H.R. 2709

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2709 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2709

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 17, 2026

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Save Our Sequoias 
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias.
Sec. 4. Giant sequoia lands coalition.
Sec. 5. Giant sequoia health and resiliency assessment.
Sec. 6. Giant sequoia emergency response.
Sec. 7. Giant sequoia reforestation and rehabilitation strategy.
Sec. 8. Giant sequoia strike teams.
Sec. 9. Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants.
Sec. 10. Giant sequoia insect monitoring and technology.
Sec. 11. Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias.
Sec. 12. Giant sequoia emergency protection program and fund.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Assessment.--The term ``Assessment'' means the Giant 
Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment required by section 5.
(2) Coalition.--The term ``Coalition'' means the Giant 
Sequoia Lands Coalition codified under section 4(a).
(3) Collaborative process.--The term ``collaborative 
process'' means a collaborative process as described in section 
4003(b)(2) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 
(16 U.S.C. 7303(b)(2)).
(4) Covered national forest system lands.--The term 
``covered National Forest System lands'' means the proclaimed 
National Forest System lands reserved or withdrawn from the 
public domain of the United States covering the Sequoia 
National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra 
National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest.
(5) Covered public lands.--The term ``covered public 
lands'' means--
(A) the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation 
Management Area in California managed by the Bureau of 
Land Management; and
(B) Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National 
Park, and Yosemite National Park in California managed 
by the National Park Service.
(6) Giant sequoia.--The term ``giant sequoia'' means a tree 
of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.
(7) Protection project.--The term ``Protection Project'' 
means a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under 
section 6.
(8) Reforestation.--The term ``reforestation'' means the 
act of renewing tree cover, taking into consideration species 
composition and resilience, by establishing young trees 
through--
(A) natural regeneration;
(B) natural regeneration with site preparation and 
vegetation competition control; or
(C) planting or direct seeding.
(9) Rehabilitation.--The term ``rehabilitation'' means any 
action taken during the 5-year period beginning on the last day 
of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire-impacted lands 
which are unlikely to recover to management-approved 
conditions.
(10) Relevant congressional committees.--The term 
``relevant Congressional Committees'' means--
(A) the Committees on Natural Resources, 
Agriculture, and Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives; and
(B) the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and 
Appropriations of the Senate.
(11) Responsible official.--The term ``responsible 
official'' means an employee of the Department of the Interior 
or Forest Service who has the authority to make and implement a 
decision on a proposed action.
(12) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of the Interior.
(13) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
means--
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
covered National Forest System lands, or their 
designee; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
covered public lands, or their designee.
(14) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the Giant 
Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established 
under section 7.
(15) Strike team.--The term ``Strike Team'' means a Giant 
Sequoia Strike Team established under section 8.
(16) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Tule River Indian 
Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.

SEC. 3. SHARED STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after receiving a request 
from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the 
Secretary shall enter into or expand an existing shared stewardship 
agreement or enter into a similar agreement with the Secretary of 
Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to 
jointly carry out the short-term and long-term management and 
conservation of giant sequoias.
(b) Participation.--
(1) In general.--If the Secretary has not received a 
request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
Tribe under subsection (a) before the date that is 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
enter into the agreement under subsection (a) and jointly 
implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.
(2) Future participation.--If the Secretary receives a 
request from the Governor of the State of California or the 
Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the 
Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the 
Tribe as a party to such agreement.

SEC. 4. GIANT SEQUOIA LANDS COALITION.

