II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1361 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 27, 2023 Ms. Ernst (for herself and Mr. Bennet ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for floodplain easement restoration and management, and for other purposes.

1. Emergency watershed program floodplain easement restoration and management Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 2203 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through The Secretary and inserting the following: (a) Authorizations (1) In general The Secretary ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (2) Easement restoration The Secretary may provide financial and technical assistance for restoring adapted vegetative cover and the hydrologic functions and values of wetlands on floodplain easements acquired under paragraph (1). (3) Easement management The Secretary shall have sole discretion for entering into compatible-use agreements with landowners and agreements with government agencies or nongovernmental organizations to address maintenance and management of the vegetative cover and wetlands restoration measures on floodplain easements acquired under paragraph (1). ; and (2) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through the The Secretary in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (b) Modification and termination of floodplain easements (1) In general The Secretary .