H.R. 528 — Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act

This section establishes the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Program, requiring the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with covered agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Indian Affairs), to identify covered lands—federal lands administered by covered agencies or Indian forest land or rangeland (i.e., tribal trust lands that are or were forest or rangeland, as defined by referencing 25 U.S.C. 3103)—requiring reforestation and restoration after unplanned disturbances (e.g., wildfire, insects, disease, weather events) unlikely to naturally regenerate, not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter. The Secretary must propose annual priority projects, implement them via competitively awarded grants, contracts (including under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act), or cooperative agreements, and support seed and seedling availability; covered agencies must conduct outreach to Indian Tribes, states, territories, local governments, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian organizations, institutions of higher education, relevant federal agencies, and other stakeholders. Not later than two years after enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary must report to relevant congressional committees on identified lands, priority projects and progress, grants and agreements, outreach, and assessments of seed, seedling, and implementation gaps with funding recommendations. The program sunsets seven years after enactment.