(a) Codification.--The Coalition is the entity established under 
the charter titled ``Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition Charter'' (or 
successor charter) signed during the period beginning June 2, 2022 and 
ending August 2, 2022 by each of the following:
(1) The National Park Service, representing Sequoia and 
Kings Canyon National Parks.
(2) The National Park Service, representing Yosemite 
National Park.
(3) The Forest Service, representing Sequoia National 
Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument.
(4) The Forest Service, representing Sierra National 
Forest.
(5) The Forest Service, representing Tahoe National Forest.
(6) The Bureau of Land Management, representing Case 
Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area.
(7) The Tribe, representing the Tule River Indian 
Reservation.
(8) The State of California, representing Calaveras Big 
Trees State Park.
(9) The State of California, representing Mountain Home 
Demonstration State Forest.
(10) The University of California, Berkeley, representing 
Whitaker's Research Forest.
(11) The County of Tulare, California, representing Balch 
Park.
(b) Duties.--In addition to the duties specified in the charter 
referenced in subsection (a), the Coalition shall--
(1) produce the Assessment under section 5;
(2) observe implementation, and provide policy 
recommendations to the Secretary concerned, with respect to--
(A) Protection Projects carried out under section 
6; and
(B) the Strategy established under section 7;
(3) facilitate collaboration and coordination on Protection 
Projects, particularly projects that cross jurisdictional 
boundaries;
(4) facilitate information sharing, including best 
available science as described in section 5(d) and mapping 
resources; and
(5) support the development and dissemination of 
educational materials and programs that inform the public about 
the threats to the health and resiliency of giant sequoia 
groves and actions being taken to reduce the risk to such 
groves from high-severity wildfire, insects, and drought.
(c) Administrative Support, Technical Services, and Staff 
Support.--The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department of the 
Interior available to the Coalition for administrative support, 
technical services, development and dissemination of educational 
materials, and staff support that the Secretary determines necessary to 
carry out this section.
(d) Public Meeting Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
Coalition shall provide for public observation at no less than 
one meeting annually.
(2) Closed sessions.--The Coalition may close portions of a 
meeting as provided in paragraph (1) to the public only when 
discussion will involve--
(A) sensitive law enforcement, security, or 
emergency response matters, the public disclosure of 
which would compromise public safety; or
(B) confidential commercial information, private 
property information, or landowner information.

