February 18, 2025
Mr. LaMalfa (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Costa, and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to allow for additional agricultural lands to be enrolled under the conservation reserve enhancement program, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act
.
Sec. 2. Conservation reserve enhancement program
Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
(f) Seasonally flooded working lands habitat conservation agreements
(1) In general
In the case of an agreement entered into under subsection (b)(1) that addresses diminished quantity and quality of wetland wildlife habitats, the Secretary, in consultation with the applicable State technical committee established under section 1261(a), may—
(A)
enroll other agricultural land that is not eligible land on which the resource concerns identified in the agreement can be addressed if the enrollment of such other agricultural land is critical to the accomplishment of the purposes of the agreement;
(B)
if the agreement involves the maintenance of habitat for one or more wetland-dependent species on working cropland, permit seasonally flooded agricultural uses on such working cropland with the adoption of at least one best management practice; and
(C)
calculate annual rental payments in a manner that—
(i)
is comparable with annual costs to maintain other seasonally-flooded wetland wildlife habitats in the region; and
(ii)
ensures regional consistency in those rental payment rates.
(2) Matching requirement waiver
In the case of an agreement described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may waive the matching requirement described in subsection (c)(1).