,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #baci  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #af1 #bjag    
,mr4 ,van ,holl5 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,ka9e1
 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4       
,man*91 ,mr4 ,c>d91 ,mr4 ,w>n]1 ,mr4    
,c>p]1 ,mr4 ,coons1 & ,mrs4 ,gillibr&7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry  ,a  
,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,food ,security ,act 
( #aihe to address critical cons]vation 
conditions "u ! regional cons]vation    
p>tn]%ip program1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4
 ,%ort title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! 
,*esapeake ,bay ,f>m ,bill ,enhancem5ts 
,act ( #bjag4  #b4 ,purposes ,section   
#abga7;b7 ( ! ,food ,security ,act (    
#aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga7;b77 is am5d$
 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#d7 ,to   
enc\rage alignm5t ( p>tn]%ip projects ) 
o!r ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local ag5cies &    
programs address+ simil> natural res\rce
 conc]ns 9 a coord9at$ mann]4  4  #c4   
,def9itions ,section #abga;,a7#a7 ( !   

,food ,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af       
,u4,s4,c4 #chga;a7#a77 is am5d$ by add+ 
at ! end ! foll[+3  7,e7 ,! cons]vation 
res]ve program e/abli%$ "u sub*apt] ,b (
 *apt] #a ( subtitle ,d4  7,f7 ,!       
,wat]%$ ,protection & ,flood ,prev5tion 
,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq471 o!r 
?an section #ad ( t ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajab74  4  #d4 ,regional cons]vation   
p>tn]%ips ,section #abga;,b ( ! ,food   
,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4   
#chga;b7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+       
subsection 7b7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7b7  
,maximum l5g?  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z  
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 ! t]m ( a      
p>tn]%ip agreem5t %all n be long] ?an #e
 ye>s4  7#b7 ,exceptions  7,a7          
,concurr5t program deadl9e ,subject to  
approval by ! ,secret>y1 ! t]m ( a      
p>tn]%ip agreem5t may be long] ?an #e   
ye>s if ! long] p]iod is concurr5t ) a  
deadl9e e/abli%$ "u a ,/ate or ,f$]al   
program t relates specifically to !     
project4  7,b7 #a-"t ext5sion ,!        
,secret>y may ext5d a p>tn]%ip agreem5t 

#a "t = a p]iod t is n long] ?an #ab    
mon?s if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t !       
ext5sion is necess>y to meet !          
objectives ( ! program4  2  7#b7 9      
subsection 7c77#b7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ ,an  
eligible & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,9    
g5]al ,an eligible  2 &  7,b7 by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+3  7,b7 ,=m ,a           
contribution ( an eligible p>tn] "u ?is 
p>agraph may be 9 ! =m (-- 7i7 direct   
fund+2  7ii7 9-k9d support2 or  7iii7 a 
comb9ation ( direct fund+ & 9-k9d       
support4  7,c7 ,treatm5t ,any am\nts    
exp5d$ be=e ! effective date ( a        
p>tn]%ip agreem5t "u ?is section by an  
eligible p>tn] = /aff sal>ies or        
developm5t ( ! p>tn]%ip agreem5t %all be
 consid]$ to be a "p ( ! contribution ( 
! eligible p>tn] "u ?is p>agraph4  2 &  
7#c7 9 subsection 7d71 by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+3  7#e7 ,fund+ r5ewals ,if an   
eligible p>tn] demon/rates to !         
satisfaction ( ! ,secret>y t ! eligible 
p>tn] has made progress 9 address+ "o or
 m natural res\rce conc]ns by n lat] ?an

 ! date t is #a fiscal ye> be=e ! date  
on :i* ! p>tn]%ip agreem5t expires1 !   
eligible p>tn] may submit to ! ,secret>y
 an application = a r5ewal ( ! p>tn]%ip 
agreem5t1 includ+ a r5ewal ( fund+1     
?r\gh an exp$it$ application process--  
7,a7 to cont9ue to implem5t ! p>tn]%ip  
agreem5t2  7,b7 to exp& ! scope ( !     
p>tn]%ip agreem5t2  7,c7 to enroll      
additional eligible produc]s2 or  7,d7  
to c>ry out o!r cons]vation activities  
relat+ to ! project1 includ+ monitor+ & 
report+ on outcomes1 z mutually agre$ by
 ! ,secret>y & ! eligible p>tn]4  7#f7  
,review ,to ! ext5t practicable1 aft]   
receipt ( an application "u ?is         
subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all provide to 
ea* applicant in=mation & fe$back       
7includ+ writt5 in=mation & fe$back1 z !
 ,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate7  
?r\gh\t ! annual program application    
process = any improvem5ts t c\ld be made
 to ! application4  4  #e4 ,fund+       
arrangem5ts ?r\gh grant agreem5ts       
,section #abga;,c7b7 ( ! ,food ,security

