H.R. 4751 · 115th Congress
Healthy Fields and Farm Economies Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 115th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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FasoSponsor5 cosponsors · 5 D
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, which provides the Department of Agriculture (USDA) with strategic assessment and planning authority for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related natural resources.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Jan 10, 2018
Healthy Fields and Farm Economies Act
This bill reauthorizes and modifies the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, which provides the Department of Agriculture (USDA) with strategic assessment and planning authority for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related natural resources.
The bill authorizes USDA to establish a conservation effects assessment project to:
- quantify the environmental and economic effects of conservation practices,
- develop the science base for managing the agricultural landscape for environmental quality and sustainable productive capacity, and
- improve the efficacy of conservation practices and programs by evaluating conservation effects.
USDA must establish a goals and assessment process for conservation programs that includes:
- the identification of natural resource and environmental objectives, outcomes, and results for the programs;
- assessments of the resulting changes in the status and conditions of natural resources and the environment; and
- a monitoring and evaluation process for the programs and initiatives.
In implementing the monitoring and evaluation process, USDA must use certain funds provided for conservation programs and establish a National Technical Committee. USDA may enter into cooperative agreements with government agencies, universities and colleges, and nongovernmental organizations to assist in implementing the monitoring and evaluation process.
The bill also sets forth reporting requirements regarding the progress conservation programs have made in achieving the objectives and outcomes.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Healthy Fields and Farm Economies Act
Latest action (Jan 24, 2018): Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food · Origin: House · Introduced: Jan 10, 2018
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.