,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bigh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bd1 #bjah ,mr4 ,casey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 and ,mr4 ,cardin7 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 modify the conservation reserve enhancement program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program ,improvement ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program established by the ,secretary of ,agriculture under subchapter ,b of chapter #a of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chca et seq47 7referred to in this ,act as the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program7 has been successfully used across the ,united ,states to protect and restore environmentally sensitive landscapes2 7#b7 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program targets regionally or nationally significant resource concerns identified by local1 ,state1 or ,tribal governments1 including wildlife habitat1 water quality1 water conservation and recharge1 soil conservation and health1 air quality1 at-risk species habitat1 rare and declining habitat1 and drinking water and source water protection2 7#c7 ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program agreements provide meaningful partnership between the ,department of ,agriculture and non-,federal partners1 such as ,state or ,tribal governments1 and nongovernmental organizations1 such as farm1 conservation1 and environmental organizations2 7#d7 ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program agreements tailor conservation practices and incentives under the conservation reserve program established under subchapter ,b of chapter #a of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chca et seq47 to specific geographic target areas to address regionally or nationally significant resource concerns2 7#e7 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program and other voluntary conservation efforts have helped farmers and ranchers voluntarily implement conservation practices aimed at improving water quality1 which may help avoid the need for regulatory requirements aimed at improving water quality2 7#f7 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program is critical to meeting ,state and ,federal resource protection goals1 such as-- 7,a7 ,state nutrient reduction strategies to address hypoxia in the ,gulf of ,mexico2 7,b7 compliance with ,state watershed implementation plans to restore ,chesapeake ,bay water quality2 7,c7 voluntary local or regional efforts to protect candidate species habitat to prevent the need to list as endangered species sage-grouse1 lesser prairie-chickens1 or other species under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 7,d7 ,state water conservation plans1 compacts1 or other vehicles to protect and recharge overtaxed surface water or groundwater supplies1 including the ,ogallala ,aquifer and the ,rio ,grande ,river2 and 7,e7 numerous local and ,state watershed management plans and total maximum daily loads1 including the protection of water quality in the ,great ,lakes and the tributaries of the ,great ,lakes2 7#g7 a renewed commitment and willingness to play a leadership role is needed from ,federal1 ,state1 and local partners to increase enrollment in the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program2 7#h7 nongovernmental entities have significant experience in implementing conservation practices and are well positioned to help increase the adoption of ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program conservation practices in agricultural landscapes1 depending on the areas of expertise and relationships of the nongovernmental entities2 7#i7 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program has worked best where strong partnerships are involved2 and 7#aj7 flexibility and decisionmaking at the local level can facilitate increased landowner participation in voluntary conservation practices and environmental benefits consistent with the purposes of the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to modify the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program to facilitate increased enrollment in1 and increased environmental benefits from1 the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program4 #d4 ,modifications to conservation reserve enhancement program 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,b of chapter #a of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe is amended by inserting after section #abca 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chca7 the following3 #abca;,a4 ,conservation reserve enhancement program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible land ,the term eligible land means land that is eligible to be included in the program established under this subchapter4 7#b7 ,management ,the term management means an activity conducted by an owner or operator after the establishment of a conservation practice on eligible land1 to regularly maintain or enhance the vegetative cover established by the conservation practice-- 7,a7 throughout the term of a contract entered into under this subchapter2 and 7,b7 consistent with the conservation plan that covers the eligible land4 7#c7 ,program ,the term program means a conservation reserve enhancement program carried out under an agreement under subsection 7b77#a74 7b7 ,agreements 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement with a ,state or an ,indian tribe to carry out a conservation reserve enhancement program-- 7,a7 to assist in enrolling eligible land in the program established under this subchapter2 and 7,b7 that the ,secretary determines will advance the purposes of this subchapter4 7#b7 ,contents ,an agreement entered into under paragraph 7#a7 shall describe-- 7,a7 one or more specific ,state or nationally significant conservation concerns to be addressed by the agreement2 7,b7 quantifiable environmental goals for addressing the concerns under subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 a suitable acreage goal for enrollment of eligible land under the agreement2 7,d7 the location of eligible land to be enrolled under the agreement2 7,e7 the payments to be offered by the ,secretary and ,state or ,indian tribe1 as applicable1 to an owner or operator2 and 7,f7 an appropriate list of conservation reserve program conservation practice standards1 including any modifications to the practice standards1 that are appropriate to meeting the ,state and nationally significant conservation concerns described under subparagraph 7,a71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,effect on existing agreements 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 an agreement under this subsection shall not affect1 modify1 or interfere with existing agreements under this subchapter4 7,b7 ,modification of existing agreements ,to implement this section1 the signatories to an agreement under this subsection may mutually agree to a modification of an agreement entered into before the date of enactment of this section under the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program established by the ,secretary under this subchapter4 7c7 ,payments 7#a7 ,matching requirement ,any matching requirement under a program shall be satisfied by cash funding or in-kind contributions4 7#b7 ,marginal pastureland cost-share payments ,the ,secretary shall ensure that cost-share payments to an owner or operator to install stream fencing1 crossings1 and alternative water development on marginal pastureland under a program reflect the fair market value of the cost of installation4 7#c7 ,cost-share and practice incentive payments ,on request of an owner or operator1 the ,secretary shall provide cost-share and practice incentive payments when a major conservation practice component is completed under a program1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,forested riparian buffer maintenance payments 7,a7 ,in general ,in the case of an agreement under subsection 7b77#a7 that includes forested riparian buffers as an eligible conservation practice1 the ,secretary shall make cost-share payments to encourage the regular management of the forested riparian buffer throughout the term of the agreement1 consistent with the conservation plan that covers the eligible land4 7,b7 ,limitation ,the amount of payments received by an owner or operator under subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be greater than #ajj percent of the normal and customary projected management cost1 as determined by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the applicable ,state technical committee established under section #abfa7;a74 7d7 ,forested riparian buffer practice 7#a7 ,food-producing woody plants ,in the case of an agreement under subsection 7b77#a7 that includes forested riparian buffers as an eligible conservation practice1 the ,secretary shall allow an owner or operator-- 7,a7 to plant food-producing woody plants in the forested riparian buffers1 on the conditions that-- 7i7 the plants shall contribute to the conservation of soil1 water quality1 and wildlife habitat2 and 7ii7 the planting shall be consistent with-- 7,i7 recommendations of the applicable ,state technical committee established under section #abfa7;a72 and 7,,ii7 technical guide standards of the applicable field office of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 and 7,b7 to harvest from plants described in subparagraph 7,a71 on the conditions that-- 7i7 the harvesting shall not damage the conserving cover or otherwise have a negative impact on the conservation concerns targeted by the program2 and 7ii7 only native plant species appropriate to the region shall be used within #ce feet of the watercourse4 7#b7 ,technical assistance ,for the purpose of enrolling forested riparian buffers in a program1 the ,administrator of the ,farm ,service ,agency1 in consultation with the ,chief of the ,forest ,service-- 7,a7 shall provide funds for technical assistance directly to a ,state forestry agency2 and 7,b7 is encouraged to partner with a nongovernmental organization-- 7i7 to make recommendations for conservation practices under the program2 7ii7 to provide technical assistance necessary to carry out the conservation practices recommended under clause 7i72 and 7iii7 to implement riparian buffers by-- 7,i7 pooling and submitting applications on behalf of owners and operators in a specific watershed2 and 7,,ii7 carrying out management activities for the duration of the program4 7e7 ,acreage enrollment goal ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall enroll not less than #c1jjj1jjj acres of eligible land under this subchapter by ,september #cj1 #bjbc4 7f7 ,status report ,not later than #abj days after the end of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that describes1 with respect to each agreement entered into under subsection 7b77#a7-- 7#a7 the status of the agreement2 7#b7 the purposes and objectives of the agreement2 7#c7 the ,federal commitments made under the agreement2 and 7#d7 the progress made in fulfilling those commitments4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #abcd7;g7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chcd7;g77 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking ,payment in the subsection heading and all that follows through ,the total in paragraph 7#a7 and inserting ,payments4--,the total2 and 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,section #abdj,r7c77#c7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;bb-#e7;c77#c77 is amended by striking a special conservation reserve enhancement program described in section #abcd7;f77#d7 and inserting the ,conservation ,reserve ,enhancement ,program under section #abca;,a4 7#c7 ,section #abdd7;f77#c7 of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chdd7;f77#c77 is amended by striking subsection 7d77#b77;,a77ii7 or 7g77#b7 of section #abcd and inserting section #abca;,a or #abcd7;d77#b77;,a77ii74