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HR 7022 96th Congress House

National Soil Conservation Act of 1980

Official title: A bill to authorize a national soil conservation program utilizing incentives to land owners to install and maintain conservation measures meeting certain stan… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to authorize a national soil conservation program utilizing incentives to land owners to install and maintain conservation measures meeting certain standards and to establish a pilot program to test the purchase of conservation benefits, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 2, 1980 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Agriculture and Rural AffairsConservation of natural resourcesEnvironmental ProtectionFarms
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Soil conservationWater and Water Resources DevelopmentWater conservationWater supply
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This bill died when the 96th Congress ended
It never became law before the 96th Congress (1979–1980) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 2, 1980
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Apr 2, 1980
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 2, 1980

Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

National Soil Conservation Act of 1980 - Authorizes and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to formulate and implement a program for the conservation of soil, water, and related resources by providing technical and financial assistance to owners and operators of non-Federal agricultural land. Limits assistance to those lands which are an integral part of a private farm operating unit and are under the control of the private landowners or operators. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into conservation agreements and contracts with such owners and operators. Establishes minimum conservation performance standards in such agreements. Requires landowners and operators to agree to forfeit all rights to any benefit under such contracts if such owner or operator fails to certify to the Secretary his or her compliance with such minimum standards.

Directs the Secretary to determine the maximum amount of cost-share assistance that may be provided to any single recipient.

Permits the Secretary to terminate or modify any contract by mutual agreement if to do so would be in the public interest.

Directs the Secretary to formulate and implement a pilot program to test and demonstrate the effectiveness of achieving conservation of such resources through contracts where the Secretary would pay such owners and operators for amounts of resources saved. Sets forth the requirements for such program including conservation plans and agreements which require resource evaluations and estimates and the use of conservation measures and management techniques.

Directs the Secretary to determine the amount of payments to be made based upon an annual report by a qualified conservationist. Requires such program to operate for five years. Limits the amount of payments which may be made to any one landowner or operator. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on the progress of such pilot program. Directs the Secretary to protect participants from disqualification or penalty under other agricultural programs.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7022: National Soil Conservation Act of 1980. 96th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-7022/
MLA
"H.R. 7022: National Soil Conservation Act of 1980." 96th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-7022/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7022, 96th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-7022/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7022: National Soil Conservation Act of 1980](https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HR-7022/)
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