WATER Act

Bill: 115-hr-5426
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Introduced: 2018-04-05
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural research

Congressional oversight

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Environmental health

Government information and archives

Research administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2018-04-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-04-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Water and Targeted Environmental Research Act of 2018 or the WATER Act </b></p> <p>This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Innovation Grants program. </p> <p>The bill modifies the program to: </p> <ul> <li>specify that matching funds for grants may include in-kind contributions provided by a cooperative extension service or a state agricultural experiment station, and</li> <li>extend through FY2023 the requirement for USDA to use specified funds for payments to producers to implement practices to address air quality concerns from agricultural operations and meet regulatory requirements. </li> </ul> <p>The bill also requires USDA to establish and maintain a publicly available database that provides: (1) a compilation and analysis of effective conservation practices for soil health, nutrient management, and source water protection in varying soil compositions, cropping systems, slopes, and landscapes; and (2) a list of recommended new and effective conservation practices. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5426 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 5, 2018 Mr. Young of Iowa (for himself and Mrs. Noem ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to conservation innovation grants and payments, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water and Targeted Environmental Research Act of 2018 or the WATER Act . 2. Conservation innovation grants and payments (a) Competitive grants for innovative conservation approaches Section 1240H(a)(2)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(a)(2)(B) ) is amended by inserting (which may include in-kind contributions provided by a cooperative extension service or a State agricultural experiment station, as defined in the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977) before to promote environmental enhancement . (b) Air quality concerns from agricultural operations Section 1240H(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(b)(2) ) is amended by striking 2018 and inserting 2023 . (c) Reporting and database Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c) ) is amended to read as follows: (c) Reporting and database (1) Reporting Not later than December 31, 2014, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report on the status of projects funded under this section, including— (A) funding awarded; (B) project results; and (C) incorporation of project findings, such as new technology and innovative approaches, into the conservation efforts implemented by the Secretary. (2) Database The Secretary shall use the data reported under paragraph (1) to establish and maintain a publically available database that provides— (A) a compilation and analysis (including economic analysis) of effective conservation practices for soil health, nutrient management, and source water protection in varying soil compositions, cropping systems, slopes, and landscapes, including the sources of the project data; and (B) a list of recommended new and effective conservation practices, based on the analysis under subparagraph (A). .