118th Congress Agriculture and Food
H.R. 4327: Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting
- pasture-based management;
- alternative manure treatment and storage practices;
- a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or
- scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies.
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The federal cost share may not exceed 90%. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000.
USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts.
USDA must also reserve a majority of the program's funds for beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as farmers and ranchers that continue to transition towards enhanced methods of sequestering carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions.
The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program.
Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Chellie Pingree D-MEOriginal
- David Valadao R-CAOriginal
- Josh Harder D-CA
- Jimmy Panetta D-CA
- Brian Fitzpatrick R-PA
- Michael Lawler R-NY
- Jasmine Crockett D-TX
- Ann Kuster D-NH
- Raja Krishnamoorthi D-IL
- Kim Schrier D-WA
- John Duarte R-CA
- Gabriel (Gabe) Vasquez D-NM
- Suzanne Bonamici D-OR
- Marcus Molinaro R-NY
Who scored on this bill
- 1Jim Costa SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
History
- Introduced in the House by Jim Costa.
Show the full action history (4 actions)
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.