A bill to amend the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to improve that Act, and for other purposes.
Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024
This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and expands the lands and activities eligible for inclusion in the TFPA.
Currently under the TFPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may enter into contracts and agreements with Indian tribes for tribes to carry out land management projects on federal lands. These projects are designed to protect Indian forest lands and rangelands from wildfire, disease, and other threats coming from federal lands. However, the TFPA is currently limited to projects on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands and rangelands under the jurisdiction of the tribe.
This bill removes certain limitations of the TFPA, first by expanding the definition of Indian forest land or rangeland to include land in Alaska that is held by Alaska Native corporations, thereby allowing these corporations to participate in TFPA projects.
Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that TFPA projects must occur on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands or rangelands. The bill instead requires the federal land involved to have a special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe.
The bill allows TFPA projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands. (Currently, the TFPA only applies to work conducted on federal lands and not on tribal lands.)
The bill also updates a requirement for Interior and USDA to report to Congress on TFPA activities.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz with an amendment. With written report No. 118-249.
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz with an amendment. With written report No. 118-249.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6994-6995; text: CR S6995)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.
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