[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3147 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3147
To modify Department of Agriculture programs to improve flood
protection and infrastructure resiliency, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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.''.
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