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cilities, and other administrative services of the Department
to the Foundation.
SEC. 338. AUDITS AND PETITION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR EQUITABLE RELIEF.
(a) AUDITS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The accounts of the Founda-
tion shall be audited in accordance with Public Law
88–504 (36 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), including an audit
of lobbying and litigation activities carried out by the
Foundation.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The first section
of Public Law 88–504 (36 U.S.C. 1101) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(77) The National Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Foundation.’’.
(b) RELIEF WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN FOUNDATION
ACTS OR FAILURE TO ACT.—The Attorney General may pe-
tition in the United States District Court for the District
of Columbia for such equitable relief as may be necessary
or appropriate, if the Foundation—
(1) engages in, or threatens to engage in, any
act, practice, or policy that is inconsistent with this
subtitle; or
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(2) refuses, fails, neglects, or threatens to refuse,
fail, or neglect, to discharge the obligations of the
Foundation under this subtitle.
SEC. 339. RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The United States shall not be lia-
ble for any debt, default, act, or omission of the Foundation.
The full faith and credit of the United States shall not ex-
tend to the Foundation.
(b) STATEMENT.—An obligation issued by the Founda-
tion, and a document offering an obligation, shall include
a prominent statement that the obligation is not directly
or indirectly guaranteed, in whole or in part, by the United
States (or an agency or instrumentality of the United
States).
SEC. 340. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Depart-
ment to be made available to the Foundation $1,000,000
for each of fiscal years 1997 through 1999 to initially estab-
lish and carry out activities of the Foundation.
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous
SEC. 351. FLOOD RISK REDUCTION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—During fiscal years 1996 through
2002, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may enter into a contract with
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contract acreage under title I on a farm with land that
is frequently flooded.
(b) DUTIES OF PRODUCERS.—Under the terms of the
contract, with respect to acres that are subject to the con-
tract, the producer must agree to—
(1) the termination of any contract acreage;
(2) forgo loans for contract commodities, oilseeds,
and extra long staple cotton;
(3) not apply for crop insurance issued or rein-
sured by the Secretary;
(4) comply with applicable wetlands and high
erodible land conservation compliance requirements
established under title XII of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.);
(5) not apply for any conservation program pay-
ments from the Secretary;
(6) not apply for disaster program benefits pro-
vided by the Secretary; and
(7) refund the payments, with interest, issued
under the flood risk reduction contract to the Sec-
retary, if the producer violates the terms of the con-
tract or if the producer transfers the property to an-
other person who violates the contract.
(c) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—In return for a flood risk
reduction contract entered into by a producer under this
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section, the Secretary shall agree to pay the producer for
the 1996 through 2002 crops not more than 95 percent of
the projected contract payments under title I, and not more
than 95 percent of the projected payments and subsidies
from the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
(d) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—The Sec-
retary shall carry out the program authorized by this sec-
tion through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
SEC. 352. FORESTRY.
(a) FORESTRY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.—Section 4 of
the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2103) is amended by striking subsection (k).
(b) OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY.—Section
2405 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6704) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized each fiscal year such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section.’’.
SEC. 353. STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES.
Section 1261(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3861(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
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(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(9) agricultural producers;
‘‘(10) other nonprofit organizations with demon-
strable expertise;
‘‘(11) persons knowledgeable about the economic
and environmental impact of conservation techniques
and programs; and
‘‘(12) agribusiness.
