S. 2139Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:12 PM UTC

The Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017 amends the 1985 Food Security Act to strengthen the regional conservation partnership program focused on the Bay area. It raises annual funding, extends partnership terms, adds grant‑based agreements, and creates a framework for identifying and managing critical conservation areas. The changes aim to improve coordination among federal, state, and local agencies and increase reporting on conservation outcomes.

Key Provisions

Adds a purpose to align partnership projects with other federal, state, and local natural‑resource programs.
Defines the Conservation Reserve Program and the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act for use in the program.
Limits partnership agreements to five‑year terms, with possible extensions for concurrent state/federal deadlines or a one‑time 12‑month extension.
Allows eligible partners to contribute cash, in‑kind support, or both, and counts pre‑effective expenditures toward contributions.
Creates an expedited renewal process for partnership agreements and requires the Secretary to provide feedback during applications.
Permits partnership agreements to be structured as grant agreements, covering infrastructure, water‑quality projects, innovative financing, pilot testing, land‑protection strategies, and other conservation activities, with grants limited to 30% of program funds.
Increases annual program funding from $100 million to $300 million and revises allocation formulas, raising state‑based competitive share to 40% and other share to 60%.
Establishes definitions for “critical conservation area” and “critical conservation condition” (water quality and quantity improvements) and sets procedures for designation, review, withdrawal, and priority criteria.
Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on the status of each critical conservation condition, goals, outcomes, and related partnership agreements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7298-7299)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

November 16, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 16, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7298-7299)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

November 16, 2017

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about S. 2139 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats

Sen. Chris Van HollenD-MD · Nov 16, 2017

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017 to accelerate our efforts to restore the health of one of America's greatest natural treasures--the…

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017 to accelerate our efforts to restore the health of one of America's greatest natural treasures--the Chesapeake Bay. This legislation will strengthen our Bay clean-up program by increasing and better targeting resources under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

I have long advocated for more effective protection, preservation, and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. During the development of the Farm Bill of 2008, I worked with my colleagues to adopt the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, which provided assistance to farmers to help them prevent the excessive runoff of nutrients and sediments into the Bay and its tributaries. As a result of that initiative, about $50 million was invested annually in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

In the 2014 Farm Bill, the RCPP was established to expand the successful concept of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative to our vital watersheds in the country. The goal of RCPP is to encourage stakeholders to partner with agricultural producers to increase the restoration and sustainable use of soil, water, wildlife and related natural resources on regional or watershed scales.

Mr. President, while very successful nationally, the overall investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts through the RCPP has been reduced relative to investments that were made under the stand- alone Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative. That is why today I am introducing the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act to make refinements to the RCPP in order to improve conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay--and other vital watersheds--through providing additional funding, bolstering the role of critical conservation areas, and improving technical assistance.

On funding, this bill will triple the amount of mandatory funding for RCPP available per fiscal year from $100 million to $300 million. The bill also allows in-kind support to count towards a partner's matching contribution to a project.

The Chesapeake Bay has already been designated as a Critical Conservation Area under the RCPP. However, my bill will make refinements to the requirements for partnership agreements awarded within Critical Conservation Areas that recognize key

strengths of the Chesapeake Bay region. For example, the bill will strengthen the definitions of a critical conservation area to include critical conservation conditions that would improve water quality and water quantity. Furthermore, the bill adds a prioritization for partnership agreement applications that implement the project consistent with multi-State watershed restoration plans and bring together a diverse array of stakeholders into a project.

I have heard from many organizations in my state and others states in the Bay watershed that there is a significant need for better technical assistance to better implement the RCPP. Therefore, my bill authorizes the USDA to advance reasonable amounts of funding to eligible partners for technical assistance. Also, the bill allows the USDA to provide written feedback to applicants throughout the application process on how the proposals can be improved.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined in introducing the bill by Senator Cardin, a long-time supporter of the Chesapeake Bay. My other Bay state colleagues, Senators Capito, Kaine, Casey, Manchin, Warner, Carper, Coons and Gillibrand are also original cosponsors of the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act. My former colleague Congressman Bobby Scott is introducing a companion measure in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, I am grateful that this bill has the support of Maryland Governor Hogan, 4 other Governors within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission. This bill is also supported by over 70 organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Choose Clean Water. Together, I look forward to working together to see the inclusion of this important legislation in the next Farm Bill.

Sen. Chris Van HollenD-MD · Nov 16, 2017

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017 to accelerate our efforts to restore the health of one of America's greatest natural treasures--the…

Sen. James E. RischR-ID · Nov 16, 2017

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Blackrock Land Exchange Act of 2017. The legislation supports a mutually beneficial effort between the Bureau of Land Management and the J.R. Simplot…

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Nov 16, 2017

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Sen. Steve DainesR-MT · Nov 16, 2017

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued November 16, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2139

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 16, 2017

Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Casey, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coons, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to address critical conservation conditions under the regional conservation partnership program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017.

Purposes

Section 1271(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)

To encourage alignment of partnership projects with other Federal, State, and local agencies and programs addressing similar natural resource concerns in a coordinated manner.

Definitions

Section 1271A(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(E)

The conservation reserve program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D.

(F)

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), other than section 14 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1012).

Regional conservation partnerships

Section 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b) is amended—

(1)

by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Maximum length

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the term of a partnership agreement shall not be longer than 5 years.

(2)

Exceptions

(A)

Concurrent program deadline

Subject to approval by the Secretary, the term of a partnership agreement may be longer than 5 years if the longer period is concurrent with a deadline established under a State or Federal program that relates specifically to the project.

(B)

1-time extension

The Secretary may extend a partnership agreement 1 time for a period that is not longer than 12 months if the Secretary determines that the extension is necessary to meet the objectives of the program.

;

(2)

in subsection (c)(2)—

(A)

by striking An eligible and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

An eligible

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Form

A contribution of an eligible partner under this paragraph may be in the form of—

(i)

direct funding;

(ii)

in-kind support; or

(iii)

a combination of direct funding and in-kind support.

(C)

Treatment

Any amounts expended before the effective date of a partnership agreement under this section by an eligible partner for staff salaries or development of the partnership agreement shall be considered to be a part of the contribution of the eligible partner under this paragraph.

; and

(3)

in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Funding renewals

If an eligible partner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the eligible partner has made progress in addressing one or more natural resource concerns by not later than the date that is 1 fiscal year before the date on which the partnership agreement expires, the eligible partner may submit to the Secretary an application for a renewal of the partnership agreement, including a renewal of funding, through an expedited application process—

(A)

to continue to implement the partnership agreement;

(B)

to expand the scope of the partnership agreement;

(C)

to enroll additional eligible producers; or

(D)

to carry out other conservation activities relating to the project, including monitoring and reporting on outcomes, as mutually agreed by the Secretary and the eligible partner.

(6)

Review

To the extent practicable, after receipt of an application under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide to each applicant information and feedback (including written information and feedback, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate) throughout the annual program application process for any improvements that could be made to the application.

Funding arrangements through grant agreements

Section 1271C(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871c(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

Funding arrangements through grant agreements

(A)

In general

A partnership agreement may be a grant agreement entered into with an eligible partner in accordance with this paragraph.

(B)

Requirements

Under a grant agreement under subparagraph (A)—

(i)

using amounts made available to carry out this subtitle, the Secretary shall provide to the eligible partner a grant;

(ii)

the eligible partner shall carry out eligible activities on eligible land (including by contracting with one or more producers, if the eligible partner determines the contracting to be appropriate), on the condition that the eligible activities directly or indirectly benefit agricultural producers (including forestry producers), to address natural resource concerns on a regional or watershed scale, such as—

(I)

infrastructure investments relating to agricultural or nonindustrial private forest production that would benefit multiple producers, such as a multiproducer irrigation water delivery system;

(II)

projects addressing water quality or quantity concerns in coordination with producers, including the development and implementation of watershed plans;

(III)

projects that use innovative approaches to leveraging the Federal investment in conservation with private financial mechanisms, in conjunction with agricultural production or forest resource management, such as—

(aa)

the provision of performance-based payments to producers; and

(bb)

support for an environmental market;

(IV)

projects that facilitate pilot testing of new conservation practices, technologies, or activities;

(V)

projects that promote the long-term viability and sustainability of agricultural land through innovative agricultural land protection strategies and mechanisms, including projects that support the transfer of land to beginning farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and limited resource farmers and ranchers, as determined by the Secretary; and

(VI)

other projects for which the Secretary determines that the goals and objectives of the program would be easier to achieve through the grant agreement; and

(iii)

the Secretary may provide technical and administrative assistance, as mutually agreed by the parties.

(C)

Nonapplicability of adjusted gross income limitation

The adjusted gross income limitation described in section 1001D(b)(1) shall not apply to the receipt by an eligible partner of a grant under this paragraph.

(D)

Limitation

The Secretary may not use more than 30 percent of funding made available to carry out the program for grant agreements.

(E)

Reports

An eligible partner that enters into a grant agreement under this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary—

(i)

any information that the Secretary requires to prepare the report under section 1271E(b); and

(ii)

an annual report that describes the status of the project carried out by the eligible partner, including a description of—

(I)

the use of the grant funds;

(II)

any subcontracts awarded using grant funds;

(III)

the producers receiving funding using the grant funds;

(IV)

(aa)

the progress made by the project in addressing any natural resource concerns, including in a quantified form; and

(bb)

as appropriate, other environmental, economic, or social outcomes of the project; and

(V)

any other reporting data the Secretary determines are necessary to ensure compliance with the program rules.

