Bill > HR4133

This bill proposes significant reforms to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a federal agricultural conservation program, by modifying payment structures and reporting requirements. Specifically, the bill changes the cost-sharing percentages for various agricultural infrastructure and conservation practices, reducing the maximum federal contribution from 75% to 40% for certain types of projects like irrigation pipelines, dams, waste facilities, and land development efforts, while maintaining 100% compensation for income lost by producers. The bill also reduces the overall payment limitation for participants from $450,000 to $150,000, potentially limiting the scale of projects that can receive federal support. Additionally, the legislation mandates an annual report to Congress detailing EQIP funding allocations, requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a comprehensive breakdown of program expenditures by practice category, fiscal year, state, and producer operation size. These changes aim to create more transparency in the program and potentially redirect funds to smaller agricultural operations or more targeted conservation efforts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4133/all-info