Introduction

The National Forest Stewardship Grants Act of 2023 aims to promote collaborative capacity building and provide financial assistance to eligible entities for land stewardship activities in national forests and grasslands.

Administration

1. The Secretary may issue grants to eligible entities for increasing community capacity for land stewardship activities and related activities based on the criteria described in subsection (d).
2. The Secretary may fund up to 100 percent of the cost of land stewardship activities and related activities carried out using a grant issued under paragraph (1).

Criteria for Awarding Grants

Grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis in accordance with the following criteria:

• The extent to which the proposed land stewardship activities benefit units of the National Forest System and national grasslands over the short and long term.
• The extent to which valuable ecological, economic, and social benefits to disadvantaged communities, including job creation and business development or retention, are likely to result from the scope of the land stewardship activities.
• The extent to which the grant would benefit disadvantaged communities that have historically received less investment in collaborative capacity.
• The extent to which the proposal brings together diverse interests through planning, collaboration, implementation, or monitoring of land stewardship activities to benefit units of the National Forest System or national grasslands.
• The extent to which the grant funds appear to be critical for the success of the eligible entity and the identified land stewardship activities.
• The extent to which the budget for the land stewardship activities is reasonable given the anticipated outcomes.

Exemption

The advisory panel established under subsection (e)(1) shall be exempt from chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Committee Act’’).

Reporting

1. Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report evaluating the implementation of this section.
2. The report shall include:
• A list of the eligible entities and land stewardship activities selected for funding under this section and the accomplishments of those activities;
• An evaluation of the extent to which the implementation of this section is fulfilling the purpose described in subsection (b).

Authorization of Appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2029.

Distribution

The Secretary shall distribute amounts made available under paragraph (1) to the regional offices of the State and Private Forestry Deputy Area and, as appropriate, regional offices of other Deputy Areas, of the Forest Service to administer the grants under this section.

Administrative Costs

Not more than 10 percent of any amounts made available to carry out this section may be used for administrative management and program oversight.