S. 4370Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed Senate

Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024

Introduced May 21, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:50 PM UTC

The Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024 updates the 2004 Tribal Forest Protection Act to broaden its reach and add new funding. It expands the definition of “Indian forest land or rangeland,” adds restoration goals, extends protection to certain federal lands, and revises the criteria for projects. The bill also authorizes $15 million per year from FY2025 through FY2030 to carry out these activities, affecting Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and federal land managers.

Key Provisions

  • Defines “Indian forest land or rangeland” to include trust land with forest cover, grass/brush cover, or land capable of restoration, and Alaska Native Corporation land in Alaska
  • Adds “or Restore” to the act’s heading and expands the purpose to protect or restore Indian forest land, rangeland, or federal land
  • Updates project criteria to consider federal land with special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to tribes and includes watersheds
  • Redesignates and revises paragraph references to reflect the new focus on federal land and restoration
  • Authorizes $15,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year 2025‑2030 to implement the amended provisions

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

December 16, 2024 • 2:40 PM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 21, 2024

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

May 21, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

July 25, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

September 25, 2024

SenateCommittee

Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Schatz with an amendment. With written report No. 118-249.

November 20, 2024

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 574.

November 20, 2024

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6994-6995; text: CR S6995)

December 12, 2024

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 13, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

December 16, 2024 • 12:11 PM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

December 16, 2024 • 2:40 PM

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 4370 on the floor

2 Democrats
Brian Schatz
Sen. Brian SchatzD-HI · Dec 12, 2024

Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc, Calendar No. 574, S. 4370; and Calendar No.…

Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Dec 12, 2024

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Bill Text

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Latest
Engrossed in SenateIssued December 12, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4370

AN ACT

To amend the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to improve that Act, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024.

2.

Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 amendments

Section 2 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

Indian forest land or rangeland

The term Indian forest land or rangeland means—

(A)

land that is held in trust by, or with a restriction against alienation by, the United States for an Indian tribe or a member of an Indian tribe, and—

(i)

is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103));

(ii)

has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar vegetation; or

(iii)

formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that is capable of restoration; and

(B)

land that is in the State of Alaska and held by an Alaska Native Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in the subsection heading, by inserting or restore after protect;

(B)

in paragraph (1), by striking to protect Indian forest land or rangeland and all that follows through Indian forest land or rangeland) and inserting to protect or restore Indian forest land or rangeland, or to carry out a project to protect or restore Federal land; and

(C)

in paragraph (3), by striking that is— and all that follows through the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting or Indian forest land or rangeland.;

(3)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in the subsection heading, by inserting for Federal land after criteria;

(B)

by striking an Indian tribe, in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows through Indian tribe— in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) and inserting the following: “Federal land, are whether—

(1)

the Federal land has a special geographic, historical, or cultural significance to the Indian tribe and—

;

(C)

in paragraph (1) (as so designated)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:

(i)

Indian forest land or rangeland; or

; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (B), by inserting or watershed after land;

(D)

by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;

(E)

in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking subject and inserting Federal; and

(F)

in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by striking Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management and inserting Federal;

(4)

in subsection (g), by striking date of enactment of this Act and inserting date of enactment of the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following:

(h)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.

.

Passed the Senate December 12, 2024.

Secretary