SEC. 5. GIANT SEQUOIA HEALTH AND RESILIENCY ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Coalition shall submit to the relevant 
Congressional Committees a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency 
Assessment that, based on the best available science--
(1) identifies--
(A) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced 
a--
(i) stand-replacing disturbance; or
(ii) disturbance but continues to have 
living giant sequoias within the grove, 
including identifying the tree mortality and 
regeneration of giant sequoias within such 
grove;
(B) each giant sequoia grove that is at high risk 
of experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance;
(C) lands--
(i) contiguous or adjacent to giant sequoia 
groves that are at risk of experiencing high-
severity wildfires that could adversely impact 
such giant sequoia groves; or
(ii) in which the placement of fuel breaks 
could reduce the risk of high-severity 
wildfires that could adversely impact giant 
sequoia groves; and
(D) each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a 
disturbance and is unlikely to naturally regenerate and 
is in need of reforestation;
(2) analyzes the resiliency of each giant sequoia grove to 
threats, such as--
(A) high-severity wildfire;
(B) insects, including beetle kill; and
(C) drought;
(3) examines how historical, Tribal, or current approaches 
to wildland fire suppression and forest management activities 
across various jurisdictions have impacted the health and 
resiliency of giant sequoia groves with respect to--
(A) high-severity wildfires;
(B) insects, including beetle kill; and
(C) drought; and
(4) includes program and policy recommendations that 
address--
(A) options to enhance communication, coordination, 
and collaboration, particularly for cross-boundary 
projects, to improve the health and resiliency of giant 
sequoias; and
(B) research gaps that should be addressed to 
improve the best available science on the giant 
sequoias.
(b) Annual Updates.--Not later than 1 year after the submission of 
the Assessment under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the 
Coalition shall submit an updated Assessment to the relevant 
Congressional Committees that--
(1) includes any new data, information, or best available 
science that has changed or become available since the previous 
Assessment was submitted;
(2) with respect to Protection Projects--
(A) includes information on the number of 
Protection Projects initiated the previous year and the 
estimated timeline for completing those projects;
(B) includes information on the number of 
Protection Projects planned in the upcoming year and 
the estimated timeline for completing those projects;
(C) provides status updates and long-term 
monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves after the 
completion of Protection Projects; and
(D) if the Secretary concerned failed to reduce 
hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia groves in 
the previous year, a written explanation that 
includes--
(i) a detailed explanation of what 
impediments resulted in failing to reduce 
hazardous fuels in at least 3 giant sequoia 
groves; and
(ii) a detailed explanation of what actions 
the Secretary concerned is taking to ensure 
that hazardous fuels are reduced in at least 3 
giant sequoia groves the following year; and
(3) with respect to reforestation and rehabilitation of 
giant sequoias--
(A) contains updates on the implementation of the 
Strategy under section 7, including grove-level data on 
reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and
(B) provides status updates and monitoring reports 
on giant sequoia groves that have experienced 
reforestation or rehabilitation as part of the Strategy 
under section 7.
(c) Dashboard.--
(1) Requirement to maintain.--The Coalition shall create 
and maintain a website that--
(A) publishes the Assessment, annual updates to the 
Assessment, and other educational materials developed 
by the Coalition;
(B) contains searchable information about 
individual giant sequoia groves, including the--
(i) resiliency of such groves to threats 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
subsection (a);
(ii) Protection Projects that have been 
proposed, initiated, or completed in such 
groves; and
(iii) reforestation and rehabilitation 
activities that have been proposed, initiated, 
or completed in such groves; and
(C) maintains a searchable database to track--
(i) the status of Federal environmental 
reviews and authorizations for specific 
Protection Projects and reforestation and 
rehabilitation activities; and
(ii) the projected cost of Protection 
Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation 
activities.
(2) Searchable database.--The Coalition shall include 
information on the status of Protection Projects in the 
searchable database created under paragraph (1)(C), including--
(A) a comprehensive permitting timetable;
(B) the status of the compliance of each lead 
agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency 
with the permitting timetable;
(C) any modifications of the permitting timetable 
required under subparagraph (A), including an 
explanation as to why the permitting timetable was 
modified; and
(D) information about project-related public 
meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods, 
which shall be presented in English and the predominant 
language of the community or communities most affected 
by the project, as that information becomes available.
(d) Best Available Science.--In utilizing the best available 
science for the Assessment, the Coalition shall include--
(1) data and peer-reviewed research from academic 
institutions with a demonstrated history of studying giant 
sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management 
strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency;
(2) traditional ecological knowledge from the Tribe related 
to improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves; 
and
(3) data from Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments 
or agencies, and other interested stakeholders with a 
demonstrated history of studying giant sequoias and with 
experience analyzing distinct management strategies to improve 
giant sequoia resiliency.
(e) Technology Improvements.--In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding or agreements 
with other Federal agencies or departments, State or local governments, 
Tribal governments, private entities, or academic institutions to 
improve, with respect to the Assessment, the use and integration of--
(1) advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;
(2) statistical modeling and analysis; or
(3) any other technology the Secretary determines will 
benefit the quality of information used in the Assessment.
(f) Planning.--The Coalition shall make information from this 
Assessment available to the Secretary concerned and State of California 
to integrate into the--
(1) State of California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience 
Action Plan;
(2) Forest Service's 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy (or 
successor plan); and
(3) Department of the Interior's Wildfire Risk Five-Year 
Monitoring, Maintenance, and Treatment Plan (or successor 
plan).
(g) Relation to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.--The 
development and submission of the Assessment under subsection (a) shall 
not be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

