H.R. 6969

[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>