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<dc:title>117 S1023 IS: Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. Senate</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2023-03-29</dc:date>
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<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">II</distribution-code><congress>118th CONGRESS</congress><session>1st Session</session><legis-num>S. 1023</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES</current-chamber><action><action-date date="20230329">March 29, 2023</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="S397">Mr. Braun</sponsor> (for himself, <cosponsor name-id="S412">Mr. Tuberville</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S389">Mr. Kennedy</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S381">Mr. Rounds</cosponsor>, <cosponsor name-id="S423">Mr. Ricketts</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="S404">Mr. Scott of Florida</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the <committee-name committee-id="SSAF00">Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry</committee-name></action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title>To establish an advisory committee to inform Congress of the impact of Waters of the United States regulations on United States agriculture, and for other purposes.</official-title></form><legis-body><section id="S1" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023</short-title></quote>.</text></section><section id="id67E6C68D5D7E4F5E822E45D6A521C3E3"><enum>2.</enum><header>Advisory committee for Waters of the United States regulations</header><subsection id="idBC93ED7E1860423889C4EA096C3EBCA5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id7D2FDE7C5B3144A38D0DDB5A07A5CB88"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Advisory committee</header><text>The term <term>advisory committee</term> means the advisory committee established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idda50846a86b54422aff449af950eb819"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered commodity</header><text>The term <term>covered commodity</term> has the meaning given the term in section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/9011">7 U.S.C. 9011</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb94042595b3428da0b56cebecddc9ac"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Livestock</header><text>The term <term>livestock</term> has the meaning given the term in section 2(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/182">7 U.S.C. 182(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41c6eac3641848f0bec63346c208668f"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Poultry</header><text>The term <term>poultry</term> has the meaning given the term in section 2(a)(6) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/182">7 U.S.C. 182(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b0bb651525b42fe9430dac36939ec24"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id289c25c8ef914933a15421036885916b"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Specialty crop</header><text>The term <term>specialty crop</term> has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1621">7 U.S.C. 1621</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/465">Public Law 108–465</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec7c0a7d47e54e49b4d698c52ac3fab3"><enum>(7)</enum><header>WOTUS regulations</header><text>The term <term>WOTUS regulations</term> means any Federal regulations that define the term <quote>waters of the United States</quote> for purposes of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/1251">33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1883128FCA6B42F29B4933885E15BFDB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, shall establish an advisory committee broadly representative of the United States farming and ranching sectors to study and develop recommendations to address the impact of WOTUS regulations on United States agriculture and environmental protection.</text></subsection><subsection id="id09615D7958484875BB1848521F7FE3C6" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Membership</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd7eedd60dfc64c7bb25efe2deff31a2a"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Composition</header><text>The advisory committee shall be composed of 32 members, all of whom are farmers or ranchers, to be appointed as follows:</text><subparagraph id="idD8C3486E2D6C43E8AD36A00B8FA81EAC" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Farmer association-nominated appointees</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1c64d5b403314438b33370988e5001d2"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">16 members shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates nominated under clause (ii).</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08090b2c4c0545b5ab6e2b5af465a192"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Nominations</header><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51278fcfdc24428aa663f50e72092205"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall select 16 entities described in subclause (II), each of which shall nominate 1 candidate for membership in the advisory committee. </text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7619a461da6545bca4a0045b2c6fa51d"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Nominating entities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The entities referred to in subclause (I) are the following:</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2c3b7b44b90445ca8de432ad6b7bbe11"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 national farmer trade associations representing farmers and ranchers from all 50 States and the internal policy of which is developed using a member-driven process.</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49c4c076d75c43fc9760337b89a003d8"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>4 national covered commodity trade associations.</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe31062d988544798924a7f1f4e7d322"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>3 national specialty crop trade associations.</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id097f01bca0d349e1b90709b629fde95c"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>3 national livestock trade associations.</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id66b751f8405a4dc6a96a1203f7071dca"><enum>(ee)</enum><text>3 national poultry trade associations.</text></item><item id="idd4ed85e879db4e9c975f1aa76c7c9bd4"><enum>(ff)</enum><text>1 national trade association representing State departments of agriculture.</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id66EBF5D2C19D47829B982CBFD24B11C5" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Senate-nominated appointees</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa72e85e306e430b88235c039f2ef29b"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>8 members shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates nominated under clause (ii).</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0060ee50cae04b7981776d3322f9a0b8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Nominations</header><text>The Senate shall nominate 8 regionally diverse candidates for membership in the advisory committee, of whom—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id841d6927551a40b6b9423ea5238c7ad1"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">4 shall be nominated by the majority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b21da4711264d63940d05086a9e95a6"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">4 shall be nominated by the minority leader of the Senate, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDA9FBDA33B274928AC7C2308B7CB28E4" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><header>House of Representatives-nominated appointees</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcab63e843c8348c4a931e32dd16cd6e9"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">8 members shall be appointed by the Secretary from a list of candidates nominated under clause (ii).</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idde8fcd93374d42969140b1f074bbd78c"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Nominations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The House of Representatives shall nominate 8 regionally diverse candidates for membership in the advisory committee, of whom—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id289594d6cedb4b378959b52c27b4c64e"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">4 shall be nominated by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84d04a60242a4befb82204ea191e9b32"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">4 shall be nominated by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd427318caba24880b75273a5effe3069"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Initial appointments to the advisory committee under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56a41ecd92ac4c839acf18bb86d91470"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Period of appointment; Vacancies</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idba2e3524b62a49baa45899420bd58a7f"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>A member of the advisory committee shall be appointed for the life of the advisory committee.