No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6969 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6969
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a program that
provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices
in selected eligible watersheds, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 7, 2026
Mr. Riley of New York (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a program that
provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices
in selected eligible watersheds, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Investment for Producers and
the Environment (RIPE) Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
1240M the following:
``SEC. 1240N. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible watershed.--The term `eligible watershed'
means a watershed with significant agricultural production, as
determined by the Secretary, that is located in a State or a
United States Territory.
``(2) Program.--The term `program' means the program
established under subsection (b).
``(3) Selected practice.--The term `selected practice'
means a practice that has one or more environmental benefit,
including--
``(A) improved water quality and quantity, soil
health, air quality, climate resiliency, and
biodiversity;
``(B) increased agricultural yields;
``(C) restored or enhanced wildlife habitat; and
``(D) any other environmental benefit, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(b) Demonstration Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
under which the Secretary enters into a contract with a
producer to implement a selected practice on an eligible
watershed, selected in accordance with paragraph (2), for the
purpose of demonstrating the effects of implementing such
selected practice.
``(2) Eligible watershed.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), not
later than one year after the date of enactment of this
section, the Secretary shall, in carrying out the
program, select--
``(i) not more than 2 eligible watersheds
in a State or territory; and
``(ii) not more than 30 eligible watersheds
total.
``(B) Watersheds for tribal lands.--In selecting an
eligible watershed under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall not include an eligible watershed that
serves Tribal lands towards the limitation described in
clause (i) of such subparagraph.
``(c) Contract Terms.--
``(1) Payment.--In entering into a contract with a producer
under the program, the Secretary shall provide direct payments
to the producer for adopting and implementing a selected
practice on an eligible watershed selected under subsection
(b)(2).
``(2) Term.--A contract under this subsection shall be for
a term of not less than 3 years and not more than 5 years.
``(3) Requirements.--Under a contract entered into under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
``(A) provide to program participants the
opportunity to enhance or adopt additional existing
conservation practices to improve environmental
outcomes given the best available and accessible
technology and practices, as appropriate for the size
and type of operation;
``(B) not prohibit a producer under the program
from participating in, and receiving compensation from,
an environmental services market; and
``(C) to the extent practical, use performance-
based metrics and tools to--
``(i) assess outcomes of implementing
selected practices; and
``(ii) support the payment amounts that are
determined pursuant to subsection (d).
``(d) Payments to Producers.--
``(1) Payment amounts.--In determining amounts for payments
pursuant to subsection (c), the Secretary shall establish an
amount on a per acre and per animal unit basis each year that
reflects--
``(A) the cost of adopting, installing, completing,
managing, and improving a selected practice;
``(B) income foregone by the producer, if
applicable, to address--
``(i) increased economic risk;
``(ii) loss in revenue due to reductions in
yield; and
``(iii) economic losses during transition
to new practices;
``(C) compensation to ensure long-term continued
management, maintenance, and improvement of the
selected practice; and
``(D) the environmental benefit, any greenhouse gas
emissions reductions, and carbon sequestration derived
from implementing the selected practice.
``(2) Review of payment amount.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Rural Investment for
Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall, after a producer adopts
selected practices pursuant to the contract entered into under
subsection (b), review, and adjust if determined necessary,
payment amounts provided under subsection (c) with respect to
accounting for agricultural producer costs, associated
technology, and any other factors as determined by the
Secretary.
``(3) Special rate for certain farmers and ranchers.--In
the case of a producer that is a limited resource or socially
disadvantaged farmer or rancher, the Secretary shall increase
the amount that would otherwise be provided to a producer under
this subsection to 15 percent above the otherwise applicable
rate.
``(e) Duties of Secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Rural Investment for Producers and the Environment
(RIPE) Act, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practical--
``(1) implement a simple application and acceptance
process, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, to approve applications, subject to the availability
of funding, submitted by producers;
``(2) ensure 10 percent of funds are reserved for contracts
with producers who are limited resource or socially
disadvantaged farmers or ranchers through targeted outreach and
education;
``(3) establish a minimum contract payment for contracts
entered into with producers as an incentive to increase
accessibility to the program;
``(4) provide technical assistance to the applicable
producer, that has entered into a contract under this section,
for implementing and developing a comprehensive conservation
plan for any acres of land or animal units related to the
eligible watershed selected by the Secretary under subsection
(b)(2) that takes effect between the second year of the
applicable contract and the end date of such contract; and
``(5) authorize technical assistance to be provided by--
``(A) State or local government, including
conservation districts;
``(B) third-party providers, including agricultural
producer associations;
``(C) commercial entities, including farmer
cooperatives; and
``(D) nonprofit entities with technical expertise.
``(f) Reports.--Not later than December 30, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives summarizing the
accomplishments of the program, including the number of operations,
acres and animal units enrolled, the accrued environmental benefits,
the additional and net greenhouse gas benefits accrued, participant
demographics, and limitations to adoption, especially within the animal
feeding industry.
``(g) Funding.--Of the funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation,
the following funds shall be made available until expended:
``(1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, for the purpose of
establishing program regulations, policy, and administrative
procedures.
``(2) $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2029.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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