Safeguarding America's Future and Environment Act or SAFE Act - Requires the President to establish an interagency Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Panel to adopt the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy (released March 26, 2013) to protect, restore, and conserve natural resources so that natural resources become more resilient, adapt to, and withstand the impact of extreme weather and climate change. Requires the Panel to review and revise the strategy every four years.
Requires each agency represented on the panel to integrate the elements of the strategy that relate to conservation, restoration, and management of natural resources into agency plans, environmental reviews, and programs.
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to assess and develop scientific information, tools, strategies, and techniques to be used to address the impact of extreme weather and climate change on natural resources.
Requires the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Science Advisory Board to advise the panel on the state of the science regarding the impact of extreme weather and climate change on natural resources and strategies and mechanisms for natural resources adaptation. Requires each agency represented on the panel to submit to the President a natural resources adaptation plan and implement the plan upon approval by the President.
Requires states, in order to be eligible to receive funding under this Act, to submit to the Secretary of the Interior and, as applicable, the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval a state natural resources adaptation plan that details efforts to address the impact of climate change on natural resources and coastal areas.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5065 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5065
To establish an integrated Federal program to respond to ongoing and
expected impacts of extreme weather and climate change by protecting,
restoring, and conserving the natural resources of the United States,
and to maximize government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation
with State, local, and tribal governments and other entities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 10, 2014
Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Honda, Ms.
Lee of California, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Moran, Ms. Norton, Mr. Pocan, Mr.
Huffman, Mr. Walz, and Mr. Murphy of Florida) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an integrated Federal program to respond to ongoing and
expected impacts of extreme weather and climate change by protecting,
restoring, and conserving the natural resources of the United States,
and to maximize government efficiency and reduce costs, in cooperation
with State, local, and tribal governments and other entities.
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 ``Safeguarding America's Future and
Environment Act'' or the ``SAFE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) natural resources provide significant benefits to the
people and economy of the United States, including--
(A) abundant clean water supplies;
(B) flood and coastal storm protection;
(C) clean air;
(D) a source for food, fiber, medicines, and
pollination of the crops and other plants of the United
States;
(E) outdoor recreation, which is a source of jobs
and economic stimulus;
(F) hunting and fishing opportunities and support
of subsistence communities;
(G) scientific research and education; and
(H) world-class tourism destinations that support
local economies;
(2) the United States Geological Survey, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and other agencies within the United States
Global Change Research Program have observed that the natural
resources of the United States are facing increasing impacts
from extreme weather and climate change, including--
(A) more frequent and severe droughts and
heatwaves;
(B) more frequent and severe storms and floods;
(C) more frequent and severe wildfires;
(D) more frequent and severe outbreaks of forest
pests and invasive species;
(E) flooding and erosion of coastal areas due to
rising sea levels;
(F) melting glaciers and sea ice;
(G) thawing permafrost;
(H) shifting fish, wildlife, and plant population
ranges;
(I) disruptive shifts in the timing of fish,
wildlife, and plant natural history cycles, such as
blooming, breeding, and seasonal migrations; and
(J) ocean acidification; and
(3) the Federal Government should provide leadership in
preparing for and responding to the impacts described in
paragraph (2) to ensure that present and future generations
continue to receive the benefits of the abundant and diverse
natural resources of the United States.
(b) Purposes.--The purpose of this Act is to establish an
integrated Federal program--
(1) to respond to ongoing and expected impacts of extreme
weather and climate change by protecting, restoring, and
conserving the natural resources of the United States; and
(2) to maximize government efficiency and reduce costs, in
cooperation with State, local, and tribal governments and other
entities.
(c) Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Policy.--It is the
policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and local
governments, Indian tribes, and other interested stakeholders to
evaluate and reduce the increased risks and vulnerabilities associated
with future extreme weather events and other climate impacts in
carrying out the respective missions of those entities and to use all
practicable means to protect, restore, and conserve natural resources
so that natural resources--
(1) become more resilient, adapt to, and withstand the
ongoing and expected impacts of extreme weather and climate
change; and
(2) can continue safeguarding the communities in, and
sustaining the economy of, the United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Science Advisory
Board established under section 6(b)(1).
(2) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the National Climate
Change and Wildlife Science Center established under section
6(a)(1).
(3) Corridors.--The term ``corridors'' means areas that--
(A) provide connectivity, over different time
scales, of landscapes, habitats or potential habitats,
and ecological processes; and
(B) facilitate terrestrial, marine, estuarine, and
freshwater fish, wildlife, or plant movement that is
necessary--
(i) for migration, gene flow, or dispersal;
or
(ii) to respond to the ongoing and expected
impacts of climate change (including, where
applicable, ocean acidification, drought,
flooding, and wildfire).
