August 5, 2025
Ms. Leger Fernandez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities
(a) Contracts, grants, and agreements
Section 40804 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(g) Contracts, grants, and agreements
To carry out the ecosystem restoration activities described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter into contracts, grants, or agreements with State forestry agencies, local private or nonprofit entities, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), Indian Tribes, and multistate coalitions—
(1)
for the collection and maintenance of native seeds, including material from managed seed orchards; and
(2)
for the production of seedlings for revegetation.
(b) Collaborative forest landscape restoration program
Section 4003(b)(7) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16 U.S.C. 7303(b)(7)) is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting the collection and maintenance of native seeds for revegetation, the production of seedlings, and
after or agreements for
;
(2)
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively; and
(3)
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
(B)
institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)));