No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5335 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5335
To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other
programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2029, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 18, 2024
Ms. Stabenow introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other
programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2029, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Prosperity
and Food Security Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
TITLE I--COMMODITIES
Subtitle A--Commodity Policy
Sec. 1101. Definitions.
Sec. 1102. Base acres.
Sec. 1103. Payment yields.
Sec. 1104. Payment acres.
Sec. 1105. Producer election.
Sec. 1106. Price loss coverage.
Sec. 1107. Agriculture risk coverage.
Subtitle B--Marketing Loans
Sec. 1201. Loan rates.
Sec. 1202. Textile mills.
Sec. 1203. Extensions.
Subtitle C--Sugar
Sec. 1301. Sugar policy.
Subtitle D--Dairy
Sec. 1401. Dairy Margin Coverage.
Sec. 1402. Dairy products donation program.
Sec. 1403. Reauthorizations.
Sec. 1404. Related provisions.
Subtitle E--Supplemental and Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance
Programs
Sec. 1501. Definitions; conforming amendments.
Sec. 1502. Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance.
Sec. 1503. Emergency relief program.
Subtitle F--Noninsured Crop Assistance
Sec. 1601. Noninsured crop assistance program.
Subtitle G--Administration
Sec. 1701. Regulations.
Sec. 1702. Suspension of permanent price support authority.
Sec. 1703. Ineligibility of land owned by foreign persons for program
benefits.
Sec. 1704. Adjusted gross income limitation.
Sec. 1705. Farm program implementation coordination.
Sec. 1706. Legal entities.
Sec. 1707. Geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Sec. 1708. Limitation on Commodity Credit Corporation authority.
Subtitle H--Emergency Assistance
Sec. 1801. Emergency assistance.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION
Sec. 2001. Definitions.
Subtitle A--Wetland Conservation
Sec. 2101. Mitigation banking.
Subtitle B--Conservation Reserve Program (including Farmable Wetland
Program)
Sec. 2201. Conservation reserve.
Sec. 2202. Conservation reserve enhancement program.
Sec. 2203. Farmable wetland program.
Sec. 2204. Special programs.
Sec. 2205. Conservation reserve easements.
Sec. 2206. Duties of the Secretary.
Sec. 2207. Payments.
Sec. 2208. Contracts.
Subtitle C--Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation
Stewardship Program
PART I--Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Sec. 2301. Purposes.
Sec. 2302. Definitions.
Sec. 2303. Establishment and administration.
Sec. 2304. Environmental quality incentives program plan.
Sec. 2305. Limitation on payments.
Sec. 2306. Conservation innovation grants and payments.
PART II--Conservation Stewardship Program
Sec. 2311. Definitions.
Sec. 2312. Stewardship contracts.
Sec. 2313. Duties of the Secretary.
Sec. 2314. On-farm conservation stewardship innovation grants.
Subtitle D--Other Conservation Programs
Sec. 2401. Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
Sec. 2402. Soil and water resources conservation.
Sec. 2403. Emergency conservation programs.
Sec. 2404. Conservation of private grazing land.
Sec. 2405. Grassroots source water protection program.
Sec. 2406. Voluntary public access and habitat incentive program.
Sec. 2407. Feral swine eradication and control program.
Sec. 2408. Report on small wetlands.
Sec. 2409. Terminal lakes assistance.
Sec. 2410. Colorado salinity control units.
Sec. 2411. Chesapeake Bay States' Partnership Initiative.
Sec. 2412. Driftless area landscape conservation initiative.
Sec. 2413. Expansion of NRCS snow survey and water supply forecasting.
Subtitle E--Funding and Administration
Sec. 2501. Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 2502. Delivery of technical assistance.
Sec. 2503. Administrative requirements for conservation programs.
Sec. 2504. Best practices guidance for solar energy land management.
Subtitle F--Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
Sec. 2601. Definitions.
Sec. 2602. Agricultural land easements.
Sec. 2603. Wetland reserve easements.
Sec. 2604. Administration.
Subtitle G--Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Sec. 2701. Establishment and purposes.
Sec. 2702. Definitions.
Sec. 2703. Regional conservation partnerships.
Sec. 2704. Assistance to producers.
Sec. 2705. Funding.
Sec. 2706. Administration.
Sec. 2707. Critical conservation areas.
TITLE III--TRADE
Subtitle A--Food for Peace Act
Sec. 3101. United States policy.
Sec. 3102. Provision of agricultural commodities.
Sec. 3103. Levels of assistance.
Sec. 3104. Food Aid Consultative Group.
Sec. 3105. Issuance of regulations.
Sec. 3106. Oversight, monitoring, and evaluation.
Sec. 3107. Assistance for stockpiling and rapid transportation,
delivery, and distribution of shelf-stable
prepackaged foods.
Sec. 3108. Definitions.
Sec. 3109. Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.
Sec. 3110. Administrative provisions.
Sec. 3111. Deadline for agreements to finance sales or to provide other
assistance.
Sec. 3112. Funds for emergency and nonemergency food assistance.
Sec. 3113. Micronutrient fortification programs.
Sec. 3114. John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program.
Sec. 3115. Technical corrections.
Subtitle B--Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
Sec. 3201. Preserving foreign markets for goods using common names.
Sec. 3202. Technical assistance to improve infrastructure in foreign
markets for United States agricultural
commodities.
Sec. 3203. Report on competitiveness of United States exports of
specialty crops.
Sec. 3204. Agricultural trade promotion and facilitation.
Sec. 3205. Interagency seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetable
working group.
Subtitle C--Other Agricultural Trade Laws
Sec. 3301. Food for Progress Act of 1985.
Sec. 3302. Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act.
Sec. 3303. Promotion of agricultural exports to emerging markets.
Sec. 3304. Growing American food exports.
Sec. 3305. International food security technical assistance.
Sec. 3306. McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child
Nutrition Program.
Sec. 3307. Global Crop Diversity Trust.
Sec. 3308. Local and regional food aid procurement projects.
Sec. 3309. International agricultural education fellowship program.
TITLE IV--NUTRITION
Subtitle A--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Sec. 4101. Ensuring transparency and accountability in thrifty food
plan.
Sec. 4102. Food distribution program on Indian reservations.
Sec. 4103. Income exclusion for military basic allowance for housing.
Sec. 4104. SNAP materials for health care professionals.
Sec. 4105. College students.
Sec. 4106. Improvements to SNAP employment and training.
Sec. 4107. Ensuring EBT integrity.
Sec. 4108. Retail food stores.
Sec. 4109. Improving customer service to retail food stores.
Sec. 4110. Restoring SNAP benefits for drug-related convictions.
Sec. 4111. Streamlining SNAP applications.
Sec. 4112. Improving State administration and quality control.
Sec. 4113. Process and technology innovation grants.
Sec. 4114. Elderly simplified application option.
Sec. 4115. Hot foods.
Sec. 4116. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 4117. Inclusion of Puerto Rico in supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
Sec. 4118. Assistance for community food projects.
Sec. 4119. Nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program.
Sec. 4120. Retail food store and recipient trafficking.
Subtitle B--Emergency Food Assistance Program
Sec. 4201. TEFAP farm-to-food bank projects.
Sec. 4202. Kosher, Halal, and culturally relevant foods projects.
Sec. 4203. Flexibilities for geographically isolated States and Indian
tribes.
Sec. 4204. Fresh produce procurement option.
Sec. 4205. Emergency food assistance for Indian tribes.
Sec. 4206. Emergency food assistance.
Subtitle C--Commodity Distribution Programs
Sec. 4301. Commodity distribution program.
Sec. 4302. Commodity supplemental food program.
Sec. 4303. Distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition
projects.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous
Sec. 4401. Senior farmers' market nutrition program.
Sec. 4402. Purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution to
schools and service institutions.
Sec. 4403. Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program.
Sec. 4404. Healthy dairy nutrition incentives projects.
Sec. 4405. Healthy food financing initiative.
Sec. 4406. Microgrants for food security.
Sec. 4407. Study and report on nutrition programs in geographically
isolated States.
Sec. 4408. Streamlining application process for direct marketing
farmers in nutrition programs.
Sec. 4409. Nutrition security report.
Sec. 4410. Senior nutrition task force.
Sec. 4411. Technical corrections.
Sec. 4412. Effective date.
TITLE V--CREDIT
Subtitle A--Farm Ownership Loans
Sec. 5101. Modification of experience eligibility requirement for farm
ownership loans.
Sec. 5102. Conservation and Precision Agriculture Loan and Loan
Guarantee Program.
Sec. 5103. Limitations on amount of farm ownership loans.
Sec. 5104. Refinancing of guaranteed loans into direct loans.
Sec. 5105. Down payment loan program.
Sec. 5106. Support for resolving ownership and succession issues
relating to farmland.
Subtitle B--Operating Loans
Sec. 5201. Limitation on amount of operating loans.
Sec. 5202. Eligibility for operating loans.
Sec. 5203. Microloans.
Subtitle C--Emergency Loans
Sec. 5301. Emergency loan determination factors.
Sec. 5302. Eligibility for assistance based on production loss.
Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions
Sec. 5401. Distressed borrowers.
Sec. 5402. Beginning farmer and rancher individual development accounts
pilot program.
Sec. 5403. Loan authorization levels.
Sec. 5404. Definition of qualified beginning farmer or rancher.
Sec. 5405. Loan fund set-asides.
Sec. 5406. Temporary prohibition of loans to borrowers that have
received debt forgiveness.
Sec. 5407. Guaranteed farmer program loan applications.
Subtitle E--Miscellaneous
Sec. 5501. Technical corrections.
Sec. 5502. Qualifying agricultural mediation programs.
Sec. 5503. Financing for essential rural community facilities.
Sec. 5504. Qualified loan definition.
Sec. 5505. Eligibility for water and wastewater disposal facility
loans.
TITLE VI--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Subtitle A--Rural Healthcare and Childcare
Sec. 6101. Improving rural healthcare.
Sec. 6102. Improving rural childcare.
Sec. 6103. Access to credit for rural healthcare and childcare.
Subtitle B--Rural Partnerships and Prosperity
Sec. 6201. Definitions.
Sec. 6202. Rural partnership program grants.
Sec. 6203. Rural partnership technical assistance grants.
Sec. 6204. Rural Partners Network.
Sec. 6205. Funding.
Subtitle C--Rural Electrification Act of 1936
PART I--Rural Broadband Access
Sec. 6301. ReConnect Program.
Sec. 6302. Expansion of middle mile infrastructure into rural areas.
Sec. 6303. Innovative Broadband Advancement Program.
Sec. 6304. Community Connect Grant Program.
PART II--Additional Amendments
Sec. 6311. Guarantees for bonds and notes issued for electrification or
telephone purposes.
Sec. 6312. Rural development loans and grants.
Sec. 6313. Expansion of 911 access.
Subtitle D--Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
Sec. 6401. Water, waste disposal, and wastewater facility grants.
Sec. 6402. SEARCH grants.
Sec. 6403. Rural water and wastewater technical assistance and training
programs.
Sec. 6404. Rural water and wastewater circuit rider program.
Sec. 6405. Rural water and wastewater cybersecurity circuit rider
program.
Sec. 6406. Tribal college and university essential community
facilities.
Sec. 6407. Essential community facilities technical assistance and
training.
Sec. 6408. Emergency preparedness and response technical assistance
program.
Sec. 6409. Assistance to provide water and wastewater services in
financially distressed rural areas.
Sec. 6410. Emergency and imminent community water assistance grant
program.
Sec. 6411. Additional assistance for rural water systems.
Sec. 6412. Water systems for rural and native villages in Alaska.
Sec. 6413. Rural decentralized water systems.
Sec. 6414. Healthy drinking water affordability assistance program.
Sec. 6415. Rural business and industry guaranteed loans.
Sec. 6416. Solid waste management grants.
Sec. 6417. Rural business development grants.
Sec. 6418. Rural cooperative development grants.
Sec. 6419. Locally or regionally produced agricultural food products.
Sec. 6420. Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program.
Sec. 6421. Rural economic area partnership zones.
Sec. 6422. Intermediary relending program.
Sec. 6423. Rural Business-Cooperative Service programs technical
assistance and training.
Sec. 6424. National Rural Development Partnership.
Sec. 6425. Grants for NOAA weather radio transmitters.
Sec. 6426. Rural microentrepreneur assistance program.
Sec. 6427. Health care services.
Sec. 6428. Strategic community investment plans.
Sec. 6429. Rural innovation stronger economy grant program.
Sec. 6430. Rural business investment program.
Sec. 6431. Investments in rural infrastructure.
Subtitle E--Miscellaneous
Sec. 6501. Distance learning and telemedicine.
Sec. 6502. Last acre projects.
Sec. 6503. Food supply chain guaranteed loan and grant program.
Sec. 6504. Agriculture Innovation Center Demonstration Program.
Sec. 6505. Rural energy savings program.
Sec. 6506. Technical corrections.
TITLE VII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS
Subtitle A--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977
Sec. 7101. National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and
Economics Advisory Board.
Sec. 7102. Specialty crop committee.
Sec. 7103. Grants and fellowships for food and agriculture sciences
education.
Sec. 7104. Agricultural and food policy research centers.
Sec. 7105. Education grants to Alaska Native serving institutions and
Native Hawaiian serving institutions.
Sec. 7106. Nutrition education program.
Sec. 7107. Continuing animal health and disease research programs.
Sec. 7108. Extension at 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee
University.
Sec. 7109. Agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges, including
Tuskegee University.
Sec. 7110. Scholarships for students at 1890 Institutions.
Sec. 7111. Grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities
at 1890 land-grant colleges, including
Tuskegee University.
Sec. 7112. Grants to upgrade agriculture and food sciences facilities
and equipment at insular area land-grant
institutions.
Sec. 7113. Research and extension activities at 1890 Institutions.
Sec. 7114. New beginning for Tribal students.
Sec. 7115. Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sec. 7116. International agriculture partnerships and grants program.
Sec. 7117. Research equipment grants.
Sec. 7118. University research.
Sec. 7119. Cooperative extension service.
Sec. 7120. Supplemental and alternative crops.
Sec. 7121. New Era Rural Technology Program.
Sec. 7122. Capacity building grants for NLGCA institutions.
Sec. 7123. Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority.
Sec. 7124. Capacity building grants for community college agricultural
programs.
Sec. 7125. Agricultural Innovation Corridors.
Sec. 7126. National agroforestry survey.
Sec. 7127. Aquaculture assistance programs.
Sec. 7128. Rangeland research programs.
Sec. 7129. Special authorization for biosecurity planning and response.
Sec. 7130. Distance education and resident instruction grants program
for insular area institutions of higher
education.
Subtitle B--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
Sec. 7201. Best utilization of biological applications.
Sec. 7202. Integrated management systems.
Sec. 7203. Sustainable agriculture technology development and transfer
program.
Sec. 7204. National training program.
Sec. 7205. National Genetics Resources Program.
Sec. 7206. National Agricultural Weather Information System.
Sec. 7207. Agricultural genome to phenome initiative.
Sec. 7208. High-priority research and extension initiatives.
Sec. 7209. Organic agriculture research and extension initiative.
Sec. 7210. Enhanced coordination of organic agriculture research.
Sec. 7211. Farm business management.
Sec. 7212. Urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production
research, education, and extension
initiative.
Sec. 7213. Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions.
Sec. 7214. Assistive technology program for farmers with disabilities.
Sec. 7215. National Rural Information Center Clearinghouse.
Subtitle C--Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998
Sec. 7301. National food safety training, education, extension,
outreach, and technical assistance program.
Sec. 7302. Integrated research, education, and extension competitive
grants program.
Sec. 7303. Support for research regarding diseases of wheat, triticale,
and barley caused by Fusarium graminearum
or by Tilletia indica.
Sec. 7304. Grants for youth organizations.
Sec. 7305. Specialty crop research initiative.
Sec. 7306. Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database program.
Sec. 7307. Office of Pest Management Policy.
Sec. 7308. Forestry products advanced utilization research.
Subtitle D--Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
PART I--Agricultural Security
Sec. 7401. Agricultural biosecurity communication center.
Sec. 7402. Assistance to build local capacity in agricultural
biosecurity planning, preparation, and
response.
Sec. 7403. Research and development of agricultural countermeasures.
Sec. 7404. Agricultural biosecurity grant program.
PART II--Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 7411. Grazinglands research laboratory.
Sec. 7412. Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.
Sec. 7413. Natural products research program.
Sec. 7414. Sun grant program.
Subtitle E--Other Matters
Sec. 7501. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
Sec. 7502. Heirs property and fractionated land legal clinics.
Sec. 7503. Critical Agricultural Materials Act.
Sec. 7504. Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994.
Sec. 7505. Report on the extension service needs of Tribal lands and
populations.
Sec. 7506. Restoration of 4-H name and emblem authority.
Sec. 7507. Amendments to the Hatch Act.
Sec. 7508. Research Facilities Act.
Sec. 7509. Public cultivar development.
Sec. 7510. Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
Sec. 7511. Extension Design and Demonstration Initiative.
Sec. 7512. Biomass research and development.
Sec. 7513. Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978.
Sec. 7514. National Aquaculture Act of 1980.
Sec. 7515. Federal agriculture research facilities.
Sec. 7516. Enhanced use lease authority program.
Sec. 7517. Agrivoltaic systems.
Sec. 7518. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and
National Science Foundation joint research
and development activities.
Sec. 7519. National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Economic
Development Administration partnership on
cooperative extension activities.
TITLE VIII--FORESTRY
Subtitle A--Forest Data Modernization
Sec. 8101. Forest inventory and analysis.
Sec. 8102. Data on forest management projects.
Sec. 8103. Forest and wood products carbon provision.
Subtitle B--Forest Health and Management
Sec. 8201. Definition of National Forest System.
PART I--Forest Service Management
Sec. 8211. Hazardous fuel reduction on Federal land.
Sec. 8212. Insect infestations and related diseases.
Sec. 8213. Insect and disease treatment areas.
Sec. 8214. Study on protection of forests from invasive species.
Sec. 8215. Forest Service participation in ACES Program.
Sec. 8216. Tribal consultation in land use plans.
Sec. 8217. Prescribed fire centers.
Sec. 8218. Cost-share waiver for rehabilitation from wildland fires.
Sec. 8219. Utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management
pilot program.
Sec. 8220. Permits and agreements with electric utilities.
PART II--State, Private, and Tribal Partnerships
Sec. 8231. Support for State assessments and strategies for forest
resources.
Sec. 8232. State and private forest landscape-scale restoration
program.
Sec. 8233. Promoting cross-boundary wildfire mitigation.
Sec. 8234. Water Source Protection Program.
Sec. 8235. Watershed condition framework.
Sec. 8236. Tribal forest protection management activities and projects.
Sec. 8237. Incorporation of Tribal management plans.
Sec. 8238. Healthy forests reserve program.
Sec. 8239. Authorization for lease of Forest Service sites.
Sec. 8240. Modification of good neighbor authority.
Sec. 8241. GAO reports on good neighbor authority.
Sec. 8242. Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program.
Sec. 8243. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program.
Sec. 8244. Emergency forest watershed program.
Sec. 8245. Emergency Forest Restoration Program.
Sec. 8246. Nursery and seed orchard support.
Sec. 8247. Contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain
ecosystem restoration activities.
PART III--Timber Innovation
Sec. 8261. Wood Innovations Grant Program.
Sec. 8262. Community Wood Facilities Grant Program.
Sec. 8263. Report on use of mass timber in construction of Federal
facilities.
Subtitle C--Forest Conservation
Sec. 8301. National and Regional Agroforestry Centers.
Sec. 8302. American forest farming association.
Sec. 8303. Rural Forest Market Investment Program.
Sec. 8304. Forest Service Legacy Road and Trail Remediation Program.
Subtitle D--Land Designations
Sec. 8401. Chester County reversionary and mineral interests release.
Sec. 8402. Rough Mountain Wilderness and Rich Hole Wilderness
designations.
Sec. 8403. Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness.
Sec. 8404. Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area.
Sec. 8405. Flatside-Bethune Wilderness.
Sec. 8406. Shawnee National Forest designations.
Sec. 8407. Patrick Leahy Wilderness.
Sec. 8408. Black River State Forest release of reversionary interest.
Sec. 8409. Benton Mackaye National Scenic Trail feasibility study.
Subtitle E--Other Matters
Sec. 8501. Urban and Community Forestry.
Sec. 8502. National Forest Foundation Act.
Sec. 8503. Conveyance of Forest Service administrative sites.
Sec. 8504. Rural revitalization technologies.
Sec. 8505. Resource Advisory Committees.
Sec. 8506. Rapid Ohia Death.
Sec. 8507. Civilian Conservation Centers.
Sec. 8508. Special use authorization rental fee waivers.
Sec. 8509. Special forest products program.
Sec. 8510. Technical corrections.
TITLE IX--ENERGY
Sec. 9001. Definitions.
Sec. 9002. Biobased markets program.
Sec. 9003. Biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product
manufacturing assistance.
Sec. 9004. Bioenergy program for advanced biofuels.
Sec. 9005. Biodiesel fuel education program.
Sec. 9006. Rural Energy for America Program.
Sec. 9007. Feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers.
Sec. 9008. Biomass crop assistance program.
Sec. 9009. Carbon utilization and biogas education program.
Sec. 9010. Agrivoltaic system projects.
Sec. 9011. Industrial heat pump program.
TITLE X--HORTICULTURE
Sec. 10001. Specialty crops market news allocation.
Sec. 10002. Food loss and waste process verification.
Sec. 10003. Local Agriculture Market Program.
Sec. 10004. Local food purchase assistance cooperative agreements.
Sec. 10005. Organic market development grant.
Sec. 10006. Organic production and market data initiatives.
Sec. 10007. National organic program.
Sec. 10008. Assessment of national organic program enforcement
authority.
Sec. 10009. National organic certification cost-share program.
Sec. 10010. Food safety education initiatives.
Sec. 10011. Specialty crop block grants.
Sec. 10012. Multiple crop and pesticide use survey.
Sec. 10013. Defining plant biostimulants.
Sec. 10014. Soil health study.
Sec. 10015. Report on plant-incorporated protectants.
Sec. 10016. Hemp production.
Sec. 10017. FIFRA interagency working group.
Sec. 10018. Interstate movement outside of the continental United
States.
Sec. 10019. Plant pest and disease management and disaster prevention.
Sec. 10020. Agriculture quarantine and inspection program reserve fee.
TITLE XI--CROP INSURANCE
Subtitle A--Producer Affordability
Sec. 11101. Enhancing subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers and
ranchers.
Sec. 11102. Higher area-based premium subsidy option.
Sec. 11103. Expansion of performance-based discount.
Sec. 11104. Higher premium subsidy rates.
Subtitle B--Producer Accessibility and Representation
Sec. 11201. Composition of Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board.
Sec. 11202. Ensuring access for producers.
Sec. 11203. Improvements to whole farm and micro farm insurance plans.
Sec. 11204. Research and development of new crops and coverages.
Sec. 11205. Risk management education and outreach.
Sec. 11206. Underserved producers report.
Sec. 11207. Voluntary good farming practices.
Sec. 11208. State cover crop and soil health matching payments.
Sec. 11209. Enterprise units for fallow and continuous practices.
Sec. 11210. Eligibility for prevented planting insurance under certain
drought conditions.
Subtitle C--Agent Incentives and Options
Sec. 11301. Option for Corporation to underwrite policies.
Sec. 11302. Updates to administrative and operating subsidies.
Subtitle D--Specialty Crops
Sec. 11401. Specialty Crop Insurance Advisory Committee.
Sec. 11402. Addition and expansion of specialty crop policies.
Sec. 11403. Priorities for private development of new policies and
expansion of existing policies.
Sec. 11404. Advance payments for specialty crop insurance policies in
development.
Sec. 11405. Priorities for internal development of new policies and
expansion of existing policies.
Subtitle E--Program Integrity
Sec. 11501. Actuarial soundness of Federal crop insurance program.
Sec. 11502. Rating methodology and data reporting updates.
Sec. 11503. Data analytics and improvement.
Sec. 11504. Reimbursement of privately developed plans.
Sec. 11505. Standard reinsurance agreement negotiation.
Sec. 11506. Protection against retaliation.
Subtitle F--Other Matters
Sec. 11601. Native sod.
Sec. 11602. Technical amendments.
TITLE XII--MISCELLANEOUS
Subtitle A--Livestock
Sec. 12101. Animal disease prevention and management.
Sec. 12102. Sheep production and marketing grant program.
Sec. 12103. Resources and grant program for small and medium poultry
and meat establishments.
Sec. 12104. Exemption for meat processors of livestock market ownership
under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921.
Sec. 12105. Prompt payment.
Sec. 12106. Animal disease regional export ban agreements.
Sec. 12107. Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.
Sec. 12108. Product of USA label.
Sec. 12109. Cattle contracts library.
Sec. 12110. Livestock consolidation research.
Subtitle B--Historically Underserved Producers
Sec. 12201. Farming opportunities training and outreach.
Sec. 12202. Strengthening the transparency and accountability report.
Sec. 12203. USDA Ombudsperson.
Sec. 12204. Farmland ownership.
Sec. 12205. Civil rights accountability for USDA employees.
Sec. 12206. Equitable relief recommendations by the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights.
Sec. 12207. Advisory committee improvements and transparency.
Sec. 12208. Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
Sec. 12209. Office of Small Farms.
Sec. 12210. Strengthening the farm and food system workforce.
Sec. 12211. Grocery, farm, and food worker stabilization grant program.
Sec. 12212. Tribal Advisory Committee; Tribal self-determination pilot
projects.
Sec. 12213. Tribal promise zones.
Subtitle C--Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Amendments
Sec. 12301. Cost-benefit analyses.
Sec. 12302. Offices of Customer Experience and Digital Service.
Sec. 12303. Food loss and waste.
Sec. 12304. Housing and Urban Development Liaison.
Sec. 12305. Hubs for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
Sec. 12306. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Sec. 12307. Office of the Chief Scientist.
Sec. 12308. Regional food business centers.
Sec. 12309. Aquaculture Liaison.
Sec. 12310. Termination of authority.
Subtitle D--Agriculture and Food Defense
Sec. 12401. Amendments to the Agricultural Foreign Investment
Disclosure Act of 1978.
Sec. 12402. National plant diagnostic network.
Sec. 12403. Office of Homeland Security.
Sec. 12404. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 12405. Risk assessment on cybersecurity-related threats to
agriculture and food systems.
Subtitle E--Other Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 12501. Maple Research and Market Promotion Program.
