Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif, re-introduced the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act on Friday to increase the amount of agricultural land eligible for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.
LaMalfa’s office said in a release that the bill would motivate farmers to seasonally reflood their land for wildlife reliant on wetlands along the Pacific Flyway. He also condemned “poor water policies” and promised that the bill would benefit agriculture and wildlife in both wet and dry years.
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Thompson said the legislation would help improve soil health and support the ecosystem, allowing USDA to enroll more land in the conservation program.
Kellis Moss, managing director of federal affairs at Ducks Unlimited, and John Devney, chief policy officer at Delta Waterfowl, shared their support in the release and reiterated the need to work with private landowners as farm bill resources remain up in the air.
The bill was previously introduced last year but died in committee shortly thereafter.
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