SEC. 354. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) privately owned grazing land constitutes
nearly 1⁄2 of the non-Federal land of the United
States and is basic to the environmental, social, and
economic stability of rural communities;
(2) privately owned grazing land contains a
complex set of interactions among soil, water, air,
plants, and animals;
(3) grazing land constitutes the single largest
watershed cover type in the United States and con-
tributes significantly to the quality and quantity of
water available for all of the many uses of the land;
(4) private grazing land constitutes the most ex-
tensive wildlife habitat in the United States;
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(5) private grazing land can provide opportuni-
ties for improved nutrient management from land ap-
plication of animal manures and other by-product
nutrient resources;
(6) owners and managers of private grazing land
need to continue to recognize conservation problems
when the problems arise and receive sound technical
assistance to improve or conserve grazing land re-
sources to meet ecological and economic demands;
(7) new science and technology must continually
be made available in a practical manner so owners
and managers of private grazing land may make in-
formed decisions concerning vital grazing land re-
sources;
(8) agencies of the Department of Agriculture
with private grazing land responsibilities are the
agencies that have the expertise and experience to pro-
vide technical assistance, education, and research to
owners and managers of private grazing land for the
long-term productivity and ecological health of graz-
ing land;
(9) although competing demands on private
grazing land resources are greater than ever before,
assistance to private owners and managers of private
grazing land is currently limited and does not meet
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the demand and basic need for adequately sustaining
or enhancing the private grazing lands resources; and
(10) privately owned grazing land can be en-
hanced to provide many benefits to all Americans
through voluntary cooperation among owners and
managers of the land, local conservation districts, and
the agencies of the Department of Agriculture respon-
sible for providing assistance to owners and managers
of land and to conservation districts.
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to au-
thorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a coordi-
nated technical, educational, and related assistance pro-
gram to conserve and enhance private grazing land re-
sources and provide related benefits to all citizens of the
United States by—
(1) establishing a coordinated and cooperative
Federal, State, and local grazing conservation pro-
gram for management of private grazing land;
(2) strengthening technical, educational, and re-
lated assistance programs that provide assistance to
owners and managers of private grazing land;
(3) conserving and improving wildlife habitat on
private grazing land;
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(4) conserving and improving fish habitat and
aquatic systems through grazing land conservation
treatment;
(5) protecting and improving water quality;
(6) improving the dependability and consistency
of water supplies;
(7) identifying and managing weed, noxious
weed, and brush encroachment problems on private
grazing land; and
(8) integrating conservation planning and man-
agement decisions by owners and managers of private
grazing land, on a voluntary basis.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) PRIVATE GRAZING LAND.—The term ‘‘private
grazing land’’ means privately owned, State-owned,
tribally-owned, and any other non-federally owned
rangeland, pastureland, grazed forest land, and hay
land.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Service.
(d) PRIVATE GRAZING LAND CONSERVATION ASSIST-
ANCE.—
(1) ASSISTANCE TO GRAZING LANDOWNERS AND
OTHERS.—Subject to the availability of appropria-
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tions, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary pro-
gram to provide technical, educational, and related
assistance to owners and managers of private grazing
land and public agencies, through local conservation
districts, to enable the landowners, managers, and
public agencies to voluntarily carry out activities that
are consistent with this section, including—
(A) maintaining and improving private
grazing land and the multiple values and uses
that depend on private grazing land;
(B) implementing grazing land manage-
ment technologies;
(C) managing resources on private grazing
land, including—
(i) planning, managing, and treating
private grazing land resources;
(ii) ensuring the long-term sustain-
ability of private grazing land resources;
(iii) harvesting, processing, and mar-
keting private grazing land resources; and
(iv) identifying and managing weed,
noxious weed, and brush encroachment
problems;
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(D) protecting and improving the quality
and quantity of water yields from private graz-
ing land;
(E) maintaining and improving wildlife
and fish habitat on private grazing land;
(F) enhancing recreational opportunities on
private grazing land;
(G) maintaining and improving the aes-
thetic character of private grazing lands; and
(H) identifying the opportunities and en-
couraging the diversification of private grazing
land enterprises.
(2) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—
(A) FUNDING.—The program under para-
graph (1) shall be funded through a specific line-
item in the annual appropriations for the Natu-
ral Resources Conservation Service.
(B) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
EDU-
CATION.—Personnel of the Department of Agri-
culture trained in pasture and range manage-
ment shall be made available under the program
to deliver and coordinate technical assistance
and education to owners and managers of pri-
vate grazing land, at the request of the owners
and managers.
