[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5125 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 644
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5125
To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce
programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2024
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Mr. King, and Mr. Daines) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources
November 21, 2024
Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for certain improvements to the housing and workforce
programs of Federal land management agencies, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Land
Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act of 2024''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Definitions.
<DELETED>TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY
<DELETED>Sec. 101. Prioritizing National Park Service workforce
housing.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Authorizing the National Park Service to address
workforce housing off-park.
<DELETED>Sec. 103. Expanding National Park Service rental options.
<DELETED>Sec. 104. Leveraging National Park Service rental receipts for
workforce housing programming.
<DELETED>Sec. 105. Empowering the Forest Service to address workforce
housing needs.
<DELETED>TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY
<DELETED>Sec. 201. Engaging partners to address National Park Service
workforce housing.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Leveraging philanthropic support to address National
Park Service workforce housing.
<DELETED>TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE
<DELETED>Sec. 301. Supporting the permanent land manager workforce.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Supporting the seasonal National Park Service
workforce.
<DELETED>TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT
<DELETED>Sec. 401. Quantifying the workforce housing needs of land
managers.
<DELETED>Sec. 402. Conducting oversight on the housing programming of
land managers.
<DELETED>Sec. 403. Justifying emergency spending.
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Covered agencies.--The term ``covered
agencies'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the National Park Service;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Bureau of Land
Management;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the Forest Service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE I--EXPANDING AUTHORITY</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 101. PRIORITIZING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE
HOUSING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 103502(a)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by inserting ``quarters for field employees
(as those terms are defined in section 101331) (including
related infrastructure and amenities),'' after ``prioritize'';
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by inserting a comma after
``facilities''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 102. AUTHORIZING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ADDRESS
WORKFORCE HOUSING OFF-PARK.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 100901 of title 54, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Acquisition of Land for Administration of System
Units.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section
103501(c)(2) or any other provision of law (including
regulations), to facilitate the administration of a System
unit, the Secretary may acquire, by purchase from a willing
seller, donation, exchange, or transfer from another Federal
agency, not more than 10 acres of land or interests in land,
cumulatively, not more than a 1-hour driving commute (under
normal commuting conditions) outside the System unit boundary
for the development, construction, rehabilitation, maintenance,
operation, or management of quarters for field employees (as
those terms are defined in section 101331) (including related
infrastructure and amenities) for the System unit.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Disposal.--If the Secretary determines that
any land or interest in land acquired under paragraph (1) no
longer supports the administration of the System unit--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) the Secretary may determine the land
and any improvements to the land to be excess property
for disposal; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) the proceeds from the disposal of
excess property under subparagraph (A) shall be
retained by the Secretary and deposited in the special
fund established for the development, construction,
rehabilitation, or management of quarters for field
employees (as so defined) (including related
infrastructure and amenities) under section 101338(b),
to be expended by the Secretary without further
appropriation.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 103. EXPANDING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL
OPTIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 101336 of title 54, United States Code, is
amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``management, repair, and
maintenance of field employee quarters'' and inserting ``occupancy,
development, construction, repair, maintenance, rehabilitation, or
management of quarters for field employees (including related
infrastructure and amenities)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 104. LEVERAGING NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RENTAL RECEIPTS FOR
WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAMMING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 101338(b) of title 54, United States Code, is
amended by striking ``maintenance and operation of quarters'' and
inserting ``development, construction, rehabilitation, or management of
quarters for field employees (including related infrastructure and
amenities)''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 105. EMPOWERING THE FOREST SERVICE TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE
HOUSING NEEDS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Use of Forest Service Structures or Improvements.--
Section 7 of the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as the
``Granger-Thye Act'') (64 Stat. 84, chapter 97; 16 U.S.C. 580d), is
amended by striking ``thirty years as determined by him'' and inserting
``30 years, or in the case of a permit for workforce housing and
related infrastructure (including amenities), any duration, as
determined to be appropriate by the Secretary of
Agriculture''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Conveyances of Forest Service Administrative Sites.--
Title V of the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act
of 2005 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-54) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in section 503--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking subsection (f);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by redesignating subsection (g) as
subsection (f);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in section 504--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting
``or over time'' after ``conveyance of the
administrative site'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``by
competitive sale'' and inserting ``through
competition''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) in subsection (d), by adding at the
end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) Exemption from information collection
requirements.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United
States Code, shall not apply to instruments used to convey
administrative sites under this title.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(6) Foreclosure.--After a reasonable period of
time for removal and under conditions for cause considered to
be appropriate by the Secretary, a facility or improvement on
an administrative site remaining after the termination of a
conveyance under this title shall be conveyed to the United
States without consideration.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in section 505(b)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
at the end;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) the acquisition of land or any interests in
land (with or without improvements) for purposes of
administration of the National Forest System, including the
construction of Federal employee and private housing;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) the reacquisition by the Secretary of an
administrative site, a purchase agreement, or an option to buy
land with or without improvements conveyed under this
title.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE II--EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP CAPACITY</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 201. ENGAGING PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WORKFORCE HOUSING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 101701(a) of title 54, United States Code, is
amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting, ``, including
projects for field employee quarters (as those terms are
defined in section 101331),'' after ``responsibilities of the
Secretary.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by inserting ``, Tribal,'' after
``State'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by inserting ``(including an
organization that has a philanthropic agreement to
fundraise or otherwise generate donations on behalf of,
or for the benefit of, a Federal agency)'' after
``organization''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) by inserting ``(including an
individual that has a philanthropic agreement to
fundraise or otherwise generate donations on behalf of,
or for the benefit of, a Federal agency)'' after
``individual''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 202. LEVERAGING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ADDRESS NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE WORKFORCE HOUSING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 103501(c)(3) of title 54, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``, services,'' after ``goods''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE III--SUPPORTING WORKFORCE</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 301. SUPPORTING THE PERMANENT LAND MANAGER
WORKFORCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of
Agriculture, as applicable, may recruit and directly appoint qualified
individuals into the competitive service who are certified, in
accordance with procedures established by the Secretary or the
Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, as maintaining a permanent and
exclusive residence within, contiguous to, or not more than a 1-hour
driving commute (under normal commuting conditions) from a site
administered by the National Park Service, United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, or Forest Service to which the individual would
report to work into any position at or below grade GS-11 of the General
Schedule, WG-15 of the Federal Wage System, or equivalent within the
applicable site.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Requirements.--In exercising the authority provided
under subsection (a), the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as
applicable, shall ensure that any action taken by the Secretary or the
Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) is consistent with the merit principles of
section 2301 of title 5, United States Code;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) complies with the public notice requirements
of section 3327 of that title; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) is based on a determination by the Secretary
or Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable, that there is a
need for workforce housing that cannot be supplied by the
Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided
under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 302. SUPPORTING THE SEASONAL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
WORKFORCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, for purposes of determining the noncompetitive rehire eligibility
of temporary seasonal employees of the National Park Service--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the Secretary shall establish a definition of
what constitutes a major subdivision of the National Park
Service; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any requirement that a position be in the same
local commuting area shall not apply.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Termination of Authority.--The authority provided
under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2030.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE IV--REPORTS AND OVERSIGHT</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 401. QUANTIFYING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING NEEDS OF LAND
MANAGERS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a needs assessment
report that describes, with respect to housing the workforce of covered
agencies, as applicable--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) housing unit types and utilization;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) year-round, seasonal, and required occupancy
rates;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) alternatives to onsite housing;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) local rental market availability and
affordability;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) local housing market trends; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) housing needs by position type.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 402. CONDUCTING OVERSIGHT ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMMING OF
LAND MANAGERS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) assesses, in consultation with the National
Housing Council described in Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-45, the effect of Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-45R on the housing of the workforce of covered
agencies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) assesses the effect of Office of Management
and Budget Circular A-11 on the housing of the workforce of
covered agencies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) assesses the effect of department-level
guidance on the housing of the workforce of covered
agencies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) assesses the effect of agency-level guidance
on the housing of the workforce of covered agencies;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) identifies suggested administrative actions
and legislative proposals to reform the guidance assessed under
paragraphs (1) through (4), including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) improvements to tenant
experience;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) improvements to workforce housing
supply, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) housing managed by the covered
agencies; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) leased private market
housing;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) improvements to financing
options;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) improvements to public-private
partnerships;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) improvements to philanthropic
engagement; and</