,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #dijb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,july #bf1 #bjbc,ms4  
,c>aveo 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,la,turner7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,agriculture  ,a ,,bill
  ,to am5d ! ,food ,security ,act (     
#aihe to e/abli% a gr\ndwat] cons]vation
 easem5t program1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4
 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !  
,volunt>y ,gr\ndwat] ,cons]vation ,act (
 #bjbc4  #b4 ,gr\ndwat] cons]vation     
easem5t program  7a7 ,agricultural      
cons]vation easem5t program purposes    
,section #abfe7;b7 ( ! ,food ,security  
,act ( #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chfe7;b77  
is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by     
/rik+ & at ! end2  7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#d71
 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end & ins]t+ 2 &2
 &  7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3     
7#e7 facilitate r$uctions 9 gr\ndwat]   
consumption to support local1 regional1 
or ,/ate gr\ndwat] managem5t4  4  7b7   
,e/abli%m5t ,subtitle ,h ( title ,,xii (
 ! ,food ,security ,act ( #aihe 7#af    

,u4,s4,c4 #chfe et seq47 is am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #abfe;,e4      
,gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t program  
7a7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7    
,eligible entity ,! t]m eligible entity 
means-- 7,a7 an ag5cy ( ,/ate or local  
gov]nm5t2  7,b7 an ,indian ,tribe2 or   
7,c7 an organization describ$ 9 section 
#abfe;,a7#c77;,b74  7#b7 ,eligible l& ,!
 t]m eligible l& means ! surface e/ate (
 l& on :i* eligible wat] rights h be5   
hi/orically us$1 z det]m9$ by gov]n+    
,/ate law1 includ+-- 7,a7 cropl&2  7,b7 
grassl&2  7,c7 rangel&2  7,d7 pa/ure l&2
  7,e7 non9du/rial private =e/ l&2 &    
7,f7 o!r agricultural l&4  7#c7         
,eligible wat] rights ,! t]m eligible   
wat] rights means rights t are-- 7,a7   
own$ or controll$ by #a or m private1   
gov]nm5tal1 or ,tribal l&[n]s to        
gr\ndwat] t has be5 us$ on eligible l&2 
&  7,b7 subject to a p5d+ (f] = !       
pur*ase ( a gr\ndwat] cons]vation       
easem5t f an eligible entity1 ! pur*ase 
( :i* w\ld-- 7i7 promote r$uc$ gr\ndwat]

 consumption & r$uc$ reliance on        
gr\ndwat]2 &  7ii7 advance local1       
regional1 or ,/ate gr\ndwat] managem5t  
consi/5t ) ! purposes ( ! gr\ndwat]     
cons]vation easem5t program4  7#d7      
,gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t  7,a7 ,9 
g5]al ,! t]m gr\ndwat] cons]vation      
easem5t means an easem5t or o!r int]e/ 9
 eligible wat] rights t-- 7i7 is convey$
 = ! purpose ( support+ local1 regional1
 or ,/ate gr\ndwat] managem5t t r$uces  
gr\ndwat] consumption :ile provid+      
community & environm5tal b5efits2  7ii7 
includes re/rictions on ! consumption ( 
gr\ndwat] relat$ to ! hi/orical )drawals
 ( ! gr\ndwat] ( ! l&[n] associat$ ) !  
entirety ( ! eligible l& associat$ ) !  
eligible wat] rights2 &  7iii7 expressly
 p]mits ! l&[n] ! "r to cont9ue         
agricultural production & o!r uses      
compatible ) r$uc$ gr\ndwat]            
consumption1 consi/5t ) ! legally       
p]missible use & adm9i/ration ( ! wat]  
rights by ! applicable ,/ate4  7,b7     
,eligible l& ,an easem5t or o!r int]e/  

describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 may include 
eligible l& associat$ ) ! eligible wat] 
rights describ$ 9 t subp>agraph1 subject
 to ! *oice ( ! own] ( ! eligible l&1   
consi/5t ) applicable ,/ate law4  7b7   
,e/abli%m5t ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a 
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t program = 
! cons]vation ( gr\ndwat] res\rces      
associat$ ) eligible wat] rights1 :i*   
may include eligible l& associat$ ) ^?  
eligible wat] rights1 ?r\gh gr\ndwat]   
cons]vation easem5ts4  7c7 ,purposes ,! 
purposes ( ! gr\ndwat] cons]vation      
easem5t program are-- 7#a7 to promote ! 
cons]vation & r$uction 9 consumption (  
gr\ndwat] res\rces1 includ+ ! re*>g+ (  
decl9+ aquif]s1 :ile all[+ = cont9u$    
agricultural production & o!r uses2     
7#b7 to support l&[n]s 9 ! adaptation   
to1 & r$uction 9 reliance on1 decl9+    
gr\ndwat] res\rces2 &  7#c7 to protect  
agricultural use1 community vitality1 & 
economic well-be+1 includ+ ?r\gh !      
developm5t ( r5ewable en]gy1 9 ! face ( 
long-t]m decl9es 9 gr\ndwat]            