SEC. 6. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

(a) Emergency Response to Protect Giant Sequoias.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Emergency determination.--Congress determines 
that--
(i) an emergency exists on covered public 
lands and covered National Forest System lands 
that makes it necessary to carry out Protection 
Projects that take needed actions to respond to 
the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought 
to giant sequoias; and
(ii) Protection Projects are necessary to 
control the immediate impacts of the emergency 
described in clause (i) and are needed to 
mitigate harm to life, property, or important 
natural or cultural resources on covered public 
lands and covered National Forest System lands.
(B) Application.--The emergency determination 
established under subparagraph (A) shall apply to all 
covered public lands and covered National Forest System 
lands.
(C) Expiration.--The emergency determination 
established under subparagraph (A) shall expire on the 
date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
(2) Implementation.--While the emergency determination 
established under paragraph (1) is in effect, the following 
shall apply:
(A) The Secretary concerned, acting through a 
responsible official, shall carry out Protection 
Projects on covered public lands and covered National 
Forest System lands in accordance with this section, 
all applicable land management plans, and the laws 
(including regulations) applicable to the Secretary 
concerned.
(B) A responsible official shall carry out 
Protection Projects in accordance with the following, 
as applicable:
(i) Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
System lands.
(ii) Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect October 12, 
2022), with respect to covered public lands.
(iii) Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
System lands and covered public lands.
(iv) Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect July 21, 
2022), with respect to covered National Forest 
System lands and covered public lands.
(C) The rules established under subsections (d) and 
(e) of section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment 
and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c(d), (e)) shall apply with 
respect to Protection Projects by substituting 
``Protection Projects'' for ``authorized emergency 
action under this section'' each place it appears in 
such subsections.
(D) Protection Projects shall be subject to the 
requirements of section 106 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6516).
(3) Protection projects.--The responsible official shall 
carry out the following forest management activities as 
Protection Projects under the emergency determination under 
this section:
(A) Conducting hazardous fuels management, 
including mechanical thinning, mastication, and 
prescribed burning.
(B) Removing hazard trees, dead trees, or dying 
trees, as determined by the responsible official.
(C) Removing trees to address overstocking or 
crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the 
appropriate basal area of the forest stand and the best 
available science, as determined by the responsible 
official.
(D) Activities to address insects, disease, 
invasive species, and vegetative encroachment of a 
giant sequoia grove.
(E) Any combination of activities described in this 
paragraph.
(4) Requirements.--
(A) In general.--Protection Projects carried out 
under paragraph (3) and reforestation and 
rehabilitation activities carried out under this Act 
that are described by subparagraph (C) are 
categorically excluded from the preparation of an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact 
statement under section 102 of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(B) Availability.--The Secretary concerned shall 
use the categorical exclusion established under 
subparagraph (A) in accordance with this section.
(C) Requirements.--A Protection Project or 
reforestation or rehabilitation activity is described 
by this subparagraph if such Protection Project or 
reforestation or rehabilitation activity--
(i) covers an area of no more than--
(I) 2,000 acres within giant 
sequoia groves; and
(II) 3,000 acres on lands 
identified under section 5(a)(1)(C); 
and
(ii) occurs on Federal land or non-Federal 
land with the consent of the non-Federal 
landowner.
(D) Extraordinary circumstances.--The extraordinary 
circumstances procedures under provisions (e) through 
(g) of section 1b.3 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations, shall apply to a Protection Project or 
reforestation or rehabilitation activity that is 
categorically excluded under subparagraph (A).
(E) Use of other authorities.--To the maximum 
extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use 
the authorities provided under this section in 
combination with other authorities to carry out 
Protection Projects, including--
(i) good neighbor agreements entered into 
under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and
(ii) stewardship contracting projects 
entered into under section 604 of the Healthy 
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6591c).
(F) Savings clause.--With respect to joint 
Protection Projects and reforestation and 
rehabilitation activities involving the Tribe, nothing 
in this section shall be construed to add any 
additional regulatory requirements onto the Tribe.
(b) Implementation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary concerned shall reduce hazardous fuels in no fewer than 3 
giant sequoia groves each year.
(c) Public Notice.--The Secretary concerned shall provide notice of 
each Protection Project on a publicly available website maintained by 
the Secretary concerned.

SEC. 7. GIANT SEQUOIA REFORESTATION AND REHABILITATION STRATEGY.

(a) Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
the Coalition, shall develop and implement a strategy, to be 
known as the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation 
Strategy, to enhance the reforestation and rehabilitation of 
giant sequoia groves that--
(A) identifies giant sequoia groves in need of 
reforestation or rehabilitation, giving highest 
priority to groves identified under section 
5(a)(1)(A)(i);
(B) creates a priority list of reforestation and 
rehabilitation activities;
(C) identifies and addresses--
(i) barriers to reforestation or 
rehabilitation, including--
(I) regulatory and funding 
barriers;
(II) seedling shortages or related 
nursery infrastructure capacity 
constraints;
(III) labor and workforce 
shortages;
(IV) technology and science gaps; 
and
(V) site preparation challenges;
(ii) potential public-private partnership 
opportunities to complete high-priority 
reforestation or rehabilitation projects;
(iii) a timeline for addressing the backlog 
of reforestation for giant sequoias in the 10-
year period after the agreement is entered into 
under section 3; and
(iv) strategies to ensure genetic diversity 
across giant sequoia groves; and
(D) includes program and policy recommendations 
needed to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of 
the Strategy.
(2) Assessment.--The Secretary may incorporate the Strategy 
into the Assessment under section 5.
(b) Priority Reforestation Projects Amendment.--Section 
3(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I)) is amended--
(1) in item (bb), by striking ``and'';
(2) in item (cc), by striking the period and inserting ``; 
and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(dd) shall include 
reforestation and 
rehabilitation activities 
conducted under section 7 of 
the Save Our Sequoias Act.''.

SEC. 8. GIANT SEQUOIA STRIKE TEAMS.

(a) Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall each 
establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team to assist the Secretary 
concerned with the implementation of--
(A) primarily, section 6; and
(B) secondarily, section 7.
(2) Duties.--Each Strike Team shall--
(A) assist the Secretary concerned with any 
reviews, including analysis under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), consultations under division A of subtitle III 
of title 54, United States Code (commonly referred to 
as the National Historic Preservation Act), and 
consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
(B) implement any necessary site preparation work 
in advance of or as part of a Protection Project or 
reforestation or rehabilitation activity;
(C) implement Protection Projects under section 6; 
and
(D) implement reforestation or rehabilitation 
activities under section 7.
(3) Members.--The Secretary concerned may appoint no more 
than 10 individuals each to serve on a Strike Team comprised 
of--
(A) employees of the Department of the Interior;
(B) employees of the Forest Service;
(C) private contractors from any nonprofit 
organization, State government, Tribal Government, 
local government, academic institution, or private 
organization; and
(D) volunteers from any nonprofit organization, 
State government, Tribal Government, local government, 
academic institution, or private organization.

SEC. 9. GIANT SEQUOIA COLLABORATIVE RESTORATION GRANTS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the parties to 
the agreement under section 3, shall establish a program or expand an 
existing program to award grants to eligible entities to advance, 
facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
(b) Eligible Entity.--The Secretary may award grants under this 
section to any nonprofit organization, Tribal Government, local 
government, academic institution, or private organization to help 
advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(1) primarily, are likely to have the greatest impact on 
giant sequoia health and resiliency; and
(2) secondarily--
(A) are small businesses or Tribal entities, 
particularly in rural areas; and
(B) create or support jobs, particularly in rural 
areas.
(d) Use of Grant Funds.--Funds from grants awarded under this 
section shall be used to--
(1) create, expand, or develop markets for hazardous fuels 
removed under section 6, including markets for biomass and 
biochar;
(2) facilitate hazardous fuel removal under section 6, 
including by reducing the cost of transporting hazardous fuels 
removed as part of a Protection Project;
(3) expand, enhance, develop, or create facilities or land 
that can store or process hazardous fuels removed under section 
6;
(4) establish, develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery 
capacity or infrastructure necessary to facilitate the Strategy 
established under section 7; or
(5) support Tribal management and conservation of giant 
sequoias, including funding for Tribal historic preservation 
officers.

