,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #baci ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #af1 #bjag ,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,manchin1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,coons1 and ,mrs4 ,gillibrand7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe to address critical conservation conditions under the regional conservation partnership program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,chesapeake ,bay ,farm ,bill ,enhancements ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,purposes ,section #abga7;b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga7;b77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,to encourage alignment of partnership projects with other ,federal1 ,state1 and local agencies and programs addressing similar natural resource concerns in a coordinated manner4 4 #c4 ,definitions ,section #abga;,a7#a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;a7#a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7,e7 ,the conservation reserve program established under subchapter ,b of chapter #a of subtitle ,d4 7,f7 ,the ,watershed ,protection and ,flood ,prevention ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq471 other than section #ad of that ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ajab74 4 #d4 ,regional conservation partnerships ,section #abga;,b of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;b7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking subsection 7b7 and inserting the following3 7b7 ,maximum length 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 the term of a partnership agreement shall not be longer than #e years4 7#b7 ,exceptions 7,a7 ,concurrent program deadline ,subject to approval by the ,secretary1 the term of a partnership agreement may be longer than #e years if the longer period is concurrent with a deadline established under a ,state or ,federal program that relates specifically to the project4 7,b7 #a-time extension ,the ,secretary may extend a partnership agreement #a time for a period that is not longer than #ab months if the ,secretary determines that the extension is necessary to meet the objectives of the program4 2 7#b7 in subsection 7c77#b7-- 7,a7 by striking ,an eligible and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 ,form ,a contribution of an eligible partner under this paragraph may be in the form of-- 7i7 direct funding2 7ii7 in-kind support2 or 7iii7 a combination of direct funding and in-kind support4 7,c7 ,treatment ,any amounts expended before the effective date of a partnership agreement under this section by an eligible partner for staff salaries or development of the partnership agreement shall be considered to be a part of the contribution of the eligible partner under this paragraph4 2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7d71 by adding at the end the following3 7#e7 ,funding renewals ,if an eligible partner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the ,secretary that the eligible partner has made progress in addressing one or more natural resource concerns by not later than the date that is #a fiscal year before the date on which the partnership agreement expires1 the eligible partner may submit to the ,secretary an application for a renewal of the partnership agreement1 including a renewal of funding1 through an expedited application process-- 7,a7 to continue to implement the partnership agreement2 7,b7 to expand the scope of the partnership agreement2 7,c7 to enroll additional eligible producers2 or 7,d7 to carry out other conservation activities relating to the project1 including monitoring and reporting on outcomes1 as mutually agreed by the ,secretary and the eligible partner4 7#f7 ,review ,to the extent practicable1 after receipt of an application under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall provide to each applicant information and feedback 7including written information and feedback1 as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate7 throughout the annual program application process for any improvements that could be made to the application4 4 #e4 ,funding arrangements through grant agreements ,section #abga;,c7b7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;c7b77 is amended by striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,funding arrangements through grant agreements 7,a7 ,in general ,a partnership agreement may be a grant agreement entered into with an eligible partner in accordance with this paragraph4 7,b7 ,requirements ,under a grant agreement under subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 using amounts made available to carry out this subtitle1 the ,secretary shall provide to the eligible partner a grant2 7ii7 the eligible partner shall carry out eligible activities on eligible land 7including by contracting with one or more producers1 if the eligible partner determines the contracting to be appropriate71 on the condition that the eligible activities directly or indirectly benefit agricultural producers 7including forestry producers71 to address natural resource concerns on a regional or watershed scale1 such as-- 7,i7 infrastructure investments relating to agricultural or nonindustrial private forest production that would benefit multiple producers1 such as a multiproducer irrigation water delivery system2 7,,ii7 projects addressing water quality or quantity concerns in coordination with producers1 including the development and implementation of watershed plans2 7,,iii7 projects that use innovative approaches to leveraging the ,federal investment in conservation with private financial mechanisms1 in conjunction with agricultural production or forest resource management1 such as-- 7aa7 the provision of performance-based payments to producers2 and 7bb7 support for an environmental market2 7,,iv7 projects that facilitate pilot testing of new conservation practices1 technologies1 or activities2 7,v7 projects that promote the long-term viability and sustainability of agricultural land through innovative agricultural land protection strategies and mechanisms1 including projects that support the transfer of land to beginning farmers and ranchers1 veteran farmers and ranchers1 socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers1 and limited resource farmers and ranchers1 as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,,vi7 other projects for which the ,secretary determines that the goals and objectives of the program would be easier to achieve through the grant agreement2 and 7iii7 the ,secretary may provide technical and administrative assistance1 as mutually agreed by the parties4 7,c7 ,nonapplicability of adjusted gross income limitation ,the adjusted gross income limitation described in section #ajja;,d7b77#a7 shall not apply to the receipt by an eligible partner of a grant under this paragraph4 7,d7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary may not use more than #cj percent of funding made available to carry out the program for grant agreements4 7,e7 ,reports ,an eligible partner that enters into a grant agreement under this paragraph shall submit to the ,secretary-- 7i7 any information that the ,secretary requires to prepare the report under section #abga;,e7b72 and 7ii7 an annual report that describes the status of the project carried out by the eligible partner1 including a description of-- 7,i7 the use of the grant funds2 7,,ii7 any subcontracts awarded using grant funds2 7,,iii7 the producers receiving funding using the grant funds2 7,,iv7 7aa7 the progress made by the project in addressing any natural resource concerns1 including in a quantified form2 and 7bb7 as appropriate1 other environmental1 economic1 or social outcomes of the project2 and 7,v7 any other reporting data the ,secretary determines are necessary to ensure compliance with the program rules4 4 #f4 ,funding 7a7 ,in general ,section #abga;,d of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking #ajj1jjj1jjj and inserting #cjj1jjj1jjj2 and 7,b7 by striking for each of fiscal years #bjad through #bjah