65TH GIRLS NATION CONGRESS S.B.

To reduce soil erosion, lessen flooding damage, and provide alternative energy sources. IN THE SENATE OF GIRLS NATION January 2012 Senators LAUER and GABRIELE of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to Committee. A BILL To reduce soil erosion, lessen flood damage, and provide alternative energy sources. BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE OF GIRLS NATION ASSEMBLED. SECTION 1. TITLE This bill may be cited as Switching Back to Grass: A Heartland Switchgrass Initiative. SECTION 2. PURPOSE The Switching Back to Grass: A Heartland Switchgrass Initiative will reduce soil erosion, lessen flooding damage, and provide alternative energy sources. SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS (A) Alternative energy sources: Shall include fuels developed from harvesting deep-rooted perennials while leaving the roots untouched. Which shall not include corn-based ethanol, fossil fuels, nuclear parts, biodiesel, or food products. (B) Deep-rooted Perennials: Shall include any native grass that lives for more than two years and whose roots span from eight to twelve feet, such as switchgrass. SECTION 4. EXONERATED RIGHTS RENEWAL ACT The Switching Back to Grass Act entails that: (A) Funding will be provided in the form of grants to local governments who seek to lease land; (1) Farmland: to replace crops with native deep-rooted perennials (a) The soil on the farmland must be surveyed for erosion with the Land Capability Classification System and qualify as Class III or higher, in order to comply with this program; and (b) Farmland includes any land that is currently under cultivation of crops or land that has not been cultivated for crops in 5 years.

(2) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) (a) No more than 10% of CRP land in a given state can be used for this program. (B) No one recipient shall receive more than 10% of the funds given in this program; (C) The applications shall be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture; (D) The Department of Agriculture will be responsible for conducting yearly progress reports on all applicants; and (E) $100 million shall be made available for this program and will be distributed over a period of five years. SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE On July of 2011 the department shall implement the rules.