1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program Improvement Act of 2017 . 2. Establishment and purposes Section 1271 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , including grant agreements under section 1271C(d), after partnership agreements ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking contracts with producers and inserting program contracts with eligible producers ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking use covered programs and inserting carry out conservation activities ; (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) To further the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil, water (including sources of drinking water), wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale. ; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting eligible before producers ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking installation and inserting adoption, installation, ; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (4) To encourage the flexible and streamlined delivery of conservation assistance to eligible producers through partnership agreements. (5) To encourage alignment of partnership projects with other Federal, State, and local agencies and programs addressing similar natural resource or environmental concerns in a coordinated manner. (6) To engage eligible producers in conservation projects to achieve greater conservation outcomes and benefits for eligible producers than would otherwise be achieved. (7) To advance conservation and rural community development goals simultaneously. . 3. Definitions Section 1271A of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871a ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting a purpose, activity, or agreement under any of after means