From the office of Sen. Jerry Moran

Sens. Moran, Thune, Klobuchar, Smith Introduce Legislation to Bolster Conservation Reserve Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry – joined Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act. The legislation would bolster CRP by improving access to grazing, maximizing enrollment options for producers and expediting emergency haying in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events.
“Equipping farmers and ranchers with improved access to CRP resources is crucial to the sustainability of the agricultural economy in Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “This bipartisan legislation grants greater flexibility for producers in Kansas and across the country to improve their economic stability while conserving our nation’s farmland, wildlife habitats and water supply for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.”
“Ensuring that CRP continues to be an effective option for producers and landowners is critical to South Dakota’s agriculture industry,” said Sen. Thune. “As a longtime supporter of CRP, I’m proud to lead this commonsense legislation that would help advance the multiple-use benefits of this conservation program, including wildlife habitat and livestock forage potential.”
“The Conservation Reserve Program helps equip our farmers with the tools to conserve and improve soil, water quality, and wildlife habitat,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation makes commonsense improvements to CRP that will strengthen conservation practices and landowner enrollment in this vital program.”
“The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has long advocated for additional grazing opportunities on CRP acres,” said Matt Teagarden, CEO of Kansas Livestock Association. “Grazing benefits the native grass species, advancing the conservation goals of the program. We appreciate Senator Moran's leadership in improving CRP for producers and the land.”
“The Conservation Reserve Program is one of our nation’s most effective tools for improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and soil health on private lands, and is a vital part of the farm safety net,” said Andrew Schmidt, Director of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act will make this critical program work better for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and wildlife. PF and QF are grateful to Majority Leader Thune, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Sens. Moran and Smith for their continued leadership in strengthening CRP and ensuring it remains a cornerstone of private lands conservation.”
“The Conservation Reserve Program is an important, incentive-based program that provides flexibility for farmers and ranchers to implement voluntary conservation practices on their land,” said Mike Bulk, Ducks Unlimited Kansas state policy chair. “We thank Senators Moran, Thune, Klobuchar, and Smith for their leadership in enhancing CRP to ensure landowners can continue to get the most out of this historically successful program in Kansas and across the U.S.”

The CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act would:

• Make CRP grazing a more attractive option by providing cost-share for the establishment of grazing infrastructure – including fencing and water distribution – on all CRP practices and contracts if grazing is included in the approved conservation plan.
• Increase the CRP annual payment limitation from $50,000, which was established in 1985, to $125,000 to account for inflation and rising land values and provide landowners with more CRP enrollment options to ensure resources are appropriately conserved.
• Reinstate mid-contract management cost-share payments for activities that are not related to haying or grazing.
• Permanently establish the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice under Continuous CRP.
• Create flexibility for producers by allowing emergency haying on CRP acres when certain conditions are met and in consultation with state technical committees.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

Sen. Moran Statement on FWS Decision to Not Assert Water Rights at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that it will not take action to secure water rights for the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in 2026:
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s announcement that it will not request to secure water rights for the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in 2026 is a welcome one. I met with FWS Administrator Brian Nesvik and emphasized the need for long-term solutions led by stakeholders at the local level, and I am pleased by the recognition of the progress that is being made. I encourage FWS to continue working closely with Kansas producers toward a sustainable future for the watershed, agriculture and the wildlife refuge.”

 Background:

In its announcement, the FWS stated that the conservation efforts led by the Rattlesnake Creek Stakeholder Working Group, established by the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) Division of Water Resources, are making meaningful progress and that additional actions by the FWS are not necessary at this time.
Sen. Moran has been a longtime advocate for the creation of the Rattlesnake Creek Stakeholder Working Group and has urged the FWS and KDA to collaborate on solutions for conserving the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

 Sen. Moran Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Modernize Weather Radio Emergency Alerts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation – joined Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in introducing the NOAA Weather Modernization Act, which would modernize weather radio equipment to enhance the reliability of emergency communications during severe weather and bolster the nationwide accessibility of critical warnings. This legislation is also cosponsored by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).
“Recent severe weather across the country is a grave reminder of the need for a modernized emergency weather alert system,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation would improve alert systems in rural parts of the country with limited access to mobile broadband service, emergency warning systems or satellite coverage. It incorporates part of my legislation, the FORECAST Act, to protect critical National Weather Service employees from federal hiring freezes. It is essential that weather forecasting offices in every corner of the nation remain staffed so Kansans and all Americans have access to accurate, life-saving, 24/7 forecasting coverage.”
“The flooding in Central Texas has been absolutely heartbreaking, and we continue to lift up all those affected in prayer,” said Sen. Cruz. “Texans are strong and resourceful, but when disaster is about to strike, there has to be multiple, reliable ways to notify those who are in harm’s way. While the Hill Country flood investigation continues, we do know that some people did not receive the warnings because of a lack of cell phone coverage. I am grateful to join Ranking Member Cantwell in introducing this legislation to modernize early warning systems and ensure that every American, especially those in areas with poor or no cellular service, aren’t kept in the dark when it matters the most. This legislation is about protecting our communities and saving lives, and I urge Congress to pass it quickly.”

This legislation would:

• Expand coverage for areas with poor or no cellular service;
• Amplify non-weather emergency messages;
• Provide additional transmitters for areas with weak or nonexistent cell service and broadband coverage; and
• Direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards for flash flood emergency alert systems within the 100-year floodplain.
  • This will help to enhance emergency preparedness for communities without mobile broadband access, state and local emergency warning systems or satellite coverage.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintains a network of more than 750 NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) stations, which includes more than 1,000 transmitters covering all 50 states and the U.S. territories. NWR broadcasts weather information, including emergency weather alerts and local hazard information from the nearest National Weather Service office, playing a critical role in protecting lives and property. Local news stations often urge citizens to incorporate NWR as part of their emergency preparedness plans during severe weather.
Although the public often relies on cell phones, computers and cable service to receive hazard warnings and communication, radio is often the primary source of information in rural and remote regions where cell and internet service are lacking. NOAA Weather Radios can be purchased for as little as $10. Even in urban areas with cell coverage, power outages triggered by severe weather events, such as a thunderstorm or a tornado, can disrupt cell and internet communications, making radio one of the few reliable options.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.