[House Report 117-345]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                      {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {     117-345

======================================================================



 
 SPONSORING USDA SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS IN AGRICULTURE TO INCENTIVIZE 
                     NATURAL SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2021

                                _______
                                

  June 3, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. David Scott of Georgia, from the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2606]

    The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2606) to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect 
to the acceptance and use of contributions for public-private 
partnerships, and for other purposes, having considered the 
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommends that the bill do pass.

                           Brief Explanation

    This legislation, as reported out of Committee, allows for 
the creation of public-private partnerships for USDA 
conservation programs. The bill provides authority to the 
Secretary of Agriculture to establish accounts for the 
acceptance and use of contributions for public-private 
partnerships.

                    Purpose and Need for Legislation

    The House Agriculture Committee understands public-private 
partnerships are critical for the success of federal 
conservation programs administered by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA). Furthermore, the Committee recognizes the 
effectiveness of our federal conservation system and the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, which administers 
programs that are voluntary, locally led, and incentive based.
    Total annual mandatory budget authority for conservation 
programs has grown from a total of $3.9 billion in FY 2008 to 
over $6.7 billion in FY 2019. However, the demands for 
conservation funding and technical assistance still outpaces 
the current resources. For example, in FY 2020, the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) was only able to fund 28% 
of Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) contracts, 
leaving nearly 90,000 applications unfunded. Simultaneously, 
corporations and small businesses want to market to their 
customers' desire to buy sustainably grown food and fiber. Many 
large corporations have made public commitments to lower their 
carbon footprint within their supply chain but are struggling 
to find the best way to achieve those goals.
    The Committee reported bill provides an opportunity for the 
private sector to partner with USDA to engage farmers and 
ranchers in supporting conservation initiatives, including to 
expand land use practices to sequester carbon, improve wildlife 
habitat, protect sources of drinking water, and address other 
natural resource priorities. Specifically, the Committee 
reported bill authorizes the ``Contributions for Private-Sector 
Partnership,'' a USDA account that allows for private sector 
donations. It also incentivizes private funding by awarding 
sponsorship of targeted conservation initiatives.
    The Committee reported bill allows USDA to administer 
conservation initiatives with current scientific practice 
standards, proven conservation programs and practices, and 
trusting relationships with farmers. In addition, it authorizes 
funds for USDA to match certain donations.

  H.R. 2606, Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to 
               Incentivize Natural Solutions Act of 2021


                           SECTION-BY-SECTION

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 provides the short title of the bill as the 
``Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to 
Incentivize Natural Solutions Act of 2021,'' or the ``SUSTAINS 
Act.''

Section 2. Acceptance and Use of Contributions for Public Private 
        Partnerships

    This section amends section 1241(f) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 to allow the Secretary, acting through NRCS, to 
create Public-Private Partnerships Contribution Accounts. The 
Secretary may establish a sub-account for each covered program 
to accept contributions of non-Federal funds for the purposes 
of addressing the changing climate, sequestering carbon, 
improving wildlife habitat, protecting sources of drinking 
water, and addressing other natural resource priorities 
identified by the Secretary.
    Subsection (4) allows the Secretary to provide matching 
funds for contributions received in the Public-Private 
Partnerships Contribution Accounts. This subsection also allows 
contributing entities under this section to designate the 
covered program for which the contributed funds are intended to 
be used and specify the geographic area to use the funds.
    Subsection (4) also requires the Secretary to establish a 
procedure under which an entity making a significant 
contribution may identify a natural resource concern that the 
contributed funds will address and have the name or brand of 
the individual or entity associated with the use of the 
contributed funds. This subsection also requires the Secretary 
to give priority to socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, 
limited resource farmers or ranchers, and beginning farmers or 
ranchers.
    Subsection (4) requires that if an activity funded under 
this section results in sellable environmental services 
benefits the producer carrying out the activity and the 
contributing entity negotiate a mutually beneficial sale of 
such benefits. This subsection also provides that the Secretary 
may change the requirements, as they apply to easements, for 
the purpose of addressing climate change. This subsection also 
provides the definitions of ``covered program'' and 
``significant contribution.''

                        Committee Consideration


                            I. SUBCOMMITTEE

    On May 12, 2021, the Subcommittee on Conservation and 
Forestry held a hearing entitled Title II Conservation 
Programs: Exploring Climate-Smart Practices where the following 
witnesses testified on the role of conservation programs have 
in addressing a broad variety of resource concerns, especially 
those at the nexus of climate and agriculture:
           Charles Isbell, Jr, Farmer and Co-Owner, 
        Keenbell Farm, Rockville, VA
           Kimberly Ratcliff, Owner, Caney Creek Ranch, 
        Oakwood, TX
           Dr. Keith Paustian, Distinguished Professor, 
        Dept. of Soil and Crop Science, Colorado State 
        University; Senior Research Scientist, Natural Resource 
        Ecology Laboratory, CSU
           Jamie Johansson, President, California Farm 
        Bureau, Sacramento, CA
    This hearing examined how Title II conservation programs, 
enacted through the farm bill assist producers to address 
resource concerns, fight climate change, and provide additional 
benefits. The hearing highlighted that conservation programs 
are oversubscribed and engagement with the private sector is 
one possible solution.

                           II. FULL COMMITTEE

    On May 17, 2022, the Committee on Agriculture met pursuant 
to notice, with a quorum present to consider H.R. 2606, 
Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to 
Incentivize Natural Solutions Act of 2021. Chairman Scott made 
an opening statement as did Ranking Member Thompson. Chairman 
Scott requested other Members submit their opening statements 
for the record. Without objection, H.R. 2606 was placed before 
the Committee for consideration, a first reading of the bill 
was waived.
    Discussion occurred. Chairman Scott made a motion for 
unanimous consent to adopt and favorably report H.R. 2606 to 
the House. The motion for unanimous consent was adopted without 
objection.
    The Committee recessed until May 18, 2022. At the 
conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Scott advised Members that 
pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives, Members 
had until May 20, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. to file any supplemental, 
additional, dissenting, or minority views with the Committee. 
Without objection, staff was given permission to make any 
necessary technical, clarifying, or conforming changes to 
reflect the intent of the Committee. Chairman Scott thanked all 
Members and adjourned the meeting.

                            Committee Votes

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives, H.R. 2606 was reported by unanimous consent 
with a majority quorum present.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the descriptive portions of this report.

          Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office. The Committee 
adopts as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate 
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such 
cost estimate be made available before House passage of the 
bill.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures. Congressional Budget Office staff 
has informed the Committee on a preliminary, informal, 
nonbinding basis that there does not appear to be any revenue 
effects or direct spending associated with the bill.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    The Committee finds the Constitutional authority for this 
legislation in Article I, section 8, clause 18, that grants 
Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for 
carrying out the powers vested by Congress in the consideration 
of the United States or in any department or officer thereof.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives, the performance goals and objectives of this 
measure are to incentivize private contributions to USDA 
conservation programs and expand the reach of those programs.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committee within the meaning of section 5(b) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act was created by this 
legislation.

                Applicability to the Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                           Earmark Statement

    This measure does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of the House of 
Representatives.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    This measure does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee does not believe that the legislation directs 
an Executive Branch official to conduct any specific rule 
making proceedings within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                       FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE XII--CONSERVATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                 Subtitle E--Funding and Administration

SEC. 1241. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.

