Restoring America’s Floodplains Act
Sponsored By: Representative Messmer
Introduced
Summary
Give USDA new authority to restore and manage floodplain easements. The bill would let the Secretary restore vegetation and hydrology, monitor and maintain easement lands, enter contracts and agreements with owners and partners, and permit limited compatible uses that support long-term floodplain protection.
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- Families and communities near rivers: Would benefit from stronger watershed restoration aimed at reducing repetitive flood damage and improving ecosystem health.
- Landowners: Could sign contracts for restoration and maintenance and be allowed compatible economic uses such as hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, and periodic haying or grazing when those uses protect floodplain functions.
- States, Indian Tribes, and nongovernmental organizations: Could enter formal agreements to help carry out restoration and upkeep.
- Watershed protection: The bill would allow the Secretary to pursue restorations beyond immediate fixes when doing so serves the long-term health and resilience of the watershed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Floodplain easement program for landowners
If enacted, the government would be able to buy easements on floodplain land and restore and manage those lands. You would be able to sell an easement on your floodplain property and enter into a contract with the Secretary. The Secretary would be able to restore vegetation, improve hydrological functions, monitor and maintain easement lands, and make agreements with States, Indian Tribes, or nongovernmental organizations. The Secretary would be able to allow compatible uses—such as hunting, fishing, managed timber harvest, water management, or periodic haying or grazing—only if those uses protect the floodplain functions and values the easement was acquired to protect. The Secretary would also be able to carry out stronger restoration measures beyond fixing an immediate problem when those measures are in the watershed's long-term interest. The program would start upon enactment.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Messmer
IN • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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