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida06eac8899cd4fac8187b64e398379ac"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any vacancy in the advisory committee—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb550472388d045d7a6d60cc093fb5f43"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not affect the powers or duties of the advisory committee; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6f21d03a202e4da9aa54626c7a62288c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE77E91B9FB8C44068CCA39FF7A9C18EF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Chairperson and Vice Chairperson</header><text>The advisory committee shall select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the advisory committee.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf065bd0fc197413db799264367b93df0"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Meetings</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b3abe2ce792418d9b33a850d67ce162"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Initial meeting</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the advisory committee have been appointed, the advisory committee shall hold the first meeting of the advisory committee.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8bffecf504584749aea77deacd90c6c1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Frequency</header><text>The advisory committee shall meet not less than 4 times per year.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbaa60d56830844f496da2d3b5564cba4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>A majority of the members of the advisory committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc55a433c93545358fce8eaf843b2148"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties</header><paragraph id="id73BD03EC65514DBBA1B1F04F3F2D7D1B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study and recommendations required</header><subparagraph id="idBE561A36EB2E427E8D1B47E238E2C800"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The advisory committee shall conduct a thorough study and develop recommendations to address the impact of WOTUS regulations on United States agriculture.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5A8CC3E58686463EBDFAB13C4F8B135C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Matters studied</header><text>The advisory committee shall study and develop recommendations to address—</text><clause id="idDC5F6F9C553F4DD7B3CD7EDA05E51030"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the impact of the prior-converted farmland exemption on agricultural operations;</text></clause><clause id="id46B3C1026CA8430E8288908475DDCF08"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>common agricultural practices that are not exempted from WOTUS regulations under the activity-based permitting exemptions of the Environmental Protection Agency; </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4b1593750e854324a60ce0f9dc112408"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">instances in which the Corps of Engineers came to conflicting rulings for the same or similarly situated tracts of land;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb25574622b64269bc912eada01e24af"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the impact of WOTUS regulations on secure food supply chains and rural infrastructure;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5afde0d6bc9642c8b90fd247586a1211"><enum>(v)</enum><text>how WOTUS regulations can be structured to provide a clear, objective <quote>eyesight</quote> test for jurisdictional waters of the United States; and</text></clause><clause id="id82126347FF7447908793BF0712549D0A" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>how safe harbor conditions can be developed for farmers who observe common, voluntary conservation practices on their farms.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8F25E152142A48CDB3CDD256CBF63C64"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date on which all members of the advisory committee have been appointed, the advisory committee shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf34c5c360fba45fd84722b71b0eb98ad"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit a report with detailed findings and recommendations addressing the matters described in paragraph (1)(B) to—</text><clause id="idAC95D9EEF2234751BED6A7F12C4FA686"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb4db81873af4cd08e36a44a05d94f10"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="idB64F241593AF46E69F6E14A0230D1CBA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;</text></clause><clause id="idB7EC01A7C84A4CBEBCE397CE1BA7889E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;</text></clause><clause id="id8CEA82ABF51B4FA99C4BB0DBCB76A5B5"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd5c3ce0edb194a00996dfb75ed5e97f4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf73113d308a043a89480574021ee031b"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ff153210fd147f4aae0113956543ddb"><enum>(viii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7fcbba3d4d7f4337ad9301e4ea1f8776"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>the White House Chief of Staff;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9bbdac417a8b4c76aefded11216c946a"><enum>(x)</enum><text>the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc561ceeb409043318f032ccf9d90987a"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id43CB92DFF7B54FB48331FB3BB33026E9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>publish in the Federal Register the report under subparagraph (A); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b6ef90a57a34c9681a60b25bff869d3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>present the findings and recommendations of the advisory committee in a meeting to—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida39b269abd3b4e0397c5b4f773e06084"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3f461ac9d20d408c922307d93e24c219"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida44bd6900e954b85a4f121f81224c0e5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Science Advisory Board of the Environmental Protection Agency.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id993B935F12674A43BBD16E4A447871A2" commented="no"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Powers</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idee3fc3f120bb4c43b581e0eb9dd0c7af"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Hearings</header><text>The advisory committee may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the advisory committee considers advisable to carry out this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb4420ca19c5b421dbcb1f2921e1e56f0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Information from Federal agencies</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb6ce0200ef6541f38d86dec3aa423114"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The advisory committee may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the advisory committee considers necessary to carry out this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19382b08ad834c78a39f4e39096e4013"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Furnishing information</header><text>On request of the chairperson of the advisory committee, the head of a department or agency shall furnish any requested information to the advisory committee.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd46be36490674a488caf90ace2f1ce01"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Postal services</header><text>The advisory committee may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1baee2da32794fb6839fd65ce5d46401"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Gifts</header><text>The advisory committee may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe207fa019284113a3ad9eaa53c6992a"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Procurement of temporary and intermittent services</header><text>The chairperson of the advisory committee may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd56a99fac0f04d4fb0b191f20ed8e4e3"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Compensation</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb751caede14f4427925c24bb2834c310"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal members</header><text>A member of the advisory committee who is an officer or employee of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for service as an officer or employee of the United States, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id012abb50b8354d3caf7d54eca1ee3cd5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Travel expenses</header><text>A member of the advisory committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, while away from their home or regular places of business in the performance of services for the advisory committee.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1d635b3d1c54e0e83aa25412fa60992"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The advisory committee shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the advisory committee completes the reporting requirements under subsection (e)(2).</text></subsection><subsection id="idF543577E84BB468EAE9E2DD4FBB3A837" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph id="id45bfb92905a5430990144a9020809b7b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Unobligated funding available</header><text>Of the unobligated amounts appropriated by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/2">Public Law 117–2</external-xref>; 135 Stat. 4), such sums as are necessary shall be made available to carry out this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0c97634076834d66b1375976bb52f655"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>In the event that the funds described in paragraph (1) may not be made available to carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection></section></legis-body></bill>