,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ijj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ba1 #bjbc,mr4 ,young 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,braun1 and ,mr4 ,schatz7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry ,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 #bjbc4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 farmers and producers engage in innovative climate and conservation practices that may include a wide variety of activities1 such as-- 7,a7 carbon retention or carbon sequestration cropping practices2 7,b7 resource conserving crop rotation2 7,c7 alley cropping2 7,d7 integrated livestock-crop systems2 7,e7 advanced grazing management2 7,f7 improved forestry or agroforestry management2 and 7,g7 the insertion of buffers or saturated buffers2 7#b7 the purpose of implementing innovative climate and conservation practices on farm or ranch land is to increase sustainability through-- 7,a7 improved soil health and tilth2 7,b7 improved water quality1 quantity1 and management2 7,c7 improved nutrient management2 7,d7 reduction in tillage2 or 7,e7 wildlife promotion and management2 and 7#c7 the benefits of engaging in innovative climate and conservation practices include-- 7,a7 a reduction of greenhouse gases emissions1 including carbon dioxide1 methane1 sulfur dioxide1 and nitrous oxide2 7,b7 carbon sequestration2 7,c7 soil health improvement2 and 7,d7 reduced exposure to climate-related risk4 #c4 ,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 ,eligible institution ,the term eligible institution means-- 7,a7 an #ahfb ,institution2 7,b7 an #ahij ,institution2 and 7,c7 a #aiid ,institution4 7#d7 ,practice ,the term practice has the meaning given the term in section #abdj;,a of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;aa-#a74 7#e7 ,program ,the term program means the competitive grant program established under subsection 7b74 7#f7 ,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 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 program1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7#b7 assist agricultural producers in implementing new practices on farms or edges of fields1 improving existing practices on farms or edges of fields1 or any combination thereof2 and 7#c7 assist agricultural producers in implementing a combination of 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 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 practices2 and 7#d7 for soil testing and the measuring of other indicators of the effectiveness of 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