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(e) GRAZING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SELF-HELP.—
(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(A) there is a severe lack of technical assist-
ance for grazing producers;
(B) the Federal budget precludes any sig-
nificant expansion, and may force a reduction
of, current levels of technical support; and
(C) farmers and ranchers have a history of
cooperatively working together to address com-
mon needs in the promotion of their products
and in the drainage of wet areas through drain-
age districts.
(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRAZING DEMONSTRA-
TION.—The Secretary may establish 2 grazing man-
agement demonstration districts at the recommenda-
tion of the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
Steering Committee.
(3) PROCEDURE.—
(A) PROPOSAL.—Within a reasonable time
after the submission of a request of an organiza-
tion of farmers or ranchers engaged in grazing,
the Secretary shall propose that a grazing man-
agement district be established.
(B) FUNDING.—The terms and conditions of
the funding and operation of the grazing man-
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agement district shall be proposed by the produc-
ers.
(C) APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove the proposal if the Secretary determines
that the proposal—
(i) is reasonable;
(ii) will promote sound grazing prac-
tices; and
(iii) contains provisions similar to the
provisions contained in the promotion or-
ders in effect on the effective date of this sec-
tion.
(D) AREA INCLUDED.—The area proposed
to be included in a grazing management district
shall be determined by the Secretary on the basis
of a petition by farmers or ranchers.
(E) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary may
use authority under the Agricultural Adjustment
Act (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), reenacted with
amendments by the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, to operate, on a dem-
onstration basis, a grazing management district.
(F) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of a graz-
ing management district shall be scientifically
sound activities, as determined by the Secretary
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in consultation with a technical advisory com-
mittee composed of ranchers, farmers, and tech-
nical experts.
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1997; and
(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and each
subsequent fiscal year.
SEC. 355. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM.—
(1) ELIMINATION.—
(A) Section 8 of the Soil Conservation and
Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h) is
amended—
(i) in subsection (b)—
(I) by striking paragraphs (1)
through (4) and inserting the follow-
ing:
‘‘(1) ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM.—The Secretary shall provide technical assist-
ance, cost share payments, and incentive payments to
operators through the environmental quality incen-
tives program in accordance with chapter 2 of subtitle
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D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838
et seq.).’’; and
(II) by striking paragraphs (6)
through (8); and
(ii) by striking subsections (d), (e),
and (f).
(B) The first sentence of section 11 of the
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act
(16 U.S.C. 590k) is amended by striking ‘‘per-
formance: Provided further,’’ and all that follows
through ‘‘or other law’’ and inserting ‘‘perform-
ance’’.
(C) Section 14 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 590n)
is amended—
(i) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘or
8’’; and
(ii) by striking the second sentence.
(D) Section 15 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 590o)
is amended—
(i) in the first undesignated para-
graph—
(I) in the first sentence, by strik-
ing ‘‘sections 7 and 8’’ and inserting
‘‘section 7’’; and
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(II) by striking the third sentence;
and
(ii) by striking the second undesig-
nated paragraph.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) Paragraph (1) of the last proviso of the
matter under the heading ‘‘CONSERVATION RE-
SERVE
PROGRAM’’ under the heading ‘‘SOIL
BANK PROGRAMS’’ of title I of the Department of
Agriculture and Farm Credit Administration
Appropriation Act, 1959 (72 Stat. 195; 7 U.S.C.
1831a) is amended by striking ‘‘Agricultural
Conservation Program’’ and inserting ‘‘environ-
mental quality incentives program established
under chapter 2 of subtitle D of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.)’’.
(B) Section 4 of the Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103) is
amended by striking ‘‘as added by the Agri-
culture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973’’
each place it appears in subsections (d) and (i)
and inserting ‘‘as in effect before the amendment
made by section 355(a)(1) of the Agricultural
Reform and Improvement Act of 1996’’.
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(C) Section 226(b)(4) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7
U.S.C. 6932(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘and
the agricultural conservation program under the
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act
(16 U.S.C. 590g et seq.)’’.
(D) Section 246(b)(8) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7
U.S.C. 6962(b)(8)) is amended by striking ‘‘and
the agricultural conservation program under the
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act
(16 U.S.C. 590g et seq.)’’.