 ,act ( #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;c7b77
 is am5d$ by /rik+ p>agraph 7#b7 &      
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#b7 ,fund+           
arrangem5ts ?r\gh grant agreem5ts  7,a7 
,9 g5]al ,a p>tn]%ip agreem5t may be a  
grant agreem5t ent]$ into ) an eligible 
p>tn] 9 accordance ) ?is p>agraph4  7,b7
 ,requirem5ts ,"u a grant agreem5t "u   
subp>agraph 7,a7-- 7i7 us+ am\nts made  
available to c>ry out ?is subtitle1 !   
,secret>y %all provide to ! eligible    
p>tn] a grant2  7ii7 ! eligible p>tn]   
%all c>ry out eligible activities on    
eligible l& 7includ+ by contract+ ) "o  
or m produc]s1 if ! eligible p>tn]      
det]m9es ! contract+ to be appropriate71
 on ! condition t ! eligible activities 
directly or indirectly b5efit           
agricultural produc]s 7includ+ =e/ry    
produc]s71 to address natural res\rce   
conc]ns on a regional or wat]%$ scale1  
su* z--  7,i7 infra/ructure inve/m5ts   
relat+ to agricultural or non9du/rial   
private =e/ production t w\ld b5efit    
multiple produc]s1 su* z a multiproduc] 

irrigation wat] deliv]y sy/em2  7,,ii7  
projects address+ wat] quality or       
quantity conc]ns 9 coord9ation )        
produc]s1 includ+ ! developm5t &        
implem5tation ( wat]%$ plans2  7,,iii7  
projects t use innovative approa*es to  
lev]ag+ ! ,f$]al inve/m5t 9 cons]vation 
) private f9ancial me*anisms1 9         
conjunction ) agricultural production or
 =e/ res\rce managem5t1 su* z--  7aa7 ! 
provision ( p]=mance-bas$ paym5ts to    
produc]s2 &  7bb7 support = an          
environm5tal m>ket2  7,,iv7 projects t  
facilitate pilot te/+ ( new cons]vation 
practices1 te*nologies1 or activities2  
7,v7 projects t promote ! long-t]m      
viability & su/a9ability ( agricultural 
l& ?r\gh innovative agricultural l&     
protection /rategies & me*anisms1       
includ+ projects t support ! transf] (  
l& to beg9n+ f>m]s & ran*]s1 vet]an     
f>m]s & ran*]s1 socially disadvantag$   
f>m]s & ran*]s1 & limit$ res\rce f>m]s &
 ran*]s1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y2 &    
7,,vi7 o!r projects = :i* ! ,secret>y   

det]m9es t ! goals & objectives ( !     
program w\ld be easi] to a*ieve ?r\gh ! 
grant agreem5t2 &  7iii7 ! ,secret>y may
 provide te*nical & adm9i/rative        
assi/ance1 z mutually agre$ by ! p>ties4
  7,c7 ,nonapplicability ( adju/$ gross 
income limitation ,! adju/$ gross income
 limitation describ$ 9 section          
#ajja;,d7b77#a7 %all n apply to !       
receipt by an eligible p>tn] ( a grant  
"u ?is p>agraph4  7,d7 ,limitation ,!   
,secret>y may n use m ?an #cj p]c5t (   
fund+ made available to c>ry out !      
program = grant agreem5ts4  7,e7        
,reports ,an eligible p>tn] t ent]s into
 a grant agreem5t "u ?is p>agraph %all  
submit to ! ,secret>y--  7i7 any        
in=mation t ! ,secret>y requires to     
prep>e ! report "u section #abga;,e7b72 
&  7ii7 an annual report t describes !  
/atus ( ! project c>ri$ out by !        
eligible p>tn]1 includ+ a description   
(--  7,i7 ! use ( ! grant funds2  7,,ii7
 any subcontracts aw>d$ us+ grant funds2
  7,,iii7 ! produc]s receiv+ fund+ us+ !

 grant funds2  7,,iv7 7aa7 ! progress   
made by ! project 9 address+ any natural
 res\rce conc]ns1 includ+ 9 a quantifi$ 
=m2 &  7bb7 z appropriate1 o!r          
environm5tal1 economic1 or social       
outcomes ( ! project2 &  7,v7 any o!r   
report+ data ! ,secret>y det]m9es are   
necess>y to ensure compliance ) !       
program rules4  4  #f4 ,fund+  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,section #abga;,d ( ! ,food       
,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4   
#chga;d7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection   
7a7--  7,a7 by /rik+ #ajj1jjj1jjj &     
ins]t+ #cjj1jjj1jjj2 &  7,b7 by /rik+ = 
ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjad ?r\gh #bjah &   
ins]t+ = ea* fiscal ye>2  7#b7 9        
subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71  
by /rik+ = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjad ?r\gh
 #bjah & ins]t+ = ea* fiscal ye>2 &     
7,b7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#b7 & ins]t+ !  
foll[+3  7#b7 ,duration ( availability  
,any funds or acres res]v$ "u p>agraph  
7#a7 %all rema9 available = obligation  
only = ! purposes ( c>ry+ out ! program 
until exp5d$4  7#c7 ,di/ribution ( funds

