To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes.

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8843 To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECEMBER 3, 2020 Mr. PETERSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the con- servation reserve program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZED MAXIMUM ENROLL- 3 MENT IN CONSERVATION RESERVE. 4 (a) GENERAL ENROLLMENT INCREASE.—Section 5 1231(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 6 3831(d)(1)(E)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) 7 through (E) and inserting the following: 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:57 Dec 14, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8843.IH H8843 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8843 IH ‘‘(C) fiscal year 2021, to the maximum ex- 1 tent practicable, not fewer than 28,000,000 2 acres; 3 ‘‘(D) fiscal year 2022, to the maximum ex- 4 tent practicable, not fewer than 32,000,000 5 acres; 6 ‘‘(E) fiscal year 2023, to the maximum ex- 7 tent practicable, not fewer than 37,000,000 8 acres; 9 ‘‘(F) fiscal year 2024, to the maximum ex- 10 tent practicable, not fewer than 43,000,000 11 acres; and 12 ‘‘(G) fiscal year 2025, to the maximum ex- 13 tent practicable, not fewer than 50,000,000 14 acres.’’. 15 (b) LIMITATION.—The amendment made by sub- 16 section (a) shall have no effect on the number of acres 17 enrolled and maintained in the conservation reserve pro- 18 gram using the continuous enrollment procedure under 19 section 1231(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 20 U.S.C. 3831(d)(6)). 21 (c) PRIORITY.—In holding a signup for general en- 22 rollment contracts for 25,000,000 acres of the total acres 23 authorized to be enrolled in the conservation reserve pro- 24 gram under subparagraphs (C) through (G) of section 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:57 Dec 14, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8843.IH H8843 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8843 IH 1231(d)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 1 3831(d)(1)), the Secretary shall give priority to applica- 2 tions for the enrollment of land that would promote soil 3 health and carbon sequestration, including applications for 4 the enrollment of land on which deep-rooted perennials 5 will be planted. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:57 Dec 14, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8843.IH H8843 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS