,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fifi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #g1 #bjbf,mr4 ,riley of ,new ,york 7for himself and ,mr4 ,lawler7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,agriculture ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe to establish a program that provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices in selected eligible watersheds1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rural ,investment for ,producers and the ,environment 7,,ripe7 ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,demonstration ,program ,chapter #e of subtitle ,d of title ,,xii of the ,food ,security ,act of #aihe 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #chci;bb et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #abdj,m the following3 #abdj,n4 ,demonstration program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible watershed ,the term eligible watershed means a watershed with significant agricultural production1 as determined by the ,secretary1 that is located in a ,state or a ,united ,states ,territory4 7#b7 ,program ,the term program means the program established under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,selected practice ,the term selected practice means a practice that has one or more environmental benefit1 including-- 7,a7 improved water quality and quantity1 soil health1 air quality1 climate resiliency1 and biodiversity2 7,b7 increased agricultural yields2 7,c7 restored or enhanced wildlife habitat2 and 7,d7 any other environmental benefit1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,demonstration program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary enters into a contract with a producer to implement a selected practice on an eligible watershed1 selected in accordance with paragraph 7#b71 for the purpose of demonstrating the effects of implementing such selected practice4 7#b7 ,eligible watershed 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 not later than one year after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall1 in carrying out the program1 select-- 7i7 not more than #b eligible watersheds in a ,state or territory2 and 7ii7 not more than #cj eligible watersheds total4 7,b7 ,watersheds for ,tribal lands ,in selecting an eligible watershed under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall not include an eligible watershed that serves ,tribal lands towards the limitation described in clause 7i7 of such subparagraph4 7c7 ,contract terms 7#a7 ,payment ,in entering into a contract with a producer under the program1 the ,secretary shall provide direct payments to the producer for adopting and implementing a selected practice on an eligible watershed selected under subsection 7b77#b74 7#b7 ,term ,a contract under this subsection shall be for a term of not less than #c years and not more than #e years4 7#c7 ,requirements ,under a contract entered into under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 provide to program participants the opportunity to enhance or adopt additional existing conservation practices to improve environmental outcomes given the best available and accessible technology and practices1 as appropriate for the size and type of operation2 7,b7 not prohibit a producer under the program from participating in1 and receiving compensation from1 an environmental services market2 and 7,c7 to the extent practical1 use performance-based metrics and tools to-- 7i7 assess outcomes of implementing selected practices2 and 7ii7 support the payment amounts that are determined pursuant to subsection 7d74 7d7 ,payments to producers 7#a7 ,payment amounts ,in determining amounts for payments pursuant to subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall establish an amount on a per acre and per animal unit basis each year that reflects-- 7,a7 the cost of adopting1 installing1 completing1 managing1 and improving a selected practice2 7,b7 income foregone by the producer1 if applicable1 to address-- 7i7 increased economic risk2 7ii7 loss in revenue due to reductions in yield2 and 7iii7 economic losses during transition to new practices2 7,c7 compensation to ensure long-term continued management1 maintenance1 and improvement of the selected practice2 and 7,d7 the environmental benefit1 any greenhouse gas emissions reductions1 and carbon sequestration derived from implementing the selected practice4 7#b7 ,review of payment amount ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,rural ,investment for ,producers and the ,environment 7,,ripe7 ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall1 after a producer adopts selected practices pursuant to the contract entered into under subsection 7b71 review1 and adjust if determined necessary1 payment amounts provided under subsection 7c7 with respect to accounting for agricultural producer costs1 associated technology1 and any other factors as determined by the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,special rate for certain farmers and ranchers ,in the case of a producer that is a limited resource or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher1 the ,secretary shall increase the amount that would otherwise be provided to a producer under this subsection to #ae percent above the otherwise applicable rate4 7e7 ,duties of ,secretary ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,rural ,investment for ,producers and the ,environment 7,,ripe7 ,act1 the ,secretary shall1 to the maximum extent practical-- 7#a7 implement a simple application and acceptance process1 administered by the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service1 to approve applications1 subject to the availability of funding1 submitted by producers2 7#b7 ensure #aj percent of funds are reserved for contracts with producers who are limited resource or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers through targeted outreach and education2 7#c7 establish a minimum contract payment for contracts entered into with producers as an incentive to increase accessibility to the program2 7#d7 provide technical assistance to the applicable producer1 that has entered into a contract under this section1 for implementing and developing a comprehensive conservation plan for any acres of land or animal units related to the eligible watershed selected by the ,secretary under subsection 7b77#b7 that takes effect between the second year of the applicable contract and the end date of such contract2 and 7#e7 authorize technical assistance to be provided by-- 7,a7 ,state or local government1 including conservation districts2 7,b7 third-party providers1 including agricultural producer associations2 7,c7 commercial entities1 including farmer cooperatives2 and 7,d7 nonprofit entities with technical expertise4 7f7 ,reports ,not later than ,december #cj1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives summarizing the accomplishments of the program1 including the number of operations1 acres and animal units enrolled1 the accrued environmental benefits1 the additional and net greenhouse gas benefits accrued1 participant demographics1 and limitations to adoption1 especially within the animal feeding industry4 7g7 ,funding ,of the funds from the ,commodity ,credit ,corporation1 the following funds shall be made available until expended3 7#a7 #a1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf1 for the purpose of establishing program regulations1 policy1 and administrative procedures4 7#b7 #aej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjbi4 4