Bill Summary
The "Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act" aims to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to enhance the Emergency Watershed Program and address agricultural flood risks.
Key provisions include:
1. **Enhanced Restoration Measures**: It grants the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to implement restoration measures that exceed basic requirements if they are deemed beneficial for long-term watershed health, cost-effective, and environmentally appropriate.
2. **National Flood Vulnerability Study**: The Secretary must conduct and submit a comprehensive report within two years, analyzing the economic impacts of flooding on agricultural lands, the effectiveness of mitigation activities, and existing data on flood risks. It will also evaluate current conservation practices and recommend further actions to manage flood impacts.
3. **Rehabilitation of Aging Infrastructure**: The legislation increases federal support for the rehabilitation of aging flood prevention structures from 65% to 90%, aiming to ensure that critical infrastructure remains effective in mitigating flood risks.
Overall, the Act focuses on proactive and long-term strategies to improve flood management and protect agricultural interests from flooding events.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act" could affect people:
1. **Enhanced Flood Protection for Agricultural Communities**: The legislation allows the Secretary of Agriculture to implement restoration measures that exceed the minimum requirements for flood prevention. This means that agricultural communities could benefit from stronger defenses against flooding, reducing the risk of crop damage and economic losses. Farmers may experience increased stability in their livelihoods, as enhanced flood protection could lead to more consistent yields and reduced financial strain during flood events.
2. **Improved Data and Resource Allocation**: The requirement for a national agriculture flood vulnerability study means that more comprehensive data will be collected and analyzed regarding flood risks to agricultural lands. This information can help farmers make informed decisions about land use, crop selection, and investment in flood mitigation practices. Additionally, policymakers can better allocate resources and develop targeted interventions to support regions most at risk of flooding, leading to more effective disaster preparedness and response.
3. **Increased Federal Support for Rehabilitation Projects**: By increasing the federal cost-share for rehabilitation projects from 65% to 90%, the legislation makes it more feasible for local governments and organizations to undertake necessary repairs and upgrades to flood control infrastructure. This can lead to quicker recovery efforts following flooding incidents, benefiting communities by restoring essential services and infrastructure, thereby enhancing overall public safety and quality of life.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1858 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1858
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 with respect to the
emergency watershed program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2025
Mr. Davis of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Feenstra, Ms. Tokuda, Mr.
Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Rouzer, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 with respect to the
emergency watershed program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and
Restoration Act''.
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--
``(1) in the best interest of the long-term health and the
protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments; and
``(2) cost-effective and appropriate, given risks to the
environment.''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL AGRICULTURE FLOOD VULNERABILITY STUDY.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a national agriculture flood
vulnerability report containing the results of a conservation effects
assessment project studying flood risk on agricultural lands,
including--
(1) an analysis of economic losses of crops and livestock
resulting from flooding under different recurrence scenarios;
(2) an analysis of the downstream effects of mitigation
activities carried out as part of a watershed management
approach;
(3) an analysis of available Federal and State data
relating to flood risk, as applicable to agricultural land,
including data relating to riverine flooding, coastal flooding,
storm surge, extreme precipitation, and flash flooding; and
(4) a description of ongoing producer-level conservation
practices and broader government initiatives to manage flooding
impact and flood risk within and across watersheds, and
recommendations for additional practices and initiatives to
further address such impact and risk.
SEC. 4. REHABILITATION OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES NEAR, AT, OR PAST THEIR
EVALUATED LIFE EXPECTANCY.
The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act is amended--
(1) in section 2 (16 U.S.C. 1002), by striking
``respectively.'' and all that follows through ``must contain''
and inserting ``respectively. Each project, other than a
rehabilitation project under section 14, must contain''; and
(2) in section 14(b)(2) (16 U.S.C. 1012(b)(2)), by striking
``65 percent'' and inserting ``90 percent''.
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