(E) Section 1271(c)(3)(C) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 2106a(c)(3)(C)) is amended by striking
‘‘Agricultural Conservation Program established
under section 16(b) of the Soil Conservation and
Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h, 590l,
or 590p)’’ and inserting ‘‘environmental quality
incentives program established under chapter 2
of subtitle D of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.)’’.
(F) Section 126(a)(5) of the Internal Reve-
nue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘(5) The environmental quality incentives pro-
gram established under chapter 2 of subtitle D of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.).’’.
(G) Section 304(a) of the Lake Champlain
Special Designation Act of 1990 (Public Law
101–596; 33 U.S.C. 1270 note) is amended—
(i) in the subsection heading, by strik-
ing ‘‘SPECIAL PROJECT AREA UNDER THE
AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM’’
and inserting ‘‘A PRIORITY AREA UNDER
THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES
PROGRAM’’; and
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘spe-
cial project area under the Agricultural
Conservation Program established under
section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and
Domestic 
Allotment 
Act 
(16 
U.S.C.
590h(b))’’ and inserting ‘‘priority area
under the environmental quality incentives
program established under chapter 2 of sub-
title D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3838 et seq.)’’.
(H) Section 6 of the Department of Agri-
culture Organic Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 1033) is
amended by striking subsection (b).
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(b) GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION PROGRAM.—
(1) ELIMINATION.—Section 16 of the Soil Con-
servation and Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C.
590p) is repealed.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) The Agricultural Adjustment Act of
1938 is amended by striking ‘‘Great Plains pro-
gram’’ each place it appears in sections 344(f)(8)
and 377 (7 U.S.C. 1344(f)(8) and 1377) and in-
serting ‘‘environmental quality incentives pro-
gram established under chapter 2 of subtitle D of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838
et seq.)’’.
(B) Section 246(b) of the Department of Ag-
riculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6962(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2).
(C) Section 126(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 is amended—
(i) by striking paragraph (6); and
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (7)
through (10) as paragraphs (6) through (9),
respectively.
(c) COLORADO RIVER BASIN SALINITY CONTROL PRO-
GRAM.—
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(1) ELIMINATION.—Section 202 of the Colorado
River Basin Salinity Control Act (43 U.S.C. 1592) is
amended by striking subsection (c).
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 246(b)
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6962(b)) is amended by striking
paragraph (6).
(d) RURAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM.—
(1) ELIMINATION.—Title X of the Agricultural
Act of 1970 (16 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) is repealed.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 246(b)
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6962(b)) is amended—
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2)
through (8) as paragraphs (1) through (7), re-
spectively.
(e) OTHER CONSERVATION PROVISIONS.—Subtitle F of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 2005a
and 2101 note) is repealed.
(f) COMMODITY
CREDIT
CORPORATION
CHARTER
ACT.—Section 5(g) of the Commodity Credit Corporation
Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(g)) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
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‘‘(g) Carry out conservation functions and programs.’’.
(g) RESOURCE CONSERVATION.—
(1) ELIMINATION.—Subtitles A, B, D, E, F, G,
and J of title XV of the Agriculture and Food Act of
1981 (95 Stat. 1328; 16 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.) are re-
pealed.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 739 of
the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 1982 (7 U.S.C. 2272a), is repealed.
(h) ENVIRONMENTAL EASEMENT PROGRAM.—Section
1239(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘1991 through 1995’’ and
inserting ‘‘1996 through 2002’’.
(i) RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.—Section 1538 of the Agriculture and Food Act
of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3461) is amended by striking ‘‘1991
through 1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1996 through 2002’’.
(j) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The first sentence of the
matter under the heading ‘‘Commodity Credit Corporation’’
of Public Law 99–263 (100 Stat. 59; 16 U.S.C. 3841 note)
is amended by striking ‘‘: Provided further,’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘Acts’’.
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(k) AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM.—Chapter 2 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838 et seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 356. WATER BANK PROGRAM.
