HR4412-119

What This Bill Does

The Joint Chiefs Reauthorization Act amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program. It adds projects to recover from wildfires and to enhance soil, water, and related natural resources to the program's purposes. It requires the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to consider corresponding Forest Service management plans and collaborate with the Chief of the Forest Service on forestry science and practice using the best available science. It broadens priority language to include post-wildfire impacts and ties some priorities to state forest action plans or similar state wildlife or water plans. It also rewrites roadless-area consistency language so activities must be consistent with the Forest Service Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation rule and related regulations. Finally, it extends the program authorization references through 2031.

Who Benefits and How

Private forest landowners benefit because the partnership can support wildfire recovery and soil and water restoration across ownership boundaries. Communities affected by wildfire benefit if the program can fund post-wildfire recovery and watershed protection work. Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices benefit from clearer coordination with Forest Service management plans. State forestry and water planners benefit because state forest action plans and similar wildlife or water plans can guide project priorities.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service must coordinate with the Forest Service and apply best available forestry science. The Chief of the Forest Service must align management plans and forestry science with partnership projects. Project sponsors must avoid inconsistency with the federal roadless-area conservation rule and related regulations. Federal land and conservation staff must administer the extended program through 2031.

Key Provisions

• Expands Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership purposes to wildfire recovery and soil, water, and related natural resources.
• Requires NRCS to consider Forest Service management plans and collaborate on forestry science and practice.
• Adds post-wildfire impacts and state forest, wildlife, or water plans to priority considerations.
• Extends the program through 2031 and protects roadless-area conservation rule consistency.