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Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024

Alaska · Alaska Natives and Hawaiians · Federal-Indian relations
Sponsor
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
R · AK
Key facts
Introduced: May 21, 2024
Chamber: Senate
Cosponsors: 2
Congress: 118th
Latest action · Dec 16, 2024
Held at the desk.

Summary

Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024

This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and expands the lands and activities eligible for inclusion in the TFPA.

Currently under the TFPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may enter into contracts and agreements with Indian tribes for tribes to carry out land management projects on federal lands. These projects are designed to protect Indian forest lands and rangelands from wildfire, disease, and other threats coming from federal lands. However, the TFPA is currently limited to projects on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands and rangelands under the jurisdiction of the tribe.

This bill removes certain limitations of the TFPA, first by expanding the definition of Indian forest land or rangeland to include land in Alaska that is held by Alaska Native corporations, thereby allowing these corporations to participate in TFPA projects.

Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that TFPA projects must occur on federal lands that border or are adjacent to Indian forest lands or rangelands. The bill instead requires the federal land involved to have a special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the tribe.

The bill allows TFPA projects to be carried out directly on Indian forest lands and rangelands. (Currently, the TFPA only applies to work conducted on federal lands and not on tribal lands.)

The bill also updates a requirement for Interior and USDA to report to Congress on TFPA activities.

Summary by Congressional Research Service.

Timeline

  1. Dec 16, 2024
    Held at the desk.
  2. Dec 16, 2024
    Received in the House.
  3. Dec 13, 2024
    Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  4. Dec 12, 2024
    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6994-6995; text: CR S6995)
  5. Dec 12, 2024
    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Nov 20, 2024
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.
  7. Nov 20, 2024
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz with an amendment. With written report No. 118-249.
  8. Nov 20, 2024
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz with an amendment. With written report No. 118-249.
  9. Sep 25, 2024
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
  10. Jul 25, 2024
    Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-532.
  11. May 21, 2024
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
  12. May 21, 2024
    Introduced in Senate

Cosponsors

In the News

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