S. 1107: Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025

The proposed "Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025," referred to as the MATCH Act, aims to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, specifically addressing procedures related to emergency watershed protection measures. Below are the key provisions of the bill:

Definition of Participants

The bill defines a "sponsor" as either:

• A State or local government
• An Indian Tribe, as recognized under a specific federal law

Emergency Watershed Protection Measures

The Act facilitates sponsors to take preagreement actions in response to natural disasters by doing the following:

• Identification of Programs: Within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, the Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with identifying emergency watershed protection measures whose costs can be covered by sponsors before entering into a formal agreement with the Secretary.
• Request Procedures: The Secretary will develop a procedure that allows sponsors to request additional emergency watershed protection measures for specific natural disasters. This would include set deadlines for these requests.

Cost Considerations

When entering into agreements between the Secretary and a sponsor, the following will apply:

• Any costs incurred by the sponsor for the identified emergency watershed protection measures will be considered part of the sponsor's contribution to the project costs.

Risk Management

It is noted that:

• Sponsors who undertake emergency watershed protection measures before reaching an agreement will assume the risk of any associated costs.

Authority of the Secretary

The Act clarifies that the Secretary is not obligated to enter into an agreement with a sponsor, even if costs were incurred for emergency watershed measures.

Conclusion of Provisions

Overall, the MATCH Act seeks to streamline the process for state, local governments, and tribes to take immediate actions for watershed protection after a natural disaster, allowing them some recognition of costs even before a formal agreement is in place with federal authorities.

Relevant Companies

None found