Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Act
Bill: H.R.7663 | Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Tim (R-MI)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Act
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention. Nonpoint source pollution comes from diffuse sources and is caused by precipitation moving over or through the ground and carrying pollution.
In implementing the initiative, USDA must
In carrying out the initiative, states may collaborate with entities that have agricultural or environmental expertise, including academic or nonprofit organizations.

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Secretary of 
      Agriculture to establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for 
           agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship 
Act''.

SEC. 2. GREAT LAKES BASIN INITIATIVE FOR AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT SOURCE 
              POLLUTION PREVENTION.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title 
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 1240H the following new section:

``SEC. 1240H-1. GREAT LAKES BASIN INITIATIVE FOR AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT 
              SOURCE POLLUTION PREVENTION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Great 
Lakes States, shall establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for 
agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention in accordance with 
this section.
    ``(b) Initiative Elements.--
            ``(1) Grants to states.--In implementing the initiative, 
        the Secretary shall provide grants to Great Lakes States to 
        fund the following:
                    ``(A) Education and outreach, for producers in the 
                Great Lakes basin, regarding--
                            ``(i) nonpoint pollution of ground and 
                        surface water from agricultural activities;
                            ``(ii) State verification programs; and
                            ``(iii) the initiative.
                    ``(B) Technical assistance, including training, to 
                producers in the Great Lakes basin for the 
                implementation of activities that reduce or prevent 
                nonpoint pollution of ground and surface water from 
                agricultural activities.
                    ``(C) Development and implementation of voluntary 
                State verification programs, with a funding priority 
                for voluntary State verification programs that 
                incorporate Department of Agriculture conservation 
                planning and practice standards.
            ``(2) Funding priority for certain producers.--In 
        implementing the initiative, the Secretary shall establish a 
        funding priority within the Great Lakes basin for payments to 
        producers under this chapter for producers that participate in 
        the initiative with the purpose of achieving verification 
        through a State verification program.
    ``(c) Use of Existing Data.--In establishing the initiative, the 
Secretary shall, where available, use existing plans, models, and 
assessments.
    ``(d) Collaboration.--In carrying out activities under the 
initiative, a State may collaborate with entities that have 
agricultural or environmental expertise, including academic or 
nonprofit organizations.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Great lakes basin.--The term `Great Lakes basin' 
        means areas in the watershed of the Great Lakes System, as such 
        term is defined in section 118 of the Federal Water Pollution 
        Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1268).
            ``(2) Great lakes state.--The term `Great Lakes State' 
        means any one of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 
        Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.
            ``(3) Initiative.--The term `initiative' means the Great 
        Lakes basin initiative for agricultural nonpoint source 
        pollution prevention established under subsection (a).
            ``(4) Nonpoint source pollution.--The term `nonpoint source 
        pollution' is used within the meaning of that term under the 
        Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
            ``(5) State verification program.--The term `State 
        verification program' means a program established by a Great 
        Lakes State to verify producer implementation of practices 
        approved by the State to reduce nonpoint pollution of ground 
        and surface water from agricultural activities, which may 
        include verification by a third party approved by the State or 
        the Secretary.
    ``(f) Funding.--Of the funds made available to carry out this 
subchapter, the Secretary shall carry out this section using--
            ``(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
            ``(2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            ``(3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
            ``(4) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1240C of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-3) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(d) Special Rule for Great Lakes Basin.--In evaluating 
applications of producers in the Great Lakes basin under this 
subchapter, the Secretary shall prioritize applications in accordance 
with section 1240H-1(b)(2).''.
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