HR4892-119

What This Bill Does

The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act expands existing ecosystem restoration authorities. It amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act so the Agriculture Secretary, acting through the Forest Service Chief, may enter contracts, grants, or agreements with state forestry agencies, local private or nonprofit entities, institutions of higher education, Indian Tribes, and multistate coalitions to collect and maintain native seeds, including material from managed seed orchards, and to produce seedlings for revegetation. It also amends the Omnibus Public Land Management Act's Good Neighbor-type authority to add native seed collection, seed maintenance, seedling production, and institutions of higher education to covered restoration partnerships. The practical effect is to expand the federal partner base and eligible activities for post-fire, habitat, watershed, and forest restoration work that depends on reliable native seed and seedling supply.

Who Benefits and How

State forestry agencies benefit from explicit authority to partner with the Forest Service on native seed and seedling work. Indian Tribes benefit because they are named eligible partners for seed collection, seed maintenance, and revegetation seedling production. Higher education institutions benefit from eligibility for restoration contracts, grants, and agreements. Native plant nurseries benefit from more federally supported demand for seedlings used in revegetation. Habitat restoration projects benefit from a stronger native seed supply and managed seed orchard material.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Forest Service restoration staff must manage a broader set of contracts, grants, and agreements. Agriculture Department grant managers must administer funding and partner eligibility for seed and seedling work. Local restoration partners must meet federal agreement, reporting, and performance requirements. Federal taxpayers bear costs when USDA uses the expanded authority.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes Forest Service contracts, grants, and agreements for native seed collection and maintenance.
• Authorizes support for seedling production for revegetation.
• Adds institutions of higher education as eligible restoration partners.
• Includes state forestry agencies, local entities, nonprofit entities, Indian Tribes, and multistate coalitions.
• Applies the seed and seedling authority to ecosystem restoration activities.