  (a) Annual Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2014 through 
2023, the Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and 
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out 
the following programs under this title (including the 
provision of technical assistance):
          (1) The conservation reserve program under subchapter 
        B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, including, to the maximum 
        extent practicable--
                  (A) $12,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
                years 2019 through 2023 to provide payments 
                under section 1234(c); and
                  (B) $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
                years 2019 through 2023, including not more 
                than $5,000,000 to provide outreach and 
                technical assistance, to carry out section 
                1235(f) to facilitate the transfer of land 
                subject to contracts from contract holders to 
                covered farmers or ranchers, as defined in 
                section 1235(f)(1).
          (2) The agricultural conservation easement program 
        under subtitle H using to the maximum extent 
        practicable--
                  (A) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;
                  (B) $425,000,000 for fiscal year 2015;
                  (C) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                  (D) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                  (E) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; and
                  (F) $450,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
                2019 through 2023.
          (3) The programs under chapter 4, using, to the 
        maximum extent practicable--
                  (A) for the environmental quality incentives 
                program under subchapter A of that chapter--
                          (i) $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2019;
                          (ii) $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2020;
                          (iii) $1,800,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2021;
                          (iv) $1,850,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2022; and
                          (v) $2,025,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2023; and
                  (B) for the conservation stewardship program 
                under subchapter B of that chapter--
                          (i) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2019;
                          (ii) $725,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2020;
                          (iii) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2021;
                          (iv) $800,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2022; and
                          (v) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2023.
          (4) The conservation stewardship program under 
        subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D (as in effect 
        on the day before the date of enactment of the 
        Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018), using such sums 
        as are necessary to administer contracts entered into 
        before that date of enactment.
  (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts made available by 
subsection (a) for fiscal years 2014 through 2023 shall be used 
by the Secretary to carry out the programs specified in such 
subsection and shall remain available until expended.
  (c) Technical Assistance.--
          (1) Availability.--Commodity Credit Corporation funds 
        made available for a fiscal year for each of the 
        programs specified in subsection (a)--
                  (A) shall be available for the provision of 
                technical assistance for the programs for which 
                funds are made available as necessary to 
                implement the programs effectively;
                  (B) except for technical assistance for the 
                conservation reserve program under subchapter B 
                of chapter 1 of subtitle D, shall be 
                apportioned for the provision of technical 
                assistance in the amount determined by the 
                Secretary, at the sole discretion of the 
                Secretary; and
                  (C) shall not be available for the provision 
                of technical assistance for conservation 
                programs specified in subsection (a) other than 
                the program for which the funds were made 
                available.
          (2) Priority.--
                  (A) In general.--In the delivery of technical 
                assistance under the Soil Conservation and 
                Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590a et 
                seq.), the Secretary shall give priority to 
                producers who request technical assistance from 
                the Secretary in order to comply for the first 
                time with the requirements of subtitle B and 
                subtitle C of this title as a result of the 
                amendments made by section 2611 of the 
                Agricultural Act of 2014.
                  (B) Report.--Not later than 270 days after 
                the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act 
                of 2014, the Secretary shall submit to the 
                Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on 
                Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
                Senate a report regarding the extent to which 
                the conservation compliance requirements 
                contained in the amendments made by section 
                2611 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 apply to 
                and impact specialty crop growers, including 
                national analysis and surveys to determine the 
                extent of specialty crop acreage that includes 
                highly erodible land and wetlands.
          (3) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2014, the 
        Secretary shall submit (and update as necessary in 
        subsequent years) to the Committee on Agriculture of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a 
        report--
                  (A) detailing the amount of technical 
                assistance funds requested and apportioned in 
                each program specified in subsection (a) during 
                the preceding fiscal year; and
                  (B) any other data relating to this provision 
                that would be helpful to such Committees.
          (4) Compliance report.--Not later than November 1 of 
        each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
        on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
        the Senate a report that includes--
                  (A) a description of the extent to which the 
                requests for highly erodible land conservation 
                and wetland compliance determinations are being 
                addressed in a timely manner;
                  (B) the total number of requests completed in 
                the previous fiscal year;
                  (C) the incomplete determinations on record; 
