A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Restoring America's Floodplains Act," seeks to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978. It aims to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to handle floodplain easement restoration and management. The legislation allows for the restoration of vegetative cover and hydrological functions on acquired land. It also provides authority for the Secretary to monitor and maintain these restoration measures. Furthermore, the bill establishes rules for contracts, agreements, and compatible land uses.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill authorizes the Secretary to restore and maintain vegetative cover and hydrological functions to protect watersheds.
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill authorizes various agricultural uses such as periodic haying or grazing on easement lands.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill provides authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to manage and restore floodplain easements.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Land Restoration and Protection: The Secretary is authorized to restore and maintain vegetative cover and hydrological functions on land with floodplain easements (Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(a)(2)). This could help improve the long-term health and protection of watersheds (Section 2(b)).
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Economic Opportunities for Landowners: Landowners may be authorized to engage in compatible economic uses such as hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, or periodic haying or grazing (Section 2(a)(3)(4)(B)).
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Collaborative Agreements: The Secretary can enter into contracts with landowners and agreements with States, nongovernmental organizations, and Indian Tribes (Section 2(a)(3)(A) and Section 2(a)(3)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill authorizes various agricultural uses such as periodic haying or grazing on easement lands. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill permits compatible economic uses such as timber harvest, haying, or grazing on easement lands. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports economic activities like timber and grazing that are common in rural areas. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill explicitly allows for hunting and fishing as compatible economic uses of the land. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with Indian Tribes regarding floodplain management.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill authorizes the Secretary to restore and maintain vegetative cover and hydrological functions to protect watersheds. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill provides authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to manage and restore floodplain easements. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill allows landowners to engage in compatible economic uses like managed timber harvest, haying, or grazing.
- 3/20/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 1/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico