Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act
Bill: H.R.6147 | Sponsor: Rep. Bustos, Cheri (D-IL)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act or the DALCI Act
This bill reestablishes an initiative within the Department of Agriculture to assist farmers in fighting erosion and restoring cold water stream corridors in the Driftless Area of the Midwestern United States.

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to reestablish the Driftless 
    Area Landscape Conservation Initiative, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Driftless Area Landscape 
Conservation Initiative Act'' or the ``DALCI Act''.

SEC. 2. DRIFTLESS AREA LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE.

    Subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 1240H-1. DRIFTLESS AREA LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Driftless 
Area Landscape Conservation Initiative to reduce erosion and restore 
cold water stream corridors in the Driftless Area of the Midwestern 
United States, with a focus on climate-smart agriculture, carbon 
sequestration, soil health, and ecological restoration.
    ``(b) Initiative Elements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative 
        established under this section, the Secretary shall provide 
        assistance to producers to implement practices to--
                    ``(A) manage working lands for year-round ground 
                cover to rebuild soil, sequester carbon, improve water 
                quality, increase water holding capacity of soil, 
                reduce soil erosion, and mitigate flooding and other 
                climate impacts;
                    ``(B) manage woodlands for increased biodiversity 
                to improve the health of the woods to provide habitat 
                and sequester carbon;
                    ``(C) restore prairies and manage grasslands, oak 
                savannas, and barrens to expand habitat and sequester 
                carbon; and
                    ``(D) restore cold water streams, by reducing 
                stream bank erosion and threats of flooding while 
                improving trout habitat.
            ``(2) Partnerships.--In carrying out the initiative 
        established under this section, the Secretary shall provide 
        assistance to grassroots partnerships to educate landowners and 
        operators on the benefits of climate-smart agriculture, soil 
        health, and holistic grazing, with a focus on equity.
            ``(3) Types of assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
        assistance under this section in the form of financial 
        assistance, technical assistance, and payments for the 
        conveyance of easements to the Secretary, under such terms as 
        the Secretary may establish.
    ``(c) Funding.--Of the funds made available to carry out this 
subchapter, the Secretary shall carry out this section using $5,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
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