                and
                  (D) the number of requests that are still 
                outstanding more than 1 year since the date on 
                which the requests were received from the 
                producer.
  (d) Relationship to Other Law.--The use of Commodity Credit 
Corporation funds under subsection (c) to provide technical 
assistance shall not be considered an allotment or fund 
transfer from the Commodity Credit Corporation for purposes of 
the limit on expenditures for technical assistance imposed by 
section 11 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 
U.S.C. 714i).
  (e) Regional Equity.--
          (1) Equitable distribution.--When determining funding 
        allocations each fiscal year, the Secretary shall, 
        after considering available funding and program demand 
        in each State, provide a distribution of funds for 
        conservation programs under subtitle D (excluding the 
        conservation reserve program under subchapter B of 
        chapter 1), subtitle H, and subtitle I to ensure 
        equitable program participation proportional to 
        historical funding allocations and usage by all States.
          (2) Minimum percentage.--In determining the specific 
        funding allocations under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall--
                  (A) ensure that during the first quarter of 
                each fiscal year each State has the opportunity 
                to establish that the State can use an 
                aggregate allocation amount of at least 0.6 
                percent of the funds made available for those 
                conservation programs; and
                  (B) for each State that can so establish, 
                provide an aggregate amount of at least 0.6 
                percent of the funds made available for those 
                conservation programs.
  (f) Acceptance and Use of Contributions for Public-Private 
Partnerships.--
          [(1) Authority to establish contribution accounts.--
        Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may establish a 
        sub-account for each conservation program administered 
        by the Secretary under subtitle D to accept 
        contributions of non-Federal funds to support the 
        purposes of the program.]
          (1) Authority to establish public-private partnership 
        contributions accounts.--The Secretary, acting through 
        the Natural Resources Conservation Service, may 
        establish a sub-account for each covered program to 
        accept contributions of non-Federal funds for the 
        purposes of addressing the changing climate, 
        sequestering carbon, improving wildlife habitat, 
        protecting sources of drinking water, and addressing 
        other natural resource priorities identified by the 
        Secretary.
          (2) Deposit and use of contributions.--Contributions 
        of non-Federal funds received for [a conservation 
        program administered by the Secretary under subtitle D] 
        a covered program shall be deposited into the sub-
        account established under this subsection for the 
        program and shall be available to the Secretary, 
        without further appropriation and until expended, to 
        carry out the program.
          (3) Match of contributed funds.--The Secretary may 
        provide matching funds for contributions received under 
        this subsection, subject to the availability of funding 
        under subsection (a) for the applicable covered 
        program.
          (4) Role of contributing entity.--
                  (A) In general.--An entity contributing funds 
                under this subsection may--
                          (i) designate the covered program for 
                        which the contributed funds are 
                        intended to be used; and
                          (ii) specify the geographic area in 
                        which the contributed funds are 
                        intended to be used.
                  (B) Significant contributions.--The Secretary 
                shall establish a procedure under which an 
                entity making a significant contribution may--
                          (i) identify a natural resource 
                        concern the contributed funds are to be 
                        used to address; and
                          (ii) have the name or brand of the 
                        individual or entity associated with 
                        the use of the contributed funds.
          (5) Producer participation.--
                  (A) Priority.--In selecting producers to 
                carry out, through a covered program, an 
                activity funded pursuant to this subsection, 
                the Secretary shall give priority to--
                          (i) socially disadvantaged farmers or 
                        ranchers, as defined in section 355(e) 
                        of the Agricultural Act of 1961 (7 
                        U.S.C. 2003);
                          (ii) limited resource farmers or 
                        ranchers, as determined by the 
                        Secretary; and
                          (iii) beginning farmers or ranchers.
                  (B) Sale of ecosystem benefits.--If an 
                activity funded pursuant to this section may 
                result in environmental services benefits to be 
                sold through an environmental services market, 
                the producer carrying out the activity and the 
                entity that contributed the applicable funds 
                shall negotiate a mutually beneficial sale of 
                such benefits.
          (6) Rules for easements.--An easement funded pursuant 
        to this subsection shall be subject to the requirements 
        of the covered program for which the contributed funds 
        were used, except that the Secretary may modify such 
        requirements, as they apply to the easement, for the 
        purpose of addressing climate change, as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
          (7) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                  (A) Covered program.--The term ``covered 
                program'' means a program carried out by the 
                Secretary under--
                          (i) subtitle D, subtitle H, or 
                        subtitle I;
                          (ii) section 403 of the Agricultural 
                        Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203);
                          (iii) title V of the Healthy Forests 
                        Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571 
                        et seq.); or
                          (iv) the Watershed Protection and 
                        Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et 
                        seq.), except for any program 
                        established by the Secretary to carry 
                        out section 14 of such Act (16 U.S.C. 
                        1012).
                  (B) Significant contribution.--The term 
                ``significant contribution'' means a 
                contribution under this subsection of at least 
                a minimum dollar amount established by the 