 ,to ! maximum ext5t practicable1 (     
projects receiv+ funds or acres res]v$  
"u p>agraph 7#a7 f a cov]$ program1 !   
p]c5tage ( projects t %all h purposes   
simil> to ! purposes ( ! applicable     
cov]$ program f :i* funds or acres 7    
res]v$ %all be approximately equal to ! 
p]c5tage ( funds or acres res]v$ f !    
applicable cov]$ program4  2  7#c7 9    
subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71  
by /rik+ #be p]c5t ( ! funds & acres to 
projects bas$ on a ,/ate competitive    
process adm9i/]$ by ! ,/ate             
,cons]vationi/1 ) ! advice ( ! ,/ate    
te*nical committee & ins]t+ ! foll[+3   
#dj p]c5t ( ! funds & acres to projects 
bas$ on a ,/ate or multi/ate competitive
 process adm9i/]$1 z applicable1 by !   
,/ate ,cons]vationi/ or jo9tly by !     
,/ate ,cons]vationi/s ( ea* ,/ate       
p>ticipat+ 9 ! multi/ate process1 ) !   
advice ( ! applicable ,/ate te*nical    
committees2  7,b7 by /rik+ p>agraph     
7#b72  7,c7 by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#c7 
z p>agraph 7#b72 &  7,d7 9 p>agraph 7#b7

 7z s r$esignat$71 by /rik+ #ce p]c5t & 
ins]t+ #fj p]c5t2  7#d7 9 subsection    
7e7--  7,a7 by /rik+ ,none ( ! funds &  
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except 
z provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b71 none ( !     
funds  2 &  7,b7 by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+3  7#b7 ,project developm5t &     
outrea* ,"u a p>tn]%ip agreem5t1 !      
,secret>y may advance reasonable am\nts 
( fund+ = te*nical assi/ance to eligible
 p>tn]s to conduct project developm5t & 
outrea* activities 9 a project area     
7includ+ activities conduct$ be=e !     
effective date ( ! p>tn]%ip agreem5t71  
includ+--  7,a7 provid+ outrea* &       
education to produc]s = pot5tial        
p>ticipation 9 ! project2  7,b7 !       
developm5t ( a wat]%$ or habitat plan2 &
  7,c7 e/abli%+ basel9e metrics to      
support ! developm5t ( ! assessm5t      
requir$ "u section #abga;,b7c77#a77;,e74
  2 &  7#e7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  
7f7 ,te*nical assi/ance  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,at ! "t ( project selection1 !         
,secret>y %all id5tify & make publically

 available ! am\nt t ! ,secret>y %all   
use to provide te*nical assi/ance "u !  
t]ms ( ! p>tn]%ip agreem5t4  7#b7       
,limitation ,! ,secret>y %all limit co/s
 ( ! ,secret>y = te*nical assi/ance to  
co/s specific & necess>y to c>ry out !  
objectives ( ! p>tn]%ip agreem5t4  7#c7 
,?ird-p>ty provid]s ,! ,secret>y %all   
develop & implem5t /rategies to enc\rage
 ?ird-p>ty te*nical s]vice provid]s to  
provide te*nical assi/ance to eligible  
p>tn]s pursuant to a p>tn]%ip agreem5t4 
4  7b7 ,con=m+ am5dm5t ,section         
#abga;,f7a7 ( ! ,food ,security ,act (  
#aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chga;f7a77 is     
am5d$ by /rik+ #abga;,d7d77#c7 & ins]t+ 
#abga;,d7d77#b74  #g4 ,critical         
cons]vation areas ,section #abga;,f ( ! 
,food ,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af       
,u4,s4,c4 #chga;f7 is am5d$--  7#a7 by  
r$esignat+ subsections 7a7 7z am5d$ by  
section #f7;b771 7b71 & 7c7 z           
subsections 7b71 7c71 & 7d71            
respectively2  7#b7 by ins]t+ be=e      
subsection 7b7 7z s r$esignat$7 !       

foll[+3  7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3
  7#a7 ,critical cons]vation area ,! t]m
 critical cons]vation area means a      
geographical area t conta9s a critical  
cons]vation condition t c be address$   
?r\gh "o or m cov]$ programs4  7#b7     
,critical cons]vation condition ,! t]m  
critical cons]vation condition means--  
7,a7 a condition ( l& t w\ld b5efit f   
wat] quality improvem5t1 includ+ ?r\gh  
r$uc+ erosion1 promot+ s$im5t control1 &
 address+ nutri5t managem5t activities  
affect+ l>ge bodies ( wat] ( regional1  
national1 or int]national significance2 
&  7,b7 a condition ( l& t w\ld b5efit f
 wat] quantity improvem5t1 includ+      
improvem5t relat+ to--  7i7 gr\ndwat]1  
surface wat]1 aquif]1 or o!r wat]       
s\rces2 or  7ii7 wat] ret5tion & flood  
prev5tion4  2  7#c7 9 subsection 7b7 7z 
s r$esignat$71 by ins]t+ t address ea*  
critical cons]vation condition = :i* !  
critical cons]vation area is designat$  
be=e ! p]iod at ! end2  7#d7 9          
subsection 7c7 7z s r$esignat$7-- 7,a7  

by r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#a7 ?r\gh 7#c7 
z p>agraphs 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#d71            
respectively2  7,b7 by ins]t+ be=e      
p>agraph 7#b7 7z s r$esignat$7 ! foll[+3
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 designat+ a critical 
cons]vation area "u ?is section1 !      
,secret>y %all id5tify "o or m critical 
cons]vation conditions t ! critical     
cons]vation area conta9s1 includ+--     
7,a7 ! geographical area ( l& t conta9s 
! critical cons]vation condition2 &     
7,b7 cons]vation goals & outcomes       
suffici5t to demon/rate t progress is   
be+ made to address ! critical          
cons]vation conditions4  2  7,c7 9      
p>agraph 7#b7 7z s r$esignat$7-- 7i7 by 
/rik+ subp>agraphs 7,c7 & 7,d7 & ins]t+ 
! foll[+3  7,c7 conta9s a critical      
cons]vation condition2 or  2 &  7ii7 by 
r$esignat+ subp>agraph 7,e7 z           
subp>agraph 7,d72 &  7,d7 by /rik+      
p>agraph 7#c7 7z s r$esignat$7 & ins]t+ 
! foll[+3  7#c7 ,review & )drawal ,!    
,secret>y may--  7,a7 review            
designations ( critical cons]vation     

areas "u ?is section n m ?an once e #e  
ye>s2 &  7,b7 )draw designation ( a     
critical cons]vation area only if !     
,secret>y det]m9es t ! area is no long] 
a critical cons]vation area4  2  7#e7 9 
subsection 7d7 7z s r$esignat$7-- 7,a7  
by r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#c7 z p>agraph  
7#d72  7,b7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#b7
 ! foll[+3  7#c7 ,priority ,! ,secret>y 
%all give priority to an application "u 
?is section t addresses a critical      
cons]vation condition by--  7,a7 7i7    
includ+ a div]sity ( /akehold]s 9 !     
project2  7ii7 build+ new p>tn]%ips at !
 local1 ,/ate1 & corporate levels2      
7iii7 lev]ag+ non-,f$]al f9ancial &     
te*nical res\rces2 &  7iv7 coord9at+ )  
o!r local1 ,/ate1 or national ef=ts2    
7,b7 deliv]+ a high p]c5tage (          
environm5tal b5efits to address !       
cons]vation goals & outcomes t %all be  
a*iev$ = ! ,secret>y to det]m9e t ! l&  
is no long] a critical cons]vation area2
  7,c7 provid+ innovative cons]vation   
me?ods & deliv]y1 includ+ outcome-bas$  

p]=mance measures & me?ods2 or  7,d7    
implem5t+ ! project consi/5t )          
multi-,/ate wat]%$ re/oration plans4  2 
&  7,c7 9 p>agraph 7#d7 7z s            
r$esignat$71 by /rik+ area describ$ 9   
subsection 7b77#a77;,d7 & ins]t+        
condition describ$ 9 subsection         
7a77#b77;,b72 &  7#f7 by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+3  7e7 ,reports ,n lat] ?an      
,decemb] #ca1 #bjah1 & ea* ye> !reaft]1 
! ,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee 
on ,agriculture ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry ( !  
,s5ate a report describ+ ! /atus ( ea*  
critical cons]vation condition = ea*    
critical cons]vation area designat$ "u  
?is section1 includ+--  7#a7 !          
conditions = :i* ea* critical           
cons]vation area is designat$2  7#b7    
cons]vation goals & outcomes suffici5t  
to demon/rate t progress is be+ made to 
address ! critical cons]vation          
conditions2  7#c7 ! p>tn]%ip agreem5ts  
select$ to address ea* cons]vation goal 

& outcome2 &  7#d7 ! ext5t to :i* ea*   
cons]vation goal & outcome is be+       
address$ by ! p>tn]%ip agreem5ts4  4