MATCH Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5781
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T13:25:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The MATCH Act of 2025 aims to speed up emergency responses to natural disasters by allowing state, local governments, and Indian Tribes (referred to as "sponsors") to take initial actions for watershed protection before formal agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to recognize these upfront costs as part of the sponsors' required contributions, reducing delays in cleanup and restoration after events like floods or wildfires.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Sponsor: Includes state or local governments and Indian Tribes (as defined under federal law for self-determination and education assistance).
- Preagreement Measures: Within 180 days of enactment, the USDA Secretary must:
- Create a list of allowable emergency watershed protection actions (e.g., initial stabilization or debris removal) that sponsors can fund before an agreement.
- Establish a state-level procedure, with deadlines, for sponsors to request approval for additional preagreement measures specific to a disaster.
- Cost Recognition: When a formal agreement is reached, the Secretary must count eligible preagreement costs toward the sponsor's share of project expenses.
- Risk Assumption: Sponsors bear the full financial risk if they act before an agreement; the USDA is not obligated to reimburse or approve retroactively.
- No Mandatory Agreements: The law does not force the Secretary to enter into any agreement with a sponsor.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new subsection (c) to Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203), which previously focused on post-agreement funding for emergency watershed protection.
- Introduces flexibility for preagreement actions, shifting from a strict requirement that all work occur only after USDA approval to allowing proactive local efforts with potential cost credits.
- This change addresses delays in the existing program, where sponsors had to wait for federal agreements before starting urgent measures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USDA will need to develop lists and procedures quickly, potentially increasing administrative workload at the state level but streamlining overall disaster response coordination.
- Citizens: Faster initiation of watershed protection could reduce environmental damage, flooding risks, and recovery time for communities hit by disasters, benefiting rural and agricultural areas.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic disaster management.
- Overall, it may lower long-term costs for federal taxpayers by enabling efficient local action while encouraging sponsors to invest upfront in critical protections.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- USDA (Secretary of Agriculture): Responsible for implementing new processes and approving cost credits.
- Sponsors: State and local governments, plus Indian Tribes, who gain tools for quicker disaster response but must manage financial risks.
- Affected Communities: Farmers, landowners, and residents in disaster-prone watersheds, who may see improved protection and recovery.
- Congressional Committees: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture for oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances the Emergency Watershed Protection Program by clarifying cost reimbursement rules, potentially reducing litigation over delayed responses; maintains federal discretion to avoid overcommitting resources.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate agriculture and disaster aid; respects tribal sovereignty by including Indian Tribes as eligible sponsors.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Neguse, Maloy, and Garamendi) signals broad support for disaster resilience; could set a precedent for similar preemptive funding in other federal aid programs, though it emphasizes sponsor risk to limit federal liability.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-02: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2025-10-17: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-10-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-17 — PDF (3 pages)