and inserting for each fiscal year2 7#b7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking for each of fiscal years #bjad through #bjah and inserting for each fiscal year2 and 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the following3 7#b7 ,duration of availability ,any funds or acres reserved under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available for obligation only for the purposes of carrying out the program until expended4 7#c7 ,distribution of funds ,to the maximum extent practicable1 of projects receiving funds or acres reserved under paragraph 7#a7 from a covered program1 the percentage of projects that shall have purposes similar to the purposes of the applicable covered program from which funds or acres were reserved shall be approximately equal to the percentage of funds or acres reserved from the applicable covered program4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking #be percent of the funds and acres to projects based on a ,state competitive process administered by the ,state ,conservationist1 with the advice of the ,state technical committee and inserting the following3 #dj percent of the funds and acres to projects based on a ,state or multistate competitive process administered1 as applicable1 by the ,state ,conservationist or jointly by the ,state ,conservationists of each ,state participating in the multistate process1 with the advice of the applicable ,state technical committees2 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#b72 7,c7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#b72 and 7,d7 in paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated71 by striking #ce percent and inserting #fj percent2 7#d7 in subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 by striking ,none of the funds and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,except as provided in paragraph 7#b71 none of the funds 2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,project development and outreach ,under a partnership agreement1 the ,secretary may advance reasonable amounts of funding for technical assistance to eligible partners to conduct project development and outreach activities in a project area 7including activities conducted before the effective date of the partnership agreement71 including-- 7,a7 providing outreach and education to producers for potential participation in the project2 7,b7 the development of a watershed or habitat plan2 and 7,c7 establishing baseline metrics to support the development of the assessment required under section #abga;,b7c77#a77;,e74 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,technical assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,at the time of project selection1 the ,secretary shall identify and make publically available the amount that the ,secretary shall use to provide technical assistance under the terms of the partnership agreement4 7#b7 ,limitation ,the ,secretary shall limit costs of the ,secretary for technical assistance to costs specific and necessary to carry out the objectives of the partnership agreement4 7#c7 ,third-party providers ,the ,secretary shall develop and implement strategies to encourage third-party technical service providers to provide technical assistance to eligible partners pursuant to a partnership agreement4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #abga;,f7a7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;f7a77 is amended by striking #abga;,d7d77#c7 and inserting #abga;,d7d77#b74 #g4 ,critical conservation areas ,section #abga;,f of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;f7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsections 7a7 7as amended by section #f7;b771 7b71 and 7c7 as subsections 7b71 7c71 and 7d71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting before subsection 7b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,critical conservation area ,the term critical conservation area means a geographical area that contains a critical conservation condition that can be addressed through one or more covered programs4 7#b7 ,critical conservation condition ,the term critical conservation condition means-- 7,a7 a condition of land that would benefit from water quality improvement1 including through reducing erosion1 promoting sediment control1 and addressing nutrient management activities affecting large bodies of water of regional1 national1 or international significance2 and 7,b7 a condition of land that would benefit from water quantity improvement1 including improvement relating to-- 7i7 groundwater1 surface water1 aquifer1 or other water sources2 or 7ii7 water retention and flood prevention4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7b7 7as so redesignated71 by inserting that address each critical conservation condition for which the critical conservation area is designated before the period at the end2 7#d7 in subsection 7c7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#c7 as paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#d71 respectively2 7,b7 by inserting before paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7 the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,in designating a critical conservation area under this section1 the ,secretary shall identify one or more critical conservation conditions that the critical conservation area contains1 including-- 7,a7 the geographical area of land that contains the critical conservation condition2 and 7,b7 conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address the critical conservation conditions4 2 7,c7 in paragraph 7#b7 7as so redesignated7-- 7i7 by striking subparagraphs 7,c7 and 7,d7 and inserting the following3 7,c7 contains a critical conservation condition2 or 2 and 7ii7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,e7 as subparagraph 7,d72 and 7,d7 by striking paragraph 7#c7 7as so redesignated7 and inserting the following3 7#c7 ,review and withdrawal ,the ,secretary may-- 7,a7 review designations of critical conservation areas under this section not more than once every #e years2 and 7,b7 withdraw designation of a critical conservation area only if the ,secretary determines that the area is no longer a critical conservation area4 2 7#e7 in subsection 7d7 7as so redesignated7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#d72 7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority to an application under this section that addresses a critical conservation condition by-- 7,a7 7i7 including a diversity of stakeholders in the project2 7ii7 building new partnerships at the local1 ,state1 and corporate levels2 7iii7 leveraging non-,federal financial and technical resources2 and 7iv7 coordinating with other local1 ,state1 or national efforts2 7,b7 delivering a high percentage of environmental benefits to address the conservation goals and outcomes that shall be achieved for the ,secretary to determine that the land is no longer a critical conservation area2 7,c7 providing innovative conservation methods and delivery1 including outcome-based performance measures and methods2 or 7,d7 implementing the project consistent with multi-,state watershed restoration plans4 2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#d7 7as so redesignated71 by striking area described in subsection 7b77#a77;,d7 and inserting condition described in subsection 7a77#b77;,b72 and 7#f7 by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,reports ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjah1 and each year thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate a report describing the status of each critical conservation condition for each critical conservation area designated under this section1 including-- 7#a7 the conditions for which each critical conservation area is designated2 7#b7 conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address the critical conservation conditions2 7#c7 the partnership agreements selected to address each conservation goal and outcome2 and 7#d7 the extent to which each conservation goal and outcome is being addressed by the partnership agreements4 4