S. 2215

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · July 9, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Ernst · Committee: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Table of contents

• S. 2215
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Emergency watershed program floodplain easement restoration and management

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Restoring America’s Floodplains Act.

SEC. 2. Emergency watershed program floodplain easement restoration and management

• Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 () is amended— 16 U.S.C. 2203
  • in subsection (a)—
    • by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through and inserting the following:
      • (a) Authorizations
        • (1) In general
          • The Secretary
      • (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).
    • by adding at the end the following:
  • in subsection (b), by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through the 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