,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cdbi  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #aj1 #bjbj,mr4    
,casey 7= himself & ,mrs4 ,capito7      
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 & ,=e/ry  ,a  
,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,soil & ,wat]        
,res\rces ,cons]vation ,act ( #aigg )   
respect to assessm5ts ( cons]vation     
programs1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,f>m]   
,driv5 ,cons]vation ,outcomes ,act (    
#bjbj4  #b4 ,am5dm5ts to ! ,soil & ,wat]
 ,res\rces ,cons]vation ,act ( #aigg ,! 
,soil & ,wat] ,res\rces ,cons]vation    
,act ( #aigg 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #bjja et    
seq47 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by r$esignat+     
sections #h ?r\gh #aj z sections #aj    
?\gh #ab1 respectively2 &  7#b7 by      
ins]t+ aft] section #g ! foll[+3  #h4   
,cons]vation programs assessm5t  7a7 ,9 
g5]al ,9 coord9ation ) ! appraisal (    
soil1 wat]1 & relat$ res\rces & ! soil &
 wat] cons]vation program1 ! ,secret>y  

may c>ry out a cons]vation effects      
assessm5t project-- 7#a7 to quantify !  
environm5tal & economic effects (       
cons]vation practices2  7#b7 to develop 
! sci5ce base = manag+ ! agricultural   
l&scape = environm5tal quality &        
su/a9able productive capacity2 &  7#c7  
to improve ! efficacy ( cons]vation     
practices & programs by evaluat+        
cons]vation effects4  7b7 ,scope ,!     
project "u ?is section may-- 7#a7 be    
c>ri$ out at national1 regional1 &      
wat]%$ scales2 &  7#b7 include cropl&1  
graz+ l&1 wetl&s1 =e/s1 & su* o!r l& z !
 ,secret>y may det]m9e to be            
appropriate4  7c7 ,activities ,! project
 "u ?is section may include rese>*1     
lit]ature reviews & bibliographies1     
model+1 assessm5t1 monitor+ & data      
collection1 outrea*1 ext5sion education1
 & su* o!r activities z ! ,secret>y may 
det]m9e to be appropriate4  #i4 ,goals &
 assessm5t process = cons]vation        
programs  7a7 ,natural res\rce &        
environm5tal objectives & outcomes  7#a7

 ,9 g5]al ,9 coord9ation ) ! appraisal (
 soil1 wat]1 & relat$ res\rces1 ! soil &
 wat] cons]vation program1 & !          
cons]vation effects assessm5t project   
e/abli%$ "u section #h1 ! ,secret>y %all
 id5tify1 & p]iodically revise1 specific
 natural res\rce & environm5tal         
objectives & anticipat$ cons]vation     
outcomes & results1 by res\rce conc]n1  
=-- 7,a7 ! cons]vation programs e/abli%$
 "u subtitle ,d ( title ,,xii ( ! ,food 
,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4   
#chca et seq472  7,b7 ! agricultural    
cons]vation easem5t program e/abli%$ "u 
subtitle ,h ( t title 7#af ,u4,s4,c4    
#chfe et seq472 &  7,c7 ! l&scape       
cons]vation initiatives develop$ by !   
,secret>y4  7#b7 ,assessm5ts ,to help   
measure outcomes & results1 ! ,secret>y 
%all1 to ! maximum ext5t practicable1   
make assessm5ts ( *anges 9 ! /atus &    
conditions ( natural res\rces & !       
environm5t t result f ! application (   
cons]vation activities support$ directly
 by ! cons]vation programs & initiatives

 describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c7
 ( p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,monitor+ &     
program evaluation ,! ,secret>y %all    
e/abli% a coord9at$ monitor+ &          
evaluation process = ! programs &       
initiatives describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7
 ?r\gh 7,c7 ( p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 to   
assess progress t[>d ! objectives       
id5tifi$ "u t p>agraph2  7,b7 to ga!r   
in=mation to improve ! implem5tation (  
^? programs & initiatives 9 accordance )
 ! outcomes & results id5tifi$ "u t     
p>agraph2 &  7,c7 to assess ! ne$ =     
modifications to ! /atutes or           
regulations = ^? programs & initiatives4
  7b7 ,monitor+ & program evaluation    
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all use n m 
?an #a p]c5t ( ! total annual fund+ f ! 
funds ( ! ,commodity ,cr$it ,corporation
 made available = new annual enrollm5ts 
= ! cons]vation programs describ$ 9     
subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b7 ( subsection   
7a77#a7 to e/abli% a compreh5sive       
monitor+ & program evaluation process to
 assess-- 7,a7 progress 9 rea*+ natural 

