Rural Investment for Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6969 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6969 To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a program that provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices in selected eligible watersheds, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 7, 2026 Mr. Riley of New York (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to establish a program that provides payments to producers for carrying out conservation practices in selected eligible watersheds, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Investment for Producers and the Environment (RIPE) Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1240M the following: ``SEC. 1240N. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. ``(a) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Eligible watershed.--The term `eligible watershed' means a watershed with significant agricultural production, as determined by the Secretary, that is located in a State or a United States Territory. ``(2) Program.--The term `program' means the program established under subsection (b). ``(3) Selected practice.--The term `selected practice' means a practice that has one or more environmental benefit, including-- ``(A) improved water quality and quantity, soil health, air quality, climate resiliency, and biodiversity; ``(B) increased agricultural yields; ``(C) restored or enhanced wildlife habitat; and `