving biodiversity and habitat for grassland and sagebrush birds1 pollinators1 and other wildlife2 7#f7 increasing carbon sequestration2 7#g7 providing increased recreational and hunter access opportunities1 at the discretion of private landowners2 and 7#h7 encouraging stronger public-private partnerships in support of landscape-level grassland conservation4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,conservation ,strategy ,the term ,conservation ,strategy means the ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,strategy established under section #g7;a74 7#b7 ,council ,the term ,council means the ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,council established by section #e7;a74 7#c7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#d7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a grazing land coalition2 7,b7 an agricultural or livestock producer group2 7,c7 an ,indian ,tribe2 7,d7 a land trust2 7,e7 a ,state or local government2 7,f7 a ,federal land management agency2 7,g7 a nongovernmental organization2 7,h7 a community-based organization2 and 7,i7 a group of individuals that are private landowners4 7#e7 ,grasslands ,the term grasslands means tallgrass1 mixed grass1 shortgrass1 native prairie1 sagebrush shrub-steppe1 savanna grasslands1 glades1 wet meadows1 coastal grasslands1 and other related grassland ecosystems4 7#f7 ,grasslands conservation project ,the term grasslands conservation project means any conservation1 restoration1 protection1 or enhancement activity that is carried out with a grant awarded under the program4 7#g7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#h7 ,program ,the term program means the grant program established under section #h7;a74 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#aj7 ,tribal organization ,the term ,tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 #e4 ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,council 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established the ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,council4 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,council shall be composed of #aj members1 of whom-- 7,a7 #a shall be the ,director1 who shall be the responsible ,federal official for ensuring ,council compliance with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 7,b7 #a shall be a representative of the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation2 7,c7 #b shall be appointed by the ,secretary1 who shall each be a ,director of a ,state fish and wildlife agency2 7,d7 #b shall be appointed by the ,secretary1 who shall be representatives of ,indian ,tribes2 7,e7 #b shall be appointed by the ,secretary1 who shall each represent a different landowning1 farming1 ranching1 or grazing group organization that is actively participating in carrying out grassland conservation projects2 and 7,f7 #b shall be appointed by the ,secretary1 who shall be members of conservation organizations4 7#b7 ,period of appointment2 vacancies 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 a member of the ,council shall serve for a term of #c years4 7,b7 ,exceptions 7i7 ,directors of ,state fish and wildlife agencies ,of the members first appointed under paragraph 7#a77;,c7-- 7,i7 #a shall be appointed for a term of #b years2 and 7,,ii7 #a shall be appointed for a term of #c years4 7ii7 ,other members ,of the members first appointed under subparagraphs 7,d71 7,e71 and 7,f7 of paragraph 7#a7-- 7,i7 #b shall be appointed for a term of #a year2 7,,ii7 #b shall be appointed for a term of #b years2 and 7,,iii7 #b shall be appointed for a term of #c years4 7,c7 ,vacancies 7i7 ,in general ,with respect to a member appointed to the ,council under subparagraph 7,c7 or 7,e7 of paragraph 7#a71 a vacancy in the ,council shall be filled in accordance with that subparagraph for the remainder of the applicable term of that member4 7ii7 ,alternate members ,until a vacancy referred to in clause 7i7 is filled1 or in the event of an anticipated absence of a member described in that clause from any meeting of the ,council1 the ,secretary shall appoint an alternate member to the ,council who shall-- 7,i7 be knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to grassland conservation and restoration2 and 7,,ii7 perform the duties of a member appointed to the ,council under subparagraph 7,c7 or 7,e7 of paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,ex officio members ,the ,secretary may include as ex officio1 nonvoting members of the ,council-- 7,a7 the ,under ,secretary for ,farm ,production and ,conservation of the ,department of ,agriculture2 7,b7 the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 and 7,c7 representatives of-- 7i7 other appropriate ,federal1 provincial1 territorial1 or ,tribal government agencies2 and 7ii7 nonprofit charitable organizations and ,native ,american interests1 including ,tribal organizations1 that are participating in grasslands conservation projects4 7#d7 ,chairperson 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,council shall select a ,chairperson from among the members of the ,council4 7,b7 ,term ,a ,chairperson shall serve for a #c-year term1 except that the first selected ,chairperson may serve a term of less than #c years4 7c7 ,meetings 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,council shall meet at the call of the ,chairperson4 7#b7 ,frequency ,the ,council shall meet not less frequently than once per year4 7#c7 ,format ,a meeting of the ,council may be conducted in person or virtually4 7#d7 ,availability ,meetings of the ,council shall be open to the public1 and the ,council shall give public notice of the time and place of such meetings4 7d7 ,duties ,the ,council shall-- 7#a7 provide input to the ,director in the development of the ,conservation ,strategy2 7#b7 establish publicly available project evaluation criteria for applications submitted under the program2 and 7#c7 provide funding recommendations to the ,director with respect to those applications4 7e7 ,compensation ,a member of the ,council shall receive no compensation as a result of serving on the ,council4 7f7 ,,faca applicability ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,council4 #f4 ,regional grasslands conservation councils 7a7 ,in general ,there are established ,regional ,grasslands ,conservation ,councils for each region established by the ,director1 in consultation with relevant ,federal agencies4 7b7 ,membership ,each ,regional ,grasslands ,conservation ,council shall be composed of not more than #aj members1 which shall include-- 7#a7 representatives of nongovernmental organizations representing the conservation community2 7#b7 representatives from ,tribal governments and organizations2 7#c7 representatives of rancher and farming interests2 7#d7 representatives from ,state fish and wildlife agencies2 and 7#e7 any other representatives1 as determined necessary by the ,secretary in coordination with the ,council4 7c7 ,recommendations ,a ,regional ,grasslands ,conservation ,council shall provide recommendations to the ,council on-- 7#a7 the selection of grasslands conservation projects2 and 7#b7 best practices of established regional grassland conservation plans4 7d7 ,,faca applicability ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to a ,regional ,grasslands ,conservation ,council4 #g4 ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,strategy 7a7 ,in general ,after not less than half of the members of the ,council are appointed under section #e7;b77#a71 the ,director shall1 in consultation with the ,council-- 7#a7 develop a coordinated strategy1 to be known as the ,north ,american ,grasslands ,conservation ,strategy1 for the protection1 restoration1 and management of grassland ecosystems across the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 support implementation1 monitoring1 and communication efforts relating to the ,conservation ,strategy4 7b7 ,existing conservation plans ,the ,conservation ,strategy shall draw from existing local1 ,state1 and regional conservation plans and frameworks1 conservation plans of ,indian ,tribes1 and ,state wildlife action plans1 with an emphasis on supporting existing science-based frameworks from the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 including the ,working ,land for ,wildlife framework4 7c7 ,inclusion ,the ,conservation ,strategy shall-- 7#a7 identify key areas with-- 7,a7 grasslands at high risk of conversion to cropland1 residential and commercial development1 shrub or woody encroachment1 or invasion of annual grasses or other undesired vegetation2 7,b7 the highest potential of conserving native grasslands1 restoring grasslands1 and reducing fragmentation2 7,c7 ecologically significant grassland remnants2 7,d7 populations of grassland bird species of greatest conservation need1 as identified in-- 7i7 ,state wildlife action plans2 7ii7 ,tribal conservation plans2 or 7iii7 the report of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service entitled ,birds of ,conservation ,concern #bjba ,migratory ,bird ,program and dated ,april #bjba 7or a successor document72 and 7,e7 grassland habitats important to the recovery of species listed as threatened species or endangered species under section #d of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc72 7#b7 identify specific goals for increasing grassland acreage and enhancing existing grasslands primarily through incentivizing the voluntary restoration of grasslands and the management of native prairie or sagebrush shrublands through conservation practices such as-- 7,a7 advanced grazing management or other prescribed grazing management that meets the objectives of the ,conservation ,strategy2 7,b7 prescribed fires2 7,c7 invasive species management2 7,d7 removal of encroaching woody vegetation2 and 7,e7 restoration of marginal cropland and pastureland to native grasslands in areas that were historically grasslands2 and 7#c7 develop-- 7,a7 baseline inventories and population estimates of key indicator birds1 pollinators1 and other wildlife species at risk2 7,b7 goals for increasing population size and resiliency of those species1 including through ensuring grassland habitat connectivity2 and 7,c7 a tool for tracking county-level aggregated conversion of native grasslands to cropland1 residential and commercial development1 and other uses that shall be-- 7i7 made publicly available2 and 7ii7 updated on an annual basis4 7d7 ,availability ,not later than #abj days before the date on which the program is established1 the ,conservation ,strategy shall be finalized and made publicly available on the website of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service to help target investments in grasslands conservation projects4 #h4 ,grassland conservation grant program 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,agriculture and other heads of relevant ,federal agencies1 shall establish a competitive