Section 1230 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3830) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) WATER BANK PROGRAM.—For purposes of this
Act, acreage enrolled, prior to the date of enactment of this
subsection, in the water bank program authorized by the
Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) shall be considered
to have been enrolled in the conservation reserve program
on the date the acreage was enrolled in the water bank pro-
gram. Payments shall continue at the existing water bank
rates.’’.
SEC. 357. FLOOD WATER RETENTION PILOT PROJECTS.
Section 16 of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Al-
lotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590p) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘(l) FLOOD WATER RETENTION PILOT PROJECTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In cooperation with States,
the Secretary shall carry out at least 1 but not more
than 2 pilot projects to create and restore natural
water retention areas to control storm water and
snow melt runoff within closed drainage systems.
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‘‘(2) PRACTICES.—To carry out paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall provide cost-sharing and technical
assistance for the establishment of nonstructural land-
scape management practices, including agricultural
tillage practices and restoration, enhancement, and
creation of wetland characteristics.
‘‘(3) FUNDING.—
‘‘(A) LIMITATION.—The funding used by the
Secretary to carry out this subsection shall not
exceed $10,000,000 per project.
‘‘(B) USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORA-
TION.—The Secretary shall use the funds, facili-
ties, and authorities of the Commodity Credit
Corporation to carry out this subsection.
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL PILOT PROJECTS.—
‘‘(A) EVALUATION.—Not later than 2 years
after a pilot project is implemented, the Sec-
retary shall evaluate the extent to which the
project has reduced or may reduce Federal out-
lays for emergency spending and unplanned in-
frastructure maintenance by an amount that ex-
ceeds the Federal cost of the project.
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.—If the Sec-
retary determines that pilot projects carried out
under this subsection have reduced or may re-
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duce Federal outlays as described in subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary may carry out, in ac-
cordance with this subsection, pilot projects in
addition to the projects authorized under para-
graph (1).’’.
SEC. 358. WETLAND CONSERVATION EXEMPTION.
Section 1222(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3822(b)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(E) converted wetland, if—
‘‘(i) the extent of the conversion is lim-
ited to the reversion to conditions that will
be at least equivalent to the wetland func-
tions and values that existed prior to imple-
mentation of a voluntary wetland restora-
tion, enhancement, or creation action;
‘‘(ii) technical determinations of the
prior site conditions and the restoration,
enhancement, or creation action have been
adequately documented in a plan approved
by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service prior to implementation; and
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‘‘(iii) the conversion action proposed
by the private landowner is approved by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service
prior to implementation; or’’.
SEC. 359. FLOODPLAIN EASEMENTS.
Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2203) is amended by inserting ‘‘, including the pur-
chase of floodplain easements,’’ after ‘‘emergency measures’’.
SEC. 360. RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION.
Section 1538 of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981
(16 U.S.C. 3461) is amended by striking ‘‘1991 through
1995’’ and inserting ‘‘1996 through 2001’’.
SEC. 361. CONSERVATION RESERVE NEW ACREAGE.
Section 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing: ‘‘The Secretary may enter into 1 or more new contracts
to enroll acreage in a quantity equal to the quantity of acre-
age covered by any contract that terminates after the date
of enactment of the Agricultural Market Transition Act.’’.
SEC. 362. REPEAL OF REPORT REQUIREMENT.
Section 1342 of title 44, United States Code, is re-
pealed.
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SEC. 363. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVEN-
TION ACT AMENDMENTS.
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The first section of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C.
1001) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY.
