MATCH Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1107
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T13:35:07Z
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 begin certain watershed protection measures before formally agreeing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It ensures that costs incurred upfront by these sponsors can count toward their required financial contribution in a later agreement, reducing delays in protecting watersheds from damage like flooding or erosion.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Sponsor: Includes state or local governments and Indian Tribes (as defined under federal law for self-determination purposes).
- Secretary's Responsibilities (within 180 days of enactment):
- Create a list of approved emergency watershed protection measures (e.g., actions to prevent soil erosion or flooding) that sponsors can start before an agreement.
- Develop a state-level procedure, with deadlines, for sponsors to request additional measures for a specific natural disaster.
- Cost Consideration in Agreements: If an agreement is reached, the USDA Secretary must treat preagreement costs for listed measures as part of the sponsor's share of project expenses.
- Risk Assumption: Sponsors bear the full risk of any costs if no agreement is finalized.
- No Obligation to Agree: The USDA is not required to enter into an agreement with a sponsor.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, which previously authorized the USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection Program but did not allow or address costs incurred by sponsors before a formal agreement. The new subsection (c) introduces flexibility for preemptive actions, enabling faster implementation while tying reimbursable costs to predefined lists and procedures.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The USDA will need to update processes and lists promptly, potentially increasing administrative workload at the state level but streamlining overall disaster response.
- Citizens and Communities: Faster watershed repairs could reduce long-term damage from disasters, benefiting rural and agricultural areas prone to flooding or erosion by protecting water quality, farmland, and infrastructure.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic disaster response.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Sponsors: State and local governments, and Indian Tribes, who gain the ability to act quickly but assume financial risks.
- USDA and Federal Government: Responsible for approving measures, processing requests, and integrating preagreement costs into funding.
- Local Communities and Farmers: Indirectly benefit from quicker protection of watersheds, which supports agriculture, water supplies, and disaster recovery.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances the Emergency Watershed Protection Program without mandating agreements, preserving USDA discretion and avoiding potential liability for unapproved actions. It aligns with existing federal disaster aid frameworks by clarifying cost-sharing rules.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the bill operates within Congress's authority over agriculture and disaster relief under the Commerce Clause, respecting tribal sovereignty through inclusion of Indian Tribes.
- Political: Could encourage bipartisan support in disaster-prone regions by addressing delays in federal aid, potentially influencing future appropriations for USDA programs without expanding overall spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-03-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (3 pages)