SEC. 10. GIANT SEQUOIA INSECT MONITORING AND TECHNOLOGY.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall--
(1) develop and implement a strategy for monitoring insects 
in giant sequoia groves with a high-risk or previous history of 
insect infestations; and
(2) seek to enter into public-private partnerships to 
deploy technology to assist in the short-term and long-term 
monitoring of giant sequoia groves with current or potential 
insect infestations.
(b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit a report to the relevant 
Congressional Committees that contains--
(1) the strategy required under subsection (a)(1);
(2) an update on the effectiveness of the monitoring 
program in preventing or addressing insect infestations in 
giant sequoia groves; and
(3) program and policy recommendations to further address--
(A) research gaps regarding giant sequoia 
resiliency to insects; and
(B) opportunities to improve the resiliency of 
giant sequoias to insects.

SEC. 11. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING FOR GIANT SEQUOIAS.

(a) National Park Service.--Section 604 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a)(2) to read as follows:
``(2) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
the Bureau of Land Management with respect to Bureau of Land 
Management lands and the Director of the National Park Service 
with respect to lands within Kings Canyon National Park, 
Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``national forests and 
the public lands'' and inserting ``national forests, public 
lands, and lands within Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia 
National Park, and Yosemite National Park''.
(b) Giant Sequoia Stewardship Contracts.--Section 604(c) of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Promoting the health and resiliency of giant 
sequoias.''.
(c) Stewardship Contracting in Certain National Parks.--Stewardship 
contracting projects occurring in Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia 
National Park, and Yosemite National Park shall be carried out in 
accordance with the laws (including regulations) applicable to the 
National Park Service, including section 100753 of title 54, United 
States Code.

SEC. 12. GIANT SEQUOIA EMERGENCY PROTECTION PROGRAM AND FUND.

(a) In General.--Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting at the end the following:
``Sec. 101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
``(a) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program.--The National 
Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation 
and the Foundation for America's Public Lands, shall design and 
implement a comprehensive program to assist and promote philanthropic 
programs of support that benefit--
``(1) primarily, the management and conservation of giant 
sequoias on covered public lands and covered National Forest 
System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and 
drought; and
``(2) secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on 
covered public lands and covered National Forest System lands 
impacted by wildfire.
``(b) Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund.--
``(1) In general.--The National Park Foundation, in 
coordination with the National Forest Foundation and the 
Foundation for America's Public Lands, shall establish a joint 
special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia Emergency 
Protection Fund (referred to in this section as `the Fund'), to 
be administered in support of the program established under 
subsection (a).
``(2) Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection.--The 
Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are 
provided to the National Park Foundation, National Forest 
Foundation, or Foundation for America's Public Lands for the 
purpose described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Use of funds.--Funds shall be available to the 
National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and 
Foundation for America's Public Lands without further 
appropriation, subject to the provisions in paragraph (4), for 
projects and activities approved by the Director of the 
National Park Service, Chief of the Forest Service, or Director 
of the Bureau of Land Management as appropriate, or their 
designees, to--
``(A) primarily, support the management and 
conservation of giant sequoias on covered public lands 
and covered National Forest System lands to promote 
resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
``(B) secondarily, support the reforestation of 
giant sequoias on covered public lands and covered 
National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
``(4) Tribal support.--Of the funds provided to the 
National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and 
Foundation for America's Public Lands under paragraph (3), not 
less than 15 percent of such funds shall be used to support 
Tribal management and conservation of giant sequoias including 
funding for Tribal historic preservation officers.
``(c) Summary.--Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the National Park Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and 
Foundation for America's Public Lands shall include with their annual 
reports a summary of the status of the program and Fund created under 
this section that includes--
``(1) a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund 
during the fiscal year;
``(2) the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at 
the end of the fiscal year; and
``(3) a description of the program and projects funded 
during the fiscal year.
``(d) Definitions.--In this section, the terms `covered public 
lands' and `covered National Forest System lands' have the meaning 
given such terms in section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
``(e) Termination of Effectiveness.--The authority provided by this 
section shall terminate 7 years after the date of enactment of the Save 
Our Sequoias Act.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 1011 
of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following:

``101123. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.''.

Passed the House of Representatives March 16, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.