Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act

Bill: 117-hr-6147
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
Introduced: 2021-12-07
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution

Agricultural education

Agricultural practices and innovations

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Farmland

Forests, forestry, trees

Illinois

Iowa

Livestock

Minnesota

Public-private cooperation

Water use and supply

Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Wisconsin
Latest action: action_date: 2022-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-12-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act or the DALCI Act</strong></p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6147 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 7, 2021 Mrs. Bustos (for herself, Mrs. Hinson , Mr. Kind , and Ms. Craig ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to reestablish the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act or the DALCI Act . 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: 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. .