This act, called the “America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2023,” includes several parts focusing on revegetation, carbon sequestration through forest management, mass timber use, and research into forest products and environmental resilience, outlining measures such as climate adaptation for forests, international reforestation, biochar production, and a mass timber science education program.

Congress finds that revegetation is important for addressing climate change, improving habitats, and offering economic benefits, but such projects should be carefully planned and targeted using appropriate plant species, local knowledge, and community partnerships to ensure sustainability and effectiveness. Additionally, maintaining established forests and native vegetation is often preferable and more efficient for carbon storage compared to new revegetation efforts.

The section defines key terms used in the bill: "carbon sequestration" refers to capturing and storing carbon dioxide; "National Forest System" follows the definition in a specific 1974 act; "Secretaries" denotes the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture; "Secretary" generally means the Secretary of the Interior unless specified otherwise; and "Secretary concerned" refers to either the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture.

The section requires that, within two years, secretaries update their rules to factor in environmental resilience and adaptation when deciding how forests and rangelands are replanted, including which plant species to use. This does not change existing reforestation laws or procedures for revising forest plans.

The section outlines a national effort to replant vegetation on certain federal lands and assist with revegetation on non-federal lands through partnerships. It includes setting up task forces to develop and implement 10-year strategies for revegetation, assessing and expanding nursery and seed collecting capacities, and ensuring voluntary participation on non-federal lands.

The section authorizes and manages a network of experimental forests and rangelands in the U.S. to promote research, education, and technology transfer, with an emphasis on climate resiliency. It mandates public access to research findings and allows partnerships with states, educational institutions, or other entities to support ongoing studies.

The section allows the Secretary to enter into contracts or agreements, for up to 10 years, to plant trees and seeds on certain types of federal land, including National Forests, public lands, land in trust for Indian Tribes, wildlife refuges, land managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, and National Parks, while excluding some lands like national grasslands and lands east of the 100th meridian in the National Forest System.

The text establishes programs to support tree planting initiatives. It involves a career and training program through the Job Corps focusing on tree planting and maintenance run by the Secretary of Labor, and a grant program managed by the Secretary of Energy designed to fund tree planting projects that reduce energy consumption, with priority given to projects that achieve significant energy savings and ensure geographic diversity.

The section establishes a pilot program for revegetation on land that has been abandoned after mining. It outlines how financial assistance will be provided to federal, state, tribal, and private lands for planting and maintaining native vegetation, ensuring that the projects align with existing operations and benefit the environment, with a program duration of eight years and a required report on the program's progress five years after its initiation.

The Secretary of Agriculture can assess and respond to international requests for help with tree planting by sharing resources and expertise. Additionally, they may collaborate with international and US-based organizations to support plant restoration and enhance global carbon capture through revegetation.

In this section of the bill, funds received from non-federal entities through carbon credit programs can be used to support approved forest management activities aimed at increasing carbon storage or reducing emissions on National Forest System lands. The National Forest Foundation is responsible for managing these funds, and the Secretary of Agriculture must report annually to Congress on the program's progress and suggest improvements.

The section outlines the establishment of a team and a model plan to manage National Forest units at high risk of stand-replacing disturbances, such as severe fires. It requires timely adaptation of management plans, including steps for reforestation and salvage logging, aligning with existing goals and ensuring compliance with relevant laws.

The section establishes a pilot program by the Food and Drug Administration to allow the use of biochar as a feed additive for cattle, with the program lasting up to five years and being voluntary. It also requires the U.S. Geological Survey to create a plan to promote and outline the production and sale of biochar for improving plant growth in various settings.

The section establishes a plan to control invasive grasses on certain federal lands to promote forest health, reduce wildfire risks, and improve habitats. It outlines how the action plan will be created, implemented, and funded, and requires progress reports to Congress.

In this section, the definitions for terms related to building and construction are provided, including explanations of what constitutes a "local approving agency," "mass timber," "procuring agency," and "tall wood building." "Mass timber" refers to several types of laminated wood products, while "tall wood building" specifies a height requirement for residential and commercial buildings using mass timber.

The section outlines a program to support mass timber research and education, led by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Products Laboratory. It aims to engage with experts, develop research and curriculum on mass timber usage, and includes forming an advisory group and creating a mass timber plan, with $4 million allocated for its execution.

The section outlines a plan for the Secretaries to create and maintain a database of mass timber Federal buildings, assess their carbon storage, and develop a plan to increase carbon storage in these buildings using various materials. By 2027, they must use domestic mass timber for certain constructions unless exceptions apply, and they may also collaborate with other agencies to improve construction methods.

The Secretary of Energy, alongside the Secretary of Agriculture, is tasked with developing better methods to measure and track carbon stored in various wood products. They must publish estimates on carbon storage for different materials within two years and report the total carbon storage in specific forest products within three years after the bill is enacted.

The section outlines efforts by the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to use advanced technologies such as remote sensing and geospatial tools to improve forest data and monitor carbon levels in U.S. forests. It includes actions like publishing reports on these efforts, enhancing data accuracy, supporting carbon credit opportunities for private landowners, and potentially increasing funding for these activities, capped at $10 million annually.

