PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.5487 / 115th Congress

Regional Conservation Partnership Program Improvement Act of 2018

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 12, 2018

Regional Conservation Partnership Program Improvement Act of 2018

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make several modifications to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

(The RCPP currently operates through several USDA conservation programs to provide funding for partners to join in efforts with producers to increase the restoration and sustainable use of soil, water, wildlife, and related natural resources on regional or watershed scales.)

Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.

Read full official summaryShow less

The bill modifies the program to:

require the RCPP to be operated as a separate program rather than through several existing USDA conservation programs,

expand the purposes of the program,

expand the authority of project partners to define the scope of the activities that will help achieve conservation benefits,

require USDA to set timelines for entering into contracts and providing funding,

require USDA to establish program coordinators in each state,

modify the requirements for allocating funding for the program,

modify the application process and requirements for program contracts,

authorize USDA to award grants to partners to directly operate conservation projects,

authorize USDA to advance funding to partners for project development and outreach activities, and

establish reporting requirements for partners regarding the progress made toward addressing natural resource concerns and related outcomes of the projects.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16] · D–CA

Committees

  • Agriculture Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

    A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

    1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

    2. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

    3. Introduced in House

    4. Introduced in House

    Bill text & related measures

    Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

    Related bills identified by Congress.gov

    Source last updated: Jan 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

    Explore the bill from different angles

    Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

    Neutral evidence review

    Objective

    Analyze H.R.5487 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

    View full prompt & sources
    Fairness and public impact

    Progressive lens

    Examine H.R.5487 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

    View full prompt & sources
    Institutions and government scope

    Conservative lens

    Examine H.R.5487 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

    View full prompt & sources
    Individual rights and government power

    Liberty lens

    Examine H.R.5487 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

    View full prompt & sources