Sec. 12502. Protecting animals with shelter.
Sec. 12503. Beagle Brigade.
Sec. 12504. Importation of dogs into the United States.
Sec. 12505. Veterinary medicine loan repayment program and veterinary
services grant program.
Sec. 12506. Report on animal depopulation.
Sec. 12507. Retirement of research animals.
Sec. 12508. Strengthening enforcement of Animal Welfare Act.
Sec. 12509. Dairy business innovation initiatives.
Sec. 12510. Marketing orders.
Sec. 12511. Farmer Seed Liaison.
Sec. 12512. Procurement study and report.
Sec. 12513. Promotion of food and agricultural workplace
accountability.
Sec. 12514. Relief for farmers.
Sec. 12515. Improvements to the United States Drought Monitor.
Sec. 12516. Program data protection and access.
Sec. 12517. Measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of
greenhouse gas emissions and carbon
sequestration.
Sec. 12518. Report on personnel.
Sec. 12519. Conversion authority.
Sec. 12520. Department of Agriculture recruitment and retention
authorities.
Sec. 12521. Authorization of protection operations for the Secretary of
Agriculture and others.
Sec. 12522. Commission on Farm Transitions.
Sec. 12523. Notifications and reports from USDA.
Sec. 12524. Standards for precision agriculture.
Sec. 12525. Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund.
Sec. 12526. Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund.
Sec. 12527. Wool research and promotion.
Sec. 12528. Emergency citrus disease research and development trust
fund.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.
In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Agriculture.
TITLE I--COMMODITIES
Subtitle A--Commodity Policy
SEC. 1101. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (8)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses
(i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively,
and indenting appropriately;
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(C) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``The term `effective
reference price', with respect to a covered commodity
for a crop year,'' and inserting the following:
``(A) 2019 through 2024 crop years.--The term
`effective reference price', with respect to a covered
commodity for any of the 2019 through 2024 crop
years,''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) 2025 through 2029 crop years.--The term
`effective reference price', with respect to a covered
commodity for any of the 2025 through 2029 crop years,
means the lesser of the following:
``(i) An amount equal to 115 percent of the
reference price for such covered commodity.
``(ii) An amount equal to the greater of--
``(I) the reference price for such
covered commodity; or
``(II) 85 percent of the average of
the marketing year average price of the
covered commodity for the most recent 5
crop years.''; and
(2) in paragraph (19)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (O)
as clauses (i) through (xv), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``The term'' and all that
follows through ``the following:'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) 2019 through 2023 crop years.--The term
`reference price', with respect to a covered commodity
for each of crop years 2019 through 2023, means the
following:''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) 2024 through 2029 crop years.--The term
`reference price', with respect to a covered commodity
for each of crop years 2024 through 2029, means the
following:
``(i) For wheat, $5.78 per bushel.
``(ii) For corn, $3.89 per bushel.
``(iii) For grain sorghum, $4.15 per
bushel.
``(iv) For barley, $5.20 per bushel.
``(v) For oats, $2.52 per bushel.
``(vi) For long grain rice, $14.70 per
hundredweight.
``(vii) For medium grain rice, $14.70 per
hundredweight.
``(viii) For soybeans, $8.82 per bushel.
``(ix) For other oilseeds, $21.16 per
hundredweight.
``(x) For peanuts, $561.75 per ton.
``(xi) For dry peas, $11.55 per
hundredweight.
``(xii) For lentils, $20.97 per
hundredweight.
``(xiii) For small chickpeas, $19.99 per
hundredweight.
``(xiv) For large chickpeas, $22.62 per
hundredweight.
``(xv) For seed cotton, $0.385 per
pound.''.
SEC. 1102. BASE ACRES.
Section 1112 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9012) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as
subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Base Acre Increase for Underserved Farmers of Covered
Commodities.--
``(1) Definition of underserved farmer of covered
commodities.--In this subsection, the term `underserved farmer
of covered commodities' means an underserved producer (as
defined in section 508(a)(7)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance
Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(7)(A))) or a limited resource or
economically distressed farmer (as determined by the Secretary)
of 1 or more covered commodities.
``(2) Opportunity to increase base acres.--As soon as
practicable after the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity
and Food Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall provide a 1-
time opportunity for an underserved farmer of covered
commodities to increase base acres on a farm if--
``(A) the underserved farmer of covered
commodities--
``(i) is an operator on the farm and
provides a significant contribution of active
personal labor on the farm, as determined by
the Secretary; or
``(ii) has a significant ownership share of
the farm or a business producing covered
commodities on the farm, as determined by the
Secretary; and
``(B) the average number of acres on the farm
planted or prevented from planting as described in
subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, of paragraph
(3)(A)(i) to covered commodities during the 2018
through 2022 crop years is greater than the number of
base acres on the farm.
``(3) Base acre increase.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
number of base acres added to a farm under paragraph
(2) shall be equal to the difference between--
``(i) the sum obtained by adding--
``(I) the 5-year average of the
acreage planted on the farm to all
covered commodities for harvest,
grazing, haying, silage, or other
similar purposes for the 2018 through
2022 crop years, according to records
submitted to the Farm Service Agency or
the Risk Management Agency; and
``(II) the 5-year average of any
acreage on the farm that was prevented
from planting to 1 or more covered
commodities during the 2018 through
2022 crop years because of drought,
flood, or other natural disaster, or
other condition beyond the control of
the producers, as determined by the
Secretary, according to records
submitted to the Farm Service Agency or
the Risk Management Agency; and
``(ii) the number of base acres for covered
commodities on the farm.
``(B) Limitations.--
``(i) Maximum.--Not more than 160 base
acres shall be added to any farm under
paragraph (2).
``(ii) Prohibition on reconstitution of
farm.--The Secretary shall ensure that
producers on a farm do not reconstitute the
farm for the purpose of increasing the number
of base acres added to the farm under paragraph
(2).
``(C) Distribution.--Base acres added to a farm
under paragraph (2) shall be added to the base acreage
of each covered commodity on the farm in the proportion
that--
``(i) the acreage planted or prevented from
planting to the covered commodity on the farm;
bears to
``(ii) the acreage planted or prevented
from planting to all covered commodities on the
farm.
``(4) Reduction of base acres.--If an underserved farmer of
covered commodities on a farm for which base acres have been
increased under paragraph (2) does not own or operate the farm
for any of the 2025 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary
shall reduce the number of base acres on the farm eligible for
payment for that crop year by the number of base acres added to
the farm under paragraph (2), in the same proportion among
covered commodities on the farm described in paragraph
(3)(C).'';
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``and any addition of base acres under subsection (b)'' after
``subsection (a)'';
(4) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and any
addition of base acres under subsection (b)'' after
``subsection (a)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``subsection
(b)(1)(C)'' and inserting ``subsection (c)(1)(C)''; and
(5) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(3)(A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 1103. PAYMENT YIELDS.
Section 1113 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9013) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and all that follows through ``In the
case'' in paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``(b) Oilseeds Designated After Certain Date.--In the case''; and
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Effect of Lack of Payment Yield.--In the case of a covered
commodity on a farm for which base acres have been established, if no
payment yield is otherwise established for the covered commodity on the
farm, the payment yield shall be equal to the greater of--
``(1) 90 percent of the average of the yield per planted
acre for the crop of covered commodities on the farm for the
most recent 5 crop years, as determined by the Secretary,
excluding any crop year in which the acreage planted to the
covered commodity was zero; and
``(2) the payment yields applicable to that covered
commodity for similarly situated farms, as determined by the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 1104. PAYMENT ACRES.
Section 1114 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``In the case''
and inserting ``Effective for the 2014 through 2018
crop years, in the case'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``With respect to'' and
inserting ``Effective for the 2014 through 2018 crop
years, with respect to''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``When generic
base acres'' and inserting ``Effective for the 2014
through 2018 crop years, when generic base acres''; and
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, fava
beans,'' after ``mung beans''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, fava
beans,'' after ``mung beans''.
SEC. 1105. PRODUCER ELECTION.
Section 1115 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9015) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Continuity of Elected Coverage.--For the 2025 crop year and
each crop year thereafter, the elected coverage in effect under this
section for the previous crop year shall apply to a farm until a crop
year for which an election change is made with respect to the farm
under subsection (h).
``(j) Special Rule for 2023 and 2024 Crop Years.--If the producers
on the farm elected price loss coverage under section 1116 or
agriculture risk coverage under section 1117(b)(1), or were deemed to
have elected such coverage, for the 2023 and 2024 crops years,
notwithstanding such election, the producers on the farm shall be
deemed to have elected the coverage with the higher payment rate for
each of the 2023 and 2024 crop years.''.
SEC. 1106. PRICE LOSS COVERAGE.
Section 1116 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``make the election'' and all that follows
through ``subsection (c)(2) of such section,'' and
inserting ``have elected or have been deemed to have
elected price loss coverage under section 1115,''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2024''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2024''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) 2025 through 2029 crop years.--For the 2025
through 2029 crop years, the payment rate shall be
equal to the lesser of--
``(i) the difference between--
``(I) the effective reference price
for the covered commodity; and
``(II) the effective price
determined under subsection (b) for the
covered commodity; and
``(ii) 15 percent of the effective
reference price.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(ii) by striking ``If price loss coverage''
and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--If price loss coverage''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Adjustment for 2024 through 2029 crop years.--For the
2024 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary shall make an
appropriate adjustment in the price loss coverage payment
amount determined under paragraph (1) by subtracting from the
payment amount any portion of the payment amount that would
have been included in subparagraph (A)(i)(II)(cc),
(B)(i)(II)(cc), (C)(i)(I)(bb)(BB), or (C)(ii)(I)(bb) of section
1503(e)(1) but for the timing of the price loss coverage
payment.''; and
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``If the Secretary'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), if the
Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Availability of partial payments.--
``(A) In general.--If, before the end of the 12-
month marketing year for a covered commodity for any of
the 2024 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary
projects that price loss coverage payments will be
required for the crop of the covered commodity, the
Secretary shall give producers on a farm the option to
receive partial payments of the price loss coverage
payments to be made for that crop of the covered
commodity.
``(B) Time for partial payments.--When the
Secretary makes partial payments available under
subparagraph (A) for a covered commodity, the partial
payment shall be made beginning February 1, or as soon
as practicable thereafter, after the beginning of the
applicable marketing year for the covered commodity.
``(C) Amount of partial payments.--The partial
payments under subparagraph (A) to the producers on a
farm may not exceed 50 percent of the projected price
loss coverage payment for the covered commodity for the
crop year, as determined by the Secretary.
``(D) Repayment.--The producers on a farm that
receive a partial payment under subparagraph (A) for a
crop year shall repay to the Secretary the amount, if
any, by which the partial payments received by the
producers on a farm exceed the actual price loss
coverage payments to be made for the covered commodity
for that crop year.''.
SEC. 1107. AGRICULTURE RISK COVERAGE.
Section 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9017) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)--
(A) by striking ``make the election under section
1115(a) to obtain agriculture risk coverage,'' and
inserting ``have elected or have been deemed to have
elected agriculture risk coverage under section
1115,''; and
(B) by striking ``years or the 2019 through 2023
crop years,'' and inserting ``years, the 2019 through
2023 crop years, or the 2024 through 2029 crop
years,'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``The agriculture'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) 2014 through 2023 crop years.--For the 2014
through 2023 crop years, the agriculture''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) 2024 through 2029 crop years.--For the 2024
through 2029 crop years, the agriculture risk coverage
guarantee for a crop year for a covered commodity shall
equal 88 percent of the benchmark revenue.'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(C), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029'';
(C) in paragraph (4)(B)--
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(D) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029'';
(3) in subsection (d)(1), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B)(i) for the 2014 through 2023 crop years, 10
percent of the benchmark revenue for the applicable
crop year; or
``(ii) for the 2024 and subsequent crop years, 12.5
percent of the benchmark revenue for the applicable
crop year.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(ii) by striking ``If agriculture risk
coverage'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--If agriculture risk coverage''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Adjustment for 2024 through 2029 crop years.--For the
2024 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary shall make an
appropriate adjustment in the agriculture risk coverage payment
amount determined under paragraph (1) by subtracting from the
payment amount any portion of the payment amount that would
have been included in subparagraph (A)(i)(II)(cc),
(B)(i)(II)(cc), (C)(i)(I)(bb)(BB), or (C)(ii)(I)(bb) of section
1503(e)(1) but for the timing of the agriculture risk coverage
payment.'';
(5) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking ``If the Secretary'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), if the
Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Availability of partial payments.--
``(A) In general.--If, before the end of the 12-
month marketing year for a covered commodity for any of
the 2024 through 2029 crop years, the Secretary
projects that agriculture risk coverage payments will
be required for the crop of the covered commodity, the
Secretary shall give producers on a farm the option to
receive partial payments of the agriculture risk
coverage payments to be made for that crop of the
covered commodity.
``(B) Time for partial payments.--When the
Secretary makes partial payments available under
subparagraph (A) for a covered commodity, the partial
payment shall be made beginning February 1, or as soon
as practicable thereafter, after the beginning of the
applicable marketing year for the covered commodity.
``(C) Amount of partial payments.--The partial
payments under subparagraph (A) to the producers on a
farm may not exceed 50 percent of the projected
agriculture risk coverage payment for the covered
commodity for the crop year, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(D) Repayment.--The producers on a farm that
receive a partial payment under subparagraph (A) for a
crop year shall repay to the Secretary the amount, if
any, by which the partial payments received by the
producers on a farm exceed the actual agriculture risk
coverage payments to be made for the covered commodity
for that crop year.'';
(6) in subsection (g)(5), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029'';
and
(7) in subsection (i)(5), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle B--Marketing Loans
SEC. 1201. LOAN RATES.
(a) In General.--Section 1202 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9032) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2024''; and
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2024'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) 2025 and Subsequent Crop Years.--Beginning with the 2025 crop
year, the Secretary shall establish a loan rate for a marketing
assistance loan under section 1201 for a loan commodity equal to the
lesser of--
``(1) an amount equal to 110 percent of the loan rate for
the loan commodity described in subsection (b); and
``(2) an amount equal to the greater of--
``(A) the loan rate for the loan commodity
described in subsection (b); and
``(B) the sum obtained by adding--
``(i) the loan rate for the loan commodity
described in subsection (b); and
``(ii) the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(I) the loan rate for the loan
commodity described in subsection (b);
and
``(II) using data calculated and
published by the Economic Research
Service in the annual Farm Sector
Income Forecast as first released for
the applicable crop year, the quotient
obtained by dividing--
``(aa) the difference
between--
``(AA) the
forecasted crop input
expenses (including
interest, labor,
property taxes, seed,
fertilizer and lime,
fuel, oil, electricity,
pesticides, and net
rent to landowners) for
the applicable crop
year; and
``(BB) the average
of the crop input
expenses for the 5-year
period immediately
preceding the
applicable crop year;
by
``(bb) the average of the
crop input expenses described
in item (aa)(AA) for the 5-year
period immediately preceding
the applicable crop year.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1204(h)(1) of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9034(h)(1)) is amended by striking ``(a)(20) or
(b)(20),'' and inserting ``(a)(20), (b)(20), or (c),''.
SEC. 1202. TEXTILE MILLS.
Section 1207(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9037(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Effective beginning on August 1, 2013,''
and inserting the following:
``(A) August 2013 through july 2025.--Effective
during the period beginning on August 1, 2013, and
ending on July 31, 2025,''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Beginning august 2025.--Effective beginning
on August 1, 2025, the value of the assistance provided
under paragraph (1) shall be 4 cents per pound.''.
SEC. 1203. EXTENSIONS.
(a) Nonrecourse Marketing Assistance Loans.--Section 1201(b)(1) of
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9031(b)(1)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(b) Repayment.--Section 1204 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9034) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)(2)(B), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2030''; and
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
(c) Loan Deficiency Payments.--
(1) Extension.--Section 1205(a)(2)(B) of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9035(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(2) Payments in lieu of ldps.--Section 1206 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9036) is amended by striking
``2023'' each place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
(d) Special Competitiveness Provisions of Extra Long Staple
Cotton.--Section 1208(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9038(a)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``2024'' and inserting ``2029''.
(e) Availability of Recourse Loans.--Section 1209 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9039) is amended by striking
``2023'' each place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle C--Sugar
SEC. 1301. SUGAR POLICY.
(a) Sugar Program.--
(1) Sugarcane.--Section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(a)) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``2023 crop
years.'' and inserting ``2024 crop years; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) 24.0 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of
the 2025 through 2029 crop years.''.
(2) Sugar beets.--Section 156(b) of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(b)) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023 crop
years.'' and inserting ``2024 crop years; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) a rate that is equal to 136.5 percent of the loan
rate per pound of raw cane sugar for the applicable crop year
under subsection (a) for each of the 2025 through 2029 crop
years.''.
(3) Effective period.--Section 156(i) of the Federal
Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
7272(i)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
(b) Adjustments to Commodity Credit Corporation Storage Payment
Rates.--Section 167 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform
Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7287) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for
the 2025 crop year and each crop year thereafter, the Commodity Credit
Corporation shall establish rates for the storage of forfeited sugar in
an amount that is not less than--
``(1) in the case of refined sugar, 34 cents per
hundredweight per month; and
``(2) in the case of raw cane sugar, 27 cents per
hundredweight per month.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Subsequent'' and inserting ``Prior''; and
(B) by striking ``and subsequent'' and inserting
``through 2024''.
(c) Flexible Marketing Allotments for Sugar.--
(1) Sugar estimates.--Section 359b(a)(1) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359bb(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(2) Adjustment of marketing allotments.--Section 359c(g)(2)
of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C.
1359cc(g)(2)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), in the case''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Exception.--If the Secretary makes an upward
adjustment under paragraph (1)(A), in adjusting
allocations among beet sugar processors, the Secretary
shall give priority to beet sugar processors with
available sugar.''.
(3) Reassignment of deficits.--Section 359e(b)(2) of the
Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ee(b)(2)) is
amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``If the Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--If the Secretary''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Timing.--In carrying out subparagraph (A),
the Secretary shall--
``(i) make an initial determination
following publication of the World Agricultural
Supply and Demand Estimates approved by the
World Agricultural Outlook Board for January
that shall be applicable to the crop year for
which allotments are required; and
``(ii) provide for any reassignment under
subparagraph (A)(i) not later than 30 days
after the date on which the World Agricultural
Supply and Demand Estimates described in clause
(i) is released.''.
(4) Administration of tariff rate quotas.--Section 359k of
the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359kk) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately; and
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``Before April
1'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Secretary shall not increase the tariff-
rate quota for raw cane sugar before April 1 of each
fiscal year.
``(B) Exception.--Before April 1''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Reallocation.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), before March 1
of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallocate any
forecasted shortfall in the fulfillment of the tariff-rate
quotas for raw cane sugar established under subsection (a)(1)
for the fiscal year.
``(2) Cessation of effectiveness.--Paragraph (1) shall
cease to be in effect if--
``(A) the Agreement Suspending the Countervailing
Duty Investigation on Sugar from Mexico, signed
December 19, 2014, is terminated; and
``(B) no countervailing duty order under subtitle A
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671
et seq.) is in effect with respect to sugar from
Mexico.''.
(5) Effective period.--Section 359l(a) of the Agricultural
Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359ll(a)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle D--Dairy
SEC. 1401. DAIRY MARGIN COVERAGE.
(a) Definitions.--Section 1401 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9051) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``premium and
supreme'' before ``alfalfa'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (10) as
paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Covered production.--The term `covered production'
means the covered production elected by a participating dairy
operation under section 1406(a)(2).''.
(b) Calculation of Average Feed Cost and Actual Dairy Production
Margins.--Section 1402(a)(3) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9052(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ``premium and supreme'' before
``alfalfa'' each place it appears.
(c) Participation of Dairy Operations in Dairy Margin Coverage.--
Section 1404(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9054(b)) is
amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Election period for 2025 calendar year.--For the 2025
calendar year, the Secretary shall--
``(A) open the election period not later than March
2, 2025; and
``(B) hold that election period open for not less
than 90 days.''; and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively.
(d) Production History of Participating Dairy Operations.--Section
1405 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9055) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsections (c) and (d), with respect
to a dairy operation that was in operation for at least 1 of the full
2021, 2022, and 2023 calendar years, the production history of the
dairy operation for dairy margin coverage shall be equal to the highest
annual milk marketings of the participating dairy operation during any
1 of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 calendar years.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``In the case'' and
inserting ``Subject to subsections (c) and (d), in the
case'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``In the case'' and
inserting ``Subject to subsections (c) and (d),
in the case'';
(ii) by striking ``prior to January 1,
2014,'' and inserting ``for at least 1 of the
full 2021, 2022, and 2023 calendar years,'';
and
(iii) by inserting ``beginning after
December 31, 2023,'' after ``1 calendar year'';
and
(C) by striking paragraph (3);
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively; and
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Adjustment.--The Secretary shall adjust the production
history of a participating dairy operation determined under subsection
(a) or (b) to reflect any increase in the national average milk
production relative to the calendar year used to establish the
production history of the participating dairy operation.
``(d) Continued Applicability of Base Production History.--A
production history established for a dairy operation under subsection
(a) or (b) shall be the base production history for the dairy operation
in subsequent years (as adjusted under subsection (c)).''.
(e) Dairy Margin Coverage Payments.--Section 1406(a) of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9056(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``under
paragraph (2)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``5,000,000''
each place it appears and inserting ``6,000,000''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``annually elect'' and
inserting ``establish the covered production by annually
electing''.
(f) Premiums for Dairy Margin Coverage.--Section 1407 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``5,000,000 Pounds of Production'' and inserting
``6,000,000 Pounds of Covered Production'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``5,000,000'' and inserting
``6,000,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``production history'' and
inserting ``covered production''; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection
(g)'' and inserting ``subsection (f)'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Production in Excess of 5,000,000'' and inserting
``Covered Production in Excess of 6,000,000'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``5,000,000'' and inserting
``6,000,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``production history'' and
inserting ``covered production''; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection
(g)'' and inserting ``subsection (f)'';
(3) by striking subsection (f);
(4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (f); and
(5) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``2025 through 2029''; and
(ii) by striking ``2019.'' and inserting
``2025.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
(g) Duration.--Section 1409 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9059) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(h) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on January 1, 2025.
SEC. 1402. DAIRY PRODUCTS DONATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1431 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9071) is amended--
(1) in the section heading by striking ``milk'' and
inserting ``dairy products'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (B)
and inserting the following:
``(B) incurs expenses in donating eligible dairy
products.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``milk'' and
inserting ``dairy products to recipient individuals and
families'';
(C) striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) Eligible dairy product.--The term `eligible dairy
product' means a product primarily made from milk, including
fluid milk, that is produced and processed in the United
States.'';
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as
paragraphs (3) and (2), respectively, and moving the
paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order; and
(E) by striking paragraph (5);
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Agriculture Improvement
Act of 2018'' and inserting ``Rural Prosperity
and Food Security Act of 2024''; and
(ii) by striking ``milk'' and inserting
``dairy products''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``milk'' and
inserting ``dairy products'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``milk;'' and inserting ``dairy products;
and''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C)
and inserting the following:
``(B) describes whether an emergency or disaster
was a substantial factor in the submission, including--
``(i) a declared or renewed public health
emergency under section 319 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); and
``(ii) a disaster designated by the
Secretary.''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Review and approval.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 15 days after
receiving a donation and distribution plan under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
``(i) review the donation and distribution
plan; and
``(ii) issue an approval or disapproval of
the donation and distribution plan.
``(B) Priority.--In approving and disapproving
donation and distribution plans under subparagraph
(A)(ii), the Secretary shall give priority to plans for
which an emergency or disaster was a substantial factor
in the submission, as described under paragraph
(1)(B).'';
(5) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``a participating
partnership'' and inserting ``an eligible
partnership for which the Secretary has
approved a donation and distribution plan under
subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii)''; and
(ii) by striking ``qualified expenses
described in subsection (e)'' and inserting
``expenses incurred in donating eligible dairy
products'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``to
demonstrate'' and all that follows through the period
at the end and inserting the following: ``to
demonstrate--
``(i) the production of the eligible dairy
products; and
``(ii) the donation of the eligible dairy
products to an eligible distributor.'';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4);
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Reimbursement price.--The Secretary--
``(A) shall set the price for a reimbursement under
paragraph (1) at a value that--
``(i) is representative of the cost of the
milk required to produce the eligible dairy
product;
``(ii) is between the lowest and highest of
the classes I, II, III, and IV milk prices on
the date of the production of the eligible
dairy product;
``(iii) is sufficient to reduce food waste;
and
``(iv) will not interfere with the
commercial marketing of milk or dairy products;
and
``(B) may set appropriate reimbursement prices
under subparagraph (A) for different eligible dairy
products by class and region for the purpose of--
``(i) encouraging the donation of surplus
eligible dairy products;
``(ii) facilitating the orderly marketing
of milk;
``(iii) reducing volatility relating to
significant market disruptions;
``(iv) maintaining traditional price
relationships between classes of milk; or
``(v) stabilizing on-farm milk prices.'';
and
(E) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``participating partnership'' and inserting
``eligible partnership described in paragraph (1)'';
(6) by striking subsections (e) and (f);
(7) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as
subsections (e), (f), (g), and (i), respectively;
(8) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(1), by striking ``milk'' and inserting ``dairy products''; and
(9) by inserting after subsection (g) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(h) Publication of Donation Activity.--The Secretary, acting
through the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall
publish on the publicly accessible website of the Agricultural
Marketing Service periodic reports describing donation activity under
this section.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The heading for part III of subtitle D
of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-79; 128
Stat. 695; 132 Stat. 4519) is amended by striking ``milk'' and
inserting ``dairy products''.
SEC. 1403. REAUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) Forward Pricing.--Section 1502(e) of the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8772(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``September 30, 2023''
and inserting ``December 31, 2029''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``September 30, 2027''
and inserting ``December 31, 2034''.
(b) Indemnity Program.--Section 3 of Public Law 90-484 (7 U.S.C.
4553) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(c) Promotion and Research.--Section 113(e)(2) of the Dairy
Production Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4504(e)(2)) is amended,
in the second sentence, by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 1404. RELATED PROVISIONS.
