[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2091 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2091
To provide for the conservation of the Chesapeake Bay, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 11, 2025
Mr. Wittman (for himself, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mrs. Kiggans of
Virginia, and Ms. Elfreth) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the conservation of the Chesapeake Bay, 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 ``Chesapeake Bay Conservation
Acceleration Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240M (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) the
following:
``SEC. 1240N. CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Chesapeake bay watershed.--The term `Chesapeake Bay
watershed' means--
``(A) the Chesapeake Bay;
``(B) the portions of the States of Delaware,
Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia that contain the tributaries, backwaters, and
side channels (including their watersheds) that drain
into the Chesapeake Bay; and
``(C) the District of Columbia.
``(2) Initiative.--The term `Initiative' means the
Chesapeake Bay States Partnership Initiative established under
subsection (b).
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary shall establish and
carry out an initiative, to be known as the `Chesapeake Bay States
Partnership Initiative', to assist producers in implementing
conservation activities on agricultural land in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed for the purposes of--
``(1) improving water quality and quantity;
``(2) restoring, enhancing, and preserving soil, air, and
related resources; and
``(3) increasing the resilience of agricultural production
to withstand the impacts of climate change.
``(c) Conservation Activities.--The Secretary shall provide funds
made available to carry out the Initiative through applicable programs
under this subtitle, including by providing enrollment opportunities
that are targeted to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, to assist producers
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in enhancing land and water resources
by--
``(1) controlling erosion and reducing sediment and
nutrient levels in groundwater and surface water; and
``(2) planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating
habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement measures in
cases in which there is significant ecological value if the
applicable land is--
``(A) retained in the current use of the land; or
``(B) restored to the natural condition of the
land.
``(d) Considerations.--In providing funds under the Initiative, the
Secretary shall give special consideration to applications--
``(1) submitted by producers in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed river basins in which nutrient reduction efforts
would be most effective; or
``(2) to carry out conservation activities that reduce
nitrogen and sediment, improve management of livestock and
waste, or conserve wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
``(e) Duties of Secretary.--In carrying out the Initiative, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) as available, use existing plans, models, and
assessments to assist producers in implementing conservation
activities; and
``(2) proceed expeditiously to provide funding to producers
to implement conservation activities that are consistent with
State strategies for the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay
watershed.
``(f) Consultation and Coordination.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies,
ensure that conservation activities carried out under the
Initiative complement Federal, State, and local programs,
including programs that address water quality, in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed; and
``(2) in carrying out this section, coordinate with the
Farm Service Agency to identify needs and opportunities for
buffer management on land subject to a contract under the
conservation reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1
that may be expiring soon.
``(g) Task Force on Crediting Chesapeake Bay Conservation
Investments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly establish a
Federal task force, to be known as the `Task Force on Crediting
Chesapeake Bay Conservation Investments' (referred to in this
subsection as the `Task Force').
``(2) Action plan.--The Task Force shall develop an action
plan that--
``(A) identifies improvements to the processes of
analyzing, reporting, and quantifying nutrient
reductions from conservation activities in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed;
``(B) is responsive to the needs of States in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed (including the District of
Columbia) and the agricultural community;
``(C) maintains the scientific integrity of the
decisionmaking process and accounting tools under the
Chesapeake Bay Program (as defined in section 117(a) of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1267(a))); and
``(D) ensures producer privacy is protected.
``(3) Identification of opportunities.--The Task Force
shall leverage findings from successful data-sharing pilot
projects to identify opportunities to integrate time-saving
technologies for the implementation of conservation activities
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.''.
SEC. 3. CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.
(a) Conservation Reserve.--
(1) Reauthorization.--Section 1231(a) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by striking ``the
2023 fiscal year'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2028''.
(2) Eligible land.--Section 1231(b) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (6)(B)(ii), by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (7)(C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) cropland, marginal pastureland, grasslands, and other
rural land that will--
``(A) have a positive impact on water quality in
furtherance of the goals of the conservation reserve
enhancement program under section 1231A; and
``(B) be devoted to a riparian buffer.''.
(3) Conservation reserve enhancement program.--Section
1231A(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a(b))
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Updates.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
provide to each signatory to an agreement under
this subsection an option to update the
agreement, without renegotiating other
provisions of the agreement, to include new
incentives made available under this subchapter
beginning on January 1, 2018, such as riparian
forest buffer management payments.