availability4  7d7 ,availability (      
assi/ance ,! ,secret>y %all facilitate &
 provide fund+ =-- 7#a7 ! pur*ase by    
eligible entities ( gr\ndwat]           
cons]vation easem5ts2 &  7#b7 te*nical  
assi/ance to implem5t ! gr\ndwat]       
cons]vation easem5t program4  7e7       
,co/-,%>e assi/ance  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,secret>y %all enc\rage cons]vation (   
gr\ndwat] res\rces ?r\gh co/-%>e        
assi/ance to eligible entities = pur*as+
 gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts4  7#b7  
,scope ( assi/ance available  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,an agreem5t describ$ 9 p>agraph  
7#d7 %all provide =-- 7i7 subject to    
subp>agraph 7,d71 a ,f$]al %>e det]m9$  
by ! ,secret>y ( an am\nt n to exce$ #fe
 p]c5t ( ! fair m>ket value ( !         
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t1 z det]m9$
 "u subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7ii7 an        
additional paym5t 9 an am\nt n to exce$ 
#e p]c5t ( ! ,f$]al %>e det]m9$ "u      
clause 7i7 = co/s associat$ ) secur+ a  
de$ to ! gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t1 
includ+ ! co/s ( valuation1 survey1     

inspection1 & title4  7,b7 ,fair m>ket  
value ,! fair m>ket value ( a gr\ndwat] 
cons]vation easem5t %all be det]m9$ by !
 ,secret>y us+-- 7i7 ! ,uni=m ,/&>ds (  
,pr(essional ,appraisal ,practice2  7ii7
 an areawide m>ket analysis or survey2  
7iii7 ano!r indu/ry-approv$ me?od2  7iv7
 a me?odology us$ by ano!r ,f$]al ag5cy2
  7v7 a model = valuation develop$ by a 
rese>* in/itution2 or  7vi7 a me?od (   
valu+ ecosy/em s]vices associat$ )      
protect$ wat] rights4  7,c7             
,reimbursable co/s  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,except
 z provid$ 9 clause 7ii71 ! ,secret>y   
%all provide a paym5t "u subp>agraph    
7,a77ii7 to an eligible entity z a      
reimbursem5t aft] ! co/s describ$ 9 t   
subp>agraph are incurr$ by ! eligible   
entity4  7ii7 ,limit$ res\rce l&[n]s ,9 
! case ( eligible wat] rights or        
eligible l& own$ by a limit$-res\rce    
l&[n]1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 !      
,secret>y %all provide a paym5t "u      
subp>agraph 7,a77ii7 9 advance z "p ( an
 agreem5t describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#d74     

7,d7 ,l[] ,f$]al %>e option  7i7 ,9     
g5]al ,an eligible entity may elect to  
ent] into an agreem5t describ$ 9        
p>agraph 7#d7 "u :i* ! ,f$]al %>e does n
 exce$ #be p]c5t ( ! fair m>ket value ( 
! gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t1 z      
det]m9$ "u subp>agraph 7,b74  7ii7 ,no  
"r ( en=cem5t ,not)/&+ p>agraph         
7#d77;,c77iii71 an agreem5t ) respect to
 :i* an eligible entity makes ! election
 "u clause 7i7 %all n include a "r (    
en=cem5t = ! ,secret>y4  7,e7           
,p]missible =ms ,! non-,f$]al %>e       
provid$ by an eligible entity "u ?is    
p>agraph may comprise-- 7i7 ca%         
res\rces2  7ii7 a *>itable donation or  
qualifi$ cons]vation contribution 7z    
def9$ 9 section #agj7;h7 ( ! ,int]nal   
,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf7 f ! l&[n] f :i* !
 gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t w be     
pur*as$2  7iii7 co/s associat$ ) secur+ 
a de$ to ! gr\ndwat] cons]vation        
easem5t1 includ+ ! co/ ( appraisal1     
survey1 inspection1 & title2 &  7iv7 o!r
 co/s1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7#c7  

