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 con-
tribute to drought conditions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Drought Relief 
through Innovative Projects Act of 2019’’ or the ‘‘DRIP 
Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. NONNATIVE PLANT SPECIES REMOVAL GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a partnership between 2 or more entities 
that— 
(A) shall include— 
(i) at least 1 flood control district; 
and 
(ii) at least 1 city, county, township, 
town, borough, parish, village, or other 
general purpose political subdivision of a 
State or Indian tribe (as defined in section 
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)); and 
(B) may include any other entity (such as 
a nonprofit organization or institution of higher 
education), as determined by the Secretary. 
(2) NONNATIVE
PLANT
SPECIES.—The term 
‘‘nonnative plant species’’ means a plant species 
that— 
(A) is nonnative or alien to an ecosystem; 
and 
(B) if introduced to that ecosystem, will 
cause, or is likely to cause, economic harm, en-
vironmental harm, or harm to human health. 
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(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a grant program to award grants, on a competitive basis, 
to eligible entities— 
(1) to remove nonnative plant species in ripar-
ian areas that contribute to drought conditions; 
(2) to replace those nonnative plant species 
with native plant species; and 
(3) to maintain and monitor riparian areas in 
which nonnative plant species have been removed 
and replaced. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, an eligible entity shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require, including— 
(A) a plan for how the eligible entity will 
use grant funds to carry out the activities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of sub-
section (b); 
(B) a description of the manner in which 
the eligible entity has carried out the consulta-
tion required under paragraph (2); and 
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(C) information demonstrating that each 
native plant species described in subsection 
(b)(2) will— 
(i)(I) reduce flood risk; 
(II) improve hydrology and water 
storage capacities; or 
(III) reduce fire hazard; and 
(ii) protect and restore rivers and 
streams and associated riparian habitats, 
including fish and wildlife resources that 
are dependent on those habitats. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—An eligible entity seeking 
a grant under this section shall consult with local 
stakeholders, including conservation groups, to cre-
ate the plan described in paragraph (1)(A). 
(d) REPORT.—An eligible entity that receives a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require, including informa-
tion on methodology and outcomes of nonnative plant spe-
cies removal and replacement efforts. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year 
thereafter. 
Æ 
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