118 HR 10514 IH: Conservation Reinvestment Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 118th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 10514 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 19, 2024 Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Alford, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Van Orden, and Mr. Baird) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide additional assistance to certain agricultural producers, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Conservation Reinvestment Act.

2.

Additional assistance for producers

(a)

Economic assistance payments

In addition to amounts otherwise available (including amounts made available on or after the date of the enactment of this Act during calendar year 2024 for the same purpose), of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use $1,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to increase the percentage of economic loss covered under the assistance prescribed in section 2102 of title I of Division B of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025. (b)

Additional assistance for producers of sales-Based crops and flat-Rate crops

(1)

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise available, including under the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use— (A)$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to assist producers of sales-based crops that are not eligible for assistance with respect to such crops under subsection (a) or the assistance described in such subsection; and (B)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to provide $30-per-acre payments to producers of flat-rate crops that are not eligible for assistance with respect to such crops under subsection (a) or the assistance described in such subsection. (2)

Terms and conditions

(A)

In general

Assistance provided under paragraph (1)— (i)in the case of sales-based crops, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as any assistance provided under the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program, except that such assistance shall be subject to the payment limitations specified in section 9.7(e) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act); and (ii)in the case of flat-rate crops, shall be provided in a similar manner, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, as assistance with respect to such crops is provided under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program under section 9.203 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (B)

Expediting provision of assistance

The Secretary of Agriculture may use eligibility criteria for any existing program of the Department of Agriculture under which assistance is provided to producers of sales-based crops or flat-rate crops to expedite the provision of assistance under this subsection. (3)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)The term Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops program refers to the program established by the Secretary of Agriculture for which a notice of funds availability was published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 99212). (B)The terms sales-based crops and flat-rate crops have the meanings given such terms in section 9.201 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act).

3.

Conservation funding

(a)

Annual funding

Section 1241(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting the following: (A)$600,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (B)$625,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (C)$650,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (D)$675,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; (E)$700,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; (F)$700,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and (G)$700,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.; and (2)in paragraph (3)— (A)in subparagraph (A), by striking clauses (i) through (v) and inserting the following: (i)$2,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (ii)$2,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (iii)$2,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (iv)$3,100,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; (v)$3,100,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; (vi)$3,130,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and (vii)$3,130,000,000 for fiscal year 2031; and; and (B)in subparagraph (B), by striking clauses (i) through (v) and inserting the following: (i)$1,275,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (ii)$1,325,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (iii)$1,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (iv)$1,375,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; (v)$1,375,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; (vi)$1,375,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and (vii)$1,375,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.. (b)

Mitigation agricultural conservation practices

Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended by adding at the end the following: (k)

Mitigation agricultural conservation practices

(1)

Definition

In this subsection, the term mitigation agricultural conservation practice means a practice or enhancement that directly improves soil carbon, reduces nitrogen losses, or reduces, captures, avoids, or sequesters carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions, associated with agricultural production. (2)

Use of funds

Of the funds made available under subsection (a)(3)(A) for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than 30 percent of such funds to carry out mitigation agricultural conservation practices.. (c)

Rcpp funding

Section 1271D(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d(a)) is amended to read as follows: (a)

Availability of funding

Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out the program, to the maximum extent practicable— (1)$400,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (2)$425,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; (3)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; (4)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; (5)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2029; (6)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and (7)$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.. (d)

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act

Section 15 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012a) is amended— (1)by striking $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and inserting $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and (2)by inserting before the period at the end , to remain available until expended. (e)

Conservation rescissions

The unobligated balances of amounts appropriated by section 21001(a) of Public Law 117–169 are rescinded.

4.

Mandatory reporting of dairy product processing costs

Section 273 of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)— (i)in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking and at the end; (ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and (iii)by adding at the end the following: (C)for each manufacturer required to report under subparagraph (A) for any product, require that manufacturer to report production cost and product yield information, as determined by the Secretary, for all products processed in the same facility or facilities.; and (B)in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting products and after those; (2)in subsection (d)— (A)in the subsection heading, by striking Electronic reporting and inserting Reporting; (B)in paragraph (1)— (i)in the heading, by striking Electronic reporting and inserting Reporting; and (ii)by striking this section and inserting subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1); (C)in paragraph (2), by striking this section and inserting subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1); and (D)by adding at the end the following: (3)

Dairy products processing costs

(A)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report containing the information obtained under subparagraph (C) of subsection (b)(1). (B)

Funding

For fiscal year 2025, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000, to remain available until expended..

5.

Contingency fund for American producers

(a)

Relief provided

During fiscal year 2028, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make payments to producers in order to provide financial assistance, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, using terms and conditions the Secretary of Agriculture determines appropriate. (b)

Funding

For fiscal year 2028, of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary of Agriculture shall use to carry out this section $7,000,000,000, to remain available until expended.

6.

Organic or non-organic whole milk permissible

Section 9(a)(2) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(a)(2)) is amended— (1)by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: (A)

In general

Lunches served by schools participating in the school lunch program under this Act— (i)shall offer students a variety of fluid milk; (ii)may offer students flavored and unflavored organic or non-organic whole, reduced-fat, low-fat and fat-free fluid milk and lactose-free fluid milk; and (iii)shall provide a substitute for fluid milk for students whose disability restricts their diet, on receipt of a written statement from a licensed physician that identifies the disability that restricts the student’s diet and that specifies the substitute for fluid milk.; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (D)

Saturated fat

Milk fat included in any fluid milk provided under subparagraph (A) shall not be considered saturated fat for purposes of measuring compliance with the allowable average saturated fat content of a meal under section 210.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). (E)

Prohibition on certain purchases

The Secretary shall prohibit schools participating in the school lunch program under this Act from purchasing or offering milk produced by China state-owned enterprises. (F)

Limitation on authority

The Secretary may not prohibit any school participating in the school lunch program under this Act from offering students the milk described in subparagraph (A)(ii)..

7.

Energy funding

(a)

Annual funding

Section 9007(f) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107(f)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)— (A)in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end; (B)in subparagraph (E), by striking fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter. and inserting each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024;; and (C)by adding at the end the following: (F)$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028; (G)$105,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2029 and 2030; and (H)$110,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (4)

Reservation of funds

Of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve— (A)not more than 10 percent for awarding grants under subsection (c) that support the adoption of underutilized but proven commercial technologies; and (B)not more than 5 percent for administrative costs.. (b)

Rescission

(1)

In general

Of the unobligated balances of amounts made available by section 22002 of Public Law 117–169 (136 Stat. 2019), $489,447,000 is rescinded. (2)

Fiscal years 2026 and 2027

Section 22002 of Public Law 117–169 (136 Stat. 2019) is amended in each of subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) by striking 2027 and inserting 2025.