Bill Summary
The "Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025" (MATCH Act of 2025) aims to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to address preagreement costs associated with emergency watershed protection measures. The legislation allows state and local governments, as well as Indian Tribes, to incur certain costs related to emergency watershed projects before entering into formal agreements with the Secretary of Agriculture.
Key provisions include:
1. **Definition of Sponsor**: Specifies who can be considered a sponsor (state/local governments and Indian Tribes).
2. **Preagreement Costs**: The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with identifying eligible emergency watershed protection measures and developing a procedure for sponsors to request additional measures related to specific natural disasters.
3. **Cost Contribution**: Preagreement costs incurred by sponsors will be recognized as part of their financial contribution towards the overall cost of the project once an agreement is made.
4. **Risk Assumption**: Sponsors undertaking these measures before an official agreement assume the financial risk of those costs.
5. **Discretionary Agreement**: The Secretary is not obligated to enter into an agreement based on these provisions.
Overall, this act seeks to facilitate quicker response and recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters by allowing sponsors to begin emergency watershed protection measures without waiting for formal agreements.
Possible Impacts
The "Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025" (MATCH Act of 2025) could have several impacts on people, particularly in communities affected by natural disasters. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Financial Support for Local Governments and Tribes**: The act allows state and local governments, as well as Indian Tribes, to incur preagreement costs related to emergency watershed protection measures. This means that these entities can begin necessary cleanup and protection efforts without waiting for federal agreements, which could lead to quicker financial relief and support for communities impacted by disasters. For residents, this could mean faster restoration of their environment and infrastructure, reducing the long-term effects of disasters.
2. **Encouragement of Proactive Disaster Management**: By defining preagreement costs and allowing entities to incur these costs before formal agreements are made, the MATCH Act encourages local governments and tribes to take proactive measures in preparing for and responding to natural disasters. This could lead to improved disaster preparedness and risk management at the community level, ultimately resulting in fewer damages and quicker recovery times for residents affected by such events.
3. **Risk of Financial Burden on Local Entities**: While the act allows for the recognition of preagreement costs as part of the sponsor's contribution, it also requires sponsors to assume the risk of these costs. This could place a financial burden on local governments and tribes, especially if they undertake significant emergency measures without guaranteed federal reimbursement. If a disaster occurs and the federal government does not enter into an agreement or provide sufficient funding, local entities and their constituents may face increased financial strain, potentially impacting public services and community resources.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5781 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5781
To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 with respect to
preagreement costs of emergency watershed protection measures, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 17, 2025
Mr. Neguse (for himself, Ms. Maloy, and Mr. Garamendi) 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
preagreement costs of emergency watershed protection measures, 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 ``Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act
of 2025'' or the ``MATCH Act of 2025''.
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) Preagreement Costs.--
``(1) Definition of sponsor.--In this subsection, the term
`sponsor' means--
``(A) a State or local government; and
``(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(2) Preagreement project costs.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall--
``(A) identify a list of emergency watershed
protection measures the cost of which may be incurred
by a sponsor prior to entering into an agreement with
the Secretary under this section; and
``(B) develop a procedure, including appropriate
deadlines, to be implemented at the State level,
through which a sponsor may request, for a specified
natural disaster, additional emergency watershed
protection measures the cost of which may be incurred
by a sponsor prior to entering into an agreement with
the Secretary under this section.
``(3) Agreement contribution.--If the Secretary and a
sponsor enter into an agreement under this section, the
Secretary shall consider any applicable preagreement costs
incurred by the sponsor for undertaking emergency watershed
protection measures identified under paragraph (2) as meeting
part of the contribution of the sponsor toward the cost of the
project.
``(4) Assumption of risk.--A sponsor that undertakes
emergency watershed protection measures prior to entering into
an agreement with the Secretary under this section shall assume
the risk of incurring any cost of undertaking those measures.
``(5) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection requires the
Secretary to enter into an agreement with a sponsor.''.
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