# Plain Language Summary: MATCH Act of 2023

When natural disasters like floods or wildfires damage watersheds and farmland, the federal government has a program that helps pay for emergency cleanup and protection work. However, there's been a problem: communities that need to act quickly after a disaster often have to spend their own money upfront to start the cleanup work, and they can't get reimbursed until they've already signed a formal agreement with the federal government. This creates a catch-22 where local governments and tribes need money immediately but have to wait for federal paperwork to be completed first.

The MATCH Act fixes this by allowing communities to start emergency watershed protection work right away and count those upfront costs toward their share of the project later. Here's how it works: within six months of the law passing, the federal government will create a list of approved emergency measures that communities can start working on before any official agreement is signed. Communities can also request approval for additional measures specific to their disaster situation. Once a community and the federal government do sign an agreement, any money the community already spent on these approved measures gets credited toward what they're supposed to contribute to the project. This means communities don't have to choose between waiting for federal approval or going broke trying to protect their land.

The bill includes an important protection for the federal government: communities take on the financial risk if they start work before getting final approval. The government isn't required to reimburse them if no agreement is ultimately reached. This protects taxpayers while still giving communities the flexibility to act quickly when disasters strike.

MATCH Act of 2023

Curtis, John R.

Making Access To Cleanup Happen Act of 2023 or the MATCH Act of 2023 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.