[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar):
  S. 174. A bill to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the 
conservation reserve program, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 174

       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 ``Conservation Reserve Program 
     Improvement Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

       (a) State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Continuous 
     Enrollment.--Section 1231(d)(6)(A)(i) of the Food Security 
     Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(d)(6)(A)(i)) is amended--
       (1) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(IV) land that will be enrolled under the State acres for 
     wildlife enhancement practice established by the Secretary; 
     and''.

       (b) Cost Sharing Payments for Establishment of Grazing 
     Infrastructure.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1234(b)(1) of the Food Security 
     Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)(1)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``establishing water'' and inserting the 
     following: ``establishing--
       ``(A) water'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking the 
     period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) grazing infrastructure, including interior cross 
     fencing, perimeter fencing, and water infrastructure (such as 
     rural water connections, water wells, pipelines, and water 
     tanks), under each contract, for all practices, if grazing is 
     included in the conservation plan and addresses a resource 
     concern.''.
       (2) Reenrollment of land with grazing infrastructure.--
     Section 1231(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
     3831(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Land with grazing infrastructure.--On the expiration 
     of a contract entered into under this subchapter that covers 
     land that includes grazing infrastructure established with 
     cost sharing assistance under section 1234(b)(1)(B)--
       ``(A) the Secretary shall consider that land to be planted 
     for purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B); and
       ``(B) that land shall be eligible for reenrollment in the 
     conservation reserve, subject to the requirements of this 
     subchapter.''.
       (c) Mid-Contract Management for Activities Not Relating to 
     Haying or Grazing.--
       (1) Definition of management.--Section 1232(a)(5) of the 
     Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3832(a)(5)) is amended 
     by inserting ``(as defined in section 1231A(a))'' after 
     ``management''.
       (2) Management payments.--Section 1234(b)(2) of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)(2)) is amended by 
     striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
       ``(B) Management payments.--The Secretary shall make cost 
     sharing payments to an owner or operator under this 
     subchapter for any management activity described in section 
     1232(a)(5), except for those management activities relating 
     to haying or grazing.''.
       (d) Payment Limitation for Rental Payments.--Section 
     1234(g)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
     3834(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting 
     ``$125,000''.
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