‘‘Erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and loss of natural
habitats in the watersheds and waterways of the United
States cause loss of life, damage to property, and a reduc-
tion in the quality of environment and life of citizens. It
is therefore the sense of Congress that the Federal Govern-
ment should join with States and their political subdivi-
sions, public agencies, conservation districts, flood preven-
tion or control districts, local citizens organizations, and
Indian tribes for the purpose of conserving, protecting, re-
storing, and improving the land and water resources of the
United States and the quality of the environment and life
for watershed residents across the United States.’’.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—
(1) WORKS OF IMPROVEMENT.—Section 2 of the
Act (16 U.S.C. 1002) is amended, with respect to the
term ‘‘works of improvement’’—
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, non-
structural,’’ after ‘‘structural’’;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at
the end;
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(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
paragraph (11);
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs:
‘‘(3) a land treatment or other nonstructural
practice, including the acquisition of easements or
real property rights, to meet multiple watershed
needs,
‘‘(4) the restoration and monitoring of the chem-
ical, biological, and physical structure, diversity, and
functions of waterways and their associated ecological
systems,
‘‘(5) the restoration or establishment of wetland
and riparian environments as part of a multi-objec-
tive management system that provides floodwater or
storm water storage, detention, and attenuation, nu-
trient filtering, fish and wildlife habitat, and en-
hanced biological diversity,
‘‘(6) the restoration of steam channel forms,
functions, and diversity using the principles of
biotechnical slope stabilization to reestablish a mean-
dering, bankfull flow channels, riparian vegetation,
and floodplains,
‘‘(7) the establishment and acquisition of multi-
objective riparian and adjacent flood prone lands, in-
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cluding greenways, for sediment storage and flood-
water storage,
‘‘(8) the protection, restoration, enhancement
and monitoring of surface and groundwater quality,
including measures to improve the quality of water
emanating from agricultural lands and facilities,
‘‘(9) the provision of water supply and munici-
pal and industrial water supply for rural commu-
nities having a population of less than 55,000, ac-
cording to the most recent decennial census of the
United States,
‘‘(10) outreach to and organization of local citi-
zen organizations to participate in project design and
implementation, and the training of project volun-
teers and participants in restoration and monitoring
techniques, or’’; and
(E) in paragraph (11) (as so redesig-
nated)—
(i) by inserting in the first sentence
after ‘‘proper utilization of land’’ the follow-
ing: ‘‘, water, and related resources’’; and
(ii) by striking the sentence that man-
dates that 20 percent of total project benefits
be directly related to agriculture.
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(2) LOCAL ORGANIZATION.—Such section is fur-
ther amended, with respect to the term ‘‘local organi-
zation’’, by adding at the end the following new sen-
tence: ‘‘The term includes any nonprofit organization
(defined as having tax exempt status under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that
has authority to carry out and maintain works of im-
provement or is developing and implementing a work
of improvement in partnership with another local or-
ganization that has such authority.’’.
(3) WATERWAY.—Such section is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new definition:
‘‘WATERWAY.—The term ‘waterway’ means, on public
or private land, any natural, degraded, seasonal, or created
wetland on public or private land, including rivers,
streams, riparian areas, marshes, ponds, bogs, mudflats,
lakes, and estuaries. The term includes any natural or man-
made watercourse which is culverted, channelized, or vegeta-
tively cleared, including canals, irrigation ditches, drainage
wages, and navigation, industrial, flood control and water
supply channels.’’.
(c) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.—Section
3 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1003) is amended—
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(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ‘‘(1)’’
the following ‘‘to provide technical assistance to help
local organizations’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by inserting after ‘‘(2)’’ the following:
‘‘to provide technical assistance to help local or-
ganizations’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘engineering’’ and inserting
‘‘technical and scientific’’; and
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) to make allocations of costs to the project or
project components to determine whether the total of
all environmental, social, and monetary benefits ex-
ceed costs;’’.
(d) COST SHARE ASSISTANCE.—
(1) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 3A of the
Act (16 U.S.C. 1003a) is amended by striking sub-
section (b) and inserting the following:
‘‘(b) NONSTRUCTURAL PRACTICES.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Act, Federal cost share assist-
ance to local organizations for the planning and implemen-
tation of nonstructural works of improvement may be pro-
vided using funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act
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for an amount not exceeding 75 percent of the total installa-
tion costs.
‘‘(c) STRUCTURAL PRACTICES.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Act, Federal cost share assistance to
local organizations for the planning and implementation
of structural works of improvement may be provided using
funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act for 50 per-
cent of the total cost, including the cost of mitigating dam-
age to fish and wildlife habitat and the value of any land
or interests in land acquired for the work of improvement.
‘‘(d) SPECIAL RULE FOR LIMITED RESOURCE COMMU-
NITIES.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
the Secretary may provide cost share assistance to a limited
resource community for any works of improvement, using
funds appropriated for the purposes of this Act, for an
amount not to exceed 90 percent of the total cost.
‘‘(e) TREATMENT OF OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS.—Not
more than 50 percent of the non-Federal cost share may
be satisfied using funds from other Federal agencies.’’.
(2) CONDITIONS ON ASSISTANCE.—Section 4(1)
of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1004(1)) is amended by striking
‘‘, without cost to the Federal Government from funds
appropriated for the purposes of this Act,’’.
(e) BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS.—Section 5(1) of the Act
(16 U.S.C. 1005(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘the benefits’’
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and inserting ‘‘the total benefits, including environmental,
social, and monetary benefits,’’.
(f) PROJECT PRIORITIZATION.—The Watershed Protec-
tion and Flood Prevention Act is amended by inserting
after section 5 (16 U.S.C. 1005) the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 5A. FUNDING PRIORITIES.
‘‘In making funding decisions under this Act, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to projects with one or more of
the following attributes:
‘‘(1) Projects providing significant improvements
in ecological values and functions in the project area.
‘‘(2) Projects that enhance the long-term health of
local economies or generate job or job training oppor-
tunities for local residents, including Youth Conserva-
tion and Service Corps participants and displaced re-
source harvesters.
‘‘(3) Projects that provide protection to human
health, safety, and property.
‘‘(4) Projects that directly benefit economically
disadvantaged communities and enhance participa-
tion by local residents of such communities.
‘‘(5) Projects that restore or enhance fish and
wildlife species of commercial, recreational, subsist-
ence or scientific concern.
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‘‘(6) Projects or components of projects that can
be planned, designed, and implemented within two
years.’’.
(g) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—The Watershed Protection
and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001–1010) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 14. TRANSFERS OF FUNDS.
‘‘The Secretary may accept transfers of funds from
other Federal departments and agencies in order to carry
out projects under this Act.’’.
SEC. 364. ABANDONMENT OF CONVERTED WETLANDS.
Section 1222 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3822) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(k) ABANDONMENT OF CONVERTED WETLANDS.—The
Secretary shall not determine that a prior converted or
cropped wetland is abandoned, and therefore that the wet-
land is subject to this subtitle, on the basis that a producer
has not planted an agricultural crop on the prior converted
or cropped wetland after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, so long as any use of the wetland thereafter is lim-
ited to agricultural purposes.’’.
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TITLE IV—NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE
SEC. 401. FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
(a) DISQUALIFICATION OF A STORE OR CONCERN.—
Section 12 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2021)
is amended—
(1) by striking the section heading;
(2) by striking ‘‘SEC. 12. (a) Any’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘SEC. 12. CIVIL MONEY PENALTIES AND DISQUALIFICATION
OF RETAIL FOOD STORES AND WHOLESALE
FOOD CONCERNS.
‘‘(a) DISQUALIFICATION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An’’;
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(2) EMPLOYING
CERTAIN
PERSONS.—A retail
food store or wholesale food concern shall be disquali-
fied from participation in the food stamp program if
the store or concern knowingly employs a person who
has been found by the Secretary, or a Federal, State,
or local court, to have, within the preceding 3-year
period—
‘‘(A) engaged in the trading of a firearm,
ammunition, an explosive, or a controlled sub-
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stance (as defined in section 102 of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)) for a
coupon; or
‘‘(B) committed any act that constitutes a
violation of this Act or a State law relating to
using, presenting, transferring, acquiring, receiv-
ing, or possessing a coupon, authorization card,
or access device.’’; and
(4) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘neither
the ownership nor management of the store or food
concern was aware’’ and inserting ‘‘the ownership of
the store or food concern was not aware’’.
(b) EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.—Section 16(h)(1) of
the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ each place it appears and in-
serting ‘‘2002’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF PILOT PROJECTS.—The last
sentence of section 17(b)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
(d) OUTREACH
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.—The
first sentence of section 17(j)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(j)(1)(A)) is amended by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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8; 7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and
inserting ‘‘2002’’.
