118th CONGRESS 1st Session |
To modify Department of Agriculture programs to improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency, and for other purposes.
October 26, 2023
Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To modify Department of Agriculture programs to improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2023”.
SEC. 2. Emergency watershed program.
Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(c) Level of restoration.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary may undertake measures that increase the level of protection above that which would be necessary to address the immediate impairment of the watershed if the Secretary determines that such restoration is in the best interest of—
“(1) the long-term health of the watershed; and
“(2) the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments.”.
SEC. 3. Rehabilitation of structural measures near, at, or past their evaluated life expectancy.
Section 14(b) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(2) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE; LIMITATIONS.—
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The amount of Federal funds that may be made available under this subsection to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project shall be equal to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation.
“(B) LIMITED RESOURCE AREAS.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary may contribute up to 90 percent of the total rehabilitation costs to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project that serves a limited resource area, as determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation.
“(C) COSTS OF RESOURCE RIGHTS AND PERMITS.—The local organization shall be responsible for the costs of water, mineral, and other resource rights and all Federal, State, and local permits.”.
SEC. 4. Regional Conservation Partnership Program purposes.
Section 1271(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
“(2) To address natural resource concerns on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale, including—
“(A) the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil;
“(B) the conservation and protection of water, including sources of drinking water and groundwater;
“(C) the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought, and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency; and
“(D) the conservation of wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources.”.