H.R. 2748 — what changed

In general— The Working Group shall adopt the National Strategy to protect, manage, and conserve fish, wildlife, and plants to maintain the inherent resilience and adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to withstand the ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change.

Review and revision— Not later than 1 year after each release of the assessment required under section 106 of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 2936), the Working Group shall—

use sound science to review and revise the National Strategy to incorporate—

new information regarding the ongoing and expected effects of climate change on fish, wildlife, and plants; and

advances in the development of fish, wildlife, and plant adaptation strategies; and

in carrying out paragraph (1), provide public notice and opportunity for comment.

Contents— A revised National Strategy shall—

assess the vulnerability of fish, wildlife, and plants to climate change, including short-term, medium-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts;

identify and prioritize research and data needs;

identify fish, wildlife, and plants likely to have the greatest need for protection, restoration, and conservation due to the ongoing and expanding effects of extreme weather and climate change;

include specific protocols for integrating fish, wildlife, and plant adaptation strategies and activities into the conservation and management of natural resources by Federal agencies to ensure consistency across agency jurisdictions;

identify opportunities for maintaining, restoring, or enhancing fish, wildlife, and plants to reduce the risks of extreme weather and climate change on other vulnerable sectors of society;

identify Federal policies and actions that may reduce resilience and increase the vulnerability of fish, wildlife, and plants to extreme weather and climate change;

include specific actions that Federal agencies shall take to protect, conserve, and manage fish, wildlife, and plants to maintain the inherent resilience and adaptability of fish, wildlife, and plants to withstand, adjust to, or recover from the ongoing and expected effects of climate change, including a timeline to implement those actions;

include specific mechanisms for ensuring communication and coordination—

among Federal agencies; and

between Federal agencies and State agencies, territories of the United States, Indian Tribes, private landowners, conservation organizations, and other countries that share jurisdiction over fish, wildlife, and plants with the United States;

include specific actions to develop and implement coordinated fish, wildlife, and plants inventory and monitoring protocols through interagency coordination and collaboration with States and local governments, Indian Tribes, and private organizations; and

include procedures for guiding the development of detailed strategy implementation plans required under section 7.

In general— Consistent with other laws and Federal trust responsibilities concerning Indian land or rights of Indians under treaties with the United States, each Federal agency shall integrate the elements of the National Strategy that relate to conservation, management, and protection of fish, wildlife, and plants into agency plans, environmental reviews, and programs.

Public report— The Working Group shall, on a biannual basis, between revisions to the National Strategy, make available to the public a report documenting any actions implementing the Strategy.

Coordination— The Working Group shall coordinate the implementation of the National Strategy with Federal agencies not represented on the Working Group to achieve the policy of the United States described in section 2(c).