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I
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 4133
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to direct a study on soil health
of Federal lands, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 30, 2019
Mr. NEGUSE (for himself and Mr. CURTIS) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to direct a study
on soil health of Federal lands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Study on Improving
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Lands Act’’.
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SEC. 2. STUDY.
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The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the
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Secretary of the Interior, shall direct the National Acad-
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emies of Science to study and report on the state of soil
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health on Federal lands in the United States.
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SEC. 3. DUTIES.
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The National Academies of Science shall determine
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the parameters by which to measure soil health, includ-
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ing—
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(1) soil organic matter and other measure-
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ments;
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(2) soil qualities that lead to the sequester of
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carbon; and
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(3) soil qualities that support strong ecosystems
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and resilient environments.
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SEC. 4. DATABASE.
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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
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of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination
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with the Secretary of the Interior and the National Acad-
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emies of Science, shall—
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(1) commence a study on the state of soil
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health on Federal lands that determines impacts
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such as grazing, wildfire, recreation, invasive species,
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and other relevant impacts on soil health on Federal
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lands; and
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(2) create a database of the information col-
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lected during the study.
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SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
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(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days
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after the commencement of the study under section 4, and
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annually thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
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•HR 4133 IH
evaluate the progress of that study and report any short-
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term findings to the Committee on Natural Resources and
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the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
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tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
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sources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
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Forestry of the Senate.
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(b) REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later
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than 2 years after the commencement of the study under
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this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the
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Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on
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Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
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mittee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Com-
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mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
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ate a report summarizing the results of the study together
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with any recommendations for legislative or regulatory ac-
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tion to improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration,
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and improve community benefits of soil health programs
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on Federal lands.
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Æ
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