``(ii) Matching funds.--Requirements for
matching funds described in paragraph (2)(B)
shall not apply to an update to an agreement
under clause (i).''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Amendments.--
``(A) In general.--In the case of an amendment to
an agreement under this subsection, including an
addendum to such an agreement, the Secretary shall--
``(i) streamline the amendment process
relating to time-sensitive national priorities,
including the Chesapeake Bay total maximum
daily load; and
``(ii) give priority to simple amendments
to update existing agreements in accordance
with paragraph (3)(C).
``(B) Simple amendments.--A simple amendment to an
agreement described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not
constitute a renegotiation of the agreement.''.
(4) Payments.--Section 1234 of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(4)--
(i) by striking ``In addition'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--In addition''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Minimum payment for certain contracts.--In
the case of a contract updated under section
1231A(b)(3)(C), the incentive payment under
subparagraph (A) shall be in an amount that is not less
than 40 percent of the actual costs described in that
subparagraph.''; and
(B) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``$50,000''
and inserting ``$100,000''.
(b) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.--
(1) Conservation incentive contracts.--Section
1240B(j)(2)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-2(j)(2)(C)) is amended--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) consider participation in the
conservation reserve program and the
conservation reserve enhancement program under
subchapter B of chapter 1, and practices under
those programs (such as riparian buffers), in
prioritizing grazing practices under the
program established by this subchapter with
respect to the efficient implementation of
grazing systems to holistically address
resource concerns.''.
(2) Evaluation of applications.--Section 1240C(b) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-3(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) that would include grazing practices under the
program established by this subchapter, in consideration of
participation in the conservation reserve program and the
conservation reserve enhancement program under subchapter B of
chapter 1, and practices under those programs (such as riparian
buffers), with respect to the efficient implementation of
grazing systems to holistically address resource concerns.''.
SEC. 4. CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED TURNKEY PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831c) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Chesapeake Bay Watershed Turnkey Pilot Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Chesapeake bay watershed.--The term
`Chesapeake Bay watershed' has the meaning given the
term in section 1240N(a).
``(B) CREP definitions.--The terms `CREP',
`eligible land', and `management' have the meanings
given those terms in section 1231A(a).
``(C) Eligible practice.--The term `eligible
practice' means a forested riparian buffer practice
under a CREP and any associated activities, including--
``(i) a stream crossing;
``(ii) fencing and alternate water systems;
``(iii) herbicide applications; and
``(iv) any other activity that is
appropriate to establish the practice.
``(D) Pilot program.--The term `pilot program'
means the pilot program established under paragraph
(2).
``(E) Technical service provider.--The term
`technical service provider' means a third-party
provider with which the Secretary enters into an
agreement under paragraph (5)(A).
``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot
program under which the Secretary shall provide, for voluntary
owners and operators, establishment and management of eligible
practices on eligible land located in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed that is enrolled through a CREP.
``(3) Duties of secretary.--With respect to eligible land
enrolled through the pilot program, the Secretary--
``(A) may provide, for the owner or operator,
establishment and management of an eligible practice on
the eligible land using a technical service provider
pursuant to an agreement under paragraph (5); and
``(B) shall not require the owner or operator--
``(i) to pay any costs of the establishment
or management of an eligible practice,
including any compensation provided under
paragraph (5)(C); or
``(ii) to submit to the Secretary any
additional paperwork with respect to the pilot
program.
``(4) Duties of owners and operators.--Each owner or
operator of eligible land enrolled through the pilot program--
``(A) shall provide to the Secretary and any
technical service providers, as applicable, access to
the eligible land for purposes of the establishment or
management of an eligible practice under the pilot
program; and
``(B) may not receive any cost-share payment,
practice incentive payment, or management payment under
this subchapter with respect to an eligible practice
under the pilot program.
``(5) Agreements with technical service providers.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an
agreement under section 1242 with 1 or more third-party
providers certified under that section, including a
third-party provider certified through a streamlined
certification process under subsection (e)(5) of that
section, that provide technical assistance under this
title in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to conduct the
establishment and management of an eligible practice on
eligible land under the pilot program.
``(B) Activities.--In addition to any activity that
a technical service provider may conduct pursuant to
section 1242 relating to the establishment of an
eligible practice, a technical service provider may
carry out such activities as are necessary to conduct
the establishment and management of an eligible
practice under the pilot program.
``(C) Compensation.--Under an agreement entered
into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
provide to a technical service provider reasonable
compensation for services provided under the agreement,
including administrative assistance, technical
assistance, design assistance, and installation costs.
``(6) Report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report describing the status of, and any
activities carried out under, the pilot program.''.