res\rce & environm5tal objectives       
id5tifi$ "u t subsection2  7,b7 !       
contribution ( individual programs to t 
progress2 &  7,c7 ! contribution ( ^?   
programs collectively to t progress4    
7#b7 ,implem5tation ,9 implem5t+ !      
compreh5sive monitor+ & program         
evaluation process "u p>agraph 7#a71 !  
,secret>y may consid] & incorporate--   
7,a7 res\rce conc]n inv5tories2  7,b7   
tr5ds & analyses2  7,c7 quality &       
quantity crit]ia2  7,d7 cons]vation     
practices & enhancem5ts2 &  7,e7 su* o!r
 in=mation z ! ,secret>y det]m9es       
relevant = apply+ ! monitor+ & program  
evaluation process across ea* major l&  
use id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#c7      
,monitor+ & evaluation process  7,a7 ,9 
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #b ye>s aft] ! date ( 
enactm5t ( ! ,f>m] ,driv5 ,cons]vation  
,outcomes ,act ( #bjbj1 ! ,secret>y %all
 issue-- 7i7 a design = ! compreh5sive  
monitor+ & program evaluation process "u
 p>agraph 7#a72  7ii7 a s*$ule =        
implem5t+ t process2 &  7iii7 a plan =  

coord9at+ t process )-- 7,i7 ! soil &   
wat] cons]vation program2 &  7,,ii7 !   
cons]vation effects assessm5t project   
e/abli%$ "u section #h4  7,b7           
,me?odology ,! design = ! compreh5sive  
monitor+ & program evaluation process   
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a77i7 %all--   
7i7 ensure t data made available to     
coop]ators & rese>*]s f ! compreh5sive  
monitor+ & program evaluation process   
are trans=m$ into /ati/ical aggregate   
data at ! c\nty level & 9 a =m t        
protects p]sonally id5tifiable          
in=mation2 &  7ii7 take into acc\nt--   
7,i7 ! cumulative nature ( cons]vation  
ov] "t2  7,,ii7 ! int]actions & sequ5c+ 
effects betwe5 cons]vation activities2  
7,,iii7 ! diff]+ times = cons]vation    
effects to be realiz$2 &  7,,iv7 o!r    
relat$ measurem5t *all5ges4  7,c7       
,public rese>*  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,not)/&+   
any o!r provision ( law1 subject to     
clause 7ii71 9 ord] to facilitate       
implem5tation ( ! compreh5sive monitor+ 
& program evaluation process "u p>agraph

 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all make available  
cons]vation activity & program data to  
coop]ators & rese>*]s engag$ 9 public   
rese>* & evaluation activities to       
improve cons]vation outcomes "u ?is     
subsection4  7ii7 ,conditions ,!        
availability ( data "u clause 7i7 %all  
be subject to ! conditions t-- 7,i7     
adequate assurances are provid$ to !    
,secret>y t any result+ rese>* or       
in=mation w be made publicly available 9
 a =m t protects p]sonally id5tifiable  
in=mation2 &  7,,ii7 ! national te*nical
 committee e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#e7    
f9ds t ! data is likely to g5]ate       
in=mation t fur!rs ! purpose ( ?is      
section4  7#d7 ,coop]ative agreem5ts ,! 
,secret>y may implem5t ! compreh5sive   
monitor+ & program evaluation process "u
 p>agraph 7#a7 9 "p ?r\gh coop]ative or 
contribution agreem5ts ) ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 
& local ag5cies1 in/itutions ( high]    
education1 & nongov]nm5tal organizations
 ) requisite exp]tise1 z det]m9$ by !   
,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! national  