(4) Ecological processes.--The term ``ecological
processes'' means biological, chemical, or physical interaction
between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem,
including--
(A) nutrient cycling;
(B) pollination;
(C) predator-prey relationships;
(D) soil formation;
(E) gene flow;
(F) disease epizootiology;
(G) larval dispersal and settlement;
(H) hydrological cycling;
(I) decomposition; and
(J) disturbance regimes, such as fire and flooding.
(5) Habitat.--The term ``habitat'' means the physical,
chemical, and biological properties that fish, wildlife, or
plants use for growth, reproduction, survival, food, water, or
cover (whether on land, in water, or in an area or region).
(6) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(7) Natural resources.--The term ``natural resources''
means land, wildlife, fish, air, water, plants, habitats, and
ecosystems of the United States.
(8) Natural resources adaptation.--The term ``natural
resources adaptation'' means the protection, restoration, and
conservation of natural resources so that natural resources
become more resilient, adapt to, and withstand the ongoing and
expected impacts of extreme weather and climate change
(including, where applicable, ocean acidification, drought,
flooding, and wildfire).
(9) Panel.--The term ``Panel'' means the Natural Resources
Climate Change Adaptation Panel established under section 4(a).
(10) Resilience; resilient.--The terms ``resilience'' and
``resilient'', with respect to a natural resource, mean the
ability of the natural resource to recover from disturbance.
(11) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) a State of the United States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) American Samoa;
(D) Guam;
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
(F) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(G) the United States Virgin Islands.
(12) Strategy.--The term ``Strategy'' means the National
Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy released
March 26, 2013.
SEC. 4. NATURAL RESOURCES CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PANEL.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a Natural
Resources Climate Change Adaptation Panel composed of the heads of
Federal agencies or departments with jurisdiction over natural
resources of the United States and State and tribal representatives,
including--
(1) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
(2) the Chief of the Forest Service;
(3) the Director of the National Park Service;
(4) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service;
(5) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
(6) the Director of the United States Geological Survey;
(7) the Commissioner of Reclamation;
(8) the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(9) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(10) the Chief of Engineers;
(11) the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, who
shall serve as Chairperson of the Panel;
(12) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency;
(13) State representatives from each regional association
of State fish and wildlife agencies; and
(14) not less than 2 tribal representatives.
(b) Duties.--The Panel shall serve as a forum for interagency
consultation on, and the coordination of, the development and
implementation of the Strategy.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLIMATE ADAPTATION
STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The Panel shall adopt the Strategy to protect,
restore, and conserve natural resources so that natural resources
become more resilient, adapt to, and withstand the ongoing and expected
impacts of extreme weather and climate change.
(b) Review and Revision.--Beginning in fiscal year 2017, and every
4 years thereafter, the Panel shall review and revise the Strategy to
incorporate--
(1) new information regarding the ongoing and expected
impacts of climate change on natural resources; and
(2) new advances in the development of natural resources
adaptation strategies.
(c) Requirements.--In revising the Strategy, the Panel shall--
(1) use the best available science; and
(2) provide public notice and opportunity for comment from
all interested stakeholders.
(d) Contents.--A revised Strategy shall--
(1) assess the vulnerability of natural resources to
climate change, including short-term, medium-term, long-term,
cumulative, and synergistic impacts;
(2) describe current, observation, and monitoring
activities at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels
relating to the ongoing and expected impacts of climate change
on natural resources;
(3) identify and prioritize research and data needs;
(4) identify natural resources likely to have the greatest
need for protection, restoration, and conservation due to the
ongoing and expanding impacts of extreme weather and climate
change;
(5) include specific protocols for integrating natural
resources adaptation strategies and activities into the
conservation and management of natural resources by Federal
agencies to ensure consistency across agency jurisdictions;
(6) identify opportunities for maintaining, restoring, or
enhancing natural resources to reduce the risks of extreme
weather and climate change on other vulnerable sectors of
society;
(7) identify Federal policies and actions that may reduce
resilience and increase the vulnerability of natural resources
to extreme weather and climate change;
(8) include specific actions that Federal agencies shall
take to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources to
become more resilient, adapt to, and withstand the ongoing and
expected impacts of climate change, including a timeline to
implement those actions;
(9) include specific mechanisms for ensuring communication
and coordination--
(A) among Federal agencies; and
(B) between Federal agencies and State natural
resource agencies, territories of the United States,
Indian tribes, private landowners, conservation
organizations, and other countries that share
jurisdiction over natural resources with the United
States;
(10) include specific actions to develop and implement
coordinated natural resources inventory and monitoring
protocols through interagency coordination and collaboration
with States and local governments, Indian tribes, and private
organizations; and
(11) include procedures for guiding the development of
detailed agency-specific adaptation plans required under
section 7.
