Maple Tapping Access Program Act

Maple Tapping Access Program Act - Amends the the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to support state and tribal government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to: (1) initiate or expand maple-tapping activities; or (2) voluntarily make the land available to the public for maple-tapping activities.

Gives priority to states and tribal governments that propose to: (1) maximize participation by offering program terms likely to meet with landowner acceptance; (2) increase maple-tapping activities and maple syrup production; (3) ensure that enrolled land has appropriate tree stock; and (4) use additional federal, state, tribal, or private resources in carrying out the program.

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1399 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1399

  To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State and tribal 
government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held 
farm, ranch, and forest land containing maple trees to make their land 
 available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under 
        programs administered by States and tribal governments.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2009

  Mr. McHugh introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State and tribal 
government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held 
farm, ranch, and forest land containing maple trees to make their land 
 available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under 
        programs administered by States and tribal governments.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Maple Tapping Access Program Act''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAMS.

    Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 1240S. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Definition of Maple Tapping.--In this section, the term 
`maple-tapping' means the collection of sap from any species of tree in 
the genus Acer for the purpose of boiling to produce food.
    ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary shall make grants to States and tribal 
governments to support State and tribal government efforts to encourage 
owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land--
            ``(1) to initiate or expand maple-tapping activities; or
            ``(2) to voluntarily make the land available, including by 
        lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-
        tapping activities under such programs.
    ``(c) Applications.--In submitting an application for a grant under 
this section, a State or tribal government shall include--
            ``(1) a description of the activities to be supported using 
        the grant funds;
            ``(2) a description of the benefits that the State or 
        tribal government intends to achieve as a result of the 
        activities; and
            ``(3) an estimate of the anticipated increase in maple-
        tapping activities and maple syrup production to occur as a 
        result of the activities.
    ``(d) Priority.--In approving applications and awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to States and 
tribal governments that propose--
            ``(1) to maximize participation by offering a program the 
        terms of which are likely to meet with widespread acceptance 
        among landowners;
            ``(2) to increase maple-tapping activities and maple syrup 
        production;
            ``(3) to ensure that land enrolled under the State or 
        tribal government program has an appropriate stock of trees 
        suitable for maple-tapping activities; and
            ``(4) to use additional Federal, State, tribal government, 
        or private resources in carrying out the program.
    ``(e) Relationship to Other Laws.--Nothing in this section preempts 
a State or tribal government law, including any State or tribal 
government liability law.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations 
as are necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2010 through 2014.''.
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