,evaluation & rank+ ( applications  7,a7
 ,crit]ia ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli%     
evaluation & rank+ crit]ia to maximize !
 b5efit ( ,f$]al inve/m5t "u ! gr\ndwat]
 cons]vation easem5t program4  7,b7     
,consid]ations ,9 e/abli%+ ! crit]ia "u 
subp>agraph 7,a71 ! ,secret>y %all      
emphasize support =-- 7i7 ma9ta9+ or    
enhanc+ gr\ndwat]-dep5d5t ecosy/ems2 &  
7ii7 advanc+ long-t]m gr\ndwat]         
su/a9ability consi/5t ) exi/+ ,/ate or  
local gr\ndwat] managem5t initiatives4  
7,c7 ,bidd+ d[n ,if ! ,secret>y det]m9es
 t #b or m applications = co/-%>e       
assi/ance "u ?is subsection are         
comp>able 9 a*iev+ ! purpose ( !        
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t program1 !
 ,secret>y %all n assign a high]        
priority to any ( ^? applications solely
 on ! basis ( less] co/ to ! gr\ndwat]  
cons]vation easem5t program4  7#d7      
,agreem5ts ) eligible entities  7,a7 ,9 
g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all ent] into       
agreem5ts ) eligible entities to        
/ipulate ! t]ms & conditions "u :i* !   

eligible entity is p]mitt$ to use       
co/-%>e assi/ance provid$ "u ?is        
subsection4  7,b7 ,l5g? ( agreem5ts ,an 
agreem5t "u ?is p>agraph %all be = a t]m
 t is-- 7i7 9 ! case ( an eligible      
entity c]tifi$ "u ! process describ$ 9  
p>agraph 7#e71 a m9imum ( #e ye>s2 &    
7ii7 = all o!r eligible entities1 n less
 ?an #c1 b n m ?an #e1 ye>s4  7,c7      
,m9imum t]ms & conditions ,an eligible  
entity %all be au?oriz$ to use su* t]ms 
& conditions = gr\ndwat] cons]vation    
easem5ts z ! eligible entity may        
e/abli%1 subject to ! condition t !     
,secret>y %all det]m9e t ^? t]ms &      
conditions-- 7i7 are consi/5t ) !       
purposes ( ! gr\ndwat] cons]vation      
easem5t program2  7ii7 p]mit effective  
en=cem5t ( ! cons]vation purposes ( !   
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts1         
includ+-- 7,i7 a me*anism = ! measurem5t
 ( gr\ndwat] pump+ r$uctions2 &  7,,ii7 
! ability to en=ce ^? r$uctions "u      
relevant ,/ate law2  7iii7 except z     
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,d77ii71       

include a "r ( en=cem5t = ! ,secret>y1  
:i* may be us$ only if ! t]ms ( !       
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t are n     
en=c$ by ! hold] ( ! gr\ndwat]          
cons]vation easem5t2 &  7iv7 subject !  
eligible wat] rights & eligible l&1 if  
applicable1 9 :i* an int]e/ is pur*as$  
to a gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t plan 
t includes-- 7,i7 a description ( !     
activities t demon/rate protection (    
soil res\rces & r$uc$ gr\ndwat] use &   
meet any o!r cons]vation purposes = :i* 
! gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t 0       
acquir$2  7,,ii7 a gr\ndwat] cons]vation
 plan1 :]e appropriate1 t includes1 at !
 option ( ! ,secret>y1 activities t w   
help ma9ta9 or enhance gr\ndwat]-dep5d5t
 ecosy/ems2 &  7,,iii7 any o!r          
provisions t ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be 
necess>y to accompli% ! purposes ( !    
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5t program4  
7,d7 ,sub/itution ( qualifi$ projects   
,an agreem5t "u ?is p>agraph %all all[1 
on mutual agreem5t ( ! p>ties1          
sub/itution ( qualifi$ projects t are   

id5tifi$ at ! "t ( ! propos$            
sub/itution4  7,e7 ,effect ( violation  
,if a violation ( a t]m or condition (  
an agreem5t "u ?is p>agraph occurs1 !   
,secret>y may-- 7i7 t]m9ate ! agreem5t2 
&  7ii7 require ! eligible entity to    
refund all1 or "p (1 any paym5ts receiv$
 by ! eligible entity "u ! gr\ndwat]    
cons]vation easem5t program1 ) int]e/ on
 ! paym5ts1 z det]m9$ appropriate by !  
,secret>y4  7#e7 ,c]tification (        
eligible entities  7,a7 ,c]tification   
process ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a     
process "u :i* ! ,secret>y may-- 7i7    
directly c]tify eligible entities t meet
 e/abli%$ crit]ia2  7ii7 ent] into      
long-t]m agreem5ts ) c]tifi$ eligible   
entities2 &  7iii7 accept proposals =   
co/-%>e assi/ance = ! pur*ase (         
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts ?r\gh\t !
 duration ( ^? agreem5ts4  7,b7         
,c]tification crit]ia ,to be c]tifi$ "u 
subp>agraph 7,a71 an eligible entity    
%all demon/rate to ! ,secret>y t !      
eligible entity w ma9ta91 at a m9imum1 =

