Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2024
This bill authorizes the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture (USDA) to enter into agreements, expend funds, and take certain hiring actions to address workforce housing needs within the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Forest Service.
Specifically, Interior and USDA may recruit and directly appoint candidates who reside near sites maintained by the NPS, the FWS, or the Forest Service into the competitive service at or below specified pay levels. This authority terminates on September 30, 2030.
Further, for purposes of developing, constructing, or operating field employee housing, Interior may (1) enter into contracts, (2) acquire up to 20 acres of land within the vicinity of national parks, and (3) use proceeds from certain leases of NPS land. The bill extends Interior’s authority to enter into cost- and service-sharing agreements with public and private entities to include agreements related to projects for employee housing.
The bill authorizes USDA to allow the use of Forest Service land and buildings by public and private entities for up to 50 years for permits related to workforce housing. (Currently, USDA may enter into such arrangements for up to 30 years.)
Interior and USDA must report to Congress on the availability and affordability of housing near NPS, BLM, FWS, and Forest Service land, among other topics. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on certain topics related to federal workforce housing.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5125 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5125
To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce
programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2024
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. King, and Mr. Daines) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce
programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Land Manager
Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY
Sec. 101. Prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing.
Sec. 102. Authorizing the National Park Service to address workforce
housing off-park.
Sec. 103. Expanding National Park Service rental options.
Sec. 104. Leveraging National Park Service rental receipts for
workforce housing programming.
Sec. 105. Empowering the Forest Service to address workforce housing
needs.
TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY
Sec. 201. Engaging partners to address National Park Service workforce
housing.
Sec. 202. Leveraging philanthropic support to address National Park
Service workforce housing.
TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE
Sec. 301. Supporting the permanent land manager workforce.
Sec. 302. Supporting the seasonal National Park Service workforce.
TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT
Sec. 401. Quantifying the workforce housing needs of land managers.
Sec. 402. Conducting oversight on the housing programming of land
managers.
Sec. 403. Justifying emergency spending.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Covered agencies.--The term ``covered agencies''
means--
(A) the National Park Service;
(B) the Bureau of Land Management;
(C) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
and
(D) the Forest Service.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY
SEC. 101. PRIORITIZING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
Section 103502(a)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by inserting ``quarters for field employees (as those
terms are defined in section 101331) (including related
infrastructure and amenities),'' after ``prioritize''; and
(2) by inserting a comma after ``facilities''.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE
HOUSING OFF-PARK.
Section 100901 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(i) Acquisition of Land for Administration of System Units.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 103501(c)(2) or
any other provision of law (including regulations), to
facilitate the administration of a System unit, the Secretary
may acquire, by purchase from a willing seller, donation,
exchange, or transfer from another Federal agency, not more
than 10 acres of land or interests in land, cumulatively, not
more than a 1-hour driving commute (under normal commuting
conditions) outside the System unit boundary for the
development, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance,
operation, or management of quarters for field employees (as
those terms are defined in section 101331) (including related
infrastructure and amenities) for the System unit.
``(2) Disposal.--If the Secretary determines that any land
or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) no longer
supports the administration of the System unit--
``(A) the Secretary may determine the land and any
improvements to the land to be excess property for
disposal; and
``(B) the proceeds from the disposal of excess
property under subparagraph (A) shall be retained by
the Secretary and deposited in the special fund
established for the development, construction,
rehabilitation, or management of quarters for field
employees (as so defined) (including related
infrastructure and amenities) under section 101338(b),
to be expended by the Secretary without further
appropriation.''.
SEC. 103. EXPANDING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL OPTIONS.
Section 101336 of title 54, United States Code, is amended, in the
first sentence, by striking ``management, repair, and maintenance of
field employee quarters'' and inserting ``occupancy, development,
construction, repair, maintenance, rehabilitation, or management of
quarters for field employees (including related infrastructure and
amenities)''.
SEC. 104. LEVERAGING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL RECEIPTS FOR
WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAMMING.
Section 101338(b) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``maintenance and operation of quarters'' and inserting
``development, construction, rehabilitation, or management of quarters
for field employees (including related infrastructure and amenities)''.
SEC. 105. EMPOWERING THE FOREST SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE HOUSING
NEEDS.
(a) Use of Forest Service Structures or Improvements.--Section 7 of
the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as the ``Granger-Thye Act'')
(64 Stat. 84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 580d), is amended by striking
``thirty years as determined by him'' and inserting ``30 years, or in
the case of a permit for workforce housing and related infrastructure
(including amenities), any duration, as determined to be appropriate by
the Secretary of Agriculture''.
(b) Conveyances of Forest Service Administrative Sites.--Title V of
the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 (16
U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-54) is amended--
(1) in section 503--
(A) by striking subsection (f); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection
(f);
(2) in section 504--
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or over
time'' after ``conveyance of the administrative site'';
(B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``by
competitive sale'' and inserting ``through
competition''; and
(C) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the
following:
``(5) Exemption from information collection requirements.--
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code,
shall not apply to instruments used to convey administrative
sites under this title.
