,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dgf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #f 7legislative day1 ,february #e71 #bjbe,mr4 ,mc,connell 7for himself and ,mr4 ,warner7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,agriculture and the ,secretary of the ,interior to carry out activities to provide for white oak restoration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,white ,oak ,resiliency ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definition of land-grant college or university ,in this ,act1 the term land-grant college or university means-- 7#a7 an #ahfb ,institution 7as defined in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja772 7#b7 an #ahij ,institution 7as defined in that section72 and 7#c7 a #aiid ,institution 7as defined in section #ecb of the ,equity in ,educational ,land-,grant ,status ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cja note2 ,public ,law #ajc-chb774 #c4 ,white ,oak ,restoration ,initiative ,coalition 7a7 ,in general ,there is established the ,white ,oak ,restoration ,initiative ,coalition 7referred to in this section as the ,coalition7-- 7#a7 as a voluntary collaborative group of public1 ,state1 private1 and nongovernmental organizations to carry out the duties described in subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 in accordance with the charter entitled ,white ,oak ,initiative ,coalition ,charter adopted by the ,white ,oak ,initiative ,board of ,directors on ,march #ba1 #bjbc 7or a successor charter74 7b7 ,duties ,in addition to the duties specified in the charter described in subsection 7a77#b71 the duties of the ,coalition are-- 7#a7 to coordinate public1 ,state1 local1 private1 and nongovernmental restoration of white oak in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 to make program and policy recommendations with respect to-- 7,a7 changes necessary to address ,federal and ,state policies that impede activities to improve the health1 resiliency1 and natural regeneration of white oak2 7,b7 adopting or modifying ,federal and ,state policies to increase the pace and scale of white oak regeneration and resiliency of white oak2 7,c7 options to enhance communication1 coordination1 and collaboration between forest land owners1 particularly for cross-boundary projects1 to improve the health1 resiliency1 and natural regeneration of white oak2 7,d7 research gaps that should be addressed to improve the best available science on white oak2 7,e7 outreach to forest landowners with white oak or white oak regeneration potential2 and 7,f7 options and policies necessary to improve the quality and quantity of white oak in tree nurseries2 and 7#c7 to submit the report under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,coalition shall submit to 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 ,representatives a report describing the activities of the ,coalition during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this ,act1 including the recommendations described in subsection 7b77#b74 7d7 ,administrative support1 technical services1 and staff support ,the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall make such personnel available to the ,coalition for administrative support1 technical services1 and development and dissemination of educational materials as the ,secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out this section4 7e7 ,nonapplicability of ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act ,chapter #aj of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall not apply to the ,coalition4 7f7 ,private funding of white oak restoration projects ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture may make available funds to the ,coalition to carry out this section from funds in the accounts established pursuant to section #abda7;f7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chda7;f774 #d4 ,forest ,service pilot program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 shall establish and carry out #e pilot projects in national forests to restore white oak in those national forests through white oak restoration and natural regeneration practices4 7b7 ,national forests reserved or withdrawn from the public domain ,at least #c pilot projects required under subsection 7a7 shall be carried out in national forests reserved or withdrawn from the public domain4 7c7 ,authority ,to enter into cooperative agreements ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects required under subsection 7a74 #e4 ,department of the ,interior white oak assessment and pilot projects 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,covered land ,the term covered land means land under the administrative jurisdiction of the ,secretary1 including a unit of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system and abandoned mine land4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7b7 ,assessment 7#a7 ,in general ,as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall carry out an assessment of covered land to evaluate-- 7,a7 whether white oak is present on the covered land2 and 7,b7 the potential to restore white oak forests on the covered land4 7#b7 ,use of information ,in carrying out the assessment under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may use information from sources other than the ,department of the ,interior1 including information from-- 7,a7 the ,white ,oak ,restoration ,initiative ,coalition established by section #c7;a72 and 7,b7 the ,chief of the ,forest ,service4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress1 and make publicly available on the website of the ,department of the ,interior1 a report describing the results of the assessment carried out under paragraph 7#a74 7c7 ,pilot projects 7#a7 ,in general ,as soon as practicable after the date on which the ,secretary submits the report required under subsection 7b77#c71 the ,secretary shall establish and carry out #e pilot projects on various areas of covered land1 the purpose of which is to restore and naturally regenerate white oak4 7#b7 ,authority to enter into cooperative agreements ,the ,secretary may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects required under paragraph 7#a74 #f4 ,white oak regeneration and upland oak habitat 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall establish a nonregulatory program to be known as the ,white ,oak and ,upland ,oak ,habitat ,regeneration ,program 7referred to in this section as the ,program74 7b7 ,duties ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 draw upon the best available science and management plans for species of white oak to identify1 prioritize1 and implement restoration and conservation activities that will improve the growth of white oak within the ,united ,states2 7#b7 collaborate and coordinate with the ,white ,oak ,restoration ,initiative ,coalition to prioritize white oak restoration initiatives2 7#c7 adopt a white oak restoration strategy that-- 7,a7 supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and conservation activities developed in accordance with paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 targets cost-effective projects with measurable results2 and 7,c7 maximizes restoration outcomes with no net gain of ,federal full-time equivalent employees2 and 7#d7 establish the voluntary grant and technical assistance program in accordance with subsection 