SEC. 5. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Grants and Fellowships for Food and Agricultural Sciences
Education.--
(1) In general.--Section 1417 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3152) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by inserting ``, junior or community colleges,
and postsecondary vocational institutions''
after ``other colleges and universities''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``food
and agricultural sciences teaching programs, or
teaching programs emphasizing'' and inserting
``teaching programs, including paid work-based
learning, for food and agricultural sciences
or'';
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) applications for teaching enhancement projects,
including paid work-based learning, that address a need for
additional trained professionals in food and agricultural
sciences or rural economic development, community development,
or business development.'';
(C) in subsection (j)--
(i) by striking paragraph (1); and
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and
(3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively;
(D) in subsection (l), by striking ``subsection
(j)'' and inserting ``subsection (k)'';
(E) in subsection (m)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2031.'';
(F) by striking ``subsection (b)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``subsection (c)'';
(G) by redesignating subsections (a) through (m) as
subsections (b) through (n), respectively; and
(H) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
``(2) Junior or community college.--The term `junior or
community college' has the meaning given the term in section
312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).
``(3) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term
`postsecondary vocational institution' has the meaning given
the term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
``(4) Secondary school.--The term `secondary school' has
the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(5) Work-based learning.--The term `work-based learning'
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2302).''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 708 of the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992 (7 U.S.C. 2209b), is
amended by striking ``section 1417(b)(6) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3152(b)(6))''
and inserting ``subsection (c)(6) of section 1417 of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152)''.
(B) Section 251(f)(1) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6971(f)(1)) is amended--
(i) in subparagraph (C)(v), by striking
``section 1417(b) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(b))'' and inserting
``subsection (c) of section 1417 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152)'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (D)(v), by striking
``section 1417(j) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152(j))'' and inserting
``subsection (k) of section 1417 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152)''.
(b) Experienced Services Program.--Section 1252(a)(2) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3851(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) assisting cooperative initiatives under
subsection (c)(3) of section 1417 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) to improve higher education
teaching programs, including paid work-based learning,
at--
``(i) land-grant colleges and universities
(including the University of the District of
Columbia);
``(ii) colleges and universities having
significant minority enrollments and a
demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching
of food and agricultural sciences; and
``(iii) other colleges and universities,
junior or community colleges (as defined in
section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1058)), and postsecondary vocational
institutions (as defined in section 102(c) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002(c))) having a demonstrable capacity to
carry out the teaching of food and agricultural
sciences.''.
(c) Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grants.--
Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6)(A), by striking ``teaching'' and
inserting ``teaching, including paid work-based learning (as
defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302))''; and
(2) in paragraph (7)(B), by inserting ``, junior or
community colleges (as defined in section 312 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058)), and postsecondary
vocational institutions (as defined in section 102(c) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)))'' after
``colleges and universities''.
SEC. 6. NRCS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.
Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(j) NRCS Direct Hire Authority.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may appoint, without
regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title
5, United States Code (other than sections 3303 and 3328 of
that title), qualified candidates, as described in paragraph
(2), directly to positions within the Natural Resources
Conservation Service that provide technical assistance under
conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
``(2) Qualifications.--Paragraph (1) applies to any
candidate who--
``(A) is qualified to provide the technical
assistance described in paragraph (1), as determined by
the Secretary; and
``(B) meets qualification standards established by
the Office of Personnel Management.''.
SEC. 7. PRIMARY REGULATORY OVERSIGHT FOR DOMESTIC, WILD-CAUGHT,
INVASIVE CATFISH.
(a) Exemption From Oversight.--
(1) Food safety and inspection service.--Section 1(w)(2) of
the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601(w)(2)) is
amended by inserting ``, except for domestic, wild-caught blue
catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead catfish (Pylodictis
olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem'' before the
semicolon.
(2) USDA grading program.--Section 203(n)(1) of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(n)(1)) is
amended by inserting ``, except for domestic, wild-caught blue
catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead catfish (Pylodictis
olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem'' before the
semicolon.
(b) Interagency Coordination.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred
to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall execute a memorandum of
understanding with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (referred to in
this section as the ``Commissioner'') for the purpose of transferring
primary regulatory oversight of the domestic and import inspection of
domestic, wild-caught blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead
catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
from the Secretary to the Commissioner, pursuant to the authorities of
the Commissioner under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21
U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (15 U.S.C.
1451 et seq.), and the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et
seq.).
(c) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Commissioner, shall issue final regulations to carry out this section
and the amendments made by this section in a manner that ensures that
there is no duplication in inspection activities relating to domestic,
wild-caught blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) and flathead catfish
(Pylodictis olivaris) invasive to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
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