Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge Introduces Collaborative Water and Soil Enhancement Act

Press Release

Today, Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) introduced the Collaborative Water and Soil Enhancement Act of 2018 to address topsoil loss and protect drinking water from agricultural runoff. The bill will help farmers adopt soil health and water quality management practices by providing additional flexibility to support the delivery of conservation efforts.

"Sustaining the health of our farms, diverse ecosystems, and communities depends on the availability of sound natural resources," said Congresswoman Fudge. "The Collaborative Water and Soil Enhancement Act of 2018 leverages new partners and prioritizes conservation efforts in places like the Great Lakes to ensure our soils remain healthy, and a clean and abundant supply of water is there for generations to come."

"The next farm bill is a huge opportunity for the Department of Agriculture and the private sector to work together to help more farmers adopt nutrient management and soil health practices," said Lynn Scarlett, Co-Chief External Affairs Officer at The Nature Conservancy. "We thank Rep. Fudge for introducing legislation that could lead to cleaner water and air, less erosion and nutrient loss, and healthier, more productive soils on millions of acres across the U.S."

"The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and its 51,000 members applaud Representative Fudge for the introduction of The Collaborative Water and Soil Enhancement Act of 2018. AWWA believes this bill is an important step to protecting our communities' sources of drinking water. Working in a collaborative fashion with water utilities and farmers is the right approach and we commend Rep. Fudge for introducing this bill," said CEO David LaFrance. "The bill's emphasis on source water protection, targeting of priority areas and increased incentives for producers will improve the quality and quantity of our communities' drinking water."

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