Proposed Federal Drought Relief and Water-Sharing Program

The Frame

What this does

If enacted, this amendment would authorize $5 million annually from 2028 through 2034 for projects that help agricultural entities and communities share water resources and adopt water-efficient technologies.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Agricultural entities

They are eligible to receive technical and financial assistance for water-saving projects.

Tribal entities

They are eligible for assistance and may receive a waiver for cost-sharing requirements.

Community water providers

They may participate in voluntary partnerships to receive assistance for water-sharing projects.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Senate Amendment 6047 proposes a new federal program to provide technical and financial assistance for innovative, voluntary water-saving projects in agriculture. The program aims to help farmers and communities adapt to drought while maintaining agricultural production and rural employment.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of projects qualify for this funding?

Projects must be voluntary, innovative (new or not well-established), and designed to reduce agricultural water consumption while keeping land in production and supporting rural employment.

Can individual farmers apply for this assistance?

Generally, applicants must form a partnership between an agricultural entity and another party, such as a water provider, industrial entity, or nonprofit. However, the Secretary may award funds to individual States, Tribes, or agricultural entities in specific circumstances.

Does this program require matching funds?

Yes, the federal government will cover no more than 75% of the project costs, though the Secretary may waive this requirement for Tribal entities.

Why It Matters

If enacted, this amendment would authorize $5 million annually from 2028 through 2034 for projects that help agricultural entities and communities share water resources and adopt water-efficient technologies.

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Incentivizing Innovation over Fallowing

The amendment explicitly prohibits funding for projects that rely on fallowing land, signaling a policy preference for technological and operational innovation over land retirement.

Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991

Connected Entities

personMr. Padilla“U.S. Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →

otherReclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991“The existing law being amended.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level