H.R. 7712

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7712 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7712

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate with various 
entities, and to establish a grant program, as a means of supporting 
nurseries and seed orchards, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 25, 2026

Ms. Schrier (for herself and Mr. Bergman) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate with various 
entities, and to establish a grant program, as a means of supporting 
nurseries and seed orchards, 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.

This Act may be cited as the ``Reforestation, Nurseries, and 
Genetic Resources Support Act of 2026'' or the ``RNGR Support Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. NURSERY AND SEED ORCHARD SUPPORT.

(a) Partnerships, Collaboration, and Other Assistance in Support of 
Nurseries and Seed Orchards.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall--
(1) partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, 
institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and 
private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, 
and research to nursery and tree establishment programs that 
support natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and 
afforestation;
(2) promote information sharing to improve technical 
knowledge and practices, and to better understand reforestation 
needs, relating to seeds or seedlings, effects of climate 
change, tree genetics for resistance to pathogens and drought, 
and other issues necessary to address all facets of the 
reforestation supply chain;
(3) provide technical and financial assistance to 
international nursery and tree establishment programs through 
the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of 
Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of 
Tropical Forestry;
(4) collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and 
agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service of the 
Department of Agriculture, the United States Agency for 
International Development, the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and international organizations, including the Food 
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to provide 
technical and financial assistance related to nurseries and 
reforestation;
(5) coordinate the efforts of the Department of 
Agriculture--
(A) to address the challenges associated with the 
reforestation supply chain, including workforce 
development; and
(B) to leverage economic development assistance for 
work with private nurseries;
(6) expand reforestation supply chains through science and 
research, seed collection and storage, workforce development, 
and nursery infrastructure and operations; and
(7) shorten the timeline for approval of permits to collect 
seeds on National Forest System lands.
(b) Nursery and Seed Orchard Grant Program.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a 
program to provide grants to eligible recipients to support 
nurseries and seed orchards.
(2) Allowable uses.--A recipient of grant funds under 
paragraph (1) may use such funds to carry out a project 
comprised of 1 or more of the following:
(A) The development, expansion, enhancement, or 
improvement of nursery production capacity or other 
infrastructure--
(i) to improve seed collection and storage;
(ii) to increase seedling production, 
storage, and distribution; or
(iii) to enhance seedling survival and 
properly manage tree genetic resources.
(B) The establishment or expansion of a nursery or 
seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a 
nursery or seed orchard.
(C) The development or implementation of quality 
control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.
(D) The promotion of workforce development within 
any facet of the reforestation supply chain.
(E) Any other activity determined appropriate by 
the Secretary.
(c) Reforestation Trust Fund.--Notwithstanding subsection (d) of 
section 303 of Public Law 96-451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a), of amounts in the 
Reforestation Trust Fund established by subsection (a) of that section 
that are not otherwise obligated, the Secretary may obligate not more 
than $5,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this section.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' 
means--
(A) a State forestry agency;
(B) an Indian Tribe; and
(C) a private nursery that has experience growing 
high-quality native trees of appropriate genetic 
sources in bareroot or container stocktypes specific 
for reforestation, restoration, or conservation, 
including native plants and seeds that are of cultural 
significance to Indian Tribes.
(2) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the 
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 
(16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(3) Nursery.--The term ``nursery'' means a tree or native 
plant nursery.
(4) Seed orchard.--The term ``seed orchard'' means a tree 
or native plant seed orchard.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
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