A bill to amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to ensure that producers who rely on acequia systems have access to drought protections, and for other purposes.
Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act
This bill specifies that agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems are eligible to receive assistance under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for all losses suffered as a result of drought, flood, or other natural disasters. Acequias, or community ditches, are community-operated and -organized water irrigation systems.
The bill also provides that a special use permit shall not be required on Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Department of the Interior land for the (1) presence or use of an acequia or the use of the acequia's water, or (2) routine maintenance and minor improvements conducted by a community user or governing body of an acequia.
Further, USDA must submit a report to Congress on agricultural producers who rely on acequia systems.
Referred to the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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