MATCH Act of 2021
Key claim: State, local, and tribal governments could begin approved emergency watershed protection cleanup work prior to executing formal USDA agreements and credit those pre-agreement expenses toward their required project cost-shares.
Abstract
(S1110 · 117th Congress) Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2021 or the MATCH Act of 202 1 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to (1) identify a list of emergency watershed protection measures the cost of which may be incurred by a state, local government, or Indian tribe prior to entering into an agreement with USDA under the Emergency Watershed Protection Program; and (2) develop procedures, including appropriate deadlines, to be implemented at the state level, through which such entities may request and incur the cost for additional emergency watershed protection measures. USDA must consider any applicable pre-agreement costs incurred by a state, local government, or Indian tribe for undertaking emergency watershed protection measures as meeting part of its contribution towards the project costs. Latest action (2021-04-14): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Why this matters
The proposal could reduce agreement-related delays in emergency watershed cleanup benefiting farms and rural communities by allowing eligible early expenses to count toward government sponsors’ required matching contributions. It would change the timing and recognition of costs rather than eliminate the match requirement; the finding establishes an introduced proposal, not an enacted change, and provides no demonstrated effect on consumers or food prices.