Bill > HR389

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to create a new Southern Border Initiative within the existing Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which is a federal program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for conservation practices. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide one-year payments to farmers and ranchers in a defined list of 31 Texas counties located at or near the southern border to implement conservation practices that address and repair damage to agricultural land and farming infrastructure. The damage likely refers to environmental degradation or disruption caused by border-related activities. The bill provides a comprehensive list of eligible counties, which span a significant portion of southern Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border, and establishes a one-year contract term for producers to receive these targeted payments. The goal appears to be supporting agricultural producers in maintaining and restoring their land in a region that experiences unique environmental and infrastructure challenges related to its border location.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/389/all-info