te*nical committee e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 
7#e74  7#e7 ,national te*nical committee
  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! compreh5sive monitor+
 & program evaluation process "u        
p>agraph 7#a7 %all be adm9i/]$ by !     
,secret>y1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( !       
,natural ,res\rces ,cons]vation ,s]vice1
 ) assi/ance f a national te*nical      
committee describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b74  
7,b7 ,composition ,! national te*nical  
committee ref]r$ to 9 subp>agraph 7,a7  
%all be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y & compos$
 ( individuals ) relevant te*nical &    
sci5tific exp]tise repres5t+-- 7i7 !    
,agricultural ,rese>* ,s]vice2  7ii7 !  
,economic ,rese>* ,s]vice2  7iii7 ! ,f>m
 ,s]vice ,ag5cy2  7iv7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice2  7v7 ! ,=e/   
,s]vice2  7vi7 ! ,national ,in/itute (  
,food & ,agriculture2  7vii7 ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,geological ,survey2  7viii7 !   
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2  7ix7 
,/ate & ,tribal ag5cies2  7x7 l& grant  
univ]sity natural res\rce rese>*        
programs2  7xi7 nongov]nm5tal           

organizations ) exp]tise 9 ! full array 
( cons]vation issues & measurem5t &     
evaluation ( cons]vation outcomes2      
7xii7 f>m]s t reflect a v>iety (        
geographic regions & production types2 &
  7xiii7 su* o!r ag5cies1 in/itutions1  
or organizations z ! ,secret>y may      
det]m9e to be appropriate4  7,c7 ,,faca 
exemption ,! national te*nical committee
 %all be exempt f ! ,f$]al ,advisory    
,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app474   
7,d7 ,transp>5cy ,! ,secret>y %all      
ensure t ! proce$+s & recomm5dations ( !
 national te*nical committee are        
available to ! public4  7#f7 ,volunt>y  
p>ticipation ,9 c>ry+ out ?is           
subsection1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t   
any on-f>m monitor+ activities t may be 
includ$ z "p ( ! compreh5sive monitor+ &
 program evaluation process "u p>agraph 
7#a7-- 7,a7 are volunt>y on ! "p ( !    
produc]2 &  7,b7 may include appropriate
 comp5sation1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4 
7c7 ,report+  7#a7 ,report on objectives
 & me?ods ,beg9n+ 9 ! fiscal ye> t is #c

 ye>s aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,f>m]  
,driv5 ,cons]vation ,outcomes ,act (    
#bjbj1 & p]iodically !reaft]1 z det]m9$ 
by ! ,secret>y1 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ,congress1 & make publicly available1
 a report t includes-- 7,a7 a           
description ( cons]vation outcome       
objectives t are1 to ! maximum ext5t    
practicable1 quantitative1 measurable1 &
 "t-b\nd = ea* program or initiative    
describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c7 
( subsection 7a77#a72  7,b7 a           
description ( ! approa*es1 tools1 &     
me?ods us$-- 7i7 to measure or model !  
cons]vation outcomes & results2 &  7ii7 
to e/imate ! co/-effectiv5ess ( ea* ( ! 
programs or initiatives2 &  7,c7        
guidance to ! cons]vation project p>tn]s
 work+ to implem5t cons]vation programs 
)9 a l&scape-level project t provides a 
description ( ! approa*es1 tools1 &     
me?ods t ! p>tn]s might consid] us+ to  
measure & model ! cons]vation outcomes &
 results ( ! projects4  7#b7 ,report on 
outcomes ,9 conjunction ) ea* ( !       

reports to ,congress pursuant to section
 #g1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to         
,congress1 & make publicly available1 a 
report t includes-- 7,a7 an assessm5t ( 
progress made t[>ds a*iev+ cons]vation  
program objectives & anticipat$ outcomes
 & results = ea* program or initiative  
describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c7 
( subsection 7a77#a71 individually &    
collectively2  7,b7 an evaluation ( !   
co/-effectiv5ess ( ea* ( ^? cons]vation 
programs & initiatives2 &  7,c7         
recomm5dations1 tak+ into consid]ation !
 assessm5t & evaluation "u subp>agraphs 
7,a7 & 7,b71 respectively1 to improve   
program implem5tation & ! sci5tific &   
economic tools 7includ+ any new or      
revis$ cons]vation practices1           
cons]vation enhancem5ts1 or cons]vation 
plann+ tools7 us$ to a*ieve /at$ natural
 res\rce cons]vation & environm5tal     
objectives4  7#c7 ,coord9ation ,!       
,secret>y may coord9ate ! reports       
requir$ "u p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#b7 ) any  
reports develop$ z "p ( ! cons]vation   

effects assessm5t project e/abli%$ "u   
section #h :5 t coord9ation is feasible 
& w>rant$1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  4