Bill > S228

This bill, called the "Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act," aims to support acequia systems, which are traditional community-based water distribution networks primarily found in New Mexico with roots in Spanish and Indigenous irrigation methods. The bill introduces several key provisions to protect and support these agricultural communities: first, it ensures that producers who rely on acequia systems can access drought protection and disaster assistance through the Department of Agriculture's noninsured crop disaster assistance program, allowing them to receive financial support for all losses suffered during drought conditions. Second, the bill eliminates the requirement for special use permits for routine maintenance and minor improvements of acequia systems on federal lands, which will make it easier for community members to maintain their water infrastructure. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Agriculture submit a comprehensive report within two years detailing the number of agricultural producers using acequia systems, the amount of assistance provided, their access to federal agricultural programs, and a summary of existing support initiatives. The legislation recognizes acequias as crucial for local agriculture, water governance, and environmental stewardship, particularly in arid regions where water resources are increasingly scarce.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/228/all-info