BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ? No ?
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A – Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Adopt Recommended Positions on Federal Legislation: H.R. 9927 (Panetta) – Farmers Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act; and Other Legislation that may Require Consideration by the Board.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Adopt a Position of “Support” on H.R. 9927 (Panetta) – Farmers Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act.
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SUMMARY:
H.R. 9927 (Panetta) – Farmers Lifeline to Overcoming Disasters (FLOOD) Act Recommended Position: Support
Priority Recommendation: 3
This bipartisan and bicameral bill would expand farmers’ access to federal assistance to undertake voluntary conservation activities that can help reduce flood risks and mitigate the harmful effects of extreme weather. The bill would amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to add the Emergency Watershed Protection Program as a covered program under the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP aims to provide farmers and landowners with solutions to help manage natural resources challenges that affect agricultural land. Eligible projects currently supported through the RCPP include:
Land management, improvement, and restoration practices;
Land rentals or payments to producers for actual net loss from land use changes or conservation practices; and
Public works and watershed improvements.
The Emergency Watershed Protection Program, also run by NRCS, helps communities recover after a natural disaster strikes. NRCS works with local sponsors to recover from storms through stabilizing damaged riverbanks, repairing levees, removing debris, and restoring habitat to protect communities from future flooding. Adding these activities as covered activities under the RCPP would simply expand the options available to farmers and landowners to address damage that threatens farmland before ...
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