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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 13, 2025

Mr. Padilla (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to support research and development of ungulate grazing land management techniques for purposes of wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery.

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 “Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act”.

SEC. 2. GRAZING FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(21) Grazing for wildfire mitigation initiative.—

“(A) Definitions.—In this paragraph:

“(i) Land-grant institution.—The term ‘land-grant institution’ means an 1862 Institution, 1890 Institution, or 1994 Institution (as those terms are defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)).

“(ii) Ungulate.—The term ‘ungulate’ means a hooved grazing mammal.

“(B) Initiative.—Research and extension grants may be made under this section at land-grant institutions for the purposes of—

“(i) supporting research and development of ungulate grazing land management techniques that—

“(I) promote wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery on public land and private land, including research and development relating to understanding the economic benefits of, and increasing social support for, such activities;

“(II) are compatible with activities that protect against adverse environmental effects, including the spread of invasive plant species and disease, soil erosion, water quality degradation, and watershed degradation, such as— “(aa) rotational grazing; “(bb) managed stocking rates;

“(cc) riparian buffer zones;

“(dd) cover crops; “(ee) fencing, including virtual fencing; “(ff) manipulation of wild ungulate populations through targeted wildlife management; and “(gg) water point management techniques; and

“(III) improve soil health; and

“(ii) disseminating information to public and private landowners, land managers, and livestock owners, including through providing educational materials and conducting outreach programs, regarding—

“(I) ungulate grazing land management techniques that promote wildfire mitigation, fuel reduction, and post-fire recovery; and

“(II) compatible activities described in clause (i).”. <all>