Urban Forests Act of 2021

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2477 To provide support for urban forests, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 13, 2021 Ms. MALLIOTAKIS (for herself, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. YOUNG, and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with- in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide support for urban forests, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Urban Forests Act 4 of 2021’’. 5 SEC. 2. URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY ASSISTANCE. 6 (a) TREE CITY USA GRANT PROGRAM.—Section 9 7 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 8 U.S.C. 2105) is amended— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2477 IH (1) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as 1 subsections (j) and (k), respectively; and 2 (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol- 3 lowing; 4 ‘‘(h) TREE CITY USA GRANT PROGRAM.— 5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab- 6 lish a grant program to be known as the ‘Tree City 7 USA Grant Program’ to provide competitive grants 8 to eligible entities to enhance and maintain urban 9 forests. 10 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION.— 11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to be 12 awarded a grant under paragraph (1), an eligi- 13 ble entity shall submit an application to the 14 Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 15 containing such information as the Secretary 16 may require, including a proposal to enhance 17 and maintain urban forests. 18 ‘‘(B) APPLICATION ASSISTANCE.—A non- 19 profit organization that partners with an eligi- 20 ble entity may submit an application under sub- 21 paragraph (A) on behalf of such eligible entity. 22 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under 23 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to el- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2477 IH igible entities that submit proposals under para- 1 graph (2)(A) that— 2 ‘‘(A) enhance, maintain, or improve access 3 to urban forests in— 4 ‘‘(i) typically underserved areas; or 5 ‘‘(ii) areas with low tree or environ- 6 mental equity; 7 ‘‘(B) further a statewide assessment or 8 local government initiative to enhance and 9 maintain urban forests; 10 ‘‘(C) include a plan to mitigate risks from 11 insects, disease, and non-native invasive species; 12 and 13 ‘‘(D) include a plan to monitor and main- 14 tain new and existing trees. 15 ‘‘(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 16 may provide technical assistance to local govern- 17 ments to assist such local governments with— 18 ‘‘(A) becoming eligible entities; and 19 ‘‘(B) proposals under paragraph (2)(A). 20 ‘‘(5) MATCHING FUNDS.—An eligible entity 21 that receives a grant under this subsection shall con- 22 tribute an amount of non-Federal funds (in cash or 23 in kind) that is at least equal to the amount of the 24 Federal funds received. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(6) PREMIER TREE CITY.—Not later than 1 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Urban 2 Forests Act of 2021, and annually through 2030 3 thereafter, the Secretary shall designate as a ‘Pre- 4 mier Tree City’ one eligible entity awarded a grant 5 under this subsection to recognize the superior ef- 6 forts of such eligible entity in enhancing and main- 7 taining urban forests. 8 ‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In 9 addition to the amounts authorized under subsection 10 (k), there are authorized to be appropriated 11 $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 12 2030 to carry out this subsection. 13 ‘‘(8) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this sub- 14 section, the term ‘eligible entity’ means a local gov- 15 ernment that— 16 ‘‘(A) serves an urban and community area; 17 and 18 ‘‘(B) a tree planting non-profit organiza- 19 tion recognizes as having— 20 ‘‘(i) a tree board or department; 21 ‘‘(ii) a tree care ordinance; 22 ‘‘(iii) a community forestry program 23 with an annual budget of at least $2 per 24 capita; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(iv) an Arbor Day observance and 1 proclamation.’’. 2 (b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR URBAN WOOD 3 UTILIZATION.—Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry As- 4 sistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105), as amended by 5 subsection (a), is further amended by inserting after sub- 6 section (h) the following: 7 ‘‘(i) PILOT PROJECT FOR COOPERATIVE AGREE- 8 MENTS FOR URBAN WOOD UTILIZATION.— 9 ‘‘(1) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Sec- 10 retary may enter into cooperative agreements with 11 State and local governments, institutions of higher 12 education, private or non-profit organizations, and 13 other entities that support projects that create wood 14 products from dead and fallen trees in urban and 15 community areas. 16 ‘‘(2) PRIORITIZATION.—The Secretary shall 17 prioritize entering into cooperative agreements 18 that— 19 ‘‘(A) support local job creation; 20 ‘‘(B) are located in typically underserved 21 areas or areas with low tree or environmental 22 equity; 23 ‘‘(C) develop new uses for dead and fallen 24 trees; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(D) improve urban forest health and re- 1 siliency. 2 ‘‘(3) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSIST- 3 ANCE.—The Secretary may provide technical or fi- 4 nancial assistance to entities that enter into a coop- 5 erative agreement under paragraph (1) to facili- 6 tate— 7 ‘‘(A) research on new uses for dead and 8 fallen trees in urban and community areas; and 9 ‘‘(B) market expansion opportunities for 10 products made from dead and fallen trees in 11 urban and community areas. 12 ‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 13 date of the enactment of the Urban Forests Act of 14 2021, the Secretary shall provide a report to the rel- 15 evant committees on— 16 ‘‘(A) the implementation of this subsection; 17 and 18 ‘‘(B) recommendations to encourage eco- 19 nomic development and job creation by creating 20 new markets for wood products made from 21 urban timber sources. 22 ‘‘(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 23 ‘‘(A) DEAD AND FALLEN TREES.