(c) REQUIRED PURCHASES OF COMMODITIES.—Sec-
tion 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983
(Public Law 98–8; 7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by
striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘1995’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 404. SOUP KITCHENS PROGRAM.
Section 110 of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988
(Public Law 100–435; 7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended—
(1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by
striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)(2)—
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking
‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘1995’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
SEC. 405. NATIONAL COMMODITY PROCESSING.
The first sentence of section 1114(a)(2)(A) of the Agri-
culture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 1431e(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ‘‘1995’’ and inserting ‘‘2002’’.
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TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS
Subtitle A—General Miscellaneous
Provisions
SEC. 501. FUND FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS TO PAY FOR NUTRI-
ENT MANAGEMENT.
Section 8c(5) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7
U.S.C. 608c(5)), reenacted with amendments by the Agri-
cultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (A), by adding at the end the
following: ‘‘The minimum price for milk of the high-
est classification in any order (other than an order
amended under paragraph (M)) may not be higher
than the minimum price required under this para-
graph.’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(M) SAFE HARBOR.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Providing that
each order may be amended such that not
more than $.10 per hundredweight of milk
of the highest use classification may be
added to the minimum applicable price to
be set aside in a fund called the ‘Safe Har-
bor Fund Account’ (referred to in this para-
graph as the ‘Account’).
‘‘(ii) ADMINISTRATION.—
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‘‘(I) MARKET
ADMINISTRATOR.—
The Account shall be administered by
the Market Administrator.
‘‘(II) USE OF FUNDS.—A deter-
mination regarding the use of the
funds in the Account shall be made by
the Safe Harbor Committee established
under clause (iii).
‘‘(iii) SAFE HARBOR COMMITTEE.—The
Secretary shall establish a Safe Harbor
Committee consisting of 7 milk producers
appointed by the Secretary who supply milk
to handlers regulated under a Federal milk
marketing order.
‘‘(iv) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(I) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligi-
ble to use amounts in the fund, a milk
producer who supplies milk to handlers
regulated under a Federal milk mar-
keting order shall submit an applica-
tion to the Safe Harbor Committee.
‘‘(II) APPROVAL.—The Safe Har-
bor Committee may approve only ap-
plications that fund conservation prac-
tices approved by the Secretary that
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control the off-migration of nutrients
from the farm.
‘‘(III) STATE
WATER
QUALITY
PRIORITIES.—In approving applica-
tions, the Safe Harbor Committee shall
take into account, to the extent prac-
ticable, the applicable State water
quality priorities.’’.
SEC. 502. CROP INSURANCE.
(a) 
CATASTROPHIC
RISK
PROTECTION.—Section
508(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(C) DELIVERY OF COVERAGE.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In full consultation
with approved insurance providers, the Sec-
retary may continue to offer catastrophic
risk protection in a State (or a portion of
a State) through local offices of the Depart-
ment if the Secretary determines that there
is an insufficient number of approved in-
surance providers operating in the State or
portion to adequately provide catastrophic
risk protection coverage to producers.
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‘‘(ii) COVERAGE BY APPROVED INSUR-
ANCE PROVIDERS.—To the extent that cata-
strophic risk protection coverage by ap-
proved insurance providers is sufficiently
available in a State as determined by the
Secretary, only approved insurance provid-
ers may provide the coverage in the State.
‘‘(iii) CURRENT POLICIES.—Subject to
clause (ii), all catastrophic risk protection
policies written by local offices of the De-
partment shall be transferred (including all
fees collected for the crop year in which the
approved insurance provider will assume
the policies) to the approved insurance pro-
vider for performance of all sales, service,
and loss adjustment functions.’’; and
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking subparagraph
(A) and inserting the following:
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Effective for the spring-
planted 1996 and subsequent crops, to be eligible
for any payment or loan under the Agricultural
Market Transition Act or the Agricultural Ad-
justment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.), the
conservation reserve program, or any benefit de-
scribed in section 371 of the Consolidated Farm