``(6) Foreclosure.--After a reasonable period of time for
removal and under conditions for cause considered to be
appropriate by the Secretary, a facility or improvement on an
administrative site remaining after the termination of a
conveyance under this title shall be conveyed to the United
States without consideration.''; and
(3) in section 505(b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the acquisition of land or any interests in land
(with or without improvements) for purposes of administration
of the National Forest System, including the construction of
Federal employee and private housing; and
``(4) the reacquisition by the Secretary of an
administrative site, a purchase agreement, or an option to buy
land with or without improvements conveyed under this title.''.
TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY
SEC. 201. ENGAGING PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE
HOUSING.
Section 101701(a) of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting, ``, including projects
for field employee quarters (as those terms are defined in
section 101331),'' after ``responsibilities of the
Secretary.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``, Tribal,'' after ``State'';
(B) by inserting ``(including an organization that
has a philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise
generate donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of,
a Federal agency)'' after ``organization''; and
(C) by inserting ``(including an individual that
has a philanthropic agreement to fundraise or otherwise
generate donations on behalf of, or for the benefit of,
a Federal agency)'' after ``individual''.
SEC. 202. LEVERAGING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
Section 103501(c)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``, services,'' after ``goods''.
TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE
SEC. 301. SUPPORTING THE PERMANENT LAND MANAGER WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as
applicable, may recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals into
the competitive service who are certified, in accordance with
procedures established by the Secretary or the Secretary of
Agriculture, as applicable, as maintaining a permanent and exclusive
residence within, contiguous to, or not more than a 1-hour driving
commute (under normal commuting conditions) from a site administered by
the National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or
Forest Service to which the individual would report to work into any
position at or below grade GS-11 of the General Schedule, WG-15 of the
Federal Wage System, or equivalent within the applicable site.
(b) Requirements.--In exercising the authority provided under
subsection (a), the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as
applicable, shall ensure that any action taken by the Secretary or the
Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable--
(1) is consistent with the merit principles of section 2301
of title 5, United States Code;
(2) complies with the public notice requirements of section
3327 of that title; and
(3) is based on a determination by the Secretary or
Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, that there is a need
for workforce housing that cannot be supplied by the Federal
Government.
(c) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under
subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.
SEC. 302. SUPPORTING THE SEASONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for
purposes of determining the noncompetitive rehire eligibility of
temporary seasonal employees of the National Park Service--
(1) the Secretary shall establish a definition of what
constitutes a major subdivision of the National Park Service;
and
(2) any requirement that a position be in the same local
commuting area shall not apply.
(b) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided under
subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.
TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT
SEC. 401. QUANTIFYING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS OF LAND MANAGERS.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly submit to
the appropriate committees of Congress a needs assessment report that
describes, with respect to housing the workforce of covered agencies,
as applicable--
(1) housing unit types and utilization;
(2) year-round, seasonal, and required occupancy rates;
(3) alternatives to onsite housing;
(4) local rental market availability and affordability;
(5) local housing market trends; and
(6) housing needs by position type.
SEC. 402. CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMMING OF LAND
MANAGERS.
(a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
(1) assesses, in consultation with the National Housing
Council described in Office of Management and Budget Circular
A-45, the effect of Office of Management and Budget Circular A-
45R on the housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
(2) assesses the effect of Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-11 on the housing of the workforce of covered
agencies;
(3) assesses the effect of department-level guidance on the
housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
(4) assesses the effect of agency-level guidance on the
housing of the workforce of covered agencies; and
(5) identifies suggested administrative actions and
legislative proposals to reform the guidance assessed under
paragraphs (1) through (4), including--
(A) improvements to tenant experience;
(B) improvements to workforce housing supply,
including--
(i) housing managed by the covered
agencies; and
(ii) leased private market housing;
(C) improvements to financing options;
(D) improvements to public-private partnerships;
(E) improvements to philanthropic engagement; and
(F) improvements to commuting times to report
stations, including--
(i) available housing in the gateway
communities;
(ii) available housing in the nearest
established community (as defined in Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-45);
(iii) discrepancies in Office of Management
and Budget, Department of the Interior, and
National Park Service definitions for
reasonable commuting time; and
(iv) differences between normal commuting
conditions and peak-commute traffic conditions,
including considerations for--
(I) road quality and condition;
(II) availability of public
transportation;
(III) winter driving; and
(IV) visitor traffic.
(b) Implementation.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
the report is submitted under subsection (a), the heads of the covered
agencies shall carry out the administrative actions identified under
paragraph (5) of that subsection.
SEC. 403. JUSTIFYING EMERGENCY SPENDING.
Section 5 of the Act of August 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 1033, chapter 950;
7 U.S.C. 2228), is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that
follows through ``The Department'' and inserting the following:
``SEC. 5. EMERGENCY SUBSISTENCE FOR EMPLOYEES.
``(a) In General.--The Department''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Required Notice for Forest Service Employees.--Not less than
30 days before the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture exercises
the authority under subsection (a) with respect to Forest Service
employees, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the Committee on
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives notice providing--
``(1) 1 or more justifications for the use of the
authority;
``(2) the estimated cost of using the authority, as
verified by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office;
and
``(3) the name of the office within the Forest Service
employing the individuals that would be provided subsistence
payments.
``(c) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the
Secretary of Agriculture exercises the authority under subsection (a)
with respect to Forest Service employees, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report providing the number and grade level of the
General Schedule of Forest Service employees to be provided subsistence
payments.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 644.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7145; text: CR S7146-7148)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Held at the desk.
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