Continuing Resolution extends ACES, GNA
I’m relieved that Congress passed a continuing resolution on Wednesday to fund the government until Dec. 20, and I know you are too. The threat of shutdowns is disruptive to our operations and stressful to dedicated employees like you who take great pride in your work and the benefits it provides to people, communities and the land.
The CR will continue appropriated funding at our FY 2024 levels until Dec. 20. We will issue direction from our National Budget Office on how we will operate during this time since there is a need to plan for our eventual final year budget which may differ from the FY 2024 levels. Stay tuned for that to come through the budget community and your unit leadership.
In addition to funding our ongoing operations, Congress extended two authorities in the recent continuing resolution, HR 9747, that directly impact our work: the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services Program and a key provision under the Good Neighbor Authority. The ACES program provides an efficient avenue for working with skilled personnel (age 55 and older) from outside the Forest Service who can provide training, mentoring and other services in support of the agency’s work on the National Forest System.
Under the GNA, revenue generated from the sale of timber can be retained by states and used to carry out additional restoration work on National Forest System land. This authority, like the ACES program, was set to expire on Sept. 30. HR 9747 extended both authorities, allowing each to be delivered uninterrupted through Dec. 20. Their availability beyond that date will be determined as Congress considers a reauthorization of the Farm Bill prior to the end of the calendar year.
The people, partnerships, skills and collaboration from these two programs are spread throughout the agency and are critical for our mission delivery. Therefore, we are working now to quickly extend the ACES master agreements and supplemental project agreements will follow, allowing all agency units to continue access to our partners' ACES enrollees.
The extension of the GNA authority allows the agency to continue to work collaboratively with tribes, states and counties to complete restoration work on federal lands. States can complete forest product removal under GNAs. Work from state agreements has contributed 10%, or 231 million board feet, to the national timber target as of Sept. 26. This volume number is important as it not only represents over 7,900 acres of thinning treatments in our high priority locations, but also supports local forest management industry with employment opportunities. Forest product removal is part of treatments that provide much-needed thinning in areas with dense vegetation, leading to high fuel loading in the wildfire crisis landscapes, forest health improvement and less insect and disease impacts in locations across the country.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and valuable work that has such a positive impact in communities across the country and around the world. I know we are making a difference and will continue to do so into the future, despite external stressors. ACES and the GNA, and the people and partners behind them, are critical to that success. Know that the American people count on and appreciate you.
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