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Senate Bill 4451
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Rural Forest Markets Act of 2020
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Aug 5, 2020
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Introduced in Senate 
Aug 5, 2020
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Introduced in Senate(Aug 5, 2020)
Aug 5, 2020
No Linkage Found
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
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S. 4451 (Introduced-in-Senate)


116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4451


To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to guarantee investments that will open new markets for forest owners in rural areas of the United States, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 5, 2020

Ms. Stabenow (for herself and Mr. Braun) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to guarantee investments that will open new markets for forest owners in rural areas of the United States, 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.

This Act may be cited as the “Rural Forest Markets Act of 2020”.

SEC. 2. Rural Forest Market Investment Program.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) RURAL.—The term “rural” has the meaning given the term in section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991).

(2) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(b) Establishment of program.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the “Rural Forest Market Investment Program”, to guarantee an environmental impact bond, loan, or other investment vehicle, as determined by the Secretary, issued for the sole purpose of financing eligible projects described in subsection (c), to enable rural private forest landowners to participate in an innovative market for forest carbon or other products.

(2) CONSIDERATION.—In establishing the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary may consider ways to ensure that the program minimizes, to the extent practicable, disruptions to traditional forest products markets.

(c) Eligible projects.—An eligible project referred to in subsection (b)(1) is a project developed by private entity, or a publicly supported, charitable nonprofit organization, engaged in the aggregation of sustainable forestry practices implemented by rural private forest landowners to facilitate the sale of credits in the voluntary carbon market or other environmental market, using a methodology approved by a credible, third-party entity, as determined by the Secretary.

(d) Requirements.—A project described in subsection (c) that includes the practice of tree planting may only be carried out, as determined by the Secretary—

(1) on land that was historically forested;

(2) using tree species that are native to the region and at ecologically appropriate densities; and

(3) in a manner that does not create other negative impacts to biodiversity or the environment.

(e) Guarantee amount.—The Secretary may guarantee not more than $150,000,000 with respect to each bond, loan, or other investment vehicle under subsection (b)(1).

(f) Regulations.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to implement the program established under subsection (b)(1).

(g) Termination of authority.—The authority provided by this section terminates on September 30, 2023.