7e74 7c7 ,coordination ,in establishing the ,program1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 shall consult with-- 7#a7 the heads of ,federal agencies1 including-- 7,a7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 and 7,b7 the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 and 7#b7 the ,governor of each ,state in which restoration efforts will be carried out pursuant to the ,program4 7d7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,program include-- 7#a7 coordinating restoration and conservation activities among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal entities and conservation partners to address white oak restoration priorities2 7#b7 improving and regenerating white oak and upland oak forests and the wildlife habitat such forests provide2 7#c7 carrying out coordinated restoration and conservation activities that lead to the increased growth of species of white oak in native white oak regions on ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and private land2 7#d7 facilitating strategic planning to maximize the resilience of white oak systems and habitats under changing climate conditions2 7#e7 engaging the public through outreach1 education1 and citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and conservation activities for species of white oak2 and 7#f7 increasing scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary to carry out such coordinated restoration and conservation activities4 7e7 ,grants and assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,to the extent that funds are available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program 7referred to in this subsection as the grant program7 to achieve the purposes of the ,program described in subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,administration 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation 7referred to in this subsection as the ,foundation7 to manage and administer the grant program4 7,b7 ,funding ,after the ,secretary enters into a cooperative agreement with the ,foundation under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,foundation shall-- 7i7 for each fiscal year1 receive amounts to carry out this subsection in an advance payment of the entire amount on ,october #a1 or as soon as practicable thereafter1 of that fiscal year2 7ii7 invest and reinvest such amounts for the benefit of the grant program2 and 7iii7 otherwise administer the grant program to support partnerships between the public and private sectors in accordance with this section4 7#c7 ,application of ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act ,amounts received by the ,foundation to carry out the grant program shall be subject to the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 excluding section #aj7;a7 of that ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgji7;a774 #g4 ,white oak tree nursery shortages 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 shall develop and implement a national strategy to increase the capacity of ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and private tree nurseries to address the nationwide shortage of white oak tree seedlings4 7b7 ,elements ,the strategy required under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 be based on the best available science and data1 as established by land-grant colleges and universities that have demonstrated-- 7,a7 scientific expertise relating to white oak2 7,b7 the ability to rapidly transfer technologies to the stave industry2 7,c7 geographic proximity to concentrated areas of white oak2 and 7,d7 support for regional economic development2 and 7#b7 identify and address-- 7,a7 regional shortages of bareroot and container white oak tree seedlings2 7,b7 regional white oak reforestation opportunities and the seedling supply necessary to fulfill those opportunities2 7,c7 opportunities to enhance white oak seedling diversity and close gaps in seed inventories2 and 7,d7 barriers to expanding1 enhancing1 or creating new infrastructure to increase nursery capacity for white oak tree seedlings4 #h4 ,white oak research 7a7 ,research ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,forest ,service1 shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with a land-grant college or university to conduct research on-- 7#a7 white oak genes with resistance and stress tolerance2 7#b7 white oak trees that exhibit vigor for the purpose of increasing survival and growth2 7#c7 establishing a diverse white oak seed bank capable of responding to stressors2 7#d7 providing a sustainable supply of white oak seedlings and genetic resources2 7#e7 reforestation of white oak through natural and artificial regeneration2 and 7#f7 the best methods for white oak reforestation on abandoned mine land sites4 7b7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the research under subsection 7a71 the land-grant college or university may consult with such ,states1 nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and other scientific bodies as the land-grant college or university determines to be appropriate4 #i4 ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture 7a7 ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture1 shall enter into a partnership with an eligible entity described in paragraph 7#b7 to conduct research on improving white oak species resiliency1 health1 and preservation1 including research on-- 7,a7 population-scale sequencing2 7,b7 stress response traits2 7,c7 seedling physiology and performance2 and 7,d7 white oak product development4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,an eligible entity referred to in paragraph 7#a7 is a land-grant college or university that has demonstrated-- 7,a7 scientific expertise relating to white oak2 7,b7 the ability to rapidly transfer technologies to the stave industry2 7,c7 geographic proximity to concentrated areas of white oak2 and 7,d7 support for regional economic development4 7b7 ,priorities ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,food and ,agriculture1 shall prioritize research relating to the resistance of white oak to disease1 pest1 heat1 and drought in cultivated1 new1 and old-growth white oak timber stands4 #aj4 ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service initiative ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 acting through the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 shall establish an initiative on white oak-- 7#a7 to re-establish white oak forests where appropriate2 7#b7 to improve the management of existing white oak forests to foster natural regeneration of white oak2 and 7#c7 to provide technical assistance to private landowners to re-establish1 improve management of1 and naturally regenerate white oak4 #aa4 ,authorities ,to the maximum extent practicable1 to carry out activities under this ,act and the amendments made by this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall use the authorities provided under this ,act and those amendments1 in combination with authorities under other provisions of law1 including-- 7#a7 good neighbor agreements under section #hbjf of the ,agricultural ,act of #bjad 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #baac;a72 and 7#b7 stewardship contracting projects under section #fjd of the ,healthy ,forests ,restoration ,act of #bjjc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #feia;c74