,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ccbi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ac1 #bjbe,mr4 ,beyer 7for himself and ,mr4 ,buchanan7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the conservation and designation of habitat connectivity areas1 with support from the voluntary conservation programs administered by the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 as ,american wildlife corridors1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,wildlife ,corridors and ,,usda ,conservation ,programs ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,habitat connectivity area designation 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,american wildlife corridor ,the term ,american wildlife corridor means a habitat connectivity area1 including any adjacent lands to such habitat connectivity area that is designated under subsection 7c77#b74 7#b7 ,directors ,the term ,directors means the ,secretary of the ,interior acting through-- 7,a7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 and 7,b7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#c7 ,habitat connectivity ,the term habitat connectivity means the degree to which landscapes1 waterscapes1 and seascapes allow species to move freely1 including during seasonal migration and in response to changing environmental conditions1 and ecological processes to function unimpeded4 7#d7 ,habitat connectivity area ,the term habitat connectivity area means an area of intact habitat or a distinct component of the landscape1 waterscape1 or seascape the designation of which1 under subsection 7c77#b71 may provide habitat connectivity4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,identification of habitat connectivity areas 7#a7 ,identification ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and periodically thereafter1 the ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,directors1 shall identify habitat connectivity areas1 including any lands adjacent to such identified habitat connectivity areas1 that may improve habitat connectivity in such areas4 7#b7 ,maps ,subject to section #abdd7;b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdd7;b771 as amended by section #c of this ,act1 and section #afai of the ,food1 ,conservation1 and ,energy ,act of #bjjh1 upon identifying habitat connectivity areas under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,directors1 shall-- 7,a7 develop maps of the identified habitat connectivity areas1 including any adjacent lands described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 expand and build upon any existing efforts by the ,department of ,agriculture in developing such maps4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,secretary identifies habitat connectivity areas1 including any adjacent lands1 under paragraph 7#a71 and periodically thereafter upon any new identifications under such paragraph1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7,a7 includes a description of habitat connectivity areas identified under paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 includes a review of any associated data or surveys relating to activities carried out under paragraph 7#a72 7,c7 includes the maps developed under paragraph 7#b7 in aggregate form2 and 7,d7 identifies gaps in information with respect to carrying out paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71 including-- 7i7 information relating to whether the identified habitat connectivity areas are being used as a wildlife corridor2 7ii7 additional information required to identify additional habitat connectivity areas2 and 7iii7 any other information the ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,directors1 determines necessary4 7c7 ,designation of ,american wildlife corridors 7#a7 ,criteria ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue regulations to establish criteria1 for the purpose of designating habitat connectivity areas under paragraph 7#b71 that-- 7,a7 considers whether a designation is in concert with existing land and resource management plans2 and 7,b7 determines1 using the best-available science1 whether a habitat connectivity area identified under subsection 7b77#a71 including any adjacent lands as described in that subsection-- 7i7 supports the persistence1 resilience1 adaptability1 and movement of fish and wildlife2 7ii7 has the potential to benefit more than #a species of fish and wildlife2 or 7iii7 has the potential to benefit fish or wildlife species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq474 7#b7 ,designation ,not later than #c years after the date on which the ,secretary establishes criteria pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall designate habitat connectivity areas identified under subsection 7b77#a71 including any adjacent lands that may provide additional habitat connectivity1 using the criteria established pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection1 as an ,american wildlife corridor for the purposes of encouraging the long-term maintenance and conservation of the ,american wildlife corridor4 7d7 ,conservation of ,american wildlife corridors 7#a7 ,technical assistance 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,directors1 shall develop and establish technical standards and requirements1 including best practices for the long-term conservation of an ,american wildlife corridor1 to provide technical assistance1 outreach1 and education with respect to the conservation of the applicable ,american wildlife corridor4 7,b7 ,authorized actions of ,secretary ,in providing technical assistance under paragraph 7#a77;,b71 the ,secretary may encourage producers to-- 7i7 implement strategies and activities that will promote sustainable production and conservation of wildlife habitats concurrently2 7ii7 maintain or improve habitats and habitat connectivity in ,american wildlife corridors2 7iii7 establish wildlife monitoring plans2 and 7iv7 implement strategies and activities that enhance the ability of fish and wildlife to respond to changing environmental conditions4 7#b7 ,contract modification ,in furthering the purposes of an ,american wildlife corridor designation under subsection 7c77#b71 the ,secretary may-- 7,a7 give priority for enrollment or reenrollment in a conservation program administered by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 terminate or modify an existing contract entered into with the ,secretary under such a conservation program if-- 7i7 the producer agrees to the termination or modification of such contract2 and 7ii7 land subject to such contract will be enrolled in-- 7,i7 the agricultural conservation easement program under subtitle ,h of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chfe et seq472 or 7,,ii7 the healthy forests reserve program under title ,v of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #fega et seq474 7e7 ,cooperative agreements ,to carry out this section1 the ,secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with-- 7#a7 ,federal agencies2 7#b7 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments2 7#c7 nongovernmental organizations2 or 7#d7 institutions of higher education4 #c4 ,administrative requirements 7a7 ,privacy of personal information relating to ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,programs ,section #abdd7;b77#a77;,b77i7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdd7;b77#a77;,b77i77 is amended by inserting 1 including the ,wildlife ,corridors and ,,usda ,conservation ,programs ,act of #bjbe after ,farm ,service ,agency4 7b7 ,regulatory certainty ,section #abdd7p7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdd7p77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 by inserting 1 or an ,american wildlife corridor 7as such term is defined by section #b7;a7 of the ,wildlife ,corridors and ,,usda ,conservation ,programs ,act of #bjbe71 after wildlife resource concern2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 by inserting 1 or an ,american wildlife corridor1 after wildlife resource concern4