(a) Improved Data Collection for Organic Dairy.--Section 7407(b) of
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 5925c(b))
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) with respect to the collection and reporting of data
on the production and marketing of organic dairy products--
``(A) collect and publish cost-of-production data
for organic milk, through support from regional and
national programs, including regularly reported data
relating to--
``(i) the costs of major organic
feedstuffs, including--
``(I) the prices for major organic
feedstuffs produced domestically; and
``(II) the prices for imported
major organic feedstuffs; and
``(ii) all other costs relating to the
production of organic milk;
``(B) establish an Organic All Milk Prices Survey
conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics
Service for the purpose of gathering and reporting
monthly data relating to the prices organic dairy
farmers are paid for organic milk and prices received
for organic dairy cows, including--
``(i) national data; and
``(ii) data relating to, at a minimum, the
6 regions with the greatest quantity of organic
dairy production; and
``(C) periodically report on organic milk, under
which the Secretary, using data collected by the
National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Economic
Research Service, or the Agricultural Marketing
Service, shall publish periodic reports relating to
data for organic milk, which shall be equivalent to
data reported for conventionally produced milk.''.
(b) Mandatory Reporting for Dairy Products.--Section 273 of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1637b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) for each manufacturer required to report
under subparagraph (A) for any product, require that
manufacturer to report production cost and product
yield information, as determined by the Secretary, for
all products processed in the same facility or
facilities; and
``(D) require any manufacturer of such other dairy
products as determined by the Secretary to report
production cost and product yield information in the
same manner as under subparagraph (C), for the purpose
of providing information for the regulatory or
administrative establishment of pricing rules.''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Electronic Reporting'' and inserting ``Reporting'';
(B) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``this
section'' each place it appears and inserting
``subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Dairy product processing costs.--Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and every
2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report
containing the information obtained under subparagraphs (C) and
(D) of subsection (b)(1).''.
Subtitle E--Supplemental and Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance
Programs
SEC. 1501. DEFINITIONS; CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Definitions.--Section 1501 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9081) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (iii) through
(v) as clauses (iv) through (vi), respectively;
and
(ii) by inserting after clause (ii) the
following:
``(iii) an alien who has applied for
employment authorization and is authorized to
accept employment pursuant to section
274a.12(c)(33) of title 8, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation);''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)(G), by striking ``livestock,''
and inserting ``livestock (including unweaned
livestock),'';
(2) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through ``section:'' in the matter preceding
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1501. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and inserting the following:
``SEC. 1502. SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Livestock Indemnity Payments.--''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Subtitle E of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.) is amended, in the subtitle heading, by
inserting ``and Emergency'' after ``Supplemental''.
(2) Section 1502 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (as
designated by subsection (a)(3)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as
subsections (b) through (e), respectively;
(B) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in
paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (b) or (c)''
and inserting ``subsection (a) or (b)''; and
(C) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), in
paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection (c)'' and
inserting ``subsection (b)''.
(3) Section 12512(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (7 U.S.C. 5856(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``1501(c)'' and inserting
``1502(b)''; and
(B) by striking ``(7 U.S.C. 9081(c))''.
SEC. 1502. SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Livestock Indemnity Program.--Section 1502(a) of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (as designated by section 1501(a)(3)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``during the time of the year that the
livestock death losses occurred'' after ``normal mortality'';
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) Payment rates.--
``(A) In general.--Indemnity payments to an
eligible producer on a farm under paragraph (1) shall
be made at a rate of the applicable percentage
described in subparagraph (B) of the market value of
the affected livestock, as determined under
subparagraph (C), on, as applicable--
``(i) the day before the date of death of
the livestock; or
``(ii) the day before the date of the event
that caused the harm to the livestock that
resulted in a reduced sale price.
``(B) Percentages.--The percentage referred to in
subparagraph (A) is--
``(i) in the case of a payment under
paragraph (1)(A), 100 percent; or
``(ii) in the case of a payment under
subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), 75
percent.
``(C) Determination of market values.--The
Secretary shall determine the market value of the
affected livestock under subparagraph (A)--
``(i) in consultation with the Agricultural
Marketing Service; and
``(ii) based on quarterly estimates of
market values.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Weight categories.--For the purposes of establishing
weight categories to carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall establish categories with weights not less than those
described in section 1416.302 of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this
paragraph), with respect to livestock described in section
1501(4)(A).
``(6) Normal mortality for honey bees.--In determining
honey bee normal mortality, the Secretary shall not include
losses caused by colony collapse disorder.''.
(b) Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised
Fish.--Section 1502(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (as
designated by section 1501(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``reduce
losses'' and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``reduce--
``(A) losses caused by feed or water shortages
(including, in the case of drought, transportation
costs for feed, water, livestock, and honey bees),
disease, or other factors, as determined by the
Secretary, including inspections of cattle tick fever;
and
``(B) winter stockpile grazing losses.''.
(c) Tree Assistance Program.--Section 1502(d) of the Agricultural
Act of 2014 (as designated by section 1501(b)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
biennial'' after ``annual'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or pest''
after ``insect''; and
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``bush, and
vine'' and inserting ``a bush, a vine, and any other
fruit-producing crop that is not planted on an annual
basis, as determined by the Secretary'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by inserting ``carry out this subsection
and'' before ``provide''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``15 percent
(adjusted for normal mortality)'' and inserting
``normal mortality'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``(4) and (5)'' and inserting ``(4), (5), and
(6)'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking ``15
percent mortality (adjusted for normal mortality)'' and
inserting ``normal mortality''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``15 percent
damage or mortality (adjusted for normal tree damage
and mortality)'' and inserting ``normal tree damage or
mortality''; and
(4) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
``(5) Payment rate for covered producers.--Subject to
paragraph (4), in the case of a covered producer, the Secretary
shall provide reimbursement of 75 percent of the costs under
subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of paragraph (3).
``(6) Timing requirements.--An eligible orchardist or
nursery tree grower shall agree, as a condition on receipt of
assistance under this subsection, to carry out any replacement
and rehabilitation activities for which such assistance is
provided not later than--
``(A) 2 years after the receipt of such assistance;
or
``(B) if the period specified in subparagraph (A)
is not adequate, such time as is determined by the
Secretary.
``(7) Alternatives used in replanting.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible orchardist or
nursery tree grower receiving assistance under this
subsection with respect to tree loss may, with the
approval of the Secretary, use such assistance to
replant using--
``(i) an alternative variety from the
variety used prior to the loss;
``(ii) an alternative crop from the crop
planted prior to the loss;
``(iii) an alternative stand density from
the stand density used prior to the loss; and
``(iv) an alternative location from the
location used prior to the loss.
``(B) Cost share limitations with respect to
alternatives.--The assistance provided by the Secretary
to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers--
``(i) for a use described in subparagraph
(A)(i) shall be in an amount that is not
greater than the amount the eligible orchardist
or nursery tree grower would receive if the
eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower
replanted using the variety lost;
``(ii) for a use described in subparagraph
(A)(ii) shall be in an amount that is not
greater than the amount the eligible orchardist
or nursery tree grower would receive if the
eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower
replanted using the crop lost;
``(iii) for a use described in subparagraph
(A)(iii) shall be in an amount that is not
greater than the amount the eligible orchardist
or nursery tree grower would receive if the
eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower
replanted using the stand density lost; and
``(iv) for a use described in subparagraph
(A)(iv) shall be in an amount that is not
greater than the amount the eligible orchardist
or nursery tree grower would receive if the
eligible orchardist or nursery tree grower
replanted in the location in which the loss
occurred.''.
SEC. 1503. EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.
Subtitle E of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.)
(as amended by section 1501(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 1503. EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered crop.--The term `covered crop' means crops,
trees, bushes, and vines.
``(2) Disaster.--The term `disaster' means--
``(A) a natural disaster designated by the
Secretary under section 321(a) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1961(a));
``(B) a major disaster or emergency designated by
the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et
seq.);
``(C) a quarantine imposed by the Secretary under
the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) or the
animal quarantine laws (as defined in section 2509(f)
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (21 U.S.C. 136a(f)));
``(D) a physical loss notification by the
Administrator of the Farm Service Agency under section
759.6(a)(2) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or
a successor regulation); or
``(E) any other disruption outside of the control
of an eligible producer on a farm that results in a
significant loss of production or revenue, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(3) Expected crop revenue.--The term `expected crop
revenue' means--
``(A) in the case of covered crops insured under
Federal Crop Insurance--
``(i) the revenue used to calculate the
liability for the Federal Crop Insurance; or
``(ii) a higher amount, as determined by
the Secretary, to reflect costs of production
that exceed the insured value of the covered
crop;
``(B) in the case of covered crops covered under
the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program--
``(i) the revenue used to calculate the
liability for the coverage; or
``(ii) a higher amount, as determined by
the Secretary, to reflect costs of production
that exceed the coverage for the covered crop;
and
``(C) in the case of covered crops that are neither
insured under Federal Crop Insurance nor covered under
the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, the
expected revenue for the covered crop, as determined by
the Secretary, which the Secretary may adjust to
reflect costs of production that exceed the expected
revenue for the covered crop.
``(4) Federal crop insurance.--The term `Federal Crop
Insurance' means any crop insurance program, policy, or plan of
insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.).
``(5) Net crop insurance indemnity.--The term `net crop
insurance indemnity' means the difference between--
``(A) the indemnity paid to an eligible producer on
a farm under Federal Crop Insurance; and
``(B) the cost to the eligible producer on a farm
for that Federal Crop Insurance.
``(6) Net noninsured crop disaster assistance program
payment.--The term `net noninsured crop disaster assistance
program payment' means the difference between--
``(A) the payment received by an eligible producer
on a farm for coverage under the Noninsured Crop
Disaster Assistance Program; and
``(B) the cost to the eligible producer on a farm
for that coverage.
``(7) Noninsured crop disaster assistance program.--The
term `Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program' means the
program under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).
``(8) Qualified loss.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualified loss' means
a production or value loss in a covered crop incurred
by an eligible producer on a farm as a consequence of a
disaster.
``(B) Inclusions.--The term `qualified loss'
includes--
``(i) a loss incurred by an eligible
producer on a farm as a result of being
prevented from planting a crop due to a
disaster;
``(ii) a loss in the quality of a crop,
trees, bushes, or vines due to a disaster; and
``(iii) a loss in the quality of a crop
(including wine grapes), trees, bushes, or
vines due to smoke exposure from a wildfire.
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary shall provide payments during each crop year to
eligible producers on farms that experienced a qualified loss during
the crop year.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a payment
under this section for a crop year, an eligible producer on a
farm shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, including a description of each
qualified loss incurred by the eligible producer on a farm
during the crop year.
``(2) Approval.--The Secretary shall approve an application
submitted by an eligible producer on a farm under paragraph (1)
if the application demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Secretary that the eligible producer on a farm has incurred a
qualified loss during the applicable crop year.
``(d) Provision of Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to each
eligible producer on a farm the application of whom is approved
under subsection (c)(2) a payment for the applicable crop year,
in accordance with subsection (e).
``(2) Requirement to purchase insurance.--As a condition of
receiving a payment under this section, an eligible producer on
a farm shall purchase, for each of the 2 succeeding crop years
for each crop for which the eligible producer on a farm
received a payment--
``(A) Federal Crop Insurance, if available; or
``(B) if Federal Crop Insurance is not available,
coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance
Program.
``(e) Calculation of Payments.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection
(f), the amount of a payment provided to an eligible producer
on a farm under subsection (d)(1) shall be equal to--
``(A) in the case of a covered crop insured under
Federal Crop Insurance, the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(i) the difference between--
``(I) the share of the eligible
producer on a farm of 95 percent of the
expected crop revenue for the covered
crop for the crop year; and
``(II) the sum obtained by adding--
``(aa) the share of the
eligible producer on a farm of
the actual revenue for the
covered crop for the crop year;
``(bb) the net crop
insurance indemnity;
``(cc) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under subtitle A with respect
to the base acres on which the
covered crop was planted or
prevented from being planted;
``(dd) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
or on behalf of the eligible
producer on a farm under
subtitle B with respect to the
covered crop for the crop year;
and
``(ee) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under section 1502 for the crop
for the crop year; by
``(ii) in the case of a Federal Crop
Insurance coverage level purchased by the
eligible producer on a farm that is--
``(I) catastrophic coverage, 75
percent;
``(II) more than catastrophic
coverage and less than 55 percent
coverage, 80 percent;
``(III) not less than 55 percent
coverage and less than 60 percent
coverage, 82.5 percent;
``(IV) not less than 60 percent
coverage and less than 65 percent
coverage, 85 percent;
``(V) not less than 65 percent
coverage and less than 70 percent
coverage, 87.5 percent;
``(VI) not less than 70 percent
coverage and less than 75 percent
coverage, 90 percent;
``(VII) not less than 75 percent
coverage and less than 80 percent
coverage, 92.5 percent; or
``(VIII) not less than 80 percent
coverage, 95 percent;
``(B) in the case of a covered crop covered under
the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, the
product obtained by multiplying--
``(i) the difference between--
``(I) the share of the eligible
producer on a farm of 95 percent of the
expected crop revenue for the covered
crop for the crop year; and
``(II) the sum obtained by adding--
``(aa) the share of the
eligible producer on a farm of
the actual revenue for the
covered crop for the crop year;
``(bb) the net noninsured
crop disaster assistance
program payment;
``(cc) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under subtitle A with respect
to the base acres on which the
covered crop was planted or
prevented from being planted;
``(dd) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
or on behalf of the eligible
producer on a farm under
subtitle B with respect to the
covered crop for the crop year;
and
``(ee) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under section 1502 for the crop
for the crop year; by
``(ii) in the case of a Noninsured Crop
Disaster Assistance Program coverage level
purchased by the eligible producer on a farm
that is--
``(I) catastrophic coverage, 75
percent;
``(II) more than catastrophic
coverage and less than 60 percent
coverage, 80 percent;
``(III) not less than 60 percent
coverage and less than 70 percent
coverage, 85 percent;
``(IV) not less than 70 percent
coverage and less than 75 percent
coverage, 90 percent; or
``(V) not less than 75 percent
coverage, 95 percent; or
``(C) in the case of a covered crop that is neither
insured under Federal Crop Insurance nor covered under
the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program--
``(i) subject to clause (ii), the product
obtained by multiplying--
``(I) the difference between--
``(aa) the share of the
eligible producer on a farm of
95 percent of the expected crop
revenue for the covered crop
for the crop year; and
``(bb) the sum obtained by
adding--
``(AA) the share of
the eligible producer
on a farm of the actual
revenue for the covered
crop for the crop year;
``(BB) any payments
made to the eligible
producer on a farm
under subtitle A with
respect to the base
acres on which the
covered commodity was
planted or prevented
from being planted;
``(CC) any payments
made to the eligible
producer on a farm or
on behalf of the
eligible producer on a
farm under subtitle B
with respect to the
covered crop for the
crop year; and
``(DD) any payments
made to the eligible
producer on a farm
under section 1502 for
the crop for the crop
year; by
``(II) 70 percent; or
``(ii) if the eligible producer on a farm
is in an area that is not adequately served (as
defined in section 508(a)(7)(A) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(7)(A))) or
is an underserved producer (as defined in that
section), the product obtained by multiplying--
``(I) the sum obtained by adding--
``(aa) the share of the
eligible producer on a farm of
the actual revenue for the
covered crop for the crop year;
``(bb) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under subtitle A with respect
to the base acres on which the
covered crop was planted or
prevented from being planted;
``(cc) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
or on behalf of the eligible
producer on a farm under
subtitle B with respect to the
covered crop for the crop year;
and
``(dd) any payments made to
the eligible producer on a farm
under section 1502 for the crop
for the crop year; by
``(II) 75 percent.
``(2) Vertical integration for producers of wine grapes.--
In the case of a producer of wine grapes that uses not less
than 75 percent of the grapes to produce wine at a facility
owned by the producer, the amount of a payment provided to the
producer under subsection (d)(1) shall be calculated under
paragraph (1) based on the market rate for wine grapes at the
time of calculation, in lieu of the revenue of the producer.
``(f) Limitations.--For each crop year--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
producer on a farm may receive payments under subsection (d)(1)
in an amount equal to not more than--
``(A) $500,000 for the specialty covered crops and
high-value covered crops of the eligible producer on a
farm, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) $250,000 for the covered crops of the
eligible producer on a farm not described in
subparagraph (A).
``(2) Reduced limitations.--If the amount made available to
make payments under subsection (d)(1) for a crop year is
insufficient to pay all eligible producers on farms that are
eligible for payments under that subsection the amount
calculated under subsection (e), as limited by paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall reduce the limitations described in that
paragraph in a manner such that the maximum number of those
eligible producers on farms receive 100 percent of the amount
calculated under subsection (e).
``(g) Timing.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) estimate the percentage of qualified losses that will
be paid from the amount made available to make payments under
subsection (d)(1) for a crop year;
``(2) using the estimate under paragraph (1), provide
partial payments as soon as practicable after receipt and
approval of an application under subsection (c); and
``(3) make final payments under subsection (d)(1) for the
crop year as soon as practicable after all applications
submitted under subsection (c) have been approved, modified, or
rejected.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
``(2) Administrative costs.--Of the amount made available
under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, the Secretary may use
not more than 1 percent to pay the administrative costs of the
Secretary.''.
Subtitle F--Noninsured Crop Assistance
SEC. 1601. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``or whole farm revenue in accordance
with clause (ii)'' before ``equivalent to'';
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``65'' and
inserting ``75'';
(iii) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii)
as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(iv) in the matter preceding subclause (I)
(as so redesignated), by striking ``In the
case'' and inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--In the case''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Option for whole farm revenue
coverage for beginning farmers and ranchers.--
``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the
Secretary shall provide the option for
a beginning farmer or rancher (as
defined in section 502(b) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1502(b))), during the first 5 years of
operation of a farm or ranch, to
purchase coverage under the program
under this section for the revenue of
the entire farming or ranching
operation, similar to whole farm
revenue protection and micro farm.
``(II) Sources for revenue
guarantee.--Under the coverage provided
under subclause (I), the Secretary--
``(aa) shall prioritize the
use of farm or ranch revenue
projections from a business
plan acceptable to the lender
of the beginning farmer or
rancher; and
``(bb) may use to establish
a revenue guarantee alternative
sources of information that the
Secretary determines to be
sufficient for establishing a
revenue guarantee under a whole
farm revenue or micro farm plan
of insurance in accordance with
subsection (b)(4)(C), such as--
``(AA) financial
records of the prior
operator;
``(BB) production
contracts and records;
and
``(CC) other
sources, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(III) Ineligibility for other
policies.--A producer that obtains
coverage provided under subclause (I)
shall be ineligible to purchase a whole
farm revenue protection or micro farm
policy through the Federal crop
insurance program to cover the same
risk.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) by striking ``program that--'' in the
matter preceding clause (i) and all that
follows through ``best facilitates'' in clause
(i) and inserting the following: ``program--
``(i) to best facilitate'';
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(iii) by redesignating clause (ii) as
clause (iv);
(iv) by inserting after clause (i) the
following:
``(ii) to ensure that the data are
transferred by the Farm Service Agency and
processed by the Risk Management Agency for the
purpose of facilitating the use of historical
production records for Federal crop insurance
policies;
``(iii) to ensure that the data are
available in a non-personally-identifiable
format consistent with section 502(c) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(c))
to private developers of Federal crop insurance
policies for the purpose of creating new
Federal crop insurance policies or endorsements
or expanding the availability of an existing
Federal crop insurance policy or endorsement;
and''; and
(v) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``ensures'' and inserting ``to
ensure'';
(2) in subsection (b)(4)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Requirement.--
``(i) Definition of underserved producer.--
In this subparagraph, the term `underserved
producer' means--
``(I) a limited resource farmer or
rancher, as defined by the Secretary;
``(II) a beginning farmer or
rancher, as defined by the Secretary;
``(III) a veteran farmer or
rancher, as defined by the Secretary;
and
``(IV) a socially disadvantaged
farmer or rancher, as defined by the
Secretary.
``(ii) Requirement.--The Secretary shall
ensure that an underserved producer is
automatically offered an opportunity to enroll
in catastrophic coverage under subsection
(a)(1)(A)(i)(I) by completing an application
unless the underserved producer opts out--
``(I) at the time that the producer
is identified as an underserved
producer; or
``(II) as part of an application
for another program administered by the
Secretary.
``(C) Whole farm revenue and micro farm plans of
insurance.--In the case of diverse production systems
that are eligible under the plans described in
paragraphs (7) and (18) of section 522(c) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)), the
Secretary shall establish a streamlined process for
submission of records or acreage reports under
paragraphs (2) and (3) specifically designed to assist
producers to graduate on a voluntary basis to the whole
farm revenue or micro farm plan of insurance by
establishing the requisite actual production history
through participation in the program under this
section.'';
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Community ditches.--
``(i) Definition of community ditch.--In
this subparagraph, the term `community ditch'
means a private, unincorporated or cooperative
irrigation ditch system, including an acequia
or an unincorporated mutual ditch company.
``(ii) Causes of loss.--On making a
determination described in subsection (a)(3)
for producers that rely on a community ditch,
the Secretary shall provide assistance under
this section to those producers from all losses
suffered as a result of the causes described in
subsection (a)(3).'';
(4) in subsection (i)(2)(B), by striking ``$300,000'' and
inserting ``$1,000,000''; and
(5) in subsection (l)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)(I), by striking ``65''
and inserting ``75''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B)
and inserting the following:
``(B) in the case of additional coverage that is--
``(i) not less than 50 percent and not more
than 65 percent, the lesser of--
``(I) the sum of the premiums for
each eligible crop, with the premium
for each eligible crop obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) the number of acres
devoted to the eligible crop;
``(bb) the yield, as
determined by the Secretary
under subsection (e);
``(cc) the coverage level
elected by the producer;
``(dd) the average market
price, as determined by the
Secretary;
``(ee) a 5.25-percent
premium fee; and
``(ff) the producer's share
of the crop; and
``(II) the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) a 5.25-percent
premium fee; and
``(bb) the applicable
payment limit;
``(ii) not less than 65 percent but not
more than 70 percent, the lesser of--
``(I) the sum of the premiums for
each eligible crop, with the premium
for each eligible crop obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) the number of acres
devoted to the eligible crop;
``(bb) the yield, as
determined by the Secretary
under subsection (e);
``(cc) the coverage level
elected by the producer;
``(dd) the average market
price, as determined by the
Secretary;
``(ee) a 6.43-percent
premium fee; and
``(ff) the producer's share
of the crop; and
``(II) the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) a 6.43-percent
premium fee; and
``(bb) the applicable
payment limit; and
``(iii) not less than 70 percent but not
more than 75 percent, the lesser of--
``(I) the sum of the premiums for
each eligible crop, with the premium
for each eligible crop obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) the number of acres
devoted to the eligible crop;
``(bb) the yield, as
determined by the secretary
under subsection (e);
``(cc) the coverage level
elected by the producer;
``(dd) the average market
price, as determined by the
Secretary;
``(ee) a 6.64-percent
premium fee; and
``(ff) the producer's share
of the crop; and
``(II) the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(aa) a 6.64-percent
premium fee; and
``(bb) the applicable
payment limit.'';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Premium reduction.--The premium amount determined for
a producer under paragraph (2) shall be reduced by the same
percentage as the percentage reduction in payments for the crop
year under a sequestration order issued under the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901
et seq.) or the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C.
931 et seq.).''.
Subtitle G--Administration
SEC. 1701. REGULATIONS.
Section 1601(c)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9091(c)(2)) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and section 10109 of that Act'' and inserting ``section
10109 of that Act, and title I of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024 and the amendments made by that title''.
SEC. 1702. SUSPENSION OF PERMANENT PRICE SUPPORT AUTHORITY.
Section 1602 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9092) is
amended by striking ``2023'' each place it appears and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 1703. INELIGIBILITY OF LAND OWNED BY FOREIGN PERSONS FOR PROGRAM
BENEFITS.
(a) In General.--Section 1001C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-3) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``United States or'' and inserting
``United States,'';
(B) by inserting ``, or an alien who has applied
for employment authorization and is authorized to
accept employment pursuant to section 274a.12(c)(33) of
title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation),'' after ``(8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)''; and
(C) by striking ``, unless such person is an
individual who is providing land, capital, and a
substantial amount of personal labor in the production
of crops on such farm''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Land Owned by Foreign Persons.--
``(1) In general.--A person or legal entity shall not be
eligible to receive any payment under section 1116 or 1117 of
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016, 9017) with respect
to land that is owned by--
``(A) any person who is not--
``(i) a citizen of the United States;
``(ii) an alien lawfully admitted into the
United States for permanent residence under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101
et seq.); or
``(iii) an alien who has applied for
employment authorization and is authorized to
accept employment pursuant to section
274a.12(c)(33) of title 8, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation); or
``(B) a corporation or other entity more than 10
percent of the beneficial ownership of which is held by
persons described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Proportionate ownership.--Notwithstanding paragraph
(1), with respect to land determined to be ineligible for
payments under that paragraph, the Secretary may make payments
under sections 1116 and 1117 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9016, 9017) in an amount determined by the Secretary to
be representative of the percentage interests of the land that
is owned by--
``(A) citizens of the United States;
``(B) aliens lawfully admitted into the United
States for permanent residence under the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.); or
``(C) aliens who have applied for employment
authorization and are authorized to accept employment
pursuant to section 274a.12(c)(33) of title 8, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
beginning with the 2025 crop, fiscal, or marketing year, as
appropriate.
SEC. 1704. ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITATION.
(a) In General.--Section 1001D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308-3a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``In this
section,'' and inserting ``Except as otherwise provided
in this subsection, in this section,''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Adjustment.--Any income received by a person or legal
entity that is a landowner of eligible land (as defined in
section 1265A) as compensation for the purchase of an
agricultural land easement or a wetland reserve easement on
that eligible land under subtitle H of title XII shall be
excluded from adjusted gross income for purposes of this
section for the taxable year for which the person or legal
entity receives such compensation.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraphs (1) through
(3) and inserting the following:
``(1) Commodity policy.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a person or legal entity shall not be
eligible to receive a payment or benefit under subtitle
A of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9011 et seq.) for a crop year if the average adjusted
gross income of the person or legal entity exceeds
$700,000.
``(B) Land.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, a person or legal entity (except an underserved
farmer of covered commodities (as defined in subsection
(b)(1) of section 1112 of the Agricultural Act of 2014
(7 U.S.C. 9012))) shall not be eligible to receive a
payment or benefit under subtitle A of title I of that
Act (7 U.S.C. 9011 et seq.) for a crop year with
respect to land that is owned by a person or legal
entity the average adjusted gross income of which
exceeds $700,000.
``(2) Marketing assistance loan benefits.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, a person or legal entity shall not
be eligible to receive a marketing loan gain, a loan deficiency
payment, or a certificate in lieu of a cash payment under
subtitle B of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9031 et seq.) for a crop or marketing year, as appropriate, if
the average adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity
exceeds $700,000.
``(3) Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance
programs.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C), notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a person or legal entity shall not be
eligible to receive a payment or benefit under subtitle
E of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9081) for a fiscal year if the average adjusted gross
income of the person or legal entity exceeds $700,000.
``(B) Specialty and high-value crops.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person or
legal entity that produces specialty or high-value
crops, as determined by the Secretary, shall not be
eligible for a payment or benefit under subtitle E of
title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081)
for a fiscal year if the average adjusted gross income
of the person or legal entity exceeds $1,500,000.
``(C) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
limitation established by subparagraph (A) or (B) with
respect to a person or legal entity that is an
economically distressed producer, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(4) Conservation benefits.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C), notwithstanding any other
provision of law, if the average adjusted gross income
of a person or legal entity exceeds $700,000, the
person or legal entity shall not be eligible to receive
a payment or benefit for a fiscal year under--
``(i) title II of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334;
132 Stat. 4530);
``(ii) title II of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (Public Law 113-79; 128 Stat. 713);
``(iii) title II of the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122
Stat. 1753);
``(iv) title II of the Farm Security and
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-
171; 116 Stat. 223); or
``(v) title XII of this Act.
``(B) Specialty and high-value crops.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person or
legal entity that produces specialty or high-value
crops, as determined by the Secretary, shall not be
eligible to receive a payment or benefit under any
provision of law described in clauses (i) through (v)
of subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year if the average
adjusted gross income of the person or legal entity
exceeds $1,500,000.
``(C) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
limitation established by subparagraph (A) or (B), on a
case-by-case basis, if the Secretary determines that
environmentally sensitive land of special significance
would be protected as a result of such waiver.
``(5) Agricultural management assistance.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, a person or legal entity shall not
be eligible to receive a payment or benefit under section
524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(b)) for
a fiscal year if the average adjusted gross income of the
person or legal entity exceeds $700,000.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``Secretary that
the average'' and inserting the
following: ``Secretary that--
``(i) the average''; and
(II) by striking ``subsection; or''
in clause (i) (as so designated) and
inserting the following: ``subsection;
and
``(ii) in the case of payments received by
the person or legal entity under subtitle A of
title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9011 et seq.), the average adjusted
gross income of the person or legal entity that
owns the land with respect to which the
payments are provided does not exceed the
limitation specified in subsection (b)(1)(B);
or''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``described in clause (i) or (ii), as
applicable, of subparagraph (A)'' after
``person or legal entity''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection
(b)(2)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--In the case'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by
striking ``subsection (b)(2) made in'' and inserting
``subsection (b) made for''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Applicability to land limitation.--In the case of a
payment or benefit described in subsection (b)(1)(B) made for a
crop year to a person or legal entity, in addition to any
reduction under paragraph (1), the amount of the payment shall
be reduced by an amount that is commensurate with the direct
and indirect ownership interest in the applicable land of each
person or legal entity that has an average adjusted gross
income in excess of the limitation specified in that
subsection.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1001(e)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7
U.S.C. 1308(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``paragraphs (1)(C)
and (2)(B) of section 1001D(b)'' and inserting ``section
1001D(b)''.
(2) Section 1240H(c)(3)(B)(i) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8(c)(3)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by striking ``1001D(b)(1)'' and
inserting ``1001D(b)(4)''.
(3) Section 1241(i)(2)(C) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3841(i)(2)(C)) is amended by striking
``1001D(b)(3)'' and inserting ``1001D(b)(4)(B)''.
(4) Section 1271B(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3871b(f)) is amended by striking ``1001D(b)(1)'' and
inserting ``1001D(b)(4)''.
(5) Section 1271C(c)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3871c(c)(3)) is amended by striking ``1001D(b)(2)''
and inserting ``1001D(b)(4)''.
(6) Section 196(i) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(i)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (4);
(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(4); and
(C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), in
subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``through 1001D'' and
inserting ``through 1001C''; and
(ii) by striking ``1308 et seq.'' and
inserting ``1308 through 1308-3''.
(7) Section 2507(c)(2)(E) of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb-6(c)(2)(E)) is
amended--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) benefits under section 196 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).''.
(c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
beginning with the 2025 crop, fiscal, or marketing year, as
appropriate.
SEC. 1705. FARM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATION.
Section 1614 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9097) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``as adjusted pursuant
to sections 1112 and 1113'' and inserting ``as adjusted,
increased, or reduced pursuant to sections 1112 and 1113'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) direct the Farm Service Agency to engage with the
Office of Customer Service and the Office of Digital Services
to facilitate efforts under this subsection.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``pursuant 2 U.S.C.
901(a)'' and inserting ``pursuant to section
251(a) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C.
901(a))''; and
(ii) by striking ``such sums as'' and
inserting ``such sums as are''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``repayment provisions of
subtitles B or C'' and inserting ``provisions
of subtitles B and C relating to repayment'';
and
(ii) by striking ``under subtitles B or C''
and inserting ``under subtitle B or C''; and
(4) in subsection (f), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 1706. LEGAL ENTITIES.
Section 1001(a)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
1308(a)(3)) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``Federal or State law'' and inserting ``Federal, State, or
Tribal law''.
SEC. 1707. GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
Section 1621(c)(3)(B) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8792(c)(3)(B)) is amended by striking ``$15,000,000''
and inserting ``$20,000,000''.
SEC. 1708. LIMITATION ON COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 5 of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c), during fiscal years 2025
through 2030, the Commodity Credit Corporation is authorized to use its
general powers only to carry out operations as Congress may
specifically authorize or provide for.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall be
construed to impact funds obligated or transferred to the Secretary
before the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Scoring.--For purposes of preparing a cost estimate of this
section, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office shall assume
that the discretionary spending under section 5 of the Commodity Credit
Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c) for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2033 shall be equal to $6,700,000,000.
Subtitle H--Emergency Assistance
SEC. 1801. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
(a) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the
Secretary shall use to carry out this section $2,000,000,000 for fiscal
year 2025 to reimburse producers for not more than $20,000 of--
(1) premiums paid by a producer under a policy or plan of
insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.) for the 2024 reinsurance year;
(2) fees paid by a producer under the noninsured crop
disaster assistance program established by section 196 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7
U.S.C. 7333) for the 2024 crop year; or
(3) a combination thereof.
(b) Special Rule for Program Interaction.--The Secretary shall
include any amounts received by a producer under subsection (a) in
determining the net crop insurance indemnity or the net noninsured crop
disaster assistance program payment for emergency relief program
payments under section 1503 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 for the
2024 crop year.
TITLE II--CONSERVATION
SEC. 2001. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3801(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (15), (16), (17), (18),
(19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), and (27) as
paragraphs (16), (17), (18), (20), (21), (24), (25), (26),
(27), (28), (29), (31), and (32), respectively;
(2) by striking paragraph (14) and inserting the following:
``(14) Indian land; tribal land.--The terms `Indian land'
and `Tribal land' mean land that is--
``(A) held in trust by the United States for the
benefit of an Indian Tribe or one or more individual
members of an Indian Tribe;
``(B) held by an Indian Tribe or one or more
individual members of an Indian Tribe, subject to a
restriction against alienation or encumbrance by
operation of Federal law;
``(C) held in fee by an Indian Tribe or one or more
individual members of an Indian Tribe;
``(D) Hawaiian Home Lands (as defined in section
801 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4221));
``(E) held by a majority-owned Tribal entity or
corporation that provides services consistent with the
purposes of a program established under this title; or
``(F) any combination of the types of land
described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
``(15) Indian tribe.--The terms `Indian tribe' and `Indian
Tribe' mean any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation,
pueblo, village, community, component band, or component
reservation, individually identified (including
parenthetically) in the list published pursuant to section 104
of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25
U.S.C. 5131).'';
(3) by inserting after paragraph (18) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(19) Native Hawaiian organization.--The term `Native
Hawaiian organization' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).'';
(4) by inserting after paragraph (21) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(22) Precision agriculture.--The term `precision
agriculture' means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or
livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer,
chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial
and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste,
and maintain environmental quality.
``(23) Precision agriculture technology.--The term
`precision agriculture technology' means any technology
(including equipment that is necessary for the deployment of
such technology) that directly contributes to a reduction in,
or improved efficiency of, inputs used in crop or livestock
production, which may include seed, feed, fertilizer,
chemicals, water, and time.''; and
(5) by inserting after paragraph (29) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(30) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).''.
Subtitle A--Wetland Conservation
SEC. 2101. MITIGATION BANKING.
Section 1222(k)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3822(k)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year
thereafter''.
Subtitle B--Conservation Reserve Program (including Farmable Wetland
Program)
SEC. 2201. CONSERVATION RESERVE.
(a) In General.--Section 1231(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3831(a)) is amended by striking ``Through the 2023 fiscal
year, the'' and inserting ``The''.
(b) Eligible Land.--Section 1231(b) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018'' and inserting ``the Rural Prosperity
and Food Security Act of 2024'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``rangeland and
pastureland)'' and inserting ``rangeland, pastureland, and
pastureland devoted to silvopasture, as determined by the
Secretary)'';
(3) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii), by inserting ``, prairie
strip, or filterstrip'' after ``contour grass sod strip'';
(4) in paragraph (6)(B)(ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(5) in paragraph (7)(C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) cropland, marginal pastureland, grasslands, and other
rural land that will--
``(A) have a positive impact on water quality in
furtherance of the goals of the Conservation Reserve
Enhancement Program established by the Secretary under
section 1231A; and
``(B) be devoted to a riparian buffer; or
``(9) land that is otherwise eligible for enrollment and
for which a Tribal, State, or local government law, ordinance,
or regulation requires any resource-conserving or environmental
protection measure or practice, unless the requirement to
implement such a measure or practice has been imposed by an
administrative order or a court order, in which case that land
shall not be eligible for enrollment.''.
(c) Enrollment.--Section 1231(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3831(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through
(E) and inserting the following:
``(A) fiscal years 2025 through 2027, not more than
27,500,000 acres;
``(B) fiscal year 2028, not more than 28,000,000
acres; and
``(C) fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year
thereafter, not more than 29,000,000 acres.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i)--
(I) by striking ``2,000,000'' and
inserting ``10,000,000''; and
(II) by striking ``2023; and'' and
inserting ``2029;''; and
(ii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting
the following:
``(ii) in carrying out clause (i), to the
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall
maintain in the conservation reserve at any one
time during--
``(I) fiscal year 2025, 7,000,000
acres;
``(II) fiscal year 2026, 8,500,000
acres; and
``(III) fiscal year 2027 and each
fiscal year thereafter, 10,000,000
acres; and
``(iii) in carrying out clause (i), the
Secretary may maintain in the conservation
reserve at any time during fiscal year 2025 and
each fiscal year thereafter not more than
12,000,000 acres.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(iii) in clause (iii)(III), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) that comprises native grasslands.'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``establish a
Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative
to'' after ``Secretary shall''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``40
percent'' and inserting ``45 percent'';
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``each of fiscal years
2019 through 2023'' each place it appears and inserting
``fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter''; and
(5) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i)--
(I) in subclause (II), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following:
``(IV) land that will be enrolled
under the State acres for wildlife
enhancement practice established by the
Secretary;'';
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) the farmable wetland program under
section 1231B; and
``(iv) the CLEAR 30 and soil health and
income protection programs under subsections
(a) and (b), respectively, of section 1231C.'';
and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)(IV), by striking
``fiscal years 2022 and 2023'' and inserting
``fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year
thereafter''.
(d) Duration of Contract.--Section 1231(e)(2) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(e)(2)) is amended by inserting ``riparian
buffers, forest farming,'' after ``windbreaks,''.
(e) Multi-Year Grasses and Legumes.--Section 1231(g)(2) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(g)(2)) is amended by inserting
``and other multi-year grasses and legumes'' after ``Alfalfa''.
(f) Eligibility for Consideration.--Section 1231(h) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), by inserting ``and
windbreaks'' after ``shelterbelts''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Land with grazing infrastructure.--On the expiration
of a contract entered into under this subchapter that covers
land that includes grazing infrastructure established with cost
sharing assistance under section 1234(b)(1)(B)--
``(A) the Secretary shall consider that land to be
planted for purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B); and
``(B) that land shall be eligible for reenrollment
in the conservation reserve, subject to the
requirements of this subchapter.''.
(g) Balance of Natural Resource Purposes.--Section 1231(i) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831(i)) is amended by striking
``and wildlife habitat'' and inserting ``drought resilience, wildlife
habitat, and climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience''.
SEC. 2202. CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 1231A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831a) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (C) and
inserting the following:
``(C) an Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization;
``(D) a Native Hawaiian organization; or'';
(B) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``(other than an
agreement described in subsection (e))'' after ``this
subchapter'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)(vi), by inserting ``or
other appropriate practices, such as dryland
agricultural uses and grazing,'' after ``conservation
practices''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Updates to existing agreements.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
provide an option to signatories to an
agreement under this subsection to update the
agreement, without renegotiating other
provisions of the agreement, to include new
incentives made available under this subchapter
beginning on January 1, 2018, such as riparian
forest buffer management payments.
``(ii) Matching funds.--Requirements for
matching funds described in paragraph (2)(B)
shall not apply to the updates to an agreement
described in clause (i).'';
(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Drought and water conservation agreements.--
``(A) Retirement of water rights.--In the case of
an agreement described in subsection (e) that includes
a permanent retirement of water rights, the payment
rates for annual payments shall be equal to the
irrigated acre payment rates determined by the
Secretary.
``(B) Dryland agricultural uses.--In the case of an
agreement described in subsection (e) that permits
dryland agricultural uses pursuant to paragraph (2) of
that subsection, the payment rates for annual payments
shall be equal to the difference between--
``(i) the irrigated acre payment rates
determined by the Secretary; and
``(ii) the dryland acre payment rates
determined by the Secretary.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``through the long-term
reduction of consumptive water use, as measured
by an evapotranspiration data program or other
monitoring tools'' after ``regional drought
concerns''; and
(ii) by striking ``may'' and inserting
``shall'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(including
agricultural land on which a continuous crop or crop
rotation is maintained)'' after ``agricultural land'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``with the adoption of best
management practices on'' and inserting ``in
accordance with a conservation plan adopted
with respect to''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``subject to subsection
(c)(5),'' before ``calculate''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) provide financial support for an eligible partner to
develop and deploy monitoring tools for measuring the reduction
in consumptive water use, at the discretion of the Secretary;
``(5) notwithstanding section 1234(b)(5), consider funds
contributed by another Federal agency as part of a matching
contribution required from an eligible partner under subsection
(b)(2)(B) and described in subsection (c)(1);
``(6) accept, in lieu of the conservation plan of the
Secretary, the conservation plan of an eligible partner with an
owner or operator with respect to land enrolled under a CREP,
at the discretion of the Secretary; and
``(7) limit the number of acres added as enrolled under
this subsection to not more than 100,000 acres for the period
of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''; and
(5) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) any activity under subsection (e), including--
``(A) any obstacles to finalizing an agreement in
accordance with that subsection and any recommendations
to address those obstacles; and
``(B) any innovations from a CREP that advance the
purposes of subsection (e).''.
SEC. 2203. FARMABLE WETLAND PROGRAM.
Section 1231B(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3831b(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``the 2008 through 2023 fiscal
years'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year
thereafter''.
SEC. 2204. SPECIAL PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3831c) is amended by striking the section heading and inserting
``special programs.''.
(b) CLEAR 30.--Section 1231C(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3831c(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``pilot'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking
``Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018'' and
inserting ``Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``priority
described in section 1231(d)(3) (or the
predecessor practices that constitute the
priority'' and inserting ``initiative described
in section 1231(d)(3) (or predecessor practices
that provided similar priority''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Transfer.--Prior to the expiration of a
covered contract, an owner or operator party to the
covered contract may elect to terminate the contract
and to enroll that land through a CLEAR 30 contract
under this subsection.'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) Eligible land.--Eligible land for enrollment through
a CLEAR 30 contract is--
``(A) land under a covered contract; or
``(B) any eligible land described in section
1231(d)(3).'';
(4) in paragraph (8)(B), by striking ``or Indian Tribe''
and inserting ``Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization''; and
(5) in paragraph (9)(B)(i)--
(A) in the clause heading, by inserting ``Tribal,''
after ``State,''; and
(B) by inserting ``Tribal,'' after ``State,''.
(c) Soil Health and Income Protection Program.--Section 1231C(b) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831c(b)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Pilot'';
(2) by striking ``pilot'' each place it appears;
(3) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)--
(A) by striking subclause (I) and inserting the
following:
``(I) is in a location in which the
program established under this
subsection can be carried out in a
manner such that the amount of rental
payments made under a contract entered
into under this subsection is less than
the total amount of commodity payments,
crop insurance indemnities, and crop
insurance subsidies that would
otherwise be provided with respect to
the acres to be enrolled in the
program;''; and
(B) in subclause (III)--
(i) by striking ``verified to be''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, as determined by the
owner or operator'' before the period at the
end;
(4) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking the paragraph designation and
heading and all that follows through ``The Secretary''
in subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(5) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking subclause (II) and
inserting the following:
``(II) except as provided in
subparagraph (E), of the actual cost of
establishment of the conserving use
cover crop under subclause (I)--
``(aa) using the funds of
the Commodity Credit
Corporation, the Secretary
shall pay 50 percent; and
``(bb) the owner or
operator of the eligible land
shall pay 50 percent;'';
(ii) in subclause (III), by striking
``seed, hayed,'' and inserting ``seed''; and
(iii) in subclause (V), by striking ``a
nonprofit wildlife organization'' and inserting
``a nonprofit conservation organization, State
agency, or other non-Federal entity'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``subparagraphs (E) and''
and inserting ``subparagraph''; and
(ii) by striking ``50 percent'' and
inserting ``75 percent'';
(C) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) by striking ``the Secretary--'' in the
matter preceding clause (i) and all that
follows through ``a contract'' in the matter
preceding subclause (I) of clause (i) and
inserting ``the Secretary, a contract'';
(ii) by striking clause (ii);
(iii) by redesignating subclauses (I) and
(II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(iv) in clause (i) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``50 percent'' and inserting ``75
percent''; and
(v) in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``50 percent'' and inserting ``25
percent''; and
(D) in subparagraph (F)--
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by
striking ``Harvesting, haying, and'' and
inserting ``Harvesting and'';
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``seed, haying, or'' and inserting
``seed or''; and
(iii) in clause (i), by striking ``hayed
or'';
(6) by striking paragraph (4); and
(7) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).
(d) Agroforesty Pilot Program.--Section 1231C of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831c) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(c) Agroforestry Pilot Program.--
``(1) Definition of eligible land.--In this subsection, the
term `eligible land' means cropland--
``(A) that is selected by the owner or operator of
the land for proposed enrollment in the pilot program
under this subsection;
``(B) that--
``(i) is located within 1 or more of the
States of Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania; or
``(ii) is in a location selected by the
Secretary based on consultation with State
Committees of the Farm Service Agency and State
technical committees established under section
1261(a);
``(C) that had a cropping history or was considered
to be planted at least 3 of the 10 crop years preceding
enrollment, as determined by the Secretary;
``(D) that is located in an area that historically
maintained trees, as determined by the Secretary; and
``(E) on which trees and shrubs are to be planted
as part of an agroforestry system.
``(2) Establishment.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
voluntary agroforestry pilot program (referred to in
this subsection as the `pilot program') under which
eligible land is enrolled through the use of contracts
to assist owners and operators of eligible land in
implementing and maintaining agroforestry systems to
conserve and improve the soil, water, or wildlife
resources of the eligible land.
``(B) Duties of the secretary.--Under a contract
entered into with an owner or operator under the pilot
program, the Secretary shall--
``(i) make payments to the owner or
operator based on rental rates for the eligible
land enrolled in the pilot program; and
``(ii) provide assistance to the owner or
operator in accordance with sections 1233 and
1234 and this subsection.
``(C) Priority.--In entering into contracts under
the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to
contracts focused on the planting of native trees and
shrubs.
``(D) Inclusion of acreage limitation.--For
purposes of applying the limitations in section
1231(d)(6)(B), the Secretary shall include acres of
land enrolled under this subsection.
``(3) Contracts.--
``(A) Requirements.--A contract entered into under
the pilot program shall--
``(i) be entered into by the Secretary, the
owner of the eligible land, and (if applicable)
the operator of the eligible land; and
``(ii) provide that, during the term of the
contract--
``(I) the most cost-effective
conservation cover that produces non-
timber forest products for the eligible
land, as determined by the applicable
State conservationist after considering
the advice of the applicable State
technical committee established under
section 1261(a), shall be planted on
the eligible land;
``(II) except as provided in
subparagraph (E), the owner or operator
of the eligible land shall pay the cost
of planting the conservation cover
under subclause (I);
``(III) subject to subparagraph
(F), the eligible land may be harvested
or grazed outside the primary nesting
season established for the applicable
county; and
``(IV) on notification to the
Secretary, a nonprofit wildlife
organization may provide to the owner
or operator of the eligible land a
payment in exchange for an agreement by
the owner or operator not to harvest
the conservation cover.
``(B) Payments.--Except as provided in
subparagraphs (E) and (F)(iv), the annual rental rate
for a payment under a contract entered into under the
pilot program shall be equal to 90 percent of the
average rental rate for the applicable county under
section 1234(d), as determined by the Secretary.
``(C) Limitation on enrolled land.--Not more than
20 percent of the eligible land on an agricultural
operation may be enrolled in the pilot program under
this subsection.
``(D) Term.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), each contract entered into under
the pilot program shall be for a term of 10 or
15 years, as determined by the parties to the
contract.
``(ii) Early termination.--
``(I) Secretary.--The Secretary may
terminate a contract entered into under
the pilot program before the end of the
term described in clause (i) if the
Secretary determines that the early
termination of the contract is
necessary.
``(II) Owners and operators.--An
owner and (if applicable) an operator
of eligible land enrolled in the pilot
program may terminate a contract
entered into under the pilot program
before the end of the term described in
clause (i) if the owner and (if
applicable) the operator pay to the
Secretary an amount equal to the amount
of rental payments received under the
contract.
``(E) Cost-share and rental rate.--With respect to
a contract entered into under the pilot program with an
owner or operator described in subsection (b)(3)(E), as
determined by the Secretary--
``(i) the contract shall provide that,
during the term of the contract, of the actual
cost of establishment of the conservation cover
under subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)--
``(I) using the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the
Secretary shall pay 50 percent; and
``(II) the owner or operator shall
pay 50 percent; and
``(ii) the annual rental rate for a payment
under the contract shall be equal to 100
percent of the average rental rate for the
applicable county under section 1234(d), as
determined by the Secretary.
``(F) Harvesting and grazing.--The harvesting or
grazing of eligible land under subparagraph
(A)(ii)(III) outside of the primary nesting season
established for the applicable county shall be subject
to the conditions that--
``(i) any harvesting shall not damage the
conservation cover or other conservation
benefits of the enrollment of the eligible land
in the pilot program;
``(ii) any harvesting does not include the
production of wood products;
``(iii) any grazing is consistent with the
long-term protection and enhancement of the
conservation resources of the eligible land;
and
``(iv) the owner or operator shall be
subject to a reduction in the rental rate of 50
percent, unless the Secretary determines that
the harvesting or grazing will cause no
reduction in the environmental benefits of the
established conservation cover on the eligible
land.
``(4) Acreage limitation.--Of the number of acres available
for enrollment in the conservation reserve under section
1231(d)(1), not more than 50,000 total acres of eligible land
may be enrolled under the pilot program.
``(5) Coordination.--For the purpose of enrolling acres
under the pilot program, the Administrator of the Farm Service
Agency shall coordinate with the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the Chief of the Forest Service, the
Director of the National Agroforestry Center, regional
agroforestry working groups, State technical committees
established under section 1261(a), applicable State forestry
agencies, and nongovernmental organizations with demonstrated
expertise.
``(6) Transition.--The Secretary shall provide an
opportunity to enroll in the pilot program land described in
section 1231(b)(5) that is enrolled in the conservation reserve
on the date of enactment of this subsection.
``(7) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than once
every 5 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 describing the viability of transitioning
eligible land enrolled in the pilot program to agroforestry
systems, including--
``(A) the estimated conservation value of the
eligible land enrolled in the pilot program;
``(B) the estimated economic value of the trees and
shrubs planted as part of the pilot program; and
``(C) estimated savings for the Federal Government,
including savings from reduced commodity payments, crop
insurance indemnities, and crop insurance premium
subsidies.''.
SEC. 2205. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENTS.
Subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985 is amended by inserting after section 1231C (16
U.S.C. 3831c) the following:
``SEC. 1231D. CONSERVATION RESERVE EASEMENTS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Enrollment.--The Secretary shall offer to enroll land
in the conservation reserve program through a conservation
reserve easement in accordance with this section.
``(2) Exclusion of acreage limitation.--For purposes of
applying the limitations in section 1231(d)(1), the Secretary
shall not count acres of land enrolled under this section.
``(b) Eligible Land.--Only land subject to an expired covered
contract (as defined in section 1235(i)(1)) shall be eligible for
enrollment through a conservation reserve easement under this section.
``(c) Term.--The term of a conservation reserve easement shall be--
``(1) permanent; or
``(2) the maximum period allowed by State law.
``(d) Agreements.--To be eligible to enroll land in the
conservation reserve program through a conservation reserve easement,
the owner of the land shall enter into an agreement with the
Secretary--
``(1) to grant an easement on the land to the Secretary;
``(2) to implement a conservation reserve easement plan
developed for the land under subsection (h)(1);
``(3) to create and record an appropriate deed restriction
in accordance with applicable State law to reflect the
easement;
``(4) to provide a written statement of consent to the
easement signed by any person holding a security interest in
the land;
``(5) to comply with the terms and conditions of the
easement and any related agreements; and
``(6) to permanently retire any existing base acres (as
defined in section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7
U.S.C. 9011)) history for the land covered by the easement.
