HR 1399 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State and tribal government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land containing maple trees to make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 9, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. MCHUGH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to support State and tribal government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land containing maple trees to make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Maple Tapping Access Program Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAMS.

Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 1240S. SUPPORT FOR MAPLE-TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAMS.

‘(a) Definition of Maple Tapping- In this section, the term ‘maple-tapping’ means the collection of sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the purpose of boiling to produce food.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Grants- The Secretary shall make grants to States and tribal governments to support State and tribal government efforts to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) to initiate or expand maple-tapping activities; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) to voluntarily make the land available, including by lease or other means, for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under such programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Applications- In submitting an application for a grant under this section, a State or tribal government shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) a description of the activities to be supported using the grant funds;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) a description of the benefits that the State or tribal government intends to achieve as a result of the activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) an estimate of the anticipated increase in maple-tapping activities and maple syrup production to occur as a result of the activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Priority- In approving applications and awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to States and tribal governments that propose--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) to maximize participation by offering a program the terms of which are likely to meet with widespread acceptance among landowners;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) to increase maple-tapping activities and maple syrup production;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) to ensure that land enrolled under the State or tribal government program has an appropriate stock of trees suitable for maple-tapping activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) to use additional Federal, State, tribal government, or private resources in carrying out the program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(e) Relationship to Other Laws- Nothing in this section preempts a State or tribal government law, including any State or tribal government liability law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Regulations- The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink