Title: To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This bill increases the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program for FY2021-FY2025.
The Department of Agriculture must prioritize applications for the enrollment of land that would promote soil health and carbon sequestration, including land on which deep-rooted perennials will be planted.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8843 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8843

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres 
authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 3, 2020

 Mr. Peterson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                        Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres 
authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, 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. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT IN CONSERVATION 
              RESERVE.

    (a) General Enrollment Increase.--Section 1231(d)(1) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(1)(E)) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (C) through (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(C) fiscal year 2021, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, not fewer than 28,000,000 acres;
                    ``(D) fiscal year 2022, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, not fewer than 32,000,000 acres;
                    ``(E) fiscal year 2023, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, not fewer than 37,000,000 acres;
                    ``(F) fiscal year 2024, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, not fewer than 43,000,000 acres; and
                    ``(G) fiscal year 2025, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, not fewer than 50,000,000 acres.''.
    (b) Limitation.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall have no 
effect on the number of acres enrolled and maintained in the 
conservation reserve program using the continuous enrollment procedure 
under section 1231(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3831(d)(6)).
    (c) Priority.--In holding a signup for general enrollment contracts 
for 25,000,000 acres of the total acres authorized to be enrolled in 
the conservation reserve program under subparagraphs (C) through (G) of 
section 1231(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3831(d)(1)), the Secretary shall give priority to applications for the 
enrollment of land that would promote soil health and carbon 
sequestration, including applications for the enrollment of land on 
which deep-rooted perennials will be planted.
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