``(e) Terms and Conditions of Easements.--
``(1) In general.--A conservation reserve easement shall
include terms and conditions that--
``(A) permit--
``(i) repairs, improvements, and
inspections on the land that are necessary to
maintain existing public drainage systems; and
``(ii) owners to control public access on
the land while identifying access routes to be
used for restoration activities and management
and easement monitoring;
``(B) prohibit--
``(i) the alteration of wildlife habitat
and other natural features of the land, unless
specifically authorized by the Secretary as
part of the conservation reserve easement plan
under subsection (h)(1);
``(ii) the spraying of the land with
chemicals or the mowing of the land, except
where the spraying or mowing is authorized by
the Secretary or is necessary--
``(I) to comply with Federal or
State noxious weed control laws;
``(II) to comply with a Federal or
State emergency pest treatment program;
or
``(III) to meet habitat needs of
specific wildlife species;
``(iii) any activity to be carried out on
the land of the owner or successor that is
immediately adjacent to, and functionally
related to, the land that is subject to the
easement if the activity will alter, degrade,
or otherwise diminish the functional value of
the land; and
``(iv) the adoption of any other practice
that would tend to defeat the purposes of the
conservation reserve program, as determined by
the Secretary; and
``(C) include any additional provision that the
Secretary determines is appropriate to carry out this
section or facilitate the practical administration of
this section.
``(2) Violation.--On the violation of a term or condition
of a conservation reserve easement--
``(A) the conservation reserve easement shall
remain in force; and
``(B) the Secretary may require the owner to refund
all or part of any payments received by the owner under
the program, with interest on payments, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) Compatible uses.--Land subject to a conservation
reserve easement may be used for compatible economic uses,
including hunting and fishing, managed timber harvest, periodic
haying outside of the primary nesting season, or periodic
grazing, if the use--
``(A) is specifically permitted by the conservation
reserve easement plan developed for the land under
subsection (h)(1); and
``(B) is consistent with the long-term protection
and enhancement of the conservation resources for which
the easement was established.
``(f) Compensation.--
``(1) Determination.--
``(A) Permanent easements.--The Secretary shall pay
as compensation for a permanent conservation reserve
easement acquired under this section an amount
necessary to encourage enrollment of land in such a
conservation reserve easement, based on the lowest of--
``(i) the fair market value of the land, as
determined by the Secretary, using the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or
an areawide market analysis or survey;
``(ii) the amount corresponding to a
geographical limitation, as determined by the
Secretary in regulations prescribed by the
Secretary; or
``(iii) the offer made by the landowner.
``(B) Other.--Compensation for a conservation
reserve easement that is not permanent due to a
restriction in applicable State law shall be not less
than 50 percent, but not more than 75 percent, of the
compensation that would be paid for a permanent
conservation reserve easement.
``(2) Form of payment.--Compensation for a conservation
reserve easement shall be provided by the Secretary in the form
of a cash payment, in an amount determined under paragraph (1).
``(3) Payments.--The Secretary may provide payment under
this subsection to a landowner using--
``(A) 10 annual payments; or
``(B) 1 payment.
``(4) Timing.--The Secretary shall provide any annual
easement payment obligation under paragraph (3)(A) as early as
practicable in each fiscal year.
``(5) Payments to others.--The Secretary shall make a
payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the
Secretary, in a manner as the Secretary determines is fair and
reasonable under the circumstances, if an owner who is entitled
to a payment under this section--
``(A) dies;
``(B) becomes incompetent;
``(C) is succeeded by another person or entity who
renders or completes the required performance; or
``(D) is otherwise unable to receive the payment.
``(g) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall assist owners in
complying with the terms and conditions of a conservation
reserve easement.
``(2) Contracts or agreements.--The Secretary may enter
into 1 or more contracts with private entities or agreements
with a State, nongovernmental organization, Indian Tribe, or
Tribal organization to carry out necessary restoration,
maintenance, repair, assessment, or monitoring of a
conservation reserve easement if the Secretary determines that
the contract or agreement will advance the purposes of the
conservation reserve program.
``(h) Administration.--
``(1) Conservation reserve easement plan.--The Secretary
shall develop a conservation reserve easement plan for any land
subject to a conservation reserve easement, which shall include
practices and activities necessary to maintain, protect, and
enhance the conservation value of the enrolled land.
``(2) Delegation of easement administration.--
``(A) Federal, state, tribal, or local government
agencies.--The Secretary may delegate any of the
management, monitoring, and enforcement
responsibilities of the Secretary under this section to
other Federal, State, Tribal, or local government
agencies that have the appropriate authority,
expertise, and resources necessary to carry out those
delegated responsibilities.
``(B) Conservation organizations.--The Secretary
may delegate any management responsibilities of the
Secretary under this section to conservation
organizations, including Tribal organizations dedicated
to conservation and natural resource management, if the
Secretary determines the conservation organization has
similar expertise and resources.''.
SEC. 2206. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) Specific Activities Permitted.--Section 1233(b)(1) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ``subject to
clause (i)(III), and subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii), of
subparagraph (B),'' before ``are subject to''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(A) by striking subclause (III);
(B) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as
subclauses (II) and (III), respectively;
(C) by inserting before subclause (II) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(I) emergency haying in response
to a localized or regional drought,
flooding, wildfire, or other emergency,
on certain practices, outside the
primary nesting season on not more than
50 percent of contract acres, as
identified in the site-specific plan,
when--
``(aa) the county is
designated as D2 (severe
drought) or greater according
to the United States Drought
Monitor during the primary
nesting season;
``(bb) there is at least a
40 percent loss in forage
production in the county; or
``(cc) the Secretary, in
coordination with the State
technical committee, determines
that the program can assist in
the response to a natural
disaster event without
permanent damage to the
established cover;'';
(D) in subclause (II) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by striking the matter preceding item
(aa) and inserting the following:
``(II) emergency grazing on all
practices, outside the primary nesting
season, on not more than 50 percent of
contract acres or subject to a 50
percent reduction in the stocking rate,
as identified in the site-specific
plan, in response to a localized or
regional drought, flooding, wildfire,
or other emergency, when--''; and
(ii) in item (aa), by striking ``Monitor;''
and inserting ``Monitor during the primary
nesting season;''; and
(E) in subclause (III) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``payments are authorized for a county under
the livestock forage disaster program under clause (ii)
of section 1501(c)(3)(D) of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)(D))'' and inserting ``the
county is designated as D3 (extreme drought) or greater
according to the United States Drought Monitor during
the primary nesting season''.
(b) Authorized Activities on Grasslands.--Section 1233(c)(3) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833(c)(3)) is amended by
inserting ``restoration of native plant species, prescribed burning (in
consultation with the applicable State technical committee established
under section 1261(a)),'' before ``and construction''.
(c) Conservation Outcomes Monitoring.--Section 1233 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3833) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(f) Conservation Outcomes Monitoring.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish long-term
monitoring of conservation outcomes of program enrollments,
including pilot projects, to determine program results with
respect to--
``(A) soil conservation, soil health, and carbon
sequestration;
``(B) water quality and quantity; and
``(C) biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
``(2) Report on outcomes.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this subsection, and every 3 years
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make
publicly available, a report that includes--
``(A) a description of conservation outcomes
achieved;
``(B) a description of the approaches, tools, and
methods used to measure or model the conservation
outcomes reported; and
``(C) recommendations and guidance to improve
conservation outcomes.''.
SEC. 2207. PAYMENTS.
(a) Cost Sharing Payments.--Section 1234(b) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``50 percent'' and inserting ``a
portion''; and
(B) by inserting ``, including seed cost,'' after
``conservation measures and practices'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Rate for certain measures and practices.--The portion
of the establishment cost described in paragraph (1) that the
Secretary shall pay shall be--
``(A) in the case of water quality and conservation
measures and practices that focus on establishing non-
native habitat, 35 percent; and
``(B) notwithstanding paragraph (5) and subject to
paragraph (3), in the case of all other water quality
and conservation measures and practices, 50 percent.
``(3) State high-priority conservation practices.--
``(A) In general.--Each State technical committee
established under section 1261(a) may select up to 3
conservation practices described in subparagraph (B)
that shall be eligible for payment by the Secretary of
65 percent of the establishment cost described in
paragraph (1).
``(B) Conservation practices described.--A
conservation practice referred to in subparagraph (A)
is a conservation practice described in paragraph
(2)(B) that provides 1 or more of the following
benefits:
``(i) Incentivizing restoration of early
successional habitat and grasslands with native
plant materials.
``(ii) Establishing rare or declining
habitat.
``(iii) Addressing water quality concerns
relating to impingement of nearby waterways.
``(iv) Supporting the goals of the State
climate adaptation, mitigation, or resilience
plan.'';
(4) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking
subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the following:
``(B) Management payments.--The Secretary shall
make cost sharing payments to an owner or operator
under this subchapter for any management activity
described in section 1232(a)(5) in accordance with
subsection (c), except for those management activities
relating to haying or grazing.''; and
(5) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by inserting ``not less than 40 percent and''
before ``not to exceed 50 percent'';
(B) by striking ``In addition'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--In addition''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Minimum payment for certain contracts.--In
the case of a contract updated under section
1231A(b)(3)(C)(i), the incentive payment under
subparagraph (A) shall be in an amount that is not less
than 40 percent of the actual costs described in that
subparagraph.''.
(b) Supplemental Practice Payments.--Section 1234 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834) is amended by striking subsection
(c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Supplemental Practice Payments.--
``(1) In general.--Using funds made available under section
1241(a)(2), the Secretary may make available--
``(A) additional incentive payments to an owner or
operator of eligible land in an amount sufficient to
encourage--
``(i) proper thinning and other practices
to improve the condition of resources, promote
forest management, or enhance wildlife habitat
on the land;
``(ii) establishment of grazing
infrastructure, including interior cross
fencing, perimeter fencing, and water
infrastructure (such as rural water
connections, water wells, pipelines, and water
tanks), under each contract, for all practices,
if grazing is included in the conservation plan
and addresses a resource concern;
``(iii) prescribed burning, including for
the cost of liability insurance, necessary to
promote the quality and resiliency of native
habitat established on enrolled land; and
``(iv) any management activity described in
section 1232(a)(5), except for those management
activities relating to emergency haying or
grazing; and
``(B) funds to carry out section 1235(f) to
facilitate the transfer of land subject to contracts
from contract holders to covered farmers or ranchers
(as defined in section 1235(f)(1)), including to
provide outreach and technical assistance to facilitate
such transfers.
``(2) Limitation.--A payment described in paragraph (1)(A)
may not exceed 100 percent of the total cost of practices
conducted by the owner or operator.''.
(c) Annual Rental Payments.--Section 1234(d) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C)
as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``In determining'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) Determination.--In determining''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Adjustment.--The Secretary shall adjust the
annual rental payment determined under subparagraph (A)
based on an analysis of local rental rate trends such
that--
``(i) the annual rental payment reflects
the likely changes in market rental rates over
the term of the contract; and
``(ii) the inflation adjustment does not
increase the annual rental payment by more than
10 percent.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)(i)--
(A) by striking ``85 percent'' and inserting ``95
percent''; and
(B) by striking ``90 percent'' and inserting ``100
percent''; and
(3) in paragraph (4)(E)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``85 percent'' and
inserting ``95 percent''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``90 percent'' and
inserting ``100 percent''.
(d) Payment Limitation for Rental Payments.--Section 1234(g)(1) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3834(g)(1)) is amended by
striking ``$50,000'' and inserting ``$125,000''.
SEC. 2208. CONTRACTS.
Section 1235 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii), by inserting ``,
including agroforestry and other productive perennial systems''
after ``methods'';
(2) in subsection (f)(1)(A)(i), by inserting ``or
establishing agroforestry and other productive perennial
systems'' after ``crop''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(i) Owner or Operator Election Relating to Conservation Reserve
Easements.--
``(1) Definition of covered contract.--In this subsection,
the term `covered contract' means a contract entered into under
this subchapter--
``(A) during the period beginning on the date of
enactment of this subsection and ending on September
30, 2029; and
``(B) that covers land enrolled in the conservation
reserve program--
``(i) under the Clean Lakes, Estuaries, and
Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative established under
section 1231(d)(3); or
``(ii) that is located in a State acres for
wildlife enhancement area established by the
Secretary.
``(2) Election.--On the expiration of a covered contract,
an owner or operator party to the covered contract shall
elect--
``(A) not to reenroll the land under the contract;
``(B) to reenroll the land under the contract,
subject to the conditions that--
``(i) the annual rental payment shall be
decreased by 40 percent; and
``(ii) no incentive payments shall be
provided under the contract; or
``(C) not to reenroll the land under the contract
and to enroll the land under the contract in a
conservation reserve easement under section 1231D.
``(3) Exception.--On the expiration of a covered contract,
if land enrolled in the conservation reserve program under that
contract is determined by the Secretary to not be suitable for
permanent protection through a conservation reserve easement
under section 1231D, notwithstanding paragraph (2)(B), the
Secretary shall allow the land to be reenrolled under the terms
of the conservation reserve program in effect on the date of
expiration.
``(j) Enrollment in Other Conservation Programs.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an owner or
operator party to a contract entered into under this subchapter
may--
``(A) subject to section 1240B(d)(6), enroll the
land enrolled under the contract in the environmental
quality incentives program established under subchapter
A of chapter 4;
``(B) subject to section 1271B(g), receive cost-
share assistance under the regional conservation
partnership program established under subtitle I with
respect to the land enrolled under the contract; or
``(C) both enroll land in accordance with
subparagraph (A) and receive cost-share assistance in
accordance with subparagraph (B).
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to prevent an owner or operator party to a
contract entered into under this subchapter from simultaneously
receiving a rental payment under the terms of that contract and
cost-share assistance under the environmental quality
incentives program established under subchapter A of chapter 4
or the regional conservation partnership program established
under subtitle I.
``(3) Limitation.--An owner or operator party to a contract
entered into under this subchapter shall not be eligible to
receive a cost-share payment under more than 1 program
established under this title for the same activity carried out
on the same land.''.
Subtitle C--Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation
Stewardship Program
PART I--ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM
SEC. 2301. PURPOSES.
Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``and environmental quality'' and inserting ``environmental
quality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and'' at
the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) climate change adaptation, mitigation, and
resilience;'';
(3) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``sequestering
carbon, increasing drought resilience, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and'' before ``conserving energy''; and
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``climate change and''
before ``increasing weather volatility''.
SEC. 2302. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``a practice'' and
inserting ``a management practice, including a land or
livestock management practice,'';
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (ii), by inserting ``or
livestock'' before ``management'';
(ii) by redesignating clauses (v) through
(vii) as clauses (vi) through (viii),
respectively; and
(iii) by inserting after clause (iv) the
following:
``(v) native habitat restoration;''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking
``planning;'' and inserting ``planning that,
where practicable, incorporates planning for
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions;'';
(ii) in clause (v)--
(I) by inserting ``(including
planning for the adoption of precision
agriculture practices and precision
agriculture technology)'' after
``planning''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(iii) by redesignating clause (vi) as
clause (vii); and
(iv) by inserting after clause (v) the
following:
``(vi) greenhouse gas emissions reduction
planning; and''; and
(3) in paragraph (7)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``Tribal,''
before ``or local''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``State or
region'' and inserting ``State, at a regional scale, or
on Indian land''.
SEC. 2303. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Payments.--Section 1240B(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
``(6) Other payments.--
``(A) Enrollment in other conservation programs.--
Subject to subparagraph (B), a producer party to a
contract entered into under this subchapter may--
``(i) subject to section 1235(j), enroll
the eligible land enrolled under the contract
in the conservation reserve program established
under subchapter B of chapter 1;
``(ii) subject to section 1271B(g), receive
cost-share assistance under the regional
conservation partnership program established
under subtitle I with respect to the eligible
land enrolled under the contract; or
``(iii) both enroll land in accordance with
clause (i) and receive cost-share assistance in
accordance with clause (ii).
``(B) Limitation.--A producer shall not be eligible
for payments for practices on eligible land under the
program if the producer receives payments or other
benefits for the same practice on the same land under
another program under this subtitle.
``(C) Conservation loan and loan guarantee program
payments.--
``(i) In general.--A producer receiving
payments for practices on eligible land under
the program may also receive a loan or loan
guarantee under section 304 of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924)
to cover costs for the same practices on the
same land.
``(ii) Notice to producers.--The Secretary
shall inform a producer participating in the
program in writing of the availability of a
loan or loan guarantee under section 304 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1924) as it relates to the costs of
implementing practices under the program.'';
(2) in paragraph (7)(A)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``Each State'' and
inserting ``The designee of the Secretary in
each State''; and
(ii) by striking ``the State,'' and
inserting ``the State and, in the case of
Indian land, the applicable Tribal conservation
advisory council,'';
(B) in clause (iii), by striking ``; or'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(C) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) provides a reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions, including enteric methane
emissions from livestock, or sequesters carbon;
or
``(vi) furthers efforts to implement the
climate adaptation and resilience plan of a
State, Indian Tribe, or local government.'';
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Enteric methane emissions reducing practices.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), in the case of a practice
relating to the management of livestock to reduce enteric
methane emissions, the Secretary shall increase the amount that
would otherwise be provided for a practice under this
subsection to not more than 75 percent of the costs associated
with that management, including the cost of methane-inhibiting
products for livestock.''.
(b) Allocation of Funding.--Section 1240B(f) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(f)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each of fiscal years
2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2019 and each
fiscal year thereafter'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the paragraph designation
and heading and all that follows through ``For each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2031'' in subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Wildlife habitat.--For fiscal year 2019 and each
fiscal year thereafter''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Small farms.--For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, at least 10 percent of the funds made
available for payments under the program shall be targeted at
practices implemented on small farms, as determined by the
Secretary.''.
(c) Water Conservation or Irrigation Efficiency Practice.--Section
1240B(h)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(h)(2))
is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the
following:
``(C) Waiver authority.--The Secretary shall waive
the applicability of the limitations in sections
1001D(b) and 1240G for a payment made under a contract
entered into under this paragraph if the total amount
of payments received by the person or legal entity
under the contract during either of the period of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029 or the period of fiscal
years 2030 and 2031 does not exceed--
``(i) the product obtained by multiplying--
``(I) the maximum payment for the
applicable period under section 1240G;
and
``(II) the number of producers
served by the contract through the
entity that is party to the contract;
less
``(ii) the sum of any other payments
received under the program during either of the
period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 or the
period of fiscal years 2030 and 2031 by--
``(I) producers served by the
contract; and
``(II) the entity that is party to
the contract, limited to the proportion
of those payments that benefit those
producers served by the contract.''.
(d) Payments for Conservation Practices Related to Organic
Production.--Section 1240B(i)(3)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(i)(3)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i)(II), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) during the period of fiscal years
2025 through 2029, $450,000; and
``(iv) during each 5-fiscal-year period
thereafter, $450,000.''.
(e) Conservation Incentive Contracts.--Section 1240B(j) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(j)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``concerns'' and
inserting ``concerns, which may include emissions of nitrous
oxide or methane (referred to in this subsection as `greenhouse
gas emissions') or storage of carbon in plants or soil
(referred to in this subsection as `carbon storage'),''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), by striking
``conservation'' and inserting ``conservation,
reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, or increased
levels of carbon storage''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) Term.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
a contract under this subsection shall have a
term of not less than 5, and not more than 10,
years.
``(ii) Graduation option.--The Secretary
may reduce the term of a contract under this
subsection if the producer enters into a
conservation stewardship contract under section
1240K with respect to the eligible land that is
subject to the contract under this
subsection.''.
(f) Annual Report to Congress.--Section 1240B of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(k) Annual Report to Congress.--Not less frequently than once
each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing--
``(1) the amount obligated under the program with respect
to each category of practice, with information categorized by
fiscal year and State; and
``(2) the amount obligated under the program in each State,
with information categorized by fiscal year and the size of the
operation of each producer.''.
(g) Streamlining and Coordination.--Section 1240B of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2) (as amended by subsection
(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(l) Streamlining and Coordination.--To the maximum extent
feasible, the Secretary shall provide for streamlined and coordinated
procedures for the program and the conservation stewardship program
under subchapter B, including applications, contracting, conservation
planning, conservation practices, and related administrative
procedures.''.
SEC. 2304. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM PLAN.
Section 1240E(a)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-5(a)(3)) is amended by inserting ``, and a greenhouse gas
emissions reduction plan'' after ``if applicable''.
SEC. 2305. LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS.
Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-7)
is amended by striking ``exceed'' and all that follows through the
period at the end and inserting the following: ``for all contracts
entered into under this subchapter by the person or legal entity
(regardless of the number of such contracts entered into by such person
or legal entity), exceed $450,000 during--
``(1) the period of fiscal years 2014 through 2018;
``(2) the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023;
``(3) the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029; or
``(4) each 5-fiscal-year period thereafter.''.
SEC. 2306. CONSERVATION INNOVATION GRANTS AND PAYMENTS.
(a) Competitive Grants for Innovative Conservation Approaches.--
Section 1240H(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
8(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``pay the cost of'' and inserting
``award'';
(2) by inserting ``the development and evaluation of new
and'' before ``innovative approaches''; and
(3) by inserting ``, including for the purpose of
incorporating innovation and new technologies into existing
conservation practice standards or establishing new
conservation practice standards'' before the period at the end.
(b) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials.--Section 1240H(c) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)--
(A) in subclause (II), by inserting ``on-farm
nutrient recycling,'' after ``plans,'';
(B) in each of subclauses (VI) and (VII), by
striking ``and'' at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(VII) perennial production
systems, including agroforestry and
perennial forages and grain crops; and
``(VIII) livestock-related
practices that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, including enteric methane
emissions; and'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``2019 through 2031, the
Secretary'' and inserting ``2019 through 2024
and $50,000,000 of the funds made available to
carry out this subchapter for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, the
Secretary''; and
(ii) by striking ``Using'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--Using''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Allocation of funding.--Of the funds made
available under subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall
use 50 percent to provide grants for soil health
demonstration trials established under paragraph
(7).''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Enteric methane emissions studies.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall carry out one or more studies on changes in
methane emissions and, if feasible, economic outcomes,
generated as a result of livestock-related practices
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including enteric
methane emissions.
``(B) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this paragraph, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report on the progress and results
under subparagraph (A).''.
(c) Reporting and Database.--Section 1240H(d) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-8(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``including, if
feasible'' and inserting ``including any barriers to or best
practices for the adoption of new and innovative conservation
approaches identified through the activities, opportunities for
future research, and, if feasible'';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Public-facing reports.--Not later than 1 year after
the completion of a project funded under this section, the
Secretary shall publish a public-facing report, submitted by
the grant recipient following the completion of the grant
period, that includes an assessment of--
``(A) the acreage of the area where the project was
implemented;
``(B) in the case of a trial conducted under
subsection (c)(2), the types of crops produced using
the new or innovative conservation approach either
directly by a producer or through an eligible entity;
``(C) any results on the efficacy of the new or
innovative conservation approach in achieving its
intended conservation purpose;
``(D) the regional applicability of the new or
innovative conservation approach, including any
geographic characteristics associated with the
increased efficacy of the innovative conservation
approach;
``(E) any barriers that prevented the project from
achieving the conservation benefits identified at the
outset of the project;
``(F) any support needed to encourage adoption of
the new or innovative conservation approach by
producers, including the level of technical assistance
required to adopt the new or innovative conservation
approach; and
``(G) as appropriate, other outcomes of the project
and lessons learned through the implementation of the
project.''; and
(4) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph
(A)--
(A) in clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``practices'' and inserting
``practices, including both management and
structural practices,''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii);
(C) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) evaluation data for new and emerging
technology and recommendations for State and
regional applications; and''; and
(D) in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``practices.'' and inserting ``practices for
consideration through the process established under
section 1242(h)(3).''.
PART II--CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
SEC. 2311. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
21) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting
``enhancements,'' after ``practices,''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (v), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) activities that will assist a
producer in mitigating greenhouse gas
emissions, including enteric methane
emissions.'';
(2) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking ``tribal land'' and
inserting ``Tribal land''; and
(3) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``State, or
local level as a priority for a particular area of a
State'' and inserting ``State, Tribal, or local level
as a priority for a particular area''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``State or
region'' and inserting ``State, at a regional scale, or
on Indian land''.
SEC. 2312. STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS.
Section 1240K(b)(1)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839aa-23(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking clause (iii) and inserting
the following:
``(iii) other consistent criteria that the
Secretary determines are necessary to ensure
that the program effectively--
``(I) targets improvements to soil
health, increases carbon sequestration,
and reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
and
``(II) addresses other national,
State, Tribal, and local priority
resource concerns.''.
SEC. 2313. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) Conservation Stewardship Payments.--Section 1240L(c) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``on 1 or more types
of eligible land covered by the contract'' after
``activities'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (G)
as clauses (i) through (vii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``The amount'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--The amount'';
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by
striking clause (ii) (as so redesignated) and inserting
the following:
``(ii) Income forgone by the producer,
including amounts that reflect--
``(I) increased economic risk; and
``(II) loss in revenue due to--
``(aa) production changes;
``(bb) anticipated
reductions in yield;
``(cc) transitioning to an
organic, resource-conserving
cropping or grazing, or
perennial production system; or
``(dd) acreage converted to
conservation uses.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Minimum payment.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish a
minimum payment of not less than $4,000, to be reviewed
regularly and increased at the discretion of the
Secretary.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Payments for conservation activities related to
organic production systems.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide
payments under this subsection for conservation
activities relating to--
``(i) organic production; and
``(ii) transitioning to organic production.
``(B) Conservation activities.--Conservation
activities described in subparagraph (A) may include--
``(i) generally available and specifically
tailored conservation activities; and
``(ii) individual conservation activities
and bundles of conservation activities.''.
(b) Supplemental Payments for Resource-Conserving Crop Rotations,
Advanced Grazing Management, and Livestock Feed Management.--Section
1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(d)) is
amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Rotations and
Advanced Grazing Management'' and inserting ``Rotations,
Advanced Grazing Management, and Livestock Feed Management'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) Livestock feed management.--The term
`livestock feed management' means providing livestock
with forage and feed that--
``(i) manipulates and controls the quantity
and quality of available nutrients, feedstuffs,
ingredients, or additives fed to livestock;
``(ii) minimizes excess nutrients in
surface water and groundwater by reducing the
quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur,
salts, or other nutrients excreted in manure;
or
``(iii) reduces emissions of ammonia,
odors, greenhouse gases, volatile organic
components, or dust from animal feeding
operations.'';
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) livestock feed management.''; and
(4) in paragraph (3), by striking ``rotations or advanced''
and inserting ``rotations, livestock feed management, or
advanced''.
(c) Payment for Comprehensive Conservation Plan.--Section
1240L(e)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
24(e)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking the period at the end and inserting the
following: ``; and
``(B) with respect to an organic production
system--
``(i) is integrated with an organic system
plan approved under the national organic
program established under the Organic Foods
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.);
or
``(ii) allows a producer to transition to
organic production systems and pursue
certification under that Act.''; and
(2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (B) (as added by
paragraph (1)), by striking ``plan that meets'' and inserting
the following: ``plan that--
``(A) meets''.
