Soil Health Federal Bill Tracker Alert - July 2023
Here's your Soil Health Federal Bill Tracker update (visit the Land Core Bill Tracker to see all tracked soil health bills). Sign up to get these updates directly in your inbox.
In the last week of July, over 100 marker bills were introduced and assigned to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees! Below is a collection of the bills that have been introduced, with a focus on those most closely related to soil health. We will continue to add core and secondary soil health marker bills to our tracker in the coming weeks, including another round of new bills that were introduced during the August recess. Visit the Land Core Bill Tracker for additional information.
Reintroduced Bills
(These bills were also introduced in the 117th Congress)
S.2594/H.R.5051 - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Modernization Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Smith (D-MN), Rep. Spanberger (D-VA-7), Bipartisan
This bill proposes comprehensive changes to the existing Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), with a focus on promoting climate benefits, expanding eligibility, providing technical assistance, increasing funding limits, and supporting innovative renewable energy projects in conjunction with agricultural activities. See in tracker.
S.2588/H.R.5043 - Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden (D-OR), Rep. Salinas (D-OR-6), Bipartisan
This bill establishes permanent payments within EQIP for practices enhancing soil health and carbon sequestration monitoring. The bill aims to incentivize sustainable agricultural practices that contribute to soil health and carbon management, thereby addressing climate and environmental concerns. See in tracker.
New Bills Introduced in July
(Introduced for the first time in the 118th Congress)
S.2340 - Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act
Sponsor: Sen. Smith (D-MN), Democrat only
This bill would authorize and expand USDA’s Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program with appropriations of $100 million per year for the next five years, to provide grants to eligible entities to strengthen land, capital, and market access outcomes for historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest owners and for producers operating in high-poverty areas. See in tracker.
S.2670/H.R.4979 - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act
Sponsor: Sen. Welch (D-MN), Rep. Casar (D-TX-35), Democrat only
The primary purpose of this legislation is to regulate market concentration and competition in the food and agriculture industry. There are four titles in this bill that address various aspects of market competition. See in tracker.
S.2643 - Protecting Farmers from Drought Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan (D-NM), Bipartisan
The bill aims to provide additional flexibility in eligibility for prevented planting insurance to farmers in counties that have experienced consecutive years of extreme drought. The proposed "1-IN-5 RULE" allows farmers in such counties to meet the insurance eligibility requirement by planting a crop at least once in the five most recent crop years, instead of the standard four years. See in tracker.
S.2636 - Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet (D-CO), Bipartisan
The "Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act of 2023" aims to enhance the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act, promote collaboration for better watershed management, and ensure sustainable water and land resource utilization for various purposes. See in tracker.
S.2614 - Farmer to Farmer Education Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Lujan (D-NM), Bipartisan
The bill seeks to enhance conservation technical assistance through farmer-to-farmer networks, with a focus on fostering conservation practices, supporting various farmers and ranchers, and promoting collaboration and mentorship within the agricultural community. See in tracker.
S.2603 - Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst (R-IA), Bipartisan
The bill seeks to improve the efficiency of conservation practice standards by streamlining their development, review, and establishment, incorporating innovation and technology, and enhancing public engagement in the process. See in tracker.
S.2598 - Whole Farm Revenue Protection Improvement Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Brown (D-OH), Democrat only
This bill seeks to improve the Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program under the Federal Crop Insurance Act by introducing various modifications to enhance participation, accommodate specialty crops and diversified farms, address disaster years, and provide incentives for insurance agents while promoting educational and training opportunities. See in tracker.
S.2591 - Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Fetterman (D-PA), Democrat only
The "Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023," proposes amendments to improve the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production within the U.m ko,[S. Department of Agriculture. The bill aims to provide greater support, technical assistance, and funding for urban and innovative farming practices, including controlled-environment agriculture, hydroponics, and other emerging production methods. See in tracker.
S.2564 - Conservation and Regenerative Optimization Practices (CROP) for Farming Act
Sponsor: Sen. Carper (D-DE), Bipartisan
This bill aims to enhance existing conservation incentive contracts under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by explicitly including considerations related to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage. The bill focuses on incentivizing practices that contribute to environmental sustainability and carbon management in agricultural practices. See in tracker.
H.R.5062 - Specialty Crop Mechanization Assistance Act
Sponsor: Rep. Valadao (R-CA-22), Bipartisan
This bill aims to establish a grant program to support specialty crop producers by providing them with funding for acquiring equipment and training related to automation and mechanization. This legislation seeks to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of specialty crop production in the United States. See in tracker.