                Secretary.
  (g) Allocations Review and Update.--
          (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, 
        the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural 
        Resources Conservation Service and the Administrator of 
        the Farm Service Agency, shall conduct a review of 
        conservation programs and authorities under this title 
        that utilize annual allocation formulas to determine 
        the sufficiency of the formulas in accounting for 
        relevant data on local natural resource concerns, 
        resource inventories, evaluations and reports, 
        recommendations from State technical committees 
        established under section 1261(a), State-level economic 
        factors, level of agricultural infrastructure, or 
        related factors that affect conservation program costs.
          (2) Update.--The Secretary shall improve conservation 
        program allocation formulas as necessary to ensure 
        that--
                  (A) the formulas adequately reflect the costs 
                of carrying out the conservation programs;
                  (B) to the maximum extent practicable, local 
                natural resource concerns are considered a 
                leading factor in determining annual funding 
                allocation to States;
                  (C) the process used at the national level to 
                evaluate State budget proposals and to allocate 
                funds is reviewed annually to assess the effect 
                of allocations in addressing identified natural 
                resource priorities and objectives; and
                  (D) the allocation of funds to States 
                addresses priority natural resource concerns 
                and objectives.
  (h) Assistance to Certain Farmers or Ranchers for 
Conservation Access.--
          (1) Assistance.--
                  (A) Fiscal years 2009 through 2018.--Of the 
                funds made available for each of fiscal years 
                2009 through 2018 to carry out the 
                environmental quality incentives program and 
                the acres made available for each of such 
                fiscal years to carry out the conservation 
                stewardship program, the Secretary shall use, 
                to the maximum extent practicable--
                          (i) 5 percent to assist beginning 
                        farmers or ranchers; and
                          (ii) 5 percent to assist socially 
                        disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
                  (B) Fiscal years 2019 through 2023.--Of the 
                funds made available for each of fiscal years 
                2019 through 2023 to carry out the 
                environmental quality incentives program under 
                subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D and the 
                conservation stewardship program under 
                subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, the 
                Secretary shall use, to the maximum extent 
                practicable--
                          (i) 5 percent to assist beginning 
                        farmers or ranchers; and
                          (ii) 5 percent to assist socially 
                        disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
          (2) Repooling of funds.--In any fiscal year, amounts 
        not obligated under paragraph (1) by a date determined 
        by the Secretary shall be available for payments and 
        technical assistance to all persons eligible for 
        payments or technical assistance in that fiscal year 
        under the environmental quality incentives program and, 
        in the case of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, under 
        the conservation stewardship program under subchapter B 
        of chapter 4 of subtitle D.
          (3) Repooling of acres.--In any fiscal year through 
        fiscal year 2018, acres not obligated under paragraph 
        (1)(A) by a date determined by the Secretary shall be 
        available for use in that fiscal year under the 
        conservation stewardship program.
          (4) Preference.--In providing assistance under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to a 
        veteran farmer or rancher (as defined in section 
        2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
        Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e))) that qualifies 
        under, as applicable, clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph 
        (1)(A) or clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B).
  (i) Report on Program Enrollments and Assistance.--Not later 
than December 15 of each of calendar years 2019 through 2023, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an annual report 
containing statistics by State related to enrollments in 
conservation programs under this title, as follows:
          (1) The annual and current cumulative activity 
        reflecting active agreement and contract enrollment 
        statistics.
          (2) Secretarial exceptions, waivers, and significant 
        payments, including--
                  (A) payments made under the agricultural 
                conservation easement program for easements 
                valued at $250,000 or greater;
                  (B) payments made under the regional 
                conservation partnership program subject to the 
                waiver of adjusted gross income limitations 
                pursuant to section 1271C(c)(3);
                  (C) waivers granted by the Secretary under 
                section 1001D(b)(3);
                  (D) exceptions and activity associated with 
                section 1240B(h)(2); and
                  (E) exceptions provided by the Secretary 
                under section 1265B(b)(2)(B)(ii).
  (j) Conservation Standards and Requirements.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to the requirements of this 
        title, the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall 
        serve as the lead agency in developing and establishing 
        technical standards and requirements for conservation 
        programs carried out under this title, including--
                  (A) standards for conservation practices 
                under this title;
                  (B) technical guidelines for implementing 
                conservation practices under this title, 
                including the location of the conservation 
                practices; and
                  (C) standards for conservation plans.
          (2) Consistency of farm service agency technical 
        standards and payment rates.--The Administrator of the 
        Farm Service Agency shall ensure that--
                  (A) technical standards of programs 
                administered by the Farm Service Agency are 
                consistent with the technical standards 
                established by the Natural Resources 
                Conservation Service under paragraph (1); and
                  (B) payment rates, to the extent practicable, 
                are consistent between the Farm Service Agency 
                and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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