 ! duration ( ! agreem5t-- 7i7 a plan = 
adm9i/]+ gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts 
t is consi/5t ) ! purposes ( ! gr\ndwat]
 cons]vation easem5t program2  7ii7 !   
capacity & res\rces to monitor & en=ce  
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts2 &  7iii7
 policies & proc$ures to ensure-- 7,i7 !
 long-t]m integrity ( gr\ndwat]         
cons]vation easem5ts2  7,,ii7 timely    
completion ( acquisitions ( gr\ndwat]   
cons]vation easem5ts2 &  7,,iii7 timely 
& complete evaluation & report+ to !    
,secret>y ) respect to ! use ( funds    
provid$ "u ! gr\ndwat] cons]vation      
easem5t program4  7,c7 ,review &        
revision  7i7 ,review ,! ,secret>y %all 
conduct a review ( eligible entities    
c]tifi$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 n less      
frequ5tly ?an once e #c ye>s to ensure t
 ! eligible entities are meet+ ! crit]ia
 e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,b74  7ii7    
,revocation ,if ! ,secret>y f9ds t a    
c]tifi$ eligible entity no long] meets !
 crit]ia e/abli%$ "u subp>agraph 7,b71 !
 ,secret>y may-- 7,i7 all[ ! c]tifi$    

eligible entity a specifi$ p]iod ( "t1 b
 n less ?an #ahj days1 dur+ :i* to take 
su* actions z may be necess>y to meet ! 
crit]ia2 &  7,,ii7 revoke ! c]tification
 ( ! eligible entity1 if1 aft] t        
specifi$ p]iod ( "t1 ! c]tifi$ eligible 
entity does n meet ! crit]ia4  7f7      
,geographic scope ,! ,secret>y may only 
enroll eligible wat] rights or eligible 
l& "u ?is section 9 regions-- 7#a7      
exp]i5c+ significant gr\ndwat]          
depletion1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y     
consi/5t ) data ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates       
,geological ,survey2 &  7#b7 :]e        
gr\ndwat] monitor+ & p]mitt+ exi/s ?r\gh
 ! ,/ate1 a local gov]nm5t1 or a        
gr\ndwat] managem5t di/rict4  7g7 ,me?od
 ( enrollm5t ,! ,secret>y %all enroll   
eligible wat] rights & eligible l& "u   
?is section ?r\gh ! use (-- 7#a7 p]man5t
 easem5ts2 or  7#b7 easem5ts = ! maximum
 duration all[$ "u applicable ,/ate     
laws4  7h7 ,te*nical assi/ance ,!       
,secret>y may provide te*nical          
assi/ance1 if reque/$1 to assi/ 9-- 7#a7

 compliance ) ! t]ms & conditions (     
gr\ndwat] cons]vation easem5ts2 &  7#b7 
implem5tation ( an approv$ gr\ndwat]    
cons]vation easem5t plan describ$ 9     
subsection 7e77#d77;,c77iv74  4  #c4    
,adju/$ gross income limitation ,section
 #ajja;,d ( ! ,food ,security ,act (    
#aihe 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #acjh-c;a7 is       
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7a77#a7-- 7,a7
 by /rik+ ,9 ?is & ins]t+ ! foll[+3     
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,9 ?is  2 &  7,b7 by add+ 
at ! end ! foll[+3  7,b7 ,exclusion ,9  
?is section1 ! t]m av]age adju/$ gross  
income does n include any income receiv$
 by a p]son or legal entity t is a l&[n]
 ( eligible l& 7z def9$ 9 section       
#abfe;,a7 z comp5sation = ! pur*ase ( an
 agricultural l& easem5t "u subtitle ,h4
  2 &  7#b7 9 subsection 7b77#c71 by    
ins]t+ 1 or aquif] recov]y or a p]man5t 
r$uction 9 consumptive use ( wat] w\ld  
be a*iev$1 aft] protect$4