Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Support Act of 2024” or the “RNGR Support Act of 2024”.
Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Support Act of 2024
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide assistance in support of nurseries and seed orchards, to establish a grant program in support of nurseries and seed orchards, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Nursery and seed orchard support
Definitions— In this section:
Eligible recipient— The term eligible recipient means—
a State forestry agency;
an Indian Tribe; and
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.
Nursery— The term nursery means a tree or native plant nursery.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.
Seed orchard— The term seed orchard means a tree or native plant seed orchard.
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.
Partnerships, collaboration, and other assistance in support of nurseries and seed orchards— The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—
partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, and private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, and research to nursery and tree establishment programs that support natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation;
promote information-sharing to improve technical knowledge and practices and understand demands, climate change impacts, and other issues as necessary to address all facets of the reforestation pipeline;
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;
collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the United States Agency for International Development, and 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 relating to nurseries and reforestation;
coordinate the efforts of the Department of Agriculture—
to address the challenges associated with the reforestation pipeline; and
to leverage economic development assistance for work with private nurseries; and
expand climate-informed reforestation supply chains through science and research, seed collection and storage, and nursery infrastructure and operations.
Nursery and seed orchard grants—
In general— 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.
Eligible projects— An eligible recipient that receives a grant under paragraph (1) shall carry out a project that comprises one or more of the following activities:
The development, expansion, enhancement, or improvement of nursery production capacity or other infrastructure—
to improve seed collection and storage;
to increase seedling production, storage, and distribution; or
to enhance seedling survival and properly manage tree genetic resources.
The establishment or expansion of a nursery or seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a nursery or seed orchard.
The development or implementation of quality control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.
The promotion of workforce development within any facet of the reforestation pipeline.
Such other activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Funding—
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Reforestation Trust Fund— In addition to amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1), 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.