McIntire-Stennis Act District of Columbia Equality Act

119th Congress Introduced by Eleanor Holmes Norton

The bill adds the District of Columbia to the eligible recipients for McIntire-Stennis funds, enabling DC-based forestry research projects to compete for federal grants.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

Summary of HR 7650 (McIntire-Stennis Act District of Columbia Equality Act)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to amend the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act (Public Law 87-788) to ensure equal treatment for the District of Columbia with respect to funds made available under the Act.

Overall aim: include the District of Columbia among jurisdictions that are eligible for funding under the McIntire-Stennis program, aligning DC’s status with that of states and other eligible entities.

Key provisions

Section 2 (amendment to Section 8 of Public Law 87-788): The text inserts the District of Columbia after the list item that currently includes other eligible entities, effectively expanding eligibility to DC for funding under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act.

No changes to funding formulas, match requirements, grant administration, or reporting appear in the bill beyond the explicit inclusion of DC in the scope of funding.

Who/what would be affected

The District of Columbia would become eligible to receive funds made available under the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act.

Federal agencies and institutions involved in cooperative forestry research and related activities administered under the Act would extend funding eligibility to DC-based projects and programs, assuming they meet other program criteria.

State and local partners in DC (e.g., DC-area land-grant institutions or equivalent research entities, if applicable) could competitively apply for McIntire-Stennis funds, subject to standard program processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introductory status: Introduced February 23, 2026.

Referral track: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture; subsequently referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture (April 3, 2026).

The bill’s text is straightforward, with no specified funding authorization amounts or multi-year appropriation schedules tied to the DC inclusion. If enacted, the change would take effect for future funding cycles under the Act, consistent with how current allocations are administered.

Contextual notes

The McIntire-Stennis Act funds cooperative forestry research and related activities, typically supporting state forestry schools or equivalent institutions. This bill does not modify eligibility rules for other jurisdictions beyond adding DC to the list of eligible entities.

The bill is sponsored in the House by Ms. Norton (with a co-sponsor, Eleanor Holmes Norton), indicating a DC-focused aim to secure federal forestry research funding parity.

Potential impact

DC would gain access to federal forestry research funds that are already allocated to other states and DC would be able to participate in competitive grant opportunities under the Act.

Could stimulate DC-area forestry research capacity, collaboration with federal research programs, and potential enhancement of urban forestry and natural resources initiatives within the District.