The White Oak Resilience Act

This bill directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to carry out activities for white oak restoration. It establishes a coalition, pilot projects, a grant program, a nursery strategy, research, and a formal initiative, all with a 7-year sunset for most authorities.

Sec. 2, Definitions: Defines "Governor" as the executive of an affected State, Indian Tribe, or Puerto Rico; "Indian Tribe" as in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act; and "State" as each state, DC, and US territories.

Sec. 3, White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition: Establishes a voluntary coalition of Federal, State, Tribal, local, private, and non-governmental groups to coordinate white oak restoration and make policy recommendations on improving health, regeneration, research, outreach, and nursery quality. The Secretaries provide staff support, and Agriculture may fund it from an existing account.

Sec. 4, Forest Service Pilot Program: Requires the Forest Service to run 5 pilot projects in national forests for white oak restoration, with at least 3 on forests reserved or withdrawn from the public domain. Agriculture may enter cooperative agreements. Authority ends after 7 years.

Sec. 5, Department of the Interior White Oak Review and Restoration: The Interior Secretary must assess Interior lands (including refuges and abandoned mines) for white oak presence and restoration potential, report to Congress within 90 days, then run 5 pilot projects for restoration. Authority ends after 7 years.

Sec. 6, White Oak Regeneration and Upland Oak Habitat: Agriculture establishes a non-regulatory program within 180 days to coordinate restoration, adopt a science-based strategy, and create a voluntary grant program managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Purposes include improving oak forests, wildlife habitat, and public engagement. Authority ends after 7 years.

Sec. 7, Tree Nursery Shortages: Within 1 year, Agriculture must develop a national strategy to increase Federal, State, Tribal, and private nursery capacity to address seedling shortages, based on best science and identifying regional needs and barriers.

Sec. 8, White Oak Research: Agriculture may enter memoranda of understanding with Indian Tribes or land grant colleges to research white oak genetics, seed banks, regeneration, reforestation, and economic aspects. Authority ends after 7 years.

Sec. 9, USDA Formal Initiative: Agriculture, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Forest Service, establishes a formal initiative to re-establish white oak, improve management, provide technical assistance, expand nursery stock, and adapt seedlings. Authority ends after 7 years.

Sec. 10, Authorities: The Secretaries should use this bill's authorities with other tools like good neighbor agreements and stewardship contracting.