DALCI Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7330
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T08:07:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act (H.R. 7330), also known as the DALCI Act, aims to reestablish a conservation program in the Driftless Area—a region in the Midwestern United States spanning parts of Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The program's goal is to reduce soil erosion and restore cold-water streams while promoting climate-smart farming practices that improve soil health, sequester carbon (store it in soil or plants to combat climate change), and support ecological restoration.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Initiative: The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture must create the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative, focusing on sustainable land management to address erosion, water quality, flooding, and habitat loss.
- Assistance for Producers: The Secretary will provide support to farmers and landowners to implement practices such as:
- Maintaining year-round ground cover on farmland to rebuild soil, improve water retention, reduce erosion, and mitigate climate effects.
- Managing woodlands to boost biodiversity, habitat, and carbon storage.
- Restoring prairies, grasslands, oak savannas, and barrens to expand wildlife habitats and sequester carbon.
- Restoring cold-water streams to prevent bank erosion, reduce flooding risks, and enhance trout habitats.
- Support for Partnerships: The Secretary will aid local grassroots groups in educating landowners on climate-smart agriculture (farming methods that adapt to climate change), soil health, and holistic grazing (a method of managing livestock to promote land regeneration).
- Types of Assistance: This can include financial aid, technical guidance (expert advice on implementation), and payments for conservation easements (voluntary agreements where landowners give up development rights in exchange for compensation, often to protect land permanently).
- Funding: Allocates $5 million annually from existing funds under the relevant agricultural conservation programs for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 (a major U.S. law governing farm and conservation programs) by adding a new section (1240H-1) to Subchapter A of Chapter 4, Subtitle D, Title XII. It reestablishes the Driftless Area initiative, which may have previously existed but lapsed or been discontinued, integrating it into the broader framework of conservation assistance programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. No other major alterations to the Act are specified.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will administer the program, potentially increasing workload for its Natural Resources Conservation Service in providing technical and financial support, while drawing from existing budgets without new appropriations.
- On Citizens: Farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the Driftless Area could benefit from funding and education to adopt sustainable practices, leading to improved farm resilience against climate change, better water quality, and reduced flood risks for local communities.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the initiative is domestically focused on U.S. agriculture and conservation.
- Broader Environmental Effects: Could enhance regional ecosystems by restoring habitats and sequestering carbon, contributing to national goals for climate mitigation and biodiversity without mandating participation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Producers and Landowners: Farmers, ranchers, and woodland managers in the Driftless Area who can access assistance for conservation practices.
- Grassroots Partnerships: Local organizations and community groups involved in education and outreach on sustainable agriculture.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Responsible for implementing, funding, and overseeing the initiative.
- Local Communities and Environment: Residents benefiting from improved water quality, reduced erosion, and enhanced wildlife habitats; indirectly, trout anglers and ecotourism operators.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on established federal conservation authority under the Food Security Act, using voluntary incentives rather than regulations, which minimizes legal challenges related to property rights. Easements create binding but consensual land protections.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and promote general welfare through agricultural policy; no apparent conflicts with property rights under the Fifth Amendment, as participation is optional.
- Political: Represents a targeted, region-specific effort to support rural conservation and climate adaptation, potentially appealing across party lines by linking farming sustainability with environmental benefits. The bill's introduction by bipartisan representatives (from Iowa) underscores its focus on Midwestern agricultural interests without broader national mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- 2026-02-03: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative Act — issued 2026-02-03 — PDF (3 pages)