The Secretary of Agriculture is instructed to enhance research through the Forest Products Laboratory to explore the use of wood in creating new markets, especially those that use forestry materials not usually valuable. This includes investigating ways to make manufacturing these products economically viable and testing hardwood for use in large timber projects.

The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, can create a fund to ensure there are enough buffer reserves for projects that might suffer unexpected losses in carbon stocks. This fund will be used to support activities that aim to prevent these losses and can move money in and out as needed.

The Secretary of Agriculture is instructed to enhance the services of two environmental threat assessment centers, aiming to make them excellent resources for climate-resilient forest management. These centers will also share their findings and tools with other climate-related organizations within the Department of Agriculture and the United States Geological Survey.

The section outlines the official short title of the act, “America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2024,” and provides a detailed table of contents that includes various sections and titles related to revegetation efforts, carbon sequestration through forest management, research initiatives, and other miscellaneous provisions.

The section defines key terms used in the Act, such as “carbon sequestration,” which refers to capturing and storing carbon dioxide for the long term, and “Federal land,” which includes land managed by the National Forest System and the Secretary. It also clarifies roles, like the “Secretaries” being the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, and the “Secretary” usually being the Secretary of the Interior.

The section requires that, within two years, secretaries update their rules to factor in environmental resilience and adaptation when deciding how forests and rangelands are replanted, including which plant species to use. This does not change existing reforestation laws or procedures for revising forest plans.

The section outlines efforts to enhance reforestation in the U.S., including submitting reports and plans to Congress, assessing and boosting the capacity of orchards and nurseries, and coordinating seed collection. It also establishes ways for federal agencies to collaborate with each other and non-federal entities, avoid duplication of efforts, and supports funding through a reforestation trust fund while ensuring no additional restrictions on grazing post-wildfire.

The section authorizes the creation and management of a network of experimental forests and ranges by the Secretary of Agriculture for long-term research on forest and range systems, considering factors like climate change. It mandates public access to research findings, integration of traditional ecological knowledge, and allows partnerships with various entities; the Secretary must also report on the network's scope and needs to Congress, and appropriations are authorized to support these efforts.

The Secretary in charge can make contracts or agreements to plant trees and seeds on federal land, and these agreements can last up to 10 years, even though other rules normally limit such contracts to shorter durations.

The proposed bill section creates a program under the Job Corps to train people in tree planting, maintenance, nursery management, and seed collection. It also gives the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior the authority to directly hire graduates from this program within one year of their graduation if they meet certain qualifications.

The section establishes a pilot program for planting native vegetation on land that was previously mined. The program provides financial help to states, tribes, and other entities, aims to improve ecosystems by planting vegetation that matches the local environment, enhances habitats, and can sequester carbon, and includes a report to Congress on its progress after five years.

This section outlines how carbon credits can be used to support forest management activities aimed at increasing carbon sequestration. It defines key terms, explains how funds from carbon credits can be utilized, and details the roles of the Secretary of Agriculture and the National Forest Foundation in managing these activities, with an emphasis on transparency and alignment with existing laws.

In this section, the bill defines “stand-replacing disturbances” as events that destroy most trees in a forest area and require plans for regrowth. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to identify at-risk forests, form teams to plan recovery, and create guidelines for managing affected lands, ensuring all steps comply with relevant laws.

The section focuses on the eradication of invasive grasses by outlining the requirements for creating and implementing an action plan that aims to protect ecosystems from fire hazards and promote biodiversity. It details the responsibilities of federal agencies, potential collaborations with other entities, types of treatment methods to be employed, and the funding sources for these efforts.

The Secretary of Energy, in partnership with the Secretary of Agriculture, is tasked with creating ways to measure how much carbon is stored in wood materials and how long it stays there. They must also report on the carbon impact of these materials and evaluate their overall carbon balance, including the role of carbon storage, within certain timeframes after the law is passed.

The section outlines the responsibilities of the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to enhance forestry actions by using advanced technologies for better forest data collection and carbon monitoring. It allows up to $10 million of the Forest Service research budget annually for these efforts, aiming to improve landscape assessments, policy decisions, and participation in carbon crediting opportunities.

The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Energy to enhance research and technology transfer related to forest products, establishing an Office of Technology Transfer within the Forest Service to promote the commercialization of technologies. It creates a small business voucher pilot program to support forest product development, outlines cost-sharing requirements, and mandates reports to Congress on progress and outcomes.

The Secretary of Agriculture will work to enhance the services of two environmental centers focused on forest threats, aiming to make them leaders in climate-resilient forest management. Additionally, these centers will share their findings and tools with certain climate-related organizations within the Department of Agriculture and the United States Geological Survey.

The section sets up a mass timber science and education program to support architects, developers, and the forest products industry by conducting research on various aspects of mass timber construction, such as its environmental impact and structural characteristics. It also involves creating educational resources, forming a stakeholder advisory group, and requires a mass timber plan to be submitted to Congress by 2025, with a budget of $4,000,000 from Forest Service research funds.

The law designates about 2,693.31 acres of land in the Monongahela National Forest as the "Patsye Crites Forest" once acquired by the United States. Any future references to this land in official U.S. documents will use this new name.