S. 3140 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Nov 6, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens USDA watershed protection programs
This bill changes how the U.S. Department of Agriculture manages programs that help protect land and water from flood damage. It lets the Emergency Watershed Protection Program take broader steps to prevent future flooding, not just fix immediate damage. It increases federal funding for fixing old watershed dams in lower-income areas from 65% to 90% of the costs. It also expands a partnership program to focus more on preventing flooding and improving how communities can handle floods and droughts.
How it affects you
Farmers, ranchers, and landowners who work with USDA on conservation projects may see more resources available for protecting their land from flooding. Communities in lower-income areas that rely on aging dams could see more federal help paying to repair or update them. The changes don't directly affect most people's daily lives, but they aim to reduce flood damage and make water systems more resilient across agricultural regions.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Nov 6, 2025)
Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025
This bill expands Department of Agriculture (USDA) watershed programs.
The bill modifies the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program to allow USDA to undertake certain measures that go beyond addressing the immediate impairment of the watershed. Specifically, USDA may undertake measures that increase the level of protection of the watershed if USDA determines that the restoration is in the best interest of the long-term health and the protection of the watershed from repetitive impairments. (The EWP Program assists sponsors, landowners, and operators in implementing emergency recovery measures for runoff retardation and erosion prevention to relieve imminent hazards to life and property created by natural disasters.)
In addition, for Watershed Rehabilitation Program (REHAB) projects that serve a limited resource area, the bill increases the federal cost-share to up to 90% of the total rehabilitation costs. Currently, the federal cost-share for all projects is 65% of the total rehabilitation costs. (REHAB assists project sponsors in rehabilitating aging watershed dams that are reaching the end of their design life or no longer meet certain federal or state standards.)
Further, the purpose of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is amended to include the prevention and mitigation of the effects of flooding and drought and the improvement or expansion of flood resiliency. (Under the RCPP, USDA enters into agreements with partners to deliver conservation projects in specific geographical areas. Within an RCPP project, producers enter into contracts and agreements with USDA to carry out eligible conservation activities.)
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 3140
A BILL
Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) · Introduced Nov 6, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Nov 6, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”