(d) Payment Limitations.--Section 1240L(f) of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(f)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years
2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``the period of fiscal years 2025
through 2029 and each 5-fiscal-year period thereafter''.
(e) Specialty Crop and Organic Producers.--Section 1240L(g) of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(g)) is amended by
inserting ``, and producers transitioning to organic production
systems,'' after ``organic producers''.
(f) Organic Certification.--Section 1240L(h)(2)(A) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(h)(2)(A)) is amended by
inserting ``, including by providing payments for conservation
activities relating to organic production and transitioning to organic
production under subsection (c)(6)'' before the period at the end.
(g) Soil Health.--Section 1240L(k) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(k)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``To the maximum'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--To the maximum''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Soil testing.--Soil testing (as defined in section
1240A) shall be eligible as a conservation activity on its own
under a conservation stewardship contract under this
subchapter, if the results of the soil testing are intended to
be used to develop specifications or design elements required
for implementing another conservation activity under the
contract.
``(3) Nationwide soil testing.--The Secretary shall
prioritize nationwide collection of data to make possible site-
specific interpretations of soil health test results for
producers at the local level.''.
SEC. 2314. ON-FARM CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP INNOVATION GRANTS.
Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-21 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``SEC. 1240L-2. PASTURELAND CONSERVATION AND GULF HYPOXIA REDUCTION
INITIATIVE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible land.--Notwithstanding section 1240I(4), the
term `eligible land' means private land or Indian land that--
``(A) is in use for livestock grazing and
production purposes as of the date of enactment of this
section;
``(B)(i) is native or improved pastureland with
permanent vegetative cover; or
``(ii) is planted to a crop planted specifically
for the purpose of providing grazing for livestock,
such as forage sorghum, small grains, annual planted
ryegrass, or annual planted crabgrass; and
``(C) is located within 1 or more States in the
Lower Mississippi River Valley that encompass the
Ouachita, Yazoo, or Atchafalaya River drainage basins.
``(2) Initiative.--The term `initiative' means the
voluntary pastureland conservation and gulf hypoxia reduction
initiative established under subsection (b).
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary shall establish
within the program a voluntary pastureland conservation and hypoxia
reduction initiative for the purposes of, by conserving eligible land
through pastureland conservation contracts under subsection (e)--
``(1) assisting livestock producers in conserving and
protecting soil, water, and wildlife resources; and
``(2) reducing nutrient loading into the Gulf of Mexico.
``(c) Election.--Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the Secretary shall
provide a 1-time election to enroll eligible land in the initiative
under a contract described in subsection (e).
``(d) Method of Enrollment.--Subject to subsection (h), the
Secretary shall--
``(1) notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 1240K,
determine under subsection (c) of that section that eligible
land ranks sufficiently high under the evaluation criteria
described in subsection (b) of that section; and
``(2) enroll the eligible land in the initiative under a
contract described in subsection (e).
``(e) Pastureland Conservation Contract.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1240K(a)(1), to
enroll eligible land in the initiative under a pastureland
conservation contract, a livestock producer shall agree--
``(A) to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold
for not less than 2 priority resource concerns by the
date on which the contract expires; and
``(B) to comply with the terms and conditions of
the contract.
``(2) Terms.--A pastureland conservation contract shall be
for a single 5-year term.
``(f) Payments.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2024, of the
funds made available for this subchapter under section
1241(a)(3)(B), and notwithstanding any payment under section
1240L(c), the Secretary shall make annual pastureland
conservation contract payments to the livestock producer of any
eligible land that is the subject of a pastureland conservation
contract under this section.
``(2) Payment noneligibility.--A pastureland conservation
contract under this section shall not be subject to the payment
limitations under this subchapter.
``(3) Amount.--The amount of an annual payment under this
subsection shall be $20 per acre.
``(g) Acreage Limitation.--Not more than 500,000 total acres of
eligible land may be enrolled in the initiative.
``(h) Evaluation of Contract Offers.--Notwithstanding subsection
(d), the Secretary may rank applications relating to contract offers to
enroll eligible land in the initiative based on the degree to which the
proposed conservation activities increase natural resource conservation
and environmental benefits if--
``(1) contract offers are submitted to enroll more than
400,000 acres of eligible land; and
``(2) the Secretary determines such ranking of applications
to be necessary to comply with the acreage limitation
established by subsection (g).''.
Subtitle D--Other Conservation Programs
SEC. 2401. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.
(a) Short Title; Findings; Declaration of Policy.--The first
section of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C.
1001) is amended to read as follows:
``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; DECLARATION OF POLICY.
``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act'.
``(b) Findings.--Congress finds that erosion, floodwater, drought,
and sediment damages in the watersheds of the rivers and streams of the
United States cause loss of life, declines in agricultural production,
harm to fish, birds, wildlife, and recreation opportunities, and damage
to property, thereby constituting a menace to the national welfare.
``(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Federal Government should cooperate with local organizations for the
purposes of--
``(1) preventing the damages described in subsection (b);
``(2) furthering the conservation, management, development,
utilization, and disposal of water, and the conservation and
utilization of land; and
``(3) thereby preserving, protecting, and improving land
and water resources and the quality of the environment.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1002) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
``In this Act:
``(1) Conservation of water.--The term `conservation of
water' means a reduction in total annual consumptive water use,
as compared to total annual consumptive water use before a work
of improvement is carried out under this Act.
``(2) Local organization.--The term `local organization'
means--
``(A)(i) any State, political subdivision of a
State, soil or water conservation district, flood
prevention or control district, or combination thereof;
or
``(ii) any other governmental agency having
authority under State law to carry out, maintain, and
operate a work of improvement;
``(B) any irrigation district or reservoir company,
water users' association, canal company, ditch
association, acequia, or similar entity, or
nongovernmental organization that is not being operated
for profit, with--
``(i) the capacity to engage in the
planning or implementation of land treatment
and related conservation measures; or
``(ii) the authority to construct and
maintain structural measures; or
``(C) any Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as
those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304)) having authority under Federal, State, or
Indian Tribal law to carry out, maintain, and operate a
work of improvement.
``(3) Management of water.--The term `management of water'
means any project or activity carried out to increase the
efficiency of water use, transfer, diversion, or conveyance.
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
``(5) Work of improvement.--
``(A) In general.--The term `work of improvement'
means any undertaking carried out in a watershed or
subwatershed area not exceeding 250,000 acres
(including on Federal land necessary to accomplish the
purposes of the undertaking) for--
``(i) flood prevention (including
structural and land treatment measures);
``(ii) the conservation, management,
development, utilization, and disposal of
water; or
``(iii) the conservation and proper
utilization of land.
``(B) Exclusion.--The term `work of improvement'
does not include any single structure that provides--
``(i) more than 12,500 acre-feet of
floodwater detention capacity; and
``(ii) more than 25,000 acre-feet of total
capacity.
``(C) Requirement for agriculture benefits.--Each
undertaking described in subparagraph (A) shall contain
benefits directly related to agriculture, including
communities in rural areas (as defined in section
343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))), that account for at least 20
percent of the total benefits of the undertaking.
``(D) Consolidated planning.--1 or more
subwatersheds, when the subwatersheds are components of
a larger watershed, may be planned together at the
discretion of the local organization sponsoring the
applicable undertaking.
``(E) Multibenefit inclusion.--A work of
improvement may provide 2 or more public benefits or
ecosystem services in addition to a purpose described
in subparagraph (A).''.
(c) Assistance to Local Organizations.--Section 3 of the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (f);
(2) in subsection (a)(6), in the first sentence, by
striking ``occupiers, individually'' and inserting the
following: ``occupiers in accordance with subsection (b).
``(b) Agreements With Landowners, Operators, and Occupiers.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into agreements
under subsection (a)(6) with landowners, operators, and
occupiers, individually'';
(3) in subsection (b) (as so designated)--
(A) by striking ``supplemented. Applications'' and
inserting the following: ``supplemented.
``(2) Applications.--Applications'';
(B) in paragraph (2) (as so designated)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``such conservation plans'' and inserting
``conservation plans described in paragraph
(1)''; and
(ii) by striking ``such district. In
return'' and all that follows through
``interest. The portion'' and inserting the
following: ``that district.
``(3) Cost sharing.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may agree to share
the costs of carrying out a work of improvement, or
specific practices and measures described in such an
agreement, if the Secretary determines that cost
sharing is appropriate and in the public interest.'';
``(B) Portion of costs.--The portion''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B) (as so
designated)--
(I) by striking ``programs. The
Secretary'' and inserting the
following: ``programs.
``(4) Termination; modifications.--The Secretary'';
(C) in paragraph (4) (as so designated)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``hereunder, as he'' and inserting ``under this
subsection, as the Secretary''; and
(ii) by striking ``herein.
Notwithstanding'' and inserting the following:
``under this subsection.
``(5) Preservation or surrender of history.--
Notwithstanding''; and
(D) in paragraph (5) (as so designated)--
(i) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
Secretary'';
(ii) by striking ``paragraph'' and
inserting ``subsection'';
(iii) by striking ``hereunder for (1)
preservation'' and inserting the following:
``under this paragraph for--
``(A) preservation''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (A) (as so
designated), by striking ``crop; or (2)
surrender'' and inserting the following:
``crop; or
``(B) surrender''; and
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) (as so designated)
the following:
``(c) Delegation of Authorities.--
``(1) Final authority.--The Secretary shall provide a State
Conservationist final authority to approve watershed plans for
works of improvement within the State.
``(2) Approval of outsourcing preliminary activities.--The
Secretary and a State Conservationist shall, on the approval of
the State Conservationist, allow a local organization
sponsoring a work of improvement to use funds made available
under this Act to pay a third party to conduct preliminary
investigations and pre-planning activities relating to the work
of improvement.
``(3) Additional authorities.--The Secretary may provide
authority to a State Conservationist to support a streamlined
process.
``(d) Deadline for Approval or Disapproval.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not later than
45 days after the date on which an application for a work of
improvement is submitted to the Secretary, the Secretary shall
approve or disapprove the application.
``(2) Extensions.--The Secretary may extend the deadline
described in paragraph (1) by 45 days, if necessary.
``(e) Approved Watershed Plan Required.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
may not provide funds under this Act for the costs of designing
or constructing a work of improvement without an approved
watershed plan.
``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if--
``(A) the Secretary determines that the
circumstances are so exigent that not providing funds
is against the public interest; or
``(B) the Secretary has waived the requirement for
a watershed plan under subsection (f).''.
(d) Cost Share Assistance.--Section 3A of the Watershed Protection
and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, as determined by
the Secretary,'' after ``assistance''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Treatment of Other Federal Funds for Works of Improvement.--
Any funds provided for a work of improvement through any Federal
department or agency other than the Department of Agriculture shall be
considered to be part of the non-Federal share of the cost of the work
of improvement provided by the sponsor of the work of improvement.''.
(e) Conditions for Federal Assistance.--Section 4(2) of the
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1004(2)) is
amended by inserting ``management,'' after ``conservation,''
(f) Limitation.--The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act
is amended by inserting after section 4 (16 U.S.C. 1004) the following:
``SEC. 4A. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.
``(a) In General.--No amounts shall be provided under this Act for
any plan for a work of improvement involving an estimated Federal
contribution to construction costs in excess of $50,000,000, or that
includes any structure that provides more than 2,500 acre-feet of total
capacity, unless, not less than 90 days before amounts are provided for
the plan, the Secretary submits to the appropriate committees of
Congress described in subsection (b) a notice of the approval of the
plan, including a description of the justification for the approval and
a copy of the plan.
``(b) Committees Described.--The appropriate committees of Congress
referred to in subsection (a) are--
``(1) in the case of a plan involving no single structure
providing more than 4,000 acre-feet of total capacity, the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
``(2) in the case of a plan involving any single structure
providing more than 4,000 acre-feet of total capacity, the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives.''.
(g) Construction Standards.--The Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 4A (as added by subsection (f)) the following:
``SEC. 4B. CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS.
``(a) In General.--Subject to the requirements of this Act, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) review and update as necessary the engineering
standards and requirements to be used for works of improvement
under this Act; and
``(2) in collaboration with each State Conservationist and
State technical committee established under section 1261(a) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(a)), review and
update as necessary the acceptable variances from national
engineering standards that are appropriate alternatives suited
to the geomorphology of, and purpose for which works of
improvement are established within, each State.
``(b) Local Consultation.--A State Conservationist and State
technical committee engaged in collaboration pursuant to subsection
(a)(2) may consult with local municipalities undertaking works of
improvement within that State under this Act.''.
(h) Monetization.--Section 5(1) of the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1005(1)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, in consultation with the State
Conservationist,'' after ``and the Secretary''; and
(2) by inserting ``: Provided further, That if insufficient
data exists to monetize the benefits of wildlife habitat or
water quality improvement against the costs, these benefits
shall be quantified to the extent practicable and described in
sufficient detail to be considered against the cost'' before
the period at the end.
(i) Certain Authorities.--Section 7 of the Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act (68 Stat. 668, chapter 656; 74 Stat. 131; 76 Stat.
610) is amended, in the last proviso, by inserting ``management,''
after ``conservation,''.
(j) Loan and Advancement Amounts.--Section 8 of the Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1006a) is amended, in
the last sentence, by striking ``five million dollars'' and inserting
``$10,000,000''.
(k) Data.--Section 13 of the Watershed Protection and Flood
Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1010) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``collect and maintain'' and inserting ``collect, maintain, and
publish on the website of the Department of Agriculture''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``control and
conservation'' and inserting ``control, conservation, and
drought resilience''.
(l) Conforming Amendment.--Section 11 of the Watershed Protection
and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 note; 68 Stat. 668; 70 Stat.
1090) is repealed.
SEC. 2402. SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION.
(a) In General.--The Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of
1977 (16 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 5(e) (16 U.S.C. 2004(e)), by striking ``and
December 31, 2022'' and inserting ``December 31, 2022, and
December 31, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter'';
(2) in section 6(d) (16 U.S.C. 2005(d)), by inserting ``,
and December 31, 2029, and every 5 years thereafter'' after
``2023''; and
(3) in section 7 (16 U.S.C. 2006)--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``and 2022'' and
inserting ``2022, 2028, and every 5 years thereafter'';
and
(B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``and 2023'' and inserting
``2023, 2029, and every 5 years thereafter''.
(b) Repeal of Termination.--Section 10 of the Soil and Water
Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (16 U.S.C. 2009) is repealed.
SEC. 2403. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Emergency Conservation Program.--Section 401 of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Other Emergency Conservation Measures'' after
``Fencing'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``or other emergency
measures to restore farmland or replace
conservation structures requiring an immediate
response (as determined by the Secretary),''
after ``replacement of fencing,''; and
(ii) by striking ``option of receiving''
and all that follows through the period at the
end and inserting the following: ``option of
receiving, before the agricultural producer
carries out the repair, replacement, or
restoration--
``(A) with respect to a payment to the agricultural
producer for a replacement, 75 percent of the cost of
the replacement, as determined by the Secretary based
on the fair market value of the cost of the replacement
using the estimated cost of the applicable practice
published in the Field Office Technical Guide of each
State by the Natural Resources Conservation Service or
other appropriate and comparable guidance document, as
determined by the Secretary; and
``(B) with respect to a payment to the agricultural
producer for a repair or restoration, 50 percent of the
cost of the repair or restoration, as determined by the
Secretary based on the fair market value of the cost of
the repair or restoration using the estimated cost of
the applicable practice published in the Field Office
Technical Guide of each State by the Natural Resources
Conservation Service or other appropriate and
comparable guidance document, as determined by the
Secretary.''; and
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``60-day'' and
inserting ``180-day''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Wildfire Determination.--A wildfire that causes damage
eligible for a payment under subsection (a) includes--
``(1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally if the damage
is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes;
and
``(2) a wildfire that is caused by an action directly
performed by the Federal Government.''.
(b) Additional Requirements for the Emergency Conservation
Program.--Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 is amended by
inserting after section 402B (16 U.S.C. 2202b) the following:
``SEC. 402C. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EMERGENCY CONSERVATION
PROGRAM.
``(a) Eligibility of Federal, State, and Local Land Users.--
``(1) In general.--An agricultural producer eligible to
receive payments under sections 401 and 402 includes a person
that--
``(A) holds a permit or lease from the Federal
Government to conduct agricultural production or
grazing on Federal land; or
``(B) holds a permit or leases land from a State or
unit of local government to conduct agricultural
production or grazing on that land.
``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection authorizes the
Secretary to make a payment under section 401 or 402 to the
Federal Government, a State, or a unit of local government.
``(b) Permanent and Temporary Improvements.--Emergency measures
eligible for payments under sections 401 and 402 include--
``(1) new permanent or temporary measures, including
permanent water wells and permanent or temporary surface or
aboveground pipelines and watering facilities; and
``(2) replacement or restoration of existing emergency
measures with permanent or temporary measures, including
permanent water wells and permanent or temporary surface or
aboveground pipelines and watering facilities.''.
(c) Emergency Watershed Program.--Section 403 of the Agricultural
Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``The Secretary''
and inserting the following:
``(a) Authorizations.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Eligible purposes of floodplain easements.--A
floodplain easement acquired by the Secretary under this
section may be used--
``(A) to restore, protect, maintain, and enhance
the hydrologic and other functions of wetlands and
associated land, riparian areas, and stream channels;
``(B) to conserve natural values, including fish
and wildlife habitat, water quality, flood water
retention, and groundwater recharge; and
``(C) to safeguard lives and property from floods,
drought, and the products of erosion.
``(3) Easement restoration.--The Secretary may restore the
hydrologic and other functions and values of wetlands on
floodplain easements acquired by the Secretary under this
section.
``(4) Easement management.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall restore,
protect, manage, maintain, enhance, and monitor
floodplain easements acquired by the Secretary under
this section.
``(B) Allowable uses.--The Secretary may authorize,
in writing and subject to such terms and conditions as
the Secretary may prescribe in the sole discretion of
the Secretary, the use by the landowner for compatible
uses of the area of a floodplain easement acquired by
the Secretary under this section, if the Secretary
determines that the use is consistent with the long-
term protection and enhancement of the floodplain,
riparian, wetland, and associated land, and other
natural values of the easement area.
``(5) Deadlines.--
``(A) In general.--Except in the case of a
floodplain easement acquired by the Secretary under
this section and as provided in subparagraph (B), not
later than 1 year after the date on which funds are
obligated to a State Conservationist for emergency
watershed protection measures under this section,
construction of the emergency watershed protection
measures shall be completed.
``(B) Exigent situations.--If the Secretary
determines that an exigent situation exists,
subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting `30
days' for `1 year'.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and all that follows through the ``The
Secretary'' in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(b) Modification and Termination of Floodplain Easements.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Preagreement Costs.--
``(1) Definition of sponsor.--In this subsection, the term
`sponsor' means--
``(A) a State or local government; and
``(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(2) Preagreement project costs.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall--
``(A) identify a list of emergency watershed
protection measures the cost of which may be incurred
by a sponsor prior to entering into an agreement with
the Secretary under this section; and
``(B) develop a procedure, including appropriate
deadlines, to be implemented at the State level,
through which a sponsor may request, for a specified
natural disaster, additional emergency watershed
protection measures the cost of which may be incurred
by a sponsor prior to entering into an agreement with
the Secretary under this section.
``(3) Agreement contribution.--If the Secretary and a
sponsor enter into an agreement under this section, the
Secretary shall consider any applicable preagreement costs
incurred by the sponsor for undertaking emergency watershed
protection measures identified under paragraph (2) as meeting
part of the contribution of the sponsor toward the cost of the
project.
``(4) Assumption of risk.--A sponsor that undertakes
emergency watershed protection measures prior to entering into
an agreement with the Secretary under this section shall assume
the risk of incurring any cost of undertaking those measures.
``(5) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection requires the
Secretary to enter into an agreement with a sponsor.''.
(d) Emergency Forest Restoration Program.--Section 407 of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2206) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (3) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) with respect to nonindustrial private forest
land or industrial private forest land--
``(i) an owner of the nonindustrial private
forest land or industrial private forest land;
or
``(ii) a person that--
``(I) receives concurrence from the
landowner to carry out emergency
measures in lieu of the owner; and
``(II) holds a lease on the land
for a minimum of 10 years;
``(B) with respect to Federal forest land, a person
that holds a permit or lease from the Federal
Government to conduct livestock grazing on the Federal
forest land; and
``(C) with respect to forest land owned by a State
or a unit of local government, a person that holds a
permit or leases land from the State or unit of local
government to conduct livestock grazing on that forest
land.
``(2) Eligible land.--The term `eligible land' means--
``(A) nonindustrial private forest land or
industrial private forest land;
``(B) Federal forest land on which livestock
grazing is authorized through a permit or lease; and
``(C) forest land owned by a State or unit of local
government on which livestock grazing is authorized
through a permit or lease.'';
(C) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), in
subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i),
by striking ``nonindustrial private forest land'' and
inserting ``eligible land''; and
(D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``wildfires,'' and inserting ``wildfires
(including a wildfire that is not caused naturally if
the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due
to natural causes and a wildfire that is caused by the
Federal Government),'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``an owner of nonindustrial private
forest land who'' and inserting ``an eligible entity
that''; and
(B) by striking ``restore the land'' and inserting
``restore eligible land'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``owner must'' and inserting
``eligible entity shall''; and
(B) by striking ``nonindustrial private forest
land'' and inserting ``eligible land'';
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``an owner of
nonindustrial private forest land'' and inserting ``an eligible
entity'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and
(6) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Advance Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall give an eligible
entity the option of receiving, before the eligible entity
carries out emergency measures under this section, not more
than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency measures, as
determined by the Secretary based on the fair market value of
the cost of the emergency measures using the estimated cost of
the applicable practice published in the Field Office Technical
Guide of each State by the Natural Resources Conservation
Service or other appropriate and comparable guidance document,
as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Return of funds.--If the funds provided under
paragraph (1) are not expended by the end of the 2-year period
beginning on the date on which the eligible entity receives
those funds, the funds shall be returned within a reasonable
timeframe, as determined by the Secretary.
``(f) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to
make a payment under this section to the Federal Government, a State,
or a unit of local government.''.
SEC. 2404. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND.
Section 1240M of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) supporting planning, management, and
coordination of grazing in agrivoltaic systems.''; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``each of fiscal years
2002 through 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2002 and each
fiscal year thereafter''.
SEC. 2405. GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM.
Section 1240O(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839bb-2(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each of fiscal years
2008 through 2023'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2008 and each
fiscal year thereafter''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) $5,000,000 beginning in fiscal year 2025 and
every 5 fiscal years thereafter, to remain available
until expended.''.
SEC. 2406. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
Section 1240R(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3839bb-5(f)(1)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``and'' after ``2023,''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and $50,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029'' before the period at
the end; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and $3,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029'' after ``2023''.
SEC. 2407. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 2408 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (7 U.S.C. 8351 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``pilot program'' and
inserting ``program (referred to in this section as the
`program')'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``pilot'';
(B) in each of paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking
``the pilot areas'' and inserting ``eligible areas'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``pilot'' and
inserting ``eligible'';
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
(E) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) after the Secretary determines that feral swine have
been eradicated from an eligible area, ensure that the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service continue monitoring that area for the
reoccurrence of feral swine for a period of 1 year;'';
(4) in each of subsections (c), (e), (f), and (g), by
striking ``pilot program'' each place it appears and inserting
``program'';
(5) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``the pilot areas''
and inserting ``eligible areas'';
(6) in subsection (e), in the subsection heading, by
striking ``Pilot'' and inserting ``Eligible'';
(7) in subsection (g)(1)--
(A) by striking ``2023 and'' and inserting
``2023,''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and $75,000,000 for the period
of fiscal years 2025 through 2029'' before the period
at the end; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Reports.--Not less than 2 years, and not later than 4 years
and 6 months, after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, acting jointly,
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and make publicly available on the website of the
Department of Agriculture a report that--
``(1) describes, for the period beginning on the date of
the establishment of the program and ending on the date of the
submission of the report--
``(A) activities carried out under the program,
including--
``(i) the number of counties in which feral
swine are no longer present; and
``(ii) estimated reductions in agriculture
and natural resource damage, and improvements
to human and livestock health and safety, as a
result of feral swine removal;
``(B) the use of funding made available under this
section, including the number of counties in each State
provided funding; and
``(C) the roles of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service and agricultural producers
provided financial assistance under this section in
carrying out activities under the program; and
``(2) includes--
``(A) a determination by the Administrator of the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the
Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service as
to the extent to which the program has been successful;
and
``(B) any recommendations for improvements to the
program.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat.
4491) is amended by striking the item relating to section 2408 and
inserting the following:
``Sec. 2408. Feral swine eradication and control program.''.
SEC. 2408. REPORT ON SMALL WETLANDS.
Section 2409(a) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4575) is amended by striking ``2014 through
2018'' and inserting ``2019 through 2023''.
SEC. 2409. TERMINAL LAKES ASSISTANCE.
Section 2507 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb-6) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Additional funds.--
``(A) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, to remain available until expended.
``(B) Availability of funds.--Any funds made
available to carry out this section before December 20,
2018, may remain available until expended.''; and
(2) by striking subsection (f).
SEC. 2410. COLORADO SALINITY CONTROL UNITS.
Section 205 of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (43
U.S.C. 1595) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that
follows through ``(a) The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 205. SALINITY CONTROL UNITS; AUTHORITY AND FUNCTIONS OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.
``(a) Allocation of Costs.--The Secretary'';
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Nonreimbursable costs; reimbursable costs.--
``(A) Nonreimbursable costs.--
``(i) In general.--In recognition of
Federal responsibility for the Colorado River
as an interstate stream and for international
comity with Mexico, Federal ownership of the
land of the Colorado River Basin from which
most of the dissolved salts originate, and the
policy established in the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.)
and except as provided in clause (ii), the
following shall be nonreimbursable:
``(I) 75 percent of the total costs
of construction and replacement of each
unit or separable feature of a unit
authorized by section 202(a)(1),
including 90 percent of--
``(aa) the costs of
operation and maintenance of
each unit or separable feature
of a unit authorized by that
section; and
``(bb) the total costs of
construction, operation, and
maintenance of the associated
measures to replace incidental
fish and wildlife values
foregone.
