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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8833 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8833
To mend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary
of Agriculture to establish and maintain Regional Food and Supply Chain
Resource Centers, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2024
Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mr. Flood) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To mend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary
of Agriculture to establish and maintain Regional Food and Supply Chain
Resource Centers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Food Supply Chain
Resiliency Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. REGIONAL FOOD AND SUPPLY CHAIN RESOURCE CENTERS.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle H--Food Supply Chain Resiliency
``SEC. 298. REGIONAL FOOD AND SUPPLY CHAIN RESOURCE CENTERS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall enter into competitively
awarded cooperative agreements with eligible entities to establish or
continue the operations of not fewer than 12 Regional Food and Supply
Chain Regional Resource Centers to support small-sized and medium-sized
producers of agricultural products and small-sized and medium-sized
agricultural businesses through activities, which may include--
``(1) offering coordination, technical assistance, and
capacity building support to small-sized and medium-sized
producers of agricultural products and agricultural businesses;
``(2) supporting supply chain and value chain
coordination--
``(A) in the region in which such producers or
businesses are located; and
``(B) with the Department of Agriculture, other
Federal, State, and Tribal agencies with relevant
resources, regional commissions, and other Regional
Food and Supply Chain Resource Centers;
``(3) providing technical assistance to such producers and
businesses;
``(4) providing grants or other financial assistance to
such producers and businesses looking to expand production or a
business or start production or a business in such region; and
``(5) carrying out such other activities as may be
specified by the Secretary.
``(b) Focus on Tribal Supply Chain Issues.--At least one Regional
Food and Supply Chain Resource Center established pursuant to
subsection (a) shall provide coordination, assistance, and capacity
building support to address supply chain issues faced by Indian tribes
and Tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity (including an entity
representing a partnership) seeking to enter into a cooperative
agreement under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including how the
Regional Food and Supply Chain Resource Centers established by
such entity will address food and agricultural supply chain
issues faced by underserved communities.
``(2) Regional diversity.--In selecting eligible entities
to enter into a cooperative agreement under this section, the
Secretary shall ensure the regional diversity of such entities.
``(d) Term.--The term of a cooperative agreement entered into under
this section shall be not less than 4 years.
``(e) Coordination.--A Regional Food and Supply Chain Resource
Center shall, as a condition on entering into a cooperative agreement
under this section, agree to coordinate with other Regional Food and
Supply Chain Resource Centers, when appropriate.
``(f) Report to Congress.--Beginning not later than 2 years after
the date of the enactment of the American Food Supply Chain Resiliency
Act of 2023, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a
report on--
``(1) with respect to the activities carried out by the
Secretary under this section--
``(A) a description of such activities; and
``(B) the impact of such activities on supply chain
issues faced by small-sized and medium-sized producers
of agricultural products; and
``(2) with respect to the activities carried out by the
Regional Food and Supply Chain Resource Centers under this
section--
``(A) a description of such activities;
``(B) the impact of such activities on supply chain
issues faced by small-sized and medium-sized producers
of agricultural products and agricultural businesses;
and
``(C) any grants awarded by Regional Food and
Supply Chain Resource Centers to such producers and
businesses.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a producer network or association;
``(B) a food council;
``(C) a federally recognized Indian Tribe (as
determined pursuant to section 104 of the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C.
5131));
``(D) a State government or regional authority;
``(E) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
``(F) a nonprofit organization;
``(G) an economic development corporation; and
``(H) such other entities the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(2) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given such
term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).''.
SEC. 3. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTERS PROGRAM.
Section 6402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 1632b(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) research, technical assistance, support services,
outreach, and other services to strengthen, maintain, and
secure supply chains related to agricultural inputs and
agricultural products produced in the United States.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
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