Funding

(a)

In general

Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by striking $100,000,000 and inserting $300,000,000; and

(B)

by striking for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and inserting for each fiscal year;

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and inserting for each fiscal year; and

(B)

by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

Duration of availability

Any funds or acres reserved under paragraph (1) shall remain available for obligation only for the purposes of carrying out the program until expended.

(3)

Distribution of funds

To the maximum extent practicable, of projects receiving funds or acres reserved under paragraph (1) from a covered program, the percentage of projects that shall have purposes similar to the purposes of the applicable covered program from which funds or acres were reserved shall be approximately equal to the percentage of funds or acres reserved from the applicable covered program.

;

(3)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking 25 percent of the funds and acres to projects based on a State competitive process administered by the State Conservationist, with the advice of the State technical committee and inserting the following: 40 percent of the funds and acres to projects based on a State or multistate competitive process administered, as applicable, by the State Conservationist or jointly by the State Conservationists of each State participating in the multistate process, with the advice of the applicable State technical committees;

(B)

by striking paragraph (2);

(C)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and

(D)

in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking 35 percent and inserting 60 percent;

(4)

in subsection (e)—

(A)

by striking None of the funds and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), none of the funds

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Project development and outreach

Under a partnership agreement, the Secretary may advance reasonable amounts of funding for technical assistance to eligible partners to conduct project development and outreach activities in a project area (including activities conducted before the effective date of the partnership agreement), including—

(A)

providing outreach and education to producers for potential participation in the project;

(B)

the development of a watershed or habitat plan; and

(C)

establishing baseline metrics to support the development of the assessment required under section 1271B(c)(1)(E).

; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following:

(f)

Technical assistance

(1)

In general

At the time of project selection, the Secretary shall identify and make publically available the amount that the Secretary shall use to provide technical assistance under the terms of the partnership agreement.

(2)

Limitation

The Secretary shall limit costs of the Secretary for technical assistance to costs specific and necessary to carry out the objectives of the partnership agreement.

(3)

Third-party providers

The Secretary shall develop and implement strategies to encourage third-party technical service providers to provide technical assistance to eligible partners pursuant to a partnership agreement.

(b)

Conforming amendment

Section 1271F(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f(a)) is amended by striking 1271D(d)(3) and inserting 1271D(d)(2).

Critical conservation areas

Section 1271F of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsections (a) (as amended by section 6(b)), (b), and (c) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively;

(2)

by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) the following:

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Critical conservation area

The term critical conservation area means a geographical area that contains a critical conservation condition that can be addressed through one or more covered programs.

(2)

Critical conservation condition

The term critical conservation condition means—

(A)

a condition of land that would benefit from water quality improvement, including through reducing erosion, promoting sediment control, and addressing nutrient management activities affecting large bodies of water of regional, national, or international significance; and

(B)

a condition of land that would benefit from water quantity improvement, including improvement relating to—

(i)

groundwater, surface water, aquifer, or other water sources; or

(ii)

water retention and flood prevention.

;

(3)

in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), by inserting that address each critical conservation condition for which the critical conservation area is designated before the period at the end;

(4)

in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)—

(A)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively;

(B)

by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:

(1)

In general

In designating a critical conservation area under this section, the Secretary shall identify one or more critical conservation conditions that the critical conservation area contains, including—

(A)

the geographical area of land that contains the critical conservation condition; and

(B)

conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address the critical conservation conditions.

;

(C)

in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)—

(i)

by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the following:

(C)

contains a critical conservation condition; or

; and

(ii)

by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and

(D)

by striking paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following:

(3)

Review and withdrawal

The Secretary may—

(A)

review designations of critical conservation areas under this section not more than once every 5 years; and

(B)

withdraw designation of a critical conservation area only if the Secretary determines that the area is no longer a critical conservation area.

;

(5)

in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)—

(A)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

Priority

The Secretary shall give priority to an application under this section that addresses a critical conservation condition by—

(A)

(i)

including a diversity of stakeholders in the project;

(ii)

building new partnerships at the local, State, and corporate levels;

(iii)

leveraging non-Federal financial and technical resources; and

(iv)

coordinating with other local, State, or national efforts;

(B)

delivering a high percentage of environmental benefits to address the conservation goals and outcomes that shall be achieved for the Secretary to determine that the land is no longer a critical conservation area;

(C)

providing innovative conservation methods and delivery, including outcome-based performance measures and methods; or

(D)

implementing the project consistent with multi-State watershed restoration plans.

; and

(C)

in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking area described in subsection (b)(1)(D) and inserting condition described in subsection (a)(2)(B); and

(6)

by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Reports

Not later than December 31, 2018, and each year thereafter, 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 describing the status of each critical conservation condition for each critical conservation area designated under this section, including—

(1)

the conditions for which each critical conservation area is designated;

(2)

conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address the critical conservation conditions;

(3)

the partnership agreements selected to address each conservation goal and outcome; and

(4)

the extent to which each conservation goal and outcome is being addressed by the partnership agreements.