I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5100 

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to remove 

nonnative plant species that contribute to drought conditions, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2019 

Mr. O’HALLERAN (for himself and Mr. SCHWEIKERT) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant 

program to remove nonnative plant species that contribute to drought conditions, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Drought Relief 

5 through Innovative Projects Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘DRIP 

6 Act of 2019’’. 

7 SEC. 2. NONNATIVE PLANT SPECIES REMOVAL GRANT PRO8 GRAM. 

9 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti2 ty’’ means a partnership between 2 or more entities 

3 that— 

4 (A) shall include— 

5 (i) at least 1 flood control district; 

6 and 

7 (ii) at least 1 city, county, township, 

8 town, borough, parish, village, or other 

9 general purpose political subdivision of a 

10 State or Indian tribe (as defined in section 

11 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 

12 Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

13 5304)); and 

14 (B) may include any other entity (such as 

15 a nonprofit organization or institution of higher 

16 education), as determined by the Secretary. 

17 (2) NONNATIVE PLANT SPECIES.—The term 

18 ‘‘nonnative plant species’’ means a plant species 

19 that— 

20 (A) is nonnative or alien to an ecosystem; 

21 and 

22 (B) if introduced to that ecosystem, will 

23 cause, or is likely to cause, economic harm, en24 vironmental harm, or harm to human health. 


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1 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Agriculture. 

3 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

4 a grant program to award grants, on a competitive basis, 

5 to eligible entities— 

6 (1) to remove nonnative plant species in ripar7 ian areas that contribute to drought conditions; 

8 (2) to replace those nonnative plant species 

9 with native plant species; and 

10 (3) to maintain and monitor riparian areas in 

11 which nonnative plant species have been removed 

12 and replaced. 

13 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 

15 grant under this section, an eligible entity shall sub16 mit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 

17 such manner, and containing such information as 

18 the Secretary may require, including— 

19 (A) a plan for how the eligible entity will 

20 use grant funds to carry out the activities de21 scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of sub22 section (b); 

23 (B) a description of the manner in which 

24 the eligible entity has carried out the consulta25 tion required under paragraph (2); and 


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1 (C) information demonstrating that each 

2 native plant species described in subsection 

3 (b)(2) will— 

4 (i)(I) reduce flood risk; 

5 (II) improve hydrology and water 

6 storage capacities; or 

7 (III) reduce fire hazard; and 

8 (ii) protect and restore rivers and 

9 streams and associated riparian habitats, 

10 including fish and wildlife resources that 

11 are dependent on those habitats. 

12 (2) CONSULTATION.—An eligible entity seeking 

13 a grant under this section shall consult with local 

14 stakeholders, including conservation groups, to cre15 ate the plan described in paragraph (1)(A). 

16 (d) REPORT.—An eligible entity that receives a grant 

17 under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report 

18 at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor19 mation as the Secretary may require, including informa20 tion on methodology and outcomes of nonnative plant spe21 cies removal and replacement efforts. 

22 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

23 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 


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1 $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year 

2 thereafter. 

Æ 


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