—The 24 term ‘dead and fallen trees’ means trees that— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(i) are dying or have died; 1 ‘‘(ii) have partially or completely fall- 2 en over; or 3 ‘‘(iii) have been negatively impacted 4 by insects, disease, or weather-related dis- 5 turbances. 6 ‘‘(B) RELEVANT COMMITTEES.—The term 7 ‘relevant committees’ means— 8 ‘‘(i) the Committees on Natural Re- 9 sources and Agriculture of the House of 10 Representatives; and 11 ‘‘(ii) the Committees on Energy and 12 Natural Resources and Agriculture, Nutri- 13 tion, and Forestry of the Senate.’’. 14 (c) PROGRAM OF EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL AS- 15 SISTANCE CLARIFICATION FOR CARBON STORAGE.—Sec- 16 tion 9(d)(3) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act 17 of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105(d)(3)) is amended— 18 (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ 19 after the semicolon; 20 (2) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘and’’ 21 after the semicolon; and 22 (3) by inserting at the end the following new 23 subparagraph: 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(E) identifying opportunities to increase 1 carbon storage through afforestation and sci- 2 entific urban and community forestry manage- 3 ment;’’. 4 (d) NATIONAL URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY 5 ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Section 9(g) of the Cooperative 6 Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105(g)) is 7 amended— 8 (1) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 9 following new subparagraph: 10 ‘‘(F) MEETINGS.—The Council established 11 under this subsection shall meet not less than 12 twice annually.’’; and 13 (2) by adding at the end the following new 14 paragraph: 15 ‘‘(7) RENEWAL OF COUNCIL.— 16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 17 days after the date of the enactment of the 18 Urban Forests Act of 2021, the Secretary shall 19 renew the Council. 20 ‘‘(B) TERMINATION.—The Council shall 21 not terminate except as provided by an Act of 22 Congress.’’. 23 (e) URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY ACTION 24 PLAN CLARIFICATION FOR CARBON STORAGE.—Section 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 2477 IH 9(g)(3) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105(g)(3)) is amended by adding at the 2 end the following: 3 ‘‘(G) Recommendations for identifying op- 4 portunities to increase carbon storage through 5 afforestation and scientific urban and commu- 6 nity forestry management.’’. 7 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sub- 8 section (k) of section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assist- 9 ance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105), as redesignated by 10 subsection (a), is amended— 11 (1) by striking ‘‘$30,000,000’’ and inserting 12 ‘‘$50,000,000’’; and 13 (2) by striking ‘‘fiscal years 1991 through 14 1995’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2021 through 15 2025’’. 16 SEC. 3. CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTER URBAN FOR- 17 ESTRY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 18 Section 147(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Op- 19 portunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197(d)) is amended by adding 20 at the end the following: 21 ‘‘(4) URBAN FORESTRY.— 22 ‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 23 year after the date of the enactment of this 24 paragraph, the Secretary of Agriculture and the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 2477 IH Secretary of Labor shall jointly establish Civil- 1 ian Conservation Centers in urban and commu- 2 nity areas (as defined in subsection (j) of sec- 3 tion 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 4 Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105)). 5 ‘‘(B) FOCUS.—In addition to the training 6 and skills required under paragraph (1), the Ci- 7 vilian Conservation Centers established pursu- 8 ant to subparagraph (A) shall provide training 9 on urban forestry issues, including urban forest 10 conservation, management, maintenance, and 11 monitoring.’’. 12 SEC. 4. FOREST INVENTORY 5-YEAR REPORTS. 13 Section 3(e)(3) of the Forest and Rangeland Renew- 14 able Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 15 1642(e)(3)) is amended— 16 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 17 the end; 18 (2) in subparagraph (C)— 19 (A) by inserting ‘‘, including forest car- 20 bon’’ before ‘‘over the previous’’; and 21 (B) by striking the period at the end and 22 inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 23 (C) by adding at the end the following: 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 2477 IH ‘‘(D) demonstrates the efforts taken by the 1 Forest Service to— 2 ‘‘(i) conduct a strategic national forest 3 inventory by measuring a statistically de- 4 signed consistent historical series of field 5 plots in combination with advanced tech- 6 nology to improve data, information, and 7 estimates of precision; and 8 ‘‘(ii) use advanced geospatial tech- 9 nologies to improve the area and volume 10 estimates described in clause (i), especially 11 for sub-State regions and smaller areas.’’. 12 SEC. 5. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO COORDI- 13 NATE URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAMS. 14 Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact- 15 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter 16 into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretaries 17 of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban De- 18 velopment, Interior, Labor, and Transportation and the 19 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 20 to— 21 (1) identify strategies to increase equitable ac- 22 cess to urban forests through existing programs and 23 authorities; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 2477 IH (2) coordinate existing urban forestry pro- 1 grams; 2 (3) conduct research on the benefits of urban 3 forests for air quality, heat island mitigation, energy 4 burden reduction, and enhanced shading for heat-re- 5 silient housing and active transit; and 6 (4) conduct research on improving coordination 7 between the agencies to address insects, disease, and 8 non-native invasive species in urban and community 9 areas. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 May 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2477.IH H2477 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS