Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2023

Bill: 118-s-3147
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
Introduced: 2023-10-26
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2023-10-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-10-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Flood&nbsp;Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill modifies Department of Agriculture&nbsp;(USDA) watershed programs.</p><p>The bill modifies the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to allow USDA to undertake certain measures that go beyond addressing the immediate impairment of the watershed. Specifically, USDA may undertake measures that increase the level of protection of the watershed if USDA determines that the restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health and the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments. (The EWP Program assists sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by natural disasters.)&nbsp;</p><p>In addition, for Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) projects that serve a limited resource area, the bill increases the federal cost-share to up to&nbsp;90% of the total rehabilitation costs. Currently, the federal cost-share for all projects is 65% of the total rehabilitation costs. (REHAB assists project sponsors in rehabilitating aging watershed dams that are reaching the end of their design life or no longer meet certain federal or state standards.)</p><p>Further, the purpose of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is amended&nbsp;to include the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency. (Under the RCPP, USDA enters into agreements with eligible partners to deliver conservation projects in specific geographical areas. Within an RCPP project, producers enter into contracts and agreements with USDA to carry out eligible conservation activities.)</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3147 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 26, 2023 Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To modify Department of Agriculture programs to improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2023 . 2. Emergency watershed program Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2203 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Level of restoration In carrying out this section, the Secretary may undertake measures that increase the level of protection above that which would be necessary to address the immediate impairment of the watershed if the Secretary determines that such restoration is in the best interest of— (1) the long-term health of the watershed; and (2) the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments. . 3. Rehabilitation of structural measures near, at, or past their evaluated life expectancy Section 14(b) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1012(b) ) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) Amount of assistance; limitations (A) In general The amount of Federal funds that may be made available under this subsection to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project shall be equal to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation. (B) Limited resource areas Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary may contribute up to 90 percent of the total rehabilitation costs to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project that serves a limited resource area, as determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation. (C) Costs of resource rights and permits The local organization shall be responsible for the costs of water, mineral, and other resource rights and all Federal, State, and local permits. . 4. Regional Conservation Partnership Program purposes Section 1271(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871(b) ) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) To address natural resource concerns on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale, including— (A) the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil; (B) the conservation and protection of water, including sources of drinking water and groundwater; (C) the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought, and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency; and (D) the conservation of wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources. .