S 3140 — Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025

Summary

Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) watershed programs.The bill modifies the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to allow USDA to undertake certain measures that go beyond addressing the immediate impairment of the watershed. Specifically, USDA may undertake measures that increase the level of protection of the watershed if USDA determines that the restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health and the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments. (The EWP Program assists sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by natural disasters.) In addition, for Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) projects that serve a limited resource area, the bill increases the federal cost-share to up to 90% of the total rehabilitation costs. Currently, the federal cost-share for all projects is 65% of the total rehabilitation costs. (REHAB assists project sponsors in rehabilitating aging watershed dams that are reaching the end of their design life or no longer meet certain federal or state standards.)Further, the purpose of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is amended to include the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency. (Under the RCPP, USDA enters into agreements with partners to deliver conservation projects in specific geographical areas. Within an RCPP project, producers enter into contracts and agreements with USDA to carry out eligible conservation activities.)

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html November 06, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies existing laws related to emergency watershed protection and rehabilitation of structural measures to enhance flood protection and infrastructure resilience.

• 16 U.S.C. 2203

  (c) Level of Restoration.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary may undertake measures that increase the level of protection above that which would be necessary to address the immediate impairment of the watershed if the Secretary determines that such restoration is in the best interest of-- (1) the long-term health of the watershed; and (2) the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments.

  This addition allows the Secretary to enhance flood protection measures beyond immediate needs for long-term watershed health.

• 16 U.S.C. 1012(b)

  (2) Amount of assistance; limitations The amount of Federal funds that may be made available under this subsection to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project shall be equal to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation. However, the local organization shall be responsible for the costs of water, mineral, and other resource rights and all Federal, State, and local permits. → (2) Amount of assistance; limitations.-- (A) In general.--The amount of Federal funds that may be made available under this subsection to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project shall be equal to 65 percent of the total rehabilitation costs, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation. (B) Limited resource areas.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Secretary may contribute up to 90 percent of the total rehabilitation costs to a local organization for construction of a particular rehabilitation project that serves a limited resource area, as determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed 100 percent of actual construction costs incurred in the rehabilitation. (C) Costs of resource rights and permits.--The local organization shall be responsible for the costs of water, mineral, and other resource rights and all Federal, State, and local permits.

  This change introduces a higher federal funding limit for rehabilitation projects in limited resource areas and clarifies the funding structure for local organizations.

• 16 U.S.C. 3871(b)

  (2) To further the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil, water (including sources of drinking water and groundwater), wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale. → (2) To address natural resource concerns on eligible land on a regional or watershed scale, including-- (A) the conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable use of soil; (B) the conservation and protection of water, including sources of drinking water and groundwater; (C) the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought, and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency; and (D) the conservation of wildlife, agricultural land, and related natural resources.

  This amendment broadens the goals of regional conservation partnership programs to explicitly include flood and drought mitigation and improve flood resilience.

Action History

1. November 06, 2025

   Introduced in Senate

2. November 06, 2025

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors

• Pete Ricketts · Primary
• Kirsten E. Gillibrand · Cosponsor

Subjects