``(II) 75 percent of the total
costs of construction and replacement
of each unit or separable feature of a
unit authorized by section 202(a)(2),
including 100 percent of--
``(aa) the costs of
operation and maintenance of
each unit or separable feature
of a unit authorized by that
section; and
``(bb) the total costs of
construction, operation, and
maintenance of the associated
measures to replace incidental
fish and wildlife values
foregone.
``(III) 75 percent of the total
costs of construction, operation,
maintenance, and replacement of each
unit or separable feature of a unit
authorized by section 202(a)(3),
including 75 percent of the total costs
of construction, operation, and
maintenance of the associated measures
to replace incidental fish and wildlife
values foregone.
``(IV) 70 percent of the total
costs of construction, operation,
maintenance, and replacement of each
unit or separable feature of a unit
authorized by paragraphs (4) and (6) of
section 202(a), including 70 percent of
the total costs of construction,
operation, and maintenance of the
associated measures to replace
incidental fish and wildlife values
foregone.
``(V) 70 percent of the total costs
of construction and replacement of each
unit or separable feature of a unit
authorized by section 202(a)(5),
including 100 percent of--
``(aa) the costs of
operation and maintenance of
each unit or separable feature
of a unit authorized by that
section; and
``(bb) the total costs of
construction, operation, and
maintenance of the associated
measures to replace incidental
fish and wildlife values
foregone.
``(VI) 85 percent of the total
costs of implementation of the on-farm
measures authorized by section 202(c),
including 85 percent of the total costs
of the associated measures to replace
incidental fish and wildlife values
foregone.
``(ii) Special rule for nonreimbursable
costs for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.--
Notwithstanding clause (i), for each of fiscal
years 2024 and 2025, the following shall be
nonreimbursable:
``(I) 75 percent of all costs
described in clause (i)(I).
``(II) 75 percent of all costs
described in clause (i)(II).
``(III) 70 percent of all costs
described in clause (i)(V).
``(IV) The percentages of all costs
described in subclauses (III), (IV),
and (VI) of clause (i).
``(B) Reimbursable costs.--The total costs
remaining after the allocations under clauses (i) and
(ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be reimbursable as
provided for in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5).'';
(3) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection
designation and all that follows through ``Costs of
construction'' in paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(b) Costs Payable From Lower Colorado River Basin Development
Fund.--
``(1) In general.--Costs of construction'';
(4) in subsection (c), by striking ``(c) Costs of
construction'' and inserting the following:
``(c) Costs Payable From Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.--Costs of
construction''; and
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ``(e) The Secretary is''
and inserting the following:
``(e) Upward Adjustment of Rates for Electrical Energy.--The
Secretary is''.
SEC. 2411. CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES' PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985 is amended by inserting after section 1240O (16 U.S.C. 3939bb-2)
the following:
``SEC. 1240Q. CHESAPEAKE BAY STATES' PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Chesapeake bay watershed.--the term `Chesapeake Bay
watershed' means--
``(A) the portions of the States of Delaware,
Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia that contain the tributaries, backwaters, and
side channels, including their watersheds, that drain
into the Chesapeake Bay; and
``(B) the District of Columbia.
``(2) Most effective basins.--The term `most effective
basins' means the local rivers and streams located within the
Chesapeake Bay watershed that are identified by the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency as being
most beneficial to the downstream Chesapeake Bay if prioritized
for water quality improvement.
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary shall carry out a
Chesapeake Bay States' Partnership Initiative (referred to in this
section as the `Initiative') to assist producers in implementing
conservation activities on agricultural land in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed for the purposes of--
``(1) improving water quality and quantity in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed;
``(2) restoring, enhancing, and preserving soil, air, and
related resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; and
``(3) increasing the resilience of agricultural production
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to withstand the impacts of
climate change.
``(c) Conservation Activities.--The Secretary shall deliver the
funds made available to carry out this section through applicable
programs under this subtitle, including by providing enrollment
opportunities that are targeted to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, to
assist producers in enhancing land and water resources--
``(1) by controlling erosion and reducing sediment and
nutrient levels in ground and surface water; and
``(2) by planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating
habitat conservation, restoration, and enhancement measures
where there is significant ecological value if the land is--
``(A) retained in its current use; or
``(B) restored to its natural condition.
``(d) Considerations.--In delivering the funds made available to
carry out this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration
to applications--
``(1) submitted by producers in the most effective basins;
or
``(2) to carry out conservation activities that reduce
nitrogen and sediment, improve management of livestock and
waste, and conserve wetlands.
``(e) Duties of the Secretary.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) where available, use existing plans, models, and
assessments to assist producers in implementing conservation
activities; and
``(2) proceed expeditiously to deliver funding to a
producer to implement conservation activities that are
consistent with State strategies for the restoration of the
Chesapeake Bay watershed.
``(f) Consultation and Coordination.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies,
ensure conservation activities carried out under this section
complement Federal, State, and local programs, including
programs that address water quality, in the Chesapeake Bay
watershed; and
``(2) in carrying out this section, coordinate with the
Farm Service Agency to identify needs and opportunities for
buffer management on land subject to a contract under the
conservation reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1
that may be expiring soon.
``(g) Task Force.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary and the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly establish a
Federal task force, to be known as the `Task Force on Crediting
Chesapeake Bay Conservation Investments' (referred to in this
subsection as the `task force').
``(2) Action plan.--The task force shall develop an action
plan that--
``(A) identifies improvements to the processes of
analyzing, reporting, and quantifying nutrient
reductions from the conservation activities in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed;
``(B) is responsive to the needs of States in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed (including the District of
Columbia) and the agricultural community;
``(C) maintains the scientific integrity of the
decision-making process and accounting tools under the
Initiative and the Chesapeake Bay Program (as defined
in section 117(a) of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267(a))); and
``(D) ensures producer privacy is protected.
``(3) Identification of opportunities.--The task force
shall leverage findings from successful data sharing pilots to
identify opportunities to integrate time-saving technologies
for the implementation of conservation activities under this
section.
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of amounts in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary
to carry out this section $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to
remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are
necessary to carry out this section for each fiscal year.
``(3) Unobligated funds.--The Secretary may use to carry
out this section amounts made available for the programs
described in paragraphs (3) through (6) of section 1241(a) for
any fiscal year that remain unobligated at the end of that
fiscal year.''.
SEC. 2412. DRIFTLESS AREA LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE.
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 1240S. DRIFTLESS AREA LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Driftless
Area Landscape Conservation Initiative to reduce erosion and restore
cold water stream corridors in the Driftless Area of the Midwestern
United States, with a focus on climate-smart agriculture, carbon
sequestration, soil health, and ecological restoration.
``(b) Initiative Elements.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative
established under this section, the Secretary shall provide
assistance to producers to implement practices--
``(A) to manage working land for year-round ground
cover to rebuild soil, sequester carbon, improve water
quality, increase water holding capacity of soil,
reduce soil erosion, and mitigate flooding and other
climate impacts;
``(B) to manage woodland for increased biodiversity
to improve the health of the woodland to provide
habitat and sequester carbon;
``(C) to restore prairies and manage grassland, oak
savannas, and barrens to expand habitat and sequester
carbon; and
``(D) to restore cold water streams by reducing
stream bank erosion and threats of flooding while
improving trout habitat.
``(2) Partnerships.--In carrying out the initiative
established under this section, the Secretary shall provide
assistance to partnerships to educate landowners and operators
on the benefits of climate-smart agriculture, soil health, and
holistic grazing, with a focus on equity.
``(3) Types of assistance.--The Secretary may provide
assistance under this section in the form of financial
assistance, technical assistance, and payments for the
conveyance of easements to the Secretary, under such terms as
the Secretary may establish.
``(c) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are
necessary to carry out this section for each fiscal year.
``(2) Unobligated funds.--The Secretary may use to carry
out this section amounts made available for the programs
described in paragraphs (3) through (6) of section 1241(a) for
any fiscal year that remain unobligated at the end of that
fiscal year.''.
SEC. 2413. EXPANSION OF NRCS SNOW SURVEY AND WATER SUPPLY FORECASTING.
(a) Definition of Northeastern United States.--In this section, the
term ``Northeastern United States'' means the States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and any other States determined by the
Secretary.
(b) Expansion.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall expand the snow survey
and water supply forecasting program carried out by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to serve the Northeastern United States.
Subtitle E--Funding and Administration
SEC. 2501. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.
(a) In General.--Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3841) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Annual Funding.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use the funds,
facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation
to carry out the programs described in this subsection,
including the provision of technical assistance.
``(2) Conservation reserve.--For fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter, using the funds of the Commodity Credit
Corporation, the Secretary shall carry out the conservation
reserve program under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D,
to the maximum extent practicable, including using $60,000,000
to provide payments under section 1234(c).
``(3) Agricultural conservation easement program.--
``(A) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry
out the agricultural conservation easement program
under subtitle H, to the maximum extent practicable--
``(i) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(ii) $540,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(iii) $540,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(iv) $570,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(v) $570,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(vi) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(vii) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2030;
``(viii) $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2031;
``(ix) $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2032;
and
``(x) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2033 and
each fiscal year thereafter.
``(B) Use of funds.--Of the funds made available by
subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than
80 percent to carry out the purposes described in
section 21001(a)(3) of Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat.
2016).
``(4) Environmental quality incentives program.--
``(A) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry
out the environmental quality incentives program under
subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D, to the maximum
extent practicable--
``(i) $2,025,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(ii) $2,575,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(iii) $2,575,000,000 for fiscal year
2026;
``(iv) $2,675,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(v) $2,675,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(vi) $2,775,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(vii) $2,775,000,000 for fiscal year
2030;
``(viii) $2,975,000,000 for fiscal year
2031;
``(ix) $2,975,000,000 for fiscal year 2032;
and
``(x) $3,225,000,000 for fiscal year 2033
and each fiscal year thereafter.
``(B) Use of funds.--Of the funds made available by
subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than
60 percent to carry out the purposes described in
section 21001(a)(1) of Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat.
2015).
``(C) Conditions.--The use of amounts described in
subparagraph (B) shall be subject to the conditions
described in section 21001(a)(1)(B) of Public Law 117-
169 (136 Stat. 2015).
``(5) Conservation stewardship program.--
``(A) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry
out the conservation stewardship program under
subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, to the maximum
extent practicable--
``(i) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(ii) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(iii) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year
2026;
``(iv) $1,250,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(v) $1,250,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(vi) $1,325,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(vii) $1,325,000,000 for fiscal year
2030;
``(viii) $1,450,000,000 for fiscal year
2031;
``(ix) $1,450,000,000 for fiscal year 2032;
and
``(x) $1,550,000,000 for fiscal year 2033
and each fiscal year thereafter.
``(B) Use of funds.--Of the funds made available by
subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than
50 percent to carry out the purposes described in
section 21001(a)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat.
2016).
``(C) Conditions.--The use of amounts described in
subparagraph (B) shall be subject to the conditions
described in section 21001(a)(2)(B) of Public Law 117-
169 (136 Stat. 2016).
``(D) Contracts previously entered into.--Of the
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the
Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to
administer contracts entered into before December 20,
2018, under the conservation stewardship program under
subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D (as in effect
on December 19, 2018).
``(6) Regional conservation partnership program.--
``(A) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry
out the regional conservation partnership program under
subtitle I, to the maximum extent practicable--
``(i) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(ii) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(iii) $600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(iv) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(v) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
``(vi) $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;
``(vii) $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2030;
``(viii) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2031;
``(ix) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2032;
and
``(x) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2033
and each fiscal year thereafter.
``(B) Use of funds.--Of the funds made available by
subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary shall use not less than
80 percent to carry out the purposes described in
section 21001(a)(4) of Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat.
2016).
``(C) Conditions.--The use of amounts described in
subparagraph (B) shall be subject to the conditions
described in section 21001(a)(4)(B) of Public Law 117-
169 (136 Stat. 2016).''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``fiscal years 2014
through 2031'' and inserting ``fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal
year thereafter''.
(b) Rescission.--The unobligated balances of amounts appropriated
by section 21001(a) of Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat. 2015) are
rescinded.
(c) Assistance to Certain Farmers or Ranchers for Conservation
Access.--Section 1241(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3841(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by striking
``Fiscal years 2019 through 2031'' and inserting
``Subsequent fiscal years''; and
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031'' and
inserting ``fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year
thereafter''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and, in the case of
fiscal years 2019 through 2031,'' and inserting ``and''.
(d) Report on Program Enrollments and Assistance.--Section 1241(i)
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(i)) is amended, in the
matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``each of calendar years
2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``calendar year 2019 and each
calendar year thereafter''.
(e) Conservation Standards and Requirements.--Section 1241(j)(1) of
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(j)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) a schedule for the revision of existing, and
establishment of new, conservation practice standards
under section 1242(h).''.
SEC. 2502. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
paragraphs (2) and (4), respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Approved non-federal certifying entity.--The term
`approved non-Federal certifying entity' means a non-Federal
entity approved by the Secretary under subsection (e)(5)(C)(ii)
to perform certifications of third-party providers under this
section.''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(3) Farmer-to-farmer network.--The term `farmer-to-farmer
network' means any affiliation or association of farmers that
share information, technical assistance, or any other type of
mutually beneficial support.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``science-based, site-
specific practices designed'' and inserting ``timely, science-
based, and site-specific practice design and implementation
assistance'';
(3) in subsection (d), by inserting ``(including private
sector entities)'' after ``non-Federal entities'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008'' and inserting
``Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``ensure'' and
all that follows through ``engineering,'' and inserting
``ensure that third-party providers with expertise in
the technical aspects of conservation planning,
watershed planning, environmental engineering,
conservation practice design, implementation, and
evaluation, or other technical skills, as determined by
the Secretary,''; and
(C) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and
inserting the following:
``(4) Certification.--The Secretary shall certify a third-
party provider through--
``(A) a certification process administered by the
Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service;
``(B) a non-Federal entity (other than a State
agency) approved by the Secretary to perform the
certification; or
``(C) a State agency with State statutory authority
to certify, administer, or license professionals in one
or more fields of natural resources, agriculture, or
engineering approved by the Secretary to perform the
certification.
``(5) Non-federal certifying entity process.--
``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall establish a
process for the certification of third-party providers
through approved non-Federal certifying entities, with
the goal of increasing third-party provider capacity,
including the certification of qualified agricultural
retailers, cooperatives, professional societies,
service providers, and organizations described in
section 1265A(3)(B)(i).
``(B) Eligibility of non-federal entities.--In
determining the eligibility of an entity described in
subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (4) (referred to
in this paragraph as a `non-Federal entity') to perform
certifications, the Secretary shall consider--
``(i) the ability and capacity of the non-
Federal entity to assess qualifications of a
third-party provider and certify third-party
providers at scale;
``(ii) the experience of the non-Federal
entity in working with third-party providers
and eligible participants;
``(iii) the expertise of the non-Federal
entity in the technical and science-based
aspects of conservation delivery described in
paragraph (3)(A);
``(iv) the history of the non-Federal
entity in working with agricultural producers;
and
``(v) such other qualifications as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(C) Approval.--Not later than 40 business days
after the date on which the Secretary receives an
application submitted by a non-Federal entity to
perform certifications of third-party providers under
this section, the Secretary shall--
``(i) determine if the non-Federal entity
meets the eligibility requirements established
under subparagraph (B); and
``(ii) if the Secretary makes a positive
determination under clause (i), approve the
non-Federal entity to perform certifications of
third-party providers under this section.
``(D) Timely decisions.--Not later than 10 business
days after the date on which the Secretary receives a
notification submitted by a third-party provider that
the third-party provider has been certified by an
approved non-Federal certifying entity to provide
technical assistance for specified practices and
conservation activities, the Secretary shall--
``(i) review the certification; and
``(ii) if the certification is satisfactory
to the Secretary, include the name of the
third-party provider on the registry of
certified third-party providers maintained by
the Secretary.
``(E) Duties of approved non-federal certifying
entities.--An approved non-Federal certifying entity
shall--
``(i) assess the ability of a third-party
provider to appropriately provide technical
assistance to eligible participants for
specified practices and conservation
activities; and
``(ii) provide to third-party providers
certified by the approved non-Federal
certifying entity--
``(I) training to ensure that the
third-party providers are qualified to
provide the technical assistance
described in clause (i); and
``(II) continuing education, as
appropriate, to ensure that the third-
party providers are educated in the
most recent technical- and science-
based aspects of conservation delivery.
``(6) Streamlined certification.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall provide a streamlined
certification process for a third-party provider that has an
appropriate specialty certification, including a certified crop
advisor certified by the American Society of Agronomy, a
professional engineer, or a holder of a technical certification
approved by the Secretary.'';
(5) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and for the
purpose of carrying out subsection (k)'' before the
period at the end;
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or an approved non-
Federal certifying entity'' after ``third-party
provider'';
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, and additionally thereafter at the discretion of the
Secretary, the Secretary shall--
``(A) review certification requirements for third-
party providers;
``(B) make any adjustments considered necessary by
the Secretary to improve participation and the quality
and effectiveness of conservation practices implemented
and adopted with support from technical service
providers; and
``(C) conduct outreach to and receive input from
third-party providers, both that currently participate
in the program under this section and those that no
longer participate in the program, and entities,
organizations, and associations providing or supporting
consultative services to agriculture, livestock, and
forest producers to assess barriers and opportunities
for the use of third-party provider assistance for
improved conservation program delivery.'';
(D) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by inserting
``maintenance,'' after ``outreach,''; and
(E) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the
following:
``(5) Payment amounts.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish
fair and reasonable amounts of payments for technical
services provided by third-party providers at rates
equivalent to, but that do not exceed, technical
assistance provided by the Secretary.
``(B) Considerations.--In determining fair and
reasonable payment amounts under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall consider specialized equipment,
frequency of site visits, training, travel and
transportation, and such other factors as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(C) Exclusion.--A payment provided under another
Federal program directly to an eligible participant for
technical assistance provided by a third-party provider
certified under this section shall be--
``(i) excluded from cost-sharing
requirements under the program under which the
payment was provided; and
``(ii) equal to not more than 100 percent
of the fair and reasonable payment amount for
the applicable technical assistance determined
under subparagraph (B).
``(6) Transparency.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of establishment of the processes under paragraphs (5)(A) and
(6) of subsection (e), and routinely thereafter, the Secretary
shall provide accessible public information on--
``(A) funds obligated to third-party providers
through--
``(i) contracts entered into between
eligible participants and individual third-
party providers; and
``(ii) agreements with public and private
sector entities to secure third-party technical
assistance;
``(B) certification results, including--
``(i) the number of third-party providers
certified by the Secretary;
``(ii) the number of approved non-Federal
certifying entities;
``(iii) the number of third-party providers
certified through approved non-Federal
certifying entities; and
``(iv) the number of third-party providers
certified based on State agency or professional
association credentialing; and
``(C) the estimated number of staff hours or full-
time equivalents saved through work accomplished by
third-party providers.'';
(6) in subsection (h)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``Establishment and'' before ``Review'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018''
and inserting ``not less frequently
than once every 5 years'';
(II) by inserting ``on a rolling
basis,'' after ``standard,''; and
(III) by striking ``that Act'' and
inserting ``the Rural Prosperity and
Food Security Act of 2024'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) provide an opportunity for public input on
each conservation practice standard under review;
``(F) publicly post a summary of comments received
under subparagraph (E) and decisions made or not made
due to those comments; and
``(G) publish each revised conservation practice
standard.'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``Indian Tribes,
Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,''
after ``nongovernmental organizations,'';
(D) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) Establishment of conservation practice standards.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall--
``(i) develop, for the programs under this
title, a streamlined, publicly accessible,
administrative process for establishing,
including proposing, reviewing, and adopting,
interim conservation practice standards and
conservation practice standards; and
``(ii) publish a detailed description of
the process developed under clause (i),
including--
``(I) specific thresholds
appropriate for expedited review; and
``(II) an associated timeline for
the implementation of the review.
``(B) Requirements.--Under the process established
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
``(i) consider conservation innovations,
scientific and technological advancements, and
traditional ecological knowledge, including
from projects developed under section 1240H;
``(ii) allow State, local, and Tribal
flexibility in the creation of--
``(I) interim conservation practice
standards and supplements to existing
conservation practice standards to
address the considerations described in
clause (i); and
``(II) partnership-led proposals
for new and innovative techniques to
facilitate implementing agreements and
grants under this title;
``(iii) solicit regular input from State
technical committees established under section
1261(a) for recommendations that identify
innovations or advancements described in clause
(i); and
``(iv) allow for public submission of
proposals for consideration as interim
conservation practice standards.
``(C) Public information.--Under the process
established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
make publicly available information describing--
``(i) what constitutes--
``(I) a conservation practice
standard; and
``(II) an interim conservation
practice standard;
``(ii) the process by which the public can
submit to the Secretary proposals for
consideration as interim conservation practice
standards, including a template and written
instructions for how to submit a conservation
practice for consideration;
``(iii) the data, metrics, third-party or
scientific information, and other relevant
information that the Secretary needs to
consider in the establishment of interim
conservation practice standards;
``(iv) the process by which an interim
conservation practice standard becomes a
conservation practice standard;
``(v) the means by which the public can
engage State technical committees established
under section 1261(a) to consider interim
conservation practice standards already in
effect in other States; and
``(vi) such other information as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.'';
(E) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(I) by striking ``Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018'' and inserting
``Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024''; and
(II) by striking ``Congress a
report on--'' and inserting ``Congress
and make publicly available on a
website of the Department of
Agriculture a report describing--'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``a
detailed description of'' before ``the
administrative'';
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``or revised''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) such other information as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate with respect to improving
the process for reviewing and establishing conservation
practice standards.''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Enteric methane emissions.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall--
``(A) complete a review of conservation practice
standards in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this paragraph to consider any revisions
to conservation practice standards, including for feed
management, or new conservation practice standards that
would be appropriate to assist in reducing enteric
methane emissions;
``(B) revise appropriate conservation practice
standards in effect on the day before the date of
enactment of this paragraph as necessary to assist in
reducing enteric methane emissions; and
``(C) establish any appropriate new conservation
practice standards to assist in reducing enteric
methane emissions.''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Native Traditional Ecological Knowledge.--
``(1) Definition of native entity.--In this subsection, the
term `Native entity' means--
``(A) an Indian Tribe; and
``(B) a conservation-focused Native Hawaiian
organization.
``(2) Incorporating native traditional ecological
knowledge.--The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, fully incorporate Native traditional ecological
knowledge into the conservation practice standards, including
the Native conservation practice standards developed under
paragraph (3).
``(3) Native conservation practice standards.--
``(A) Working groups.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall establish in each service area office of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service a working group
consisting of--
``(i) a representative from the applicable
State technical committee established under
section 1261(a);
``(ii) the applicable State Conservationist
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
and
``(iii) a designated representative from
each Native entity within the service area that
elects to participate.
``(B) Development of standards.--Each working group
established under subparagraph (A) shall develop
technical standards based on Native traditional
ecological knowledge to be--
``(i) recognized as Native conservation
practice standards for the applicable service
area; and
``(ii) incorporated into the Natural
Resources Conservation Service field office
technical guide for the applicable service
area.
``(k) Provision of Assistance to Farmer-to-Farmer Networks.--
``(1) Purposes.--The purposes of this subsection are--
``(A) to build capacity for farmer-to-farmer
networks, connect farmers with mentors or group
learning opportunities, and support goal setting to
increase long-term adoption of consistent, science-
based, site-specific practices designed to achieve
conservation objectives on land active in agricultural,
forestry, or related uses;
``(B) to increase the provision of technical
assistance that meets the specific needs of, and is
accessible to, farmers, ranchers, and forest owners
using different farming models, practices, and scales;
and
``(C) to establish and steward farmer-to-farmer
networks.
``(2) Cooperative agreements.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with eligible entities to carry
out the purposes described in paragraph (1).
``(B) Eligible entities.--An entity eligible to
enter into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary
under subparagraph (A) is--
``(i) a nonprofit entity described in
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section
501(a) of that Code;
``(ii) a farmer-to-farmer network;
``(iii) an Indian Tribe;
``(iv) a Tribal organization;
``(v) a Native Hawaiian organization,
including the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;
``(vi) a unit of local government
(including a conservation district and a
conservation district association);
``(vii) an institution of higher education;
``(viii) a State; and
``(ix) any other entity designated by the
Secretary.
``(C) Prioritization.--In selecting eligible
entities with which to enter into cooperative
agreements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
give priority to eligible entities that seek to meet
the specific needs of, and are accessible to--
``(i) historically underserved farmers,
ranchers, and forest owners, including limited-
resource farmers, ranchers, and forest owners;
or
``(ii) farmers, ranchers, and forest owners
operating in high-poverty areas.
``(3) Responsibilities of providers of assistance to
farmer-to-farmer networks.--
``(A) In general.--If an eligible entity provides
assistance to establish a farmer-to-farmer network
using assistance provided through a cooperative
agreement under paragraph (2), the eligible entity
shall be responsible for not less than 2 of the
following actions:
``(i) Facilitating and increasing farmer
access to farmer-to-farmer networks.
``(ii) Facilitating mentor and mentee
matchmaking among farmers.
``(iii) Coordinating training and resources
to build the skills of farmer-to-farmer network
leaders and participants for effective
education, grassroots-based learning, and
cross-training with respect to the facilitation
of, information about, and other skills with
respect to building effective farmer-to-farmer
networks.
``(iv) Maintaining and promulgating a list
of relevant entities, associations, and
individuals that are supporting, or have an
interest in supporting, farmer-to-farmer
networks.
``(v) Administering subawards to increase
farmer access to farmer-to-farmer assistance in
accordance with paragraph (4).
``(vi) Other actions determined appropriate
by the Secretary.
``(B) Language assistance.--If an eligible entity
provides assistance described in subparagraph (A) to a
non-English speaking farmer, rancher, or forest owner,
the eligible entity shall, to the greatest extent
practicable, provide that assistance in the native
language of the farmer, rancher, or forest owner.
``(4) Subawards.--
``(A) In general.--If an eligible entity awards a
subaward pursuant to paragraph (3)(A)(v) to an eligible
subawardee described in subparagraph (B), the eligible
subawardee shall use that award--
``(i) to plan and conduct events, and
identify and develop innovative activities, to
support building capacity for farmer-to-farmer
networks, connecting farmers with mentors or
group learning opportunities, and supporting
goal setting to increase long-term adoption of
consistent, science-based, site-specific
conservation objectives on land active in
agricultural, forestry, or related uses; and
``(ii) to compensate participants in the
events and activities described in clause (i)
at market rates.