S.2412 - CRP Flexibility Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Thune (R-SD), Bipartisan
The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to allow emergency haying under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), particularly during the primary nesting season, under specific circumstances such as drought, flooding, wildfire, or other emergencies, and when certain criteria related to forage loss or natural disaster response are met. See in tracker.
S.2458 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), Bipartisan
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) to extend the definition of a beginning farmer or rancher (from five crop years experience, increased to ten crop years), and to introduce a new structure for determining the amount of assistance, specified in percentage points, for beginning farmers and ranchers. See in tracker.
H.R.4838 - Specialty Crop Security Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Slotkin (D-MI-7), Bipartisan
The bill aims to amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 by extending and enhancing the specialty crop block grants program. The amendments include extending the availability of grants, specifying plan requirements, and allocating funding for fiscal years through 2024 and beyond. See in tracker.
H.R.4873 - Food Supply Chain Capacity and Resiliency Act
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna (D-CA-17), Bipartisan
The bill aims to strengthen and diversify the United States' food supply chain by expanding the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program. This involves providing loan guarantees to projects that enhance the capacity and resilience of the food supply chain, particularly those creating jobs in distressed communities and contributing to a more secure and diverse supply chain. See in tracker.
S.2458 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), Bipartisan
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) to extend the definition of a beginning farmer or rancher (from five crop years experience, increased to ten crop years), and to introduce a new structure for determining the amount of assistance, specified in percentage points, for beginning farmers and ranchers. See in tracker.
S.2479 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Padilla (D-CA), Democrat only
The COWS Act focuses on promoting sustainable manure management practices, especially composting, to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The act also aims to provide technical and financial support to farmers adopting these practices. See in tracker.
S.2317 - Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Fetterman (D-PA), Democrat only
The "Organic Science and Research Investment Act of 2023," aims to enhance organic agricultural research, expand resources, and promote the transition to organic agriculture through various initiatives, grants, and analyses. The bill also seeks to improve data collection and research coordination within the realm of organic agriculture. See in tracker.
Bills Moving Forward
(Includes bills that were introduced earlier)
Referred to Subcommittees
H.R. 3814 - Future of Agricultural Resiliency and Modernization (FARM) Act
Sponsor: Rep. Harder (D-CA-9), Democrat only, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology (7/10/2023)
Establishes two new grant programs at USDA to help farmers implement "climate-friendly farming methods and technologies": the FARM Fund, to provide grants to help farmers adopt new practices and technology, and the Pyrolysis Program, to support pilot programs for the development of biocarbon products. See in tracker.
H.R. 3955 - Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act
Sponsor: Rep. Budzinski (D-IL-13), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit (7/28/2023)
This bill would authorize and expand USDA’s Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program with appropriations of $100 million per year for the next five years, to provide grants to eligible entities to strengthen land, capital, and market access outcomes for historically underserved farmers, ranchers, and forest owners and for producers operating in high-poverty areas. See in tracker.
H.R. 3844 - Sustainable Agriculture Research Act
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse (D-CO-2), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology (7/28/2023)
Adds the explicit goals of addressing carbon sequestration and reduction of emissions, as well as the increased adoption of precision agriculture technology and on-farm renewable energy production, to the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA) program. See in tracker.
H.R. 3871 - Research for Healthy Soils Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-3), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology (7/28/2023)
This bill reauthorizes the high-priority research and extension initiatives, administered by NIFA, until 2028, and adds a new focus for high-priority research and extension grants to study the agricultural impacts of microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland. See in tracker.
H.R. 3972 - Flood Resiliency and Land Stewardship Act
Sponsor: Rep. Hinson (R-IA-2), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology (7/28/2023)
This bill adds “the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought, and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency” as a purpose of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). See in tracker.
H.R. 3904 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act
Sponsor: Rep. Feenstra (R-IA-4), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit (7/28/2023)
This bill amends the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) to extend the definition of a beginning farmer or rancher (from five crop years experience, increased to ten crop years), and to introduce a new structure for determining the amount of assistance, specified in percentage points, for beginning farmers and ranchers. See in tracker.
H.R.4327 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Costa (D-CA-21), Bipartisan, Referred to House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry (8/21/2023)
The COWS Act focuses on promoting sustainable manure management practices, especially composting, to enhance carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The act also aims to provide technical and financial support to farmers adopting these practices. See in tracker.
Committee Hearing Held
S.1118 - Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Act
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV), Democrat only, Hearing Held by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power (7/19/2023)
This bill proposes to establish the Open Access Evapotranspiration (OpenET) Data Program under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey. See in tracker.
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