HR 5781119th CongressIn Committee

MATCH Act of 2025

Introduced: Oct 17, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-Colorado)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The MATCH Act of 2025 would amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to allow State or local governments and Indian Tribes to incur certain emergency watershed protection costs before they enter into an agreement with the federal secretary administering the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must identify which preagreement costs are eligible and establish a state-level process to request additional preagreement measures for a specified natural disaster. If an agreement is later reached, the preagreement costs can count toward the sponsor’s contribution to the project cost. Sponsors would bear the risk of incurring these costs, and nothing in the bill compels the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a sponsor. The bill creates the short title “Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2025” (MATCH Act).

Key Points

1Sponsor definition and scope
2- A sponsor can be a State or local government or an Indian Tribe (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act).
3Preagreement costs and eligible measures
4- The Secretary must, within 180 days after enactment, identify a list of emergency watershed protection measures whose costs may be incurred before an agreement.
5- The Secretary must develop a state-level procedure to request additional preagreement measures for a specified natural disaster.
6Cost sharing and risk
7- If an agreement is made under the EWP, the sponsor’s preagreement costs identified under the bill can be counted toward the sponsor’s contribution to the project cost.
8- Sponsors who undertake preagreement measures assume the risk of incurring those costs.
9Governing principle and discretion
10- The bill notes that nothing requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with a sponsor, preserving federal discretion.
11Context and program
12- The change applies to Section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978, relating to the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.

Impact Areas

Primary- State and local governments and Indian Tribes, as defined in the bill, would be able to take preagreement actions to protect watersheds after disasters and have some of those costs counted toward cost sharing if an agreement is reached.Secondary- The Agriculture Department (likely NRCS) and the broader federal emergency watershed protection framework would implement the new preagreement process, timelines, and definitions.Additional impacts- Potentially faster on-the-ground protection following disasters, reducing flood-related damage and accelerating recovery.- Financial risk to sponsors if a timely agreement is not reached or if preagreement costs exceed eventual reimbursement.- Administrative considerations for states to develop and maintain the preagreement procedures and to coordinate with tribes and local governments.

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