grant program to award grants to eligible entities for eligible projects to support voluntary grasslands conservation projects1 including projects-- 7#a7 to conserve intact grasslands at risk of conversion to cropland and residential and commercial development2 7#b7 to restore degraded grasslands and improve grassland health2 7#c7 to increase carbon sequestration and ecological function in soils and improve resilience of grasslands2 7#d7 to support habitat and habitat connectivity for native grassland and sagebrush birds1 pollinators1 plants1 watersheds1 and other wildlife1 including big game species2 and 7#e7 to restore and enhance watersheds4 7b7 ,applications ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under the program shall submit to the ,director an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,director may require4 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,director shall prioritize grants to eligible entities that advance the goals of the ,conservation ,strategy4 7d7 ,considerations ,in awarding grants under the program1 the ,director shall consider recommendations made by the ,council4 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity may use a grant awarded under the program for grasslands conservation projects1 including-- 7,a7 voluntary conservation easements2 7,b7 restoration and management activities1 including-- 7i7 voluntary incentives to producers for prescribed burns2 7ii7 removal of pinyon juniper or any other encroaching woody species2 7iii7 management of invasive species2 7iv7 maintenance and monitoring of new or ongoing grasslands conservation projects2 7v7 advanced grazing management activities2 7vi7 drought monitoring and preparedness activities2 and 7vii7 such other restoration and management activities as determined appropriate by the ,director2 7,c7 ecosystem education1 outreach1 and conservation stewardship assistance1 which may include-- 7i7 field days2 7ii7 grazing management training programs2 7iii7 conservation planning2 and 7iv7 education and outreach relating to-- 7,i7 grazing management2 7,,ii7 control of invasive species2 7,,iii7 prescribed fires2 7,,iv7 native seed crop systems research1 in accordance with the research carried out by the ,secretary of ,agriculture under section #i2 7,v7 land access1 generational land transfers1 and ensuring ranchland viability2 7,,vi7 best management practices relating to grassland biomes2 and 7,,vii7 participation in carbon and ecosystem markets2 7,d7 payments for ecosystem or conservation services2 and 7,e7 such other activities that benefit grasslands and associated wildlife4 7#b7 ,restoration activities ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a77;,b71 any restoration activity shall prioritize a diverse mix of appropriately sourced native grasses and forbs1 with such exceptions as the ,director determines to be appropriate for ecologically appropriate noninvasive and non-native species4 7f7 ,grasslands conservation projects in ,mexico and ,canada ,the ,secretary shall grant or otherwise provide up to #aj percent of the amounts made available under section #ab7;a77#a7 to ,federal agencies1 eligible entities1 and other individuals and entities1 including foreign land management agencies1 for the purpose of assisting those entities and individuals in carrying out grasslands conservation projects in ,mexico and ,canada that-- 7#a7 have been approved by the ,council2 and 7#b7 meet the goals of the ,conservation ,strategy4 7g7 ,tribal set-,aside ,for each fiscal year1 of the amounts made available to carry out the program1 the ,director shall set aside not less than #aj percent to provide grants to ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7h7 ,cost-,sharing requirement 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the non-,federal share of the cost of carrying out an eligible project using funds from a grant awarded under the program shall be not less than #be percent1 including in-kind contributions4 7#b7 ,waivers 7,a7 ,indian ,tribes ,the ,secretary shall waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph 7#a7 for grants awarded to ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations4 7,b7 ,other eligible entities ,the ,council shall establish waiver criteria under which the ,secretary may waive the cost-share requirement under paragraph 7#a71 in whole or in part1 for grants awarded to such other eligible entities4 7i7 ,administrative costs ,an eligible entity awarded a grant under this section may use the grant funds for administrative costs relating to that grant4 #i4 ,native seed crop systems research ,the ,secretary and the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall jointly coordinate and implement the ,national ,seed ,strategy for ,rehabilitation and ,restoration developed by the ,plant ,conservation ,alliance and chaired by the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management1 with an emphasis on-- 7#a7 research relating to native seed crop systems1 including-- 7,a7 agronomic research to improve the understanding of native plants as seed crops for native rangeland revegetation1 with an emphasis on enhancing natural plant establishment in the environment2 7,b7 research on plant seed physiology to improve seed quality1 storage1 and seeding success in the landscape2 7,c7 the development and technology transfer of best management practices and technologies for seed production1 seed collection1 seed storage1 and reseeding