Clean Water Current

Mike Conaway (R-TX), Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, announced last week that he is working to get the Farm Bill passed through Committee and subsequently the House of Representatives by the end of March. The Senate Agriculture Committee is also currently working on their version of the bill. The Farm Bill comes up for reauthorization every five years, and the current law is set to expire on September 30. 

NACWA has been actively engaging over the past several months with members of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to ensure inclusion of NACWA’s priorities under the “Conservation Title” of the Farm Bill.  NACWA’s priorities focus on increasing opportunities for clean water agencies to participate in conservation programs—such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)—that increases the use of watershed-based and cooperative nutrient management approaches, as well as supporting the use of agricultural technology and precision conservation to help address water quality impairments.

NACWA’s work has been guided by a Farm Bill working group, which is comprised of Association public agency members with a strong interest in this Bill and/or conservation programs. NACWA will continue to work with Congress to advocate for these priorities to be addresses as the Committee bills are drafted and considered.  For more information on NACWA’s Farm Bill efforts, please contact Kristina Surfus, NACWA’s Legislative Director.