,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bfac ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #af1 #bjba,mr4 ,newhouse 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,spanberger1 and ,ms4 ,pingree7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij to establish a competitive grant program under which the ,secretary of ,agriculture provides grants to land-grant colleges and universities to support agricultural producers in adopting conservation and innovative climate practices1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,conservation and ,innovative ,climate ,partnership ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program 7a7 ,in general ,subtitle ,h of title ,,xvi of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij is amended by inserting after section #afgb 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #eibe7 the following3 #afgb;,a4 ,conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 #ahfb ,institution2 #ahij ,institution ,the terms #ahfb ,institution and #ahij ,institution have the meanings given those terms in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gfja74 7#b7 #aiid ,institution ,the term #aiid ,institution has the meaning given the term in section #ecb of the ,equity in ,educational ,land-,grant ,status ,act of #aiid 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cja note2 ,public ,law #ajc-chb74 7#c7 ,conservation practice ,the term conservation practice means a practice-- 7,a7 that may include any or a combination of-- 7i7 carbon retention or carbon sequestration cropping practices2 7ii7 resource conserving crop rotation2 7iii7 alley cropping2 7iv7 integrated livestock-crop systems2 7v7 advanced grazing management2 7vi7 improved forestry or agroforestry management2 7vii7 the insertion of buffers or saturated buffers2 or 7viii7 any other practice that an eligible institution carrying out a project under the program determines to be appropriate2 and 7,b7 the purpose of which is to increase overall sustainability on farmland or ranch land through-- 7i7 improved soil health and tilth2 7ii7 improved water quality1 quantity1 and management2 7iii7 improved nutrient management2 7iv7 reduction in tillage2 or 7v7 wildlife promotion and maintenance4 7#d7 ,eligible institution ,the term eligible institution means-- 7,a7 an #ahfb ,institution2 7,b7 an #ahij ,institution2 and 7,c7 a #aiid ,institution4 7#e7 ,innovative climate practice ,the term innovative climate practice means a practice1 including any practice that an eligible institution carrying out a project under the program determines to be appropriate1 that results in-- 7,a7 a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions1 including carbon dioxide1 methane1 sulfur dioxide1 and nitrous oxide2 7,b7 carbon sequestration2 7,c7 soil health improvement2 or 7,d7 reduced exposure to climate-related risk4 7#f7 ,program ,the term program means the competitive grant program established under subsection 7b74 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7b7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to provide competitive grants pursuant to section #c7;d7 of the ,smith-,lever ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cdc7;d77 to eligible institutions to carry out projects to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices and innovative climate practices through public awareness campaigns1 workshops1 and specialized technical assistance4 7c7 ,applications ,to be eligible to receive a grant under the program1 an eligible institution shall submit to the ,secretary an application1 including a demonstration that the applicant will-- 7#a7 increase interaction with local agricultural producers by a rate of not less than #be percent above the outreach rate before the implementation of the project under the program2 7#b7 assist agricultural producers in implementing new conservation practices or innovative climate practices on farms or edges of fields1 improving existing conservation practices or innovative climate practices on farms or edges of fields1 or any combination thereof2 and 7#c7 assist agricultural producers in implementing a combination of conservation practices or innovative climate practices that contribute to-- 7,a7 the overall improvement of conservation2 or 7,b7 a decrease in1 or sequestration of1 greenhouse gas emissions4 7d7 ,partnerships ,an eligible institution shall carry out a project using a grant under the program in partnership with not fewer than #a other entity1 which may include-- 7#a7 a nonprofit organization2 7#b7 a ,state entity2 7#c7 the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 7#d7 an #ahfb ,institution2 7#e7 an #ahij ,institution2 7#f7 a #aiid ,institution2 or 7#g7 any combination thereof4 7e7 ,maximum amount ,the amount of a grant under the program shall be not more than #djj1jjj4 7f7 ,use of funds ,an eligible institution may use a grant under the program-- 7#a7 to support agricultural producers in implementing a conservation practice or an innovative climate practice2 7#b7 subject to subsection 7g71 for additional staffing at the eligible institution to assist in carrying out a project using the grant2 7#c7 to conduct workshops for agricultural producers1 and develop and distribute digital and hard-copy materials directly to agricultural producers1 that provide clear directions for accessing technical assistance for adopting conservation practices and innovative climate practices2 and 7#d7 for soil testing and the measuring of other indicators of the effectiveness of conservation practices and innovative climate practices4 7g7 ,limitation on administrative expenses ,an eligible institution may use not more than #cj percent of the amount of a grant under the program for administrative expenses4 7h7 ,duration ,a grant provided under the program shall be for such period as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate1 but not less than #d years4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to provide grants under the program pursuant to section #c7;d7 of the ,smith-,lever ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cdc7;d77 #ac1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year4 4 7b7 ,eligibility of #aiid ,institutions ,section #c7;d7 of the ,smith-,lever ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #cdc7;d77 is amended1 in the third sentence-- 7#a7 by striking program and and inserting program12 and 7#b7 by inserting 1 and the conservation and innovative climate partnership competitive grant program established under section #afgb;,a of the ,food1 ,agriculture1 ,conservation1 and ,trade ,act of #aiij before the period at the end4