success in the environment2 7,d7 research on soil chemistry and biome composition and how soil chemistry and biome composition impact native seed establishment2 and 7,e7 identification of scenarios and preferred species for the incorporation of non-native seed1 with the goal of the overall successful restoration of functional groups of species2 7#b7 extension of research described in paragraph 7#a7 to seed producers and land managers responsible for restoration efforts2 and 7#c7 production1 storage1 distribution1 and planting of native seed crops in grassland areas for restoration4 #aj4 ,regenerative grazing data collection 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,federal land ,the term ,federal land means-- 7,a7 public lands 7as defined in section #ajc of the ,federal ,land ,policy and ,management ,act of #aigf 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #agjb772 and 7,b7 land of the ,national ,forest ,system 7as defined in section #aa7;a7 of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afji7;a7774 7#b7 ,pilot program ,the term pilot program means the pilot program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#c7 ,secretaries ,the term ,secretaries means the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service7 and the ,secretary 7acting through the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management71 acting jointly4 7b7 ,pilot program for use of regenerative grazing on ,federal land ,to mitigate the effects of climate change 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries shall establish a pilot program to study the effectiveness of using grazing on ,federal land to mitigate the effects of climate change4 7#b7 ,requirements ,in carrying out the pilot program1 the ,secretaries shall-- 7,a7 identify-- 7i7 a standard set of practices to study1 such as carbon beneficial practices1 that support conservation and grazing goals1 including-- 7,i7 ecologically appropriate silvopasture2 7,,ii7 practices that provide wildlife habitat benefits2 7,,iii7 practices that consider flexibility in season of use2 7,,iv7 forage and biomass management2 7,v7 planned grazing2 and 7,,vi7 range monitoring2 and 7ii7 sufficient grazing allotments on a diverse mixture of ecosystems to identify whether1 and the extent to which1 grazing is an effective tool to mitigate effects of climate change1 including the ability-- 7,i7 to improve soil health2 7,,ii7 to increase carbon sequestration2 7,,iii7 to reduce wildfire risk2 and 7,,iv7 to improve watershed resilience and biodiversity2 and 7,b7 in developing1 implementing1 and monitoring the pilot program1 consult with-- 7i7 the ,chief of the ,forest ,service2 7ii7 the ,director of the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7iii7 the ,administrator of the ,agricultural ,research ,service2 7iv7 the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 7v7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 7vi7 ranchers and representatives of the ranching industry2 7vii7 representatives from grazing districts1 associations1 boards1 or councils2 7viii7 environmental and conservation nongovernmental organizations2 7ix7 institutions of higher education2 and 7x7 any other ,federal or ,state agency1 academic institution1 or organization that the ,secretaries determine to be appropriate4 7#c7 ,use of funds ,funds made available to carry out the pilot program may be used for-- 7,a7 the conduct of research activities2 7,b7 the provision of technical assistance to permittees2 or 7,c7 the construction of infrastructure necessary for implementing and analyzing regenerative grazing4 7#d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which the ,secretaries determine that a sufficient quantity of data has been collected under the pilot program1 the ,secretaries shall submit to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives1 and make publicly available on the websites of the ,department of ,agriculture and the ,department of the ,interior1 a report on the findings and data derived from the pilot program1 including whether and the extent to which the use of regenerative grazing improved the ability to mitigate the impacts of climate change4 #aa4 ,report to ,congress ,the ,director shall submit to ,congress1 and make publicly available1 an annual report on the implementation of this ,act1 which shall include an annual assessment of the status of grasslands conservation projects1 including an accounting of expenditures by ,federal1 ,state1 and other entities4 #ab4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated-- 7#a7 to the ,director to carry out the program1 #bij1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf1 to remain available until expended2 7#b7 to carry out section #e1 #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf1 to remain available until expended2 7#c7 to the ,secretary of ,agriculture to carry out section #i1 #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbe1 to remain available until expended2 and 7#d7 to carry out section #aj1 #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbd1 to remain available until expended4 7b7 ,administrative costs for the ,council and program ,of the amounts made available under subsection 7a77#b71 not more than #aj percent may be used for administrative costs relating to the ,council and the program4 7c7 ,limitation ,none of the funds made available under this section may be used for species or habitat mitigation under any ,federal law4