II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2696 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 27, 2023 Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Marshall , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Luján , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Kelly , Ms. Sinema , and Mr. Heinrich ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to modify the water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice waiver authority.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the EQIP Water Conservation Act of 2023 . 2. Water conservation or irrigation efficiency practice waiver authority Section 1240B(h)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(h)(2) ) is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the following: (C) Waiver authority The Secretary shall waive the applicability of the limitations in sections 1001D(b) and 1240G for a payment made under a contract entered into under this paragraph if the payment does not exceed— (i) the product obtained by multiplying— (I) the maximum payment under section 1240G; and (II) the number of producers served by the contract through the entity that is party to the contract; less (ii) the sum of any other payments received under the program during the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 by— (I) producers served by the contract; and (II) the entity that is party to the contract, limited to the proportion of those payments that benefit the producers served by the contract. .