(e) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Consistent with other laws and Federal
trust responsibilities concerning Indian land, each Federal
agency represented on the Panel shall integrate the elements of
the Strategy that relate to conservation, restoration, and
management of natural resources into agency plans,
environmental reviews, and programs.
(2) Public report.--Each Federal agency represented on the
Panel shall, on an annual basis, make available to the public a
report documenting the actions of the agency in implementing
the Strategy.
(3) Coordination.--The Panel shall coordinate the
implementation of the Strategy with non-Panel Federal agencies
to achieve the national policy described in section 2(c).
SEC. 6. NATURAL RESOURCES ADAPTATION SCIENCE AND INFORMATION.
(a) National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Interior, in
collaboration with the States, Indian tribes, and other partner
organizations, shall establish a National Climate Change and
Wildlife Science Center within the United States Geological
Survey.
(2) Duties of center.--The Center shall assess and develop
scientific information, tools, strategies, and techniques to be
used by the Panel, Federal and State agencies, and other
interested parties in addressing the impacts of extreme weather
and climate change on natural resources.
(3) General authority to enter into contracts, grants, and
cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into
contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for periods not
to exceed 5 years, with State agencies, State cooperative
extension services, institutions of higher education, other
research or educational institutions and organizations, Federal
and private agencies and organizations, individuals, and any
other contractor or recipient, to further the duties under
paragraph (2) without regard to--
(A) any requirements for competition;
(B) section 6101 of title 41, United States Code;
or
(C) subsections (a) and (b) of section 3324 of
title 31, United States Code.
(b) Science Advisory Board.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and the
Secretary of the Interior shall establish and appoint the
members of a Science Advisory Board.
(2) Membership.--The Board shall be comprised of not fewer
than 10 and not more than 20 members--
(A) who have expertise in biology (including fish,
wildlife, plant, aquatic, coastal, and marine biology),
ecology, climate change (including, where applicable,
ocean acidification, drought, flooding, and wildfire),
and other relevant scientific disciplines;
(B) who are scientists that represent a balanced
membership among Federal, State, tribal, and local
representatives, institutions of higher education, and
other interested parties; and
(C) of whom at least \1/2\ shall be recommended by
the President of the National Academy of Sciences.
(3) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) advise the Panel on the state of the science
regarding--
(i) the ongoing and expected impacts of
extreme weather and climate change on natural
resources; and
(ii) scientific strategies and mechanisms
for natural resources adaptation;
(B) identify and recommend priorities for ongoing
research needs on the issues described in subparagraph
(A) to inform the research priorities of the Center
described in subsection (a) and other Federal climate
science institutions; and
(C) review and comment on each revised Strategy
before that Strategy is finalized.
(4) Collaboration.--The Board shall collaborate with
climate change and ecosystem research entities in other Federal
agencies and departments.
(5) Availability to public.--The advice and recommendations
of the Board shall be made available to the public.
SEC. 7. FEDERAL NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCY ADAPTATION PLANS.
(a) Development.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act and not later than 1 year after the date of each revision
of the Strategy, each Federal agency with representation on the Panel
shall--
(1) complete a natural resources adaptation plan for that
Federal agency that is consistent with the revised Strategy;
(2) detail the ongoing and expanding proposed actions of
the Federal agency, and any changes in decisionmaking processes
necessary to increase the ability of resources under the
jurisdiction of the agency;
(3) provide opportunities for public review and comment on
the plan;
(4) coordinate with the plan of each other Federal agency
with representation on the Panel; and
(5) submit the plan to the President for approval.
(b) Requirements.--Each adaptation plan shall--
(1) identify and prioritize specific conservation
strategies and actions that address the ongoing and expected
impacts of extreme weather and climate change on natural
resources under the jurisdiction of the department or agency
preparing the plan, including--
(A) protection, restoration, and conservation of
natural resources to become more resilient, adapt to,
and better withstand the impacts of extreme weather and
climate change; and
(B) protection of habitats and ecosystems, the
diversity of native fish, wildlife, and plant
populations, and wildlife corridors, including--
(i) protection, restoration, and
conservation of terrestrial, marine, estuarine,
and freshwater habitats and ecosystems;
(ii) establishment of terrestrial, marine,
estuarine, and freshwater corridors;
(iii) restoration and conservation of
ecological processes;
(iv) protection of a broad diversity of
native species of fish, wildlife, and plant
populations across the ranges of those species;
and
(v) protection of fish, wildlife, and plant
health, recognizing that climate can alter the
distribution and ecology of parasites,
pathogens, and vectors;
(2) describe how the agency will--
(A) integrate the strategies and conservation
activities into plans, programs, activities, and
actions of the agency relating to the conservation and
management of natural resources;
(B) establish new plans, programs, activities, and
actions, if necessary;
(C) maintain or restore corridors; and
(D) minimize the impacts of energy, development,
water, transportation, and transmission projects and
other activities on wildlife and wildlife habitat;
(3) establish methods--
(A) to assess the effectiveness of strategies and
conservation actions the agency takes to protect,
restore, and conserve natural resources so natural
resources become more resilient, adapt to, and
withstand the ongoing and expected impacts of climate
change; and
(B) to update those strategies and actions to
respond to new information and changing conditions;
(4) describe current and proposed mechanisms to enhance
cooperation and coordination of natural resources adaptation
efforts with other Federal agencies, State and local
governments, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental stakeholders;
(5) include written guidance to resource managers; and
(6) identify and assess data and information gaps necessary
to develop natural resources adaptation plans and strategies.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--On approval by the President, each Federal
agency with representation on the Panel shall, consistent with
existing authority, implement the adaptation plan of the agency
through existing and new plans, policies, programs, activities,
and actions.
(2) Consideration of impacts.--To the maximum extent
practicable and consistent with existing authority, natural
resource management decisions made by each Federal agency with
representation on the Panel shall--
(A) consider the ongoing and expected impacts of
extreme weather and climate change on natural
resources; and
(B) select alternatives that will avoid and
minimize those impacts and promote resilience.
(d) Revision and Review.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
implementation of the adaptation plan of a Federal agency, and every 4
years thereafter, the Federal agency shall review and revise the
adaptation plan to incorporate the best available science, including
advice and information pursuant to section 6 and other information,
regarding the ongoing and expected impacts of climate change on natural
resources.
SEC. 8. STATE NATURAL RESOURCES ADAPTATION PLANS.
(a) Requirement.--To be eligible to receive funds pursuant to
subsection (d), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act and not later than 1 year after the date of each revision of
the Strategy, each State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of
the Interior and, as applicable, the Secretary of Commerce, a State
natural resources adaptation plan detailing current and future efforts
of the State to address the ongoing and expected impacts of climate
change on natural resources and coastal areas within the jurisdiction
of the State.
(b) Review or Approval.--The Secretary of the Interior and, as
applicable, the Secretary of Commerce shall--
(1) review each State adaptation plan; and
(2) approve a State adaptation plan if the plan--
(A) meets the requirements of subsection (c); and
(B) is consistent with the Strategy.
(c) Contents.--A State adaptation plan shall--
(1) meet the requirements described in section 7(b);
(2) include the adaptation provisions of any State
comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy (or State wildlife
action plan) that has been--
(A) submitted to the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service; and
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(3) include the adaptation provisions of a statewide
assessment and strategy for forest resources required under
section 2A of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
(16 U.S.C. 2101a) that has been--
(A) submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by the
Secretary of Agriculture; and
(4) include the adaptation provisions of a Coastal Zone
Management Plan or a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation
Program Plan that has been--
(A) submitted to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
(B) approved, or is pending approval, by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(d) Distribution of Funds to States.--Any funds made available
pursuant to this Act shall be--
(1) used to carry out natural resources adaptation
activities in accordance with adaptation plans approved under
this section; and
(2) made available through--
(A) the State and tribal wildlife grant program
under title I of division F of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161; 121 Stat.
2103); and
(B)(i) the grant program under section 306 of the
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455);
and
(ii) the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation
Program established under title II of the Department of
Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002
(16 U.S.C. 1456d).
(e) Public Input.--In developing an adaptation plan, a State shall
solicit and consider input from the public and independent scientists.
(f) Coordination With Other Plans.--A State adaptation plan shall,
where appropriate, integrate the goals and measures set forth in other
natural resources conservation strategies and plans.
(g) Updates.--Each State adaptation plan shall be updated at least
every 4 years.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such
sums as are necessary.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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