HR Bill 5951 Soil CARE Act of 2023

Purpose and Summary

Chamber: House

Introduced date: 2023-10-12

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2023 or the Soil CARE Act of 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for biological soil health management in Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs.

Under the bill, biological soil health management means land management methods used to increase and balance soil biology, such as microbial biomass and macrofauna, for the purpose of improving biological functions, including forming and stabilizing soil structure, cycling nutrients, controlling pests and disease, and degrading or detoxifying contaminants.

The training program must (1) provide education, resources, and technical support to USDA personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies, science, and practices for improving soil health; and (2) assist USDA personnel and third-party providers in supporting agricultural producers in understanding and implementing biological soil health management systems that regenerate farmland.

The training program must be available twice every two years in each NRCS region and include both an online curriculum and in-person training workshops.

The training program must be developed and delivered through cooperative agreements with entities with biological soil health management systems expertise and experience working with and training producers.

The bill includes minimum curriculum requirements for the training program, including specific units on soil health and diversified production systems.

USDA must review and update the training program curriculum every two years.

Recent Activity

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.

Alternative Names

Soil CARE Act of 2023

Soil CARE Act of 2023

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2023

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain a training program for Department of Agriculture personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies, science, and practices of biological soil health managagement systems on agricultural land, and for other purposes.

Associated Legislation

Soil CARE Act of 2023

Policy Areas

Agriculture and Food

Potential Impact

Sponsors and Supporters

Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

Cosponsors and Supporters

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]

Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

Committees and Subcommittees

Agriculture Committee

Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee

Variations and Revisions

AgricultureSoil CARE Act of 2023

Soil CARE Act of 2023

2/5/2024, 11:45 AM

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2023 or the Soil CARE Act of 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for biological soil health management in Natural Re...

Congress
118

Number
HR - 5951

Introduced on
2023-10-12

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

10/25/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2023 or the Soil CARE Act of 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for biological soil health management in Natural Re...

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain a training program for Department of Agriculture personnel and third-party providers on the rapidly evolving methodologies, science, and practices of biological soil health managagement systems on agricultural land, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Agriculture and Food

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/1/2024

Soil Conservation And Regeneration Education Act of 2023 or the Soil CARE Act of 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a training program for biological soil health management in Natural Re...


Latest Action1/18/2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.