``(B) Eligible subawardees.--An entity eligible for
a subaward under paragraph (3)(A)(v) is--
``(i) a nonprofit entity described in
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section
501(a) of that Code;
``(ii) a farmer-to-farmer network;
``(iii) an Indian Tribe;
``(iv) a Tribal organization;
``(v) a Native Hawaiian organization (as
defined in section 6207 of the Native Hawaiian
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7517));
``(vi) a unit of local government
(including a conservation district and a
conservation district association);
``(vii) an institution of higher education;
``(viii) an individual; and
``(ix) any other entity designated by the
Secretary.
``(C) Requirements.--The Secretary, in conjunction
with the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, shall establish any necessary additional
requirements for subawards under paragraph (3)(A)(v).
``(l) Technical Assistance on Agrivoltaics.--In carrying out the
conservation programs under this title, the Secretary may provide
technical assistance under those programs to farmers growing crops
below or in tandem with solar energy systems.''.
SEC. 2503. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.
Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (f)(4), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) State acres for wildlife enhancement.--The
limitations established under paragraph (1) shall not
apply to land enrolled in the State acres for wildlife
enhancement practice under section
1231(d)(6)(A)(i)(IV).'';
(2) in subsection (m), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``subtitle D and'' and all that follows
through ``the Secretary shall'' and inserting ``subtitle D, the
environmental quality incentives program under subchapter A of
chapter 4 of subtitle D, and the agricultural conservation
easement program under subtitle H, and in entering into
alternative funding arrangements under the regional
conservation partnership program under section 1271C(d), the
Secretary shall''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(q) Encouragement of Habitat Connectivity and Wildlife Migration
Corridors.--In carrying out any conservation program administered by
the Secretary, the Secretary may, as appropriate, encourage--
``(1) the conservation of landscape corridors and
hydrologic connectivity, where native fish, wildlife, and plant
species and ecological processes can transition from one
habitat to another, in order to conserve native biodiversity
and ensure resiliency against impacts from a range of
stressors; and
``(2) the use of conservation practices that support the
development, restoration, and maintenance of landscape
corridors and hydrologic connectivity.''.
SEC. 2504. BEST PRACTICES GUIDANCE FOR SOLAR ENERGY LAND MANAGEMENT.
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1248. BEST PRACTICES GUIDANCE FOR SOLAR ENERGY LAND MANAGEMENT.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of
the Natural Resources Conservation Service (referred to in this section
as the `Secretary'), in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy
(including the Solar Energy Technologies Office) and the Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, shall--
``(1) develop both national and regionally relevant
guidance on best practices for protection of soil health and
productivity during the siting, construction, operation, and
decommissioning of solar energy systems on agricultural land,
which shall include--
``(A) guidance for--
``(i) soil carbon and soil health;
``(ii) water management;
``(iii) vegetation management, including
types of plants best suited for pollinators;
and
``(iv) other practices, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary; and
``(B) regional considerations for each type of
guidance described in clauses (i) through (iv) of
subparagraph (A); and
``(2) make the guidance developed under paragraph (1)
publicly available on the website of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
``(b) Review Required.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Energy, shall--
``(1) update guidance developed under subsection (a)(1) not
less frequently than once every 2 years; and
``(2) ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the
completeness and relevance of that guidance.
``(c) Consultation.--In conducting the review under subsection (b),
the Secretary shall consult with eligible participants, State technical
committees established under section 1261(a), crop consultants,
cooperative extension and land grant universities, nongovernmental
organizations, industry, and other qualified entities.''.
Subtitle F--Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
SEC. 2601. DEFINITIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 1265A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3865a) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i)--
(I) by striking ``an eligible
entity'' the first place it appears and
inserting ``one or more eligible
entities''; and
(II) by striking ``an eligible
entity owns or is'' and inserting ``one
or more of those eligible entities own
or are'';
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by striking ``the
eligible entity certifies to the
Secretary that the'' and inserting
``each eligible entity certifies to the
Secretary that an'';
(II) in subclause (I)--
(aa) by striking the
subclause designation and all
that follows through ``hold''
in item (bb) and inserting the
following:
``(I) hold'';
(bb) by striking ``transfer
ownership of the land'' and
inserting ``ownership of the
land will be transferred''; and
(cc) by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(III) in subclause (II), by
inserting ``that owns the land subject
to the agricultural land easement held
by another eligible entity'' after
``eligible entity''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(III) at no time hold both an
agricultural land easement and
ownership of the land subject to that
agricultural land easement; and''; and
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking ``by the
eligible entity'' and all that follows through
the period at the end and inserting ``by one or
more eligible entities if such an eligible
entity fails to transfer ownership under clause
(ii).''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``(A)(ii)(I)(bb)'' and inserting ``(A)(ii)(I)'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as
paragraphs (4) through (8), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Buy-sell-protect transaction.--The term `buy-sell-
protect transaction' means a legal arrangement--
``(A) between one or more eligible entities and the
Secretary relating to land that one or more of those
eligible entities own or are going to purchase prior to
acquisition of an agricultural land easement; and
``(B) under which each eligible entity certifies to
the Secretary that an eligible entity shall hold an
agricultural land easement on that land, but ownership
of the land will be transferred to a farmer or rancher
that is not an eligible entity prior to or on
acquisition of the agricultural land easement.''; and
(4) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``tribal land'' and inserting ``Tribal land'';
and
(B) in subparagraph (A)(i)--
(i) in subclause (I), by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(ii) in subclause (II), by adding ``or'' at
the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(III) a buy-sell-protect
transaction;''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1271A(4)(I) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a(4)(I)) is amended by striking
``1265A(3)(B)'' and inserting ``1265A(4)(B)''.
SEC. 2602. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS.
(a) Availability of Assistance.--Section 1265B(a) of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(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) buy-sell-protect transactions.''.
(b) Cost-Share Assistance.--Section 1265B(b) of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``50 percent'' and inserting
``60 percent, except as provided in subparagraph
(B)(ii)(I),''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``that is at
least equivalent to that provided by the
Secretary'' and inserting ``of not less than 40
percent, except as provided in clause (ii)(II),
of the fair market value of the agricultural
land easement''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by striking ``Secretary, the
Secretary'' and inserting the
following: ``Secretary--
``(I) the Secretary'';
(II) in subclause (I) (as so
designated)--
(aa) by striking ``75
percent'' and inserting ``80
percent''; and
(bb) by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(II) the eligible entity shall
provide a share that is not less than
20 percent of the fair market value of
the agricultural land easement.''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
``(5) Certification of eligible entities.--
``(A) Certification purpose.--The purpose of the
certification of eligible entities under this paragraph
is--
``(i) to minimize administrative burdens on
the Secretary; and
``(ii) to recognize the ability of
experienced eligible entities to carry out the
purposes of the program with minimal oversight
by the Secretary.
``(B) Certification process.--The Secretary shall
establish a process under which the Secretary--
``(i) directly certifies eligible entities
that meet established criteria described in
subparagraph (C) or (D);
``(ii) enters into long-term agreements
with certified eligible entities;
``(iii) accepts proposals for cost-share
assistance for the purchase of agricultural
land easements throughout the duration of such
agreements;
``(iv) allows a certified eligible entity
to use its own terms and conditions,
notwithstanding paragraph (4)(C), as long as
the terms and conditions are consistent with
the purposes of the program;
``(v) may allow a certified eligible entity
to include the minimum deed terms established
by the Secretary under paragraph (4)(C); and
``(vi) may allow a certified eligible
entity to assist a non-certified eligible
entity in the purchase and stewardship of an
agricultural land easement.
``(C) Certification criteria for eligible
entities.--To be certified through the process
established under subparagraph (B), an eligible entity
shall demonstrate to the Secretary that the eligible
entity--
``(i) will maintain, at a minimum, for the
duration of the agreement and the duration of
each agricultural land easement acquired under
the agreement--
``(I) a plan for administering
agricultural land easements that is
consistent with the purposes of the
program;
``(II) the capacity and resources
to monitor and enforce agricultural
land easements consistent with the
purposes of the program; and
``(III) policies and procedures to
ensure--
``(aa) the long-term
integrity of agricultural land
easements on eligible land
consistent with the purposes of
the program;
``(bb) timely completion of
acquisitions of such
agricultural land easements;
``(cc) timely and complete
evaluation and reporting to the
Secretary on the use of funds
provided under the program; and
``(dd) compliance with
program requirements, including
timely notifications to the
Secretary required under the
program, such as notifications
of de minimis adjustments in
accordance with section
1265D(c)(6)(B)(iii); and
``(ii) has--
``(I) acquired not fewer than 10
agricultural land easements under the
program; and
``(II) successfully met the
responsibilities of the eligible entity
under the applicable agreements with
the Secretary, as determined by the
Secretary, relating to agricultural
land easements that the eligible entity
has acquired under the program or any
predecessor program.
``(D) Expedited certification of public entities
and accredited land trusts.--The Secretary may certify
an eligible entity using an expedited certification
process under subparagraph (B) if the eligible entity
demonstrates that it--
``(i) is--
``(I) accredited by the Land Trust
Accreditation Commission, or by an
equivalent accrediting body, as
determined by the Secretary; or
``(II) a public agency with
statutory authority for farm and
ranchland protection;
``(ii) has acquired not fewer than 5
agricultural land easements under the program
or any predecessor program;
``(iii) has successfully met the
responsibilities of the eligible entity under
the applicable agreements with the Secretary,
as determined by the Secretary, relating to
agricultural land easements that the eligible
entity has acquired under the program or any
predecessor program; and
``(iv) meets the requirements of
subparagraph (C)(i).
``(E) Applicability to regional conservation
partnership program.--The certification of an eligible
entity under this paragraph, and the authorities under
this paragraph resulting from that certification, shall
apply to the establishment by the eligible entity of
agricultural land easements under the regional
conservation partnership program under subtitle I.
``(F) Review; revocation.--
``(i) Review.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary
shall conduct a review of eligible
entities certified under subparagraph
(B) every 3 years to ensure that such
certified eligible entities are meeting
the criteria established under
subparagraphs (C) and (D).
``(II) De minimis adjustments.--
Each review under subclause (I) shall
include a review of any de minimis
adjustments made by each certified
eligible entity under section
1265D(c)(6)(B), including a review of
whether timely notification of each de
minimis adjustment was made to the
Secretary in accordance with clause
(iii)(I) of that section.
``(III) Notification of
accreditation entity.--If the Secretary
determines in a review under subclause
(I) that an eligible entity is not in
compliance, the Secretary shall notify
the appropriate accrediting or
governing body overseeing the
certification of the eligible entity
under subparagraph (D) of the
noncompliance of the eligible entity.
``(ii) Revocation.--
``(I) Based on eligibility
criteria.--If the Secretary finds that
a certified eligible entity no longer
meets the criteria established under
subparagraph (C) or (D), as applicable,
the Secretary may--
``(aa) allow the certified
eligible entity a specified
period of time, at a minimum
180 days, in which to take such
actions as may be necessary to
meet the criteria; and
``(bb) revoke the
certification of the eligible
entity, if, after the specified
period of time, the certified
eligible entity does not meet
such criteria.
``(II) Failure to comply with de
minimis notifications.--If an eligible
entity fails to comply with
notification requirements under section
1265D(c)(6)(B)(iii), the Secretary
may--
``(aa) immediately revoke
the certification of the
eligible entity under this
paragraph; and
``(bb) pursue any other
remedies available to the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 2603. WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS.
Section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865c) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``subsection (f)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``subsection (g)'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``technical and''
before ``financial'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as
subsections (f) through (h), respectively;
(4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Easement Stewardship.--
``(1) In general.--Using amounts made available to carry
out the program, the Secretary shall, with respect to eligible
land enrolled under this section--
``(A) regularly assess and monitor the enrolled
land;
``(B) provide technical and financial assistance
for the repair, necessary maintenance, and enhancement
activities described in the wetland reserve easement
plan developed for the eligible land under subsection
(g)(1); and
``(C) create and execute a 5-year stewardship plan
for assessment, capacity, and performance, ensuring the
monitoring, repair, maintenance, and enhancement
activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) are
completed to ensure wetland reserve easements fulfill
the purposes of--
``(i) the program; and
``(ii) the wetland reserve easement plans
described in subparagraph (B).
``(2) Payments.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall make payments in amounts that are not more than
100 percent of the eligible costs, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(3) Report.--Not later 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, 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
describing--
``(A) an inventory of the existing stewardship
needs of all wetland reserve easements;
``(B) a plan to address the stewardship needs
described in that inventory;
``(C) the amounts the Secretary will allocate to
address those stewardship needs; and
``(D) the planned use of compatible uses under
subsection (b)(5)(C), contracts or agreements under
subsection (e)(2), or wetland reserve easement plans
under subsection (g)(1) to ensure that each of those
stewardship needs is addressed.
``(e) Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall assist owners in
complying with the terms and conditions of a wetland reserve
easement.
``(2) Contracts or agreements.--The Secretary may enter
into 1 or more contracts or agreements with a Federal, State,
or local government agency, nongovernmental organization,
Indian tribe or Tribal organization, or private entity to carry
out necessary restoration, enhancement, maintenance, repair,
assessment, or monitoring of a wetland reserve easement if the
Secretary determines that the contract or agreement will
advance the purposes of the program.''; and
(5) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(3)(A), by striking ``Federal or State'' and inserting
``Federal, State, or Tribal''.
SEC. 2604. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--Section 1265D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3865d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(6) De minimis adjustments.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may approve and
make a de minimis adjustment, as determined by the
Secretary and subject to conditions determined by the
Secretary, to any interest in land, or portion of such
interest, administered by the Secretary, directly or on
behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation, under the
program if the Secretary determines that the
adjustment--
``(i) increases conservation values or has
a neutral or limited negative effect on
conservation values;
``(ii) is in the public interest or
furthers the practical administration of the
program; and
``(iii) is not a subordination,
modification, exchange, or termination, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(B) De minimis adjustments by certified eligible
entities.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary may
authorize an eligible entity certified under
section 1265B(b)(5) that has demonstrated the
ability to make easement management decisions
consistent with the purposes of the program to
approve and make de minimis adjustments
described in clause (ii) to any interest in
eligible land held by the certified eligible
entity if the certified eligible entity
determines that the adjustment--
``(I) increases conservation values
or has a neutral or limited negative
effect on conservation values;
``(II) is consistent with the
program purposes for which the interest
was originally acquired and furthers
the practical administration of the
program;
``(III) is not made to resolve a
violation or a potential violation; and
``(IV) is not made with respect to
an easement that is co-held by the
United States.
``(ii) Types of de minimis adjustments.--
The de minimis adjustments referred to in
clause (i) are limited to--
``(I) title corrections;
``(II) corrections to typographical
errors;
``(III) changes in legal
descriptions as a result of minor
survey or mapping errors;
``(IV) changes to a building
envelope boundary that do not increase
the total square footage of the
impervious surface of the original
building envelope boundary; and
``(V) relocation of easement
access.
``(iii) Notification.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which a certified
eligible entity records a de minimis adjustment
under clause (i), the certified eligible entity
shall provide to the Secretary a notice of the
de minimis adjustment and a copy of the
recorded instrument.
``(iv) Rule of construction.--Nothing in
this subparagraph requires the Secretary to
determine whether each eligible entity seeking
certification under section 1265B(b)(5) meets
the requirements to make de minimis adjustments
under this subparagraph.''; and
(2) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Compliance With Certain Requirements.--
``(1) Conservation and wetland protection requirements.--
The Secretary may not provide assistance under this subtitle to
an eligible entity or owner of eligible land unless the owner
of the eligible land, at the time of acquisition of an easement
under this subtitle, is in compliance with applicable
requirements under subtitles B and C.
``(2) Equitable treatment.--The Secretary shall ensure the
equitable treatment of a purchaser of eligible land under a
purchase agreement, an installment land contract, or a lease-
to-own agreement by--
``(A) identifying the purchaser of the land as the
owner of the land;
``(B) appropriately identifying the seller of the
land based on the instrument; and
``(C) addressing the interests of the parties
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), as determined
necessary by the Secretary, by the time of acquisition
of an easement under this subtitle.''.
(b) Report on Groundwater Conservation Easement Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of establishing a groundwater
conservation easement program within the agricultural
conservation easement program established under subtitle H of
title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865 et
seq.).
(2) Contents.--The study conducted under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) examine the impact of legal regimes governing
water rights on the establishment of easements across
the United States, particularly focused on how water
rights under State laws can be purchased or regulated
by the Federal Government as a property right;
(B) examine the feasibility of establishing an
easement program devoted to purchasing eligible water
rights either in perpetuity or for a term, which may
include establishing easements on eligible land
associated with such water rights, through groundwater
conservation easements;
(C) analyze how the establishment of a groundwater
conservation easement program would incentivize farmers
and ranchers to discontinue irrigation practices and to
adopt groundwater conservation management practices;
(D) consider what potential effects a groundwater
conservation easement program would have on sustainable
groundwater management, the recharging of declining
aquifers, and the reduction of reliance on groundwater
water supply;
(E) assess the effectiveness of a groundwater
conservation easement program if the landowner or
eligible entity has the right to continue agricultural
production and other uses compatible with sustainable
groundwater management while participating in the
program;
(F) analyze the elements of the groundwater
conservation easement program that may not be
consistent with the agricultural conservation easement
program, such as--
(i) the length of an easement agreement to
restore and enhance groundwater-dependent
ecosystems; and
(ii) geographic scope; and
(G) consider the costs of--
(i) the fair market value of a groundwater
conservation easement;
(ii) technical assistance to implement the
groundwater conservation easement program; and
(iii) revegetating land with plants that
can survive drought and do not require
irrigation.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, 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 describing the findings of the study conducted
under paragraph (1), including findings relating to each of the
matters described in paragraph (2).
Subtitle G--Regional Conservation Partnership Program
SEC. 2701. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES.
Section 1271(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
3871(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D)
as clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``eligible activities to''
and inserting ``projects that''; and
(ii) by striking ``programs, as'' and
inserting the following: ``programs:
``(A) The following programs, as''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) The following programs, as in effect on the
day before the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024:
``(i) The water bank program established
under the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301 et
seq.).
``(ii) The agricultural management
assistance program established under section
524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1524(b)).'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) To encourage the reduction of greenhouse gases, and
the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, through the
coordinated efforts of eligible partners, producers, and
Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments.'';
(4) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by striking ``affect'' and inserting
``create conservation benefits across''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) implementing or establishing a soil health
plan or program of a State or Tribal government.'';
(5) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated), by striking
``through partnership agreements'';
(6) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``conservation projects to
achieve'' and inserting ``innovative methods of
conservation delivery that generate''; and
(B) by striking ``outcomes and''; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) To facilitate the conversion from concentrated animal
feeding operations to climate-friendly agricultural production
systems, including regenerative grazing, agroforestry, organic,
and diversified crop and livestock production systems.''.
SEC. 2702. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1271A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871a) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5), (6), and
(7) as paragraphs (2) through (6), (8), and (9), respectively;
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(1) Conservation benefit.--
``(A) In general.--The term `conservation benefit'
means, with respect to an eligible activity, the
resulting--
``(i) improvement of--
``(I) agricultural or nonindustrial
forest land;
``(II) water, air, or soil quality;
``(III) water quantity; or
``(IV) the condition of habitat for
fish or wildlife;
``(ii) protection of agricultural or
nonindustrial forest land; or
``(iii) reduction in consumptive water use.
``(B) Measurement.--A conservation benefit (as
defined in subparagraph (A)) may be measured or modeled
by an eligible partner for the purposes of reporting a
verifiable, quantifiable improvement in the natural
resource concern targeted by the applicable eligible
activity.'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Eligible activity.--The term `eligible activity'
means--
``(A) a practice, activity, agreement, easement, or
related conservation measure that is available under
the statutory authority for a covered program; and
``(B) a practice, activity, agreement, easement, or
related conservation measure that--
``(i) is consistent with the purposes of at
least one covered program; and
``(ii) proposes an innovative--
``(I) conservation approach;
``(II) method of conservation
funding delivery; or
``(III) approach to leveraging the
Federal investment.'';
(4) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``The term'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The term''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Rule of construction.--The term `eligible
land' may include other spaces on which identified or
expected resource concerns related to agricultural
production could be addressed under the program, as
determined by the Secretary, such as urban agriculture
and other innovative production methods.'';
(5) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``tribe'' and
inserting ``Tribe or Tribal organization'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (H);
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (G)
as subparagraphs (E) through (H), respectively;
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following:
``(D) A Native Hawaiian organization.''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) A not-for-profit conservation organization.
``(L) An agricultural retailer (including an
agrichemical business and a farm retail outlet or
supplier).
``(M) Any other entity that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.''; and
(6) by inserting after paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(7) Performance-based payments.--The term `performance-
based payments' means payments to a producer by an eligible
partner under section 1271C(d) to purchase quantified and
verified conservation benefits.''.
SEC. 2703. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS.
Section 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871b) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--A partnership agreement shall be for a
period not to exceed 5 years, subject to renewal or
extension.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``not more than
one time'' after ``renewed under subsection (e)(5)'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``of a
partnership agreement'' and all that follows through
``12 months,'' and inserting ``thereof, may each be
extended under subsection (e)(6) not more than 2 times
for a period of not longer than 24 months each,''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Effect on existing agreements.--
``(A) In general.--A partnership agreement entered
into on or after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 shall not
affect, modify, or interfere with any partnership
agreement in effect on the day before that date of
enactment.
``(B) Modification of existing agreements.--To
implement the amendments made to this subsection by the
Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024--
``(i) the signatories to a partnership
agreement in effect on the day before the date
of enactment of that Act may mutually agree to
a modification of the length of, and options
for renewals and extensions available for, that
partnership agreement; and
``(ii) the Secretary shall provide an
opportunity for the signatories to a
partnership agreement described in clause (i)
to modify the partnership agreement pursuant to
that clause without requiring the renegotiation
of any other provision of the partnership
agreement.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``In general'' and inserting ``Mandatory
duties''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (E)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking
``each conservation benefit'' and all
that follows through ``; and'' and
inserting ``the conservation benefits
of the partnership agreement;'';
(II) by redesignating clause (ii)
as clause (iii);
(III) by inserting after clause (i)
the following:
``(ii) any barriers that prevented the
project from achieving the conservation
benefits of the partnership agreement; and'';
and
(IV) in clause (iii) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``project''
and inserting ``project and lessons
learned through the implementation of
the project'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph
(3);
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Discretionary duties.--Under a partnership agreement,
the eligible partner may--
``(A) provide technical and financial assistance to
producers to design, implement, and monitor eligible
activities on eligible land; and
``(B) contract or establish sub-agreements or
grants for financial or technical assistance, including
performance-based payments, with producers or other
entities to carry out the project.''; and
(D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--
``(i) Requirement.--An eligible partner
shall provide a significant contribution
towards the implementation of the project that
is the subject of the agreement entered into
under subsection (a), as determined by the
Secretary.
``(ii) Rule of construction.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
contribution of an eligible partner under this
paragraph may be used to meet matching or cost
participation requirements under other Federal
programs (other than Department of Agriculture
programs) and non-Federal programs.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (ii), by striking
``or'' at the end;
(II) by redesignating clause (iii)
as clause (iv);
(III) by inserting after clause
(ii) the following:
``(iii) project financing that helps
expedite project implementation; or''; and
(IV) in clause (iv) (as so
redesignated) by striking ``and in-kind
support'' and inserting ``, in-kind
support, or financing'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A)
through (C) and inserting the following:
``(A) finalizing the partnership agreement not
later than 180 days after the date on which the
Secretary announces the awarding of the partnership
agreement;
``(B) finalizing renewal or extension agreements
not later than 120 days after the date of approval of
the renewal or extension;
``(C) reimbursing eligible partners not later than
30 days after the date of submission of a complete
reimbursement request;
``(D) in the case of a partnership agreement that
is funded through an alternative funding arrangement or
grant agreement under section 1271C(b), reimbursing
eligible partners not later than 30 days after the date
of a complete submission of receipts for the payments
made to producers by the eligible partner for carrying
out eligible activities;
``(E) in the case of a project focused on
delivering eligible activities described in section
1271A(3)(B), identifying appropriate timelines to
finalize partnership agreements, renewals, and
extensions based on the innovative nature of the
eligible activities proposed for the project while
ensuring that review of agreements, renewals, and
extensions takes place as soon as practicable;
``(F) providing payments to an eligible partner for
goods and services that support program implementation,
as identified by the Secretary; and
``(G) in the case of a cost-share agreement with an
eligible entity (as defined in section 1265A) in an
approved project area, provide payments to the eligible
entity to assist with the purchase of an easement on
eligible land with a producer;'';
(B) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5);
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4);
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) make covered program authorities, such as entity
certification under section 1265B(b)(5), available, but not
required, in the implementation of a partnership agreement;'';
(E) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``guidance'' and inserting ``guidance,
including suggested quantification models,''; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) make funding available to not-for-profit entities and
land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section
1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) to make assessment
tools more broadly available to eligible partners; and
``(6) publish public-facing reports submitted by the
eligible partner under subsection (c)(1)(F) not later than 90
days after the date of expiration of the term of the
partnership agreement.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``project's
objectives'' and inserting ``objectives, including the
conservation benefits, of the project'';
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking subparagraphs (B), (C), and
(E);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D),
(F), (G), and (H) as subparagraphs (B), (D),
(E), and (F), respectively;
(iii) in subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated), by inserting ``Tribal,'' after
``State,'';
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
(as so redesignated) the following:
``(C) demonstrate that a significant number of
historically underserved producers will benefit from
the project;'';
(v) in subparagraph (D) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``area restoration
plans'' and inserting ``area-wide plans''; and
(vi) in subparagraph (F) (as so
redesignated), by inserting ``emerging'' before
``factors''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Extensions.--If the Secretary determines that a
project that is the subject of a partnership agreement has made
substantial progress towards meeting the objectives of the
project, the Secretary may extend the partnership agreement if
the 1 or more eligible partners that are parties to the
partnership agreement request the extension in order to
continue to implement the project under an extension of the
partnership agreement.
``(7) Nonexclusivity of renewals and extensions.--The
granting of an extension under paragraph (6) does not preclude
the subsequent granting of a renewal under paragraph (5), and
vice versa.'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (h); and
(6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Amount.--
``(1) Limitation.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall not provide more than $25,000,000 under a
partnership agreement.
``(2) Renewals.--In the case of a partnership agreement
renewed under subsection (e)(5), the Secretary may provide not
more than an additional $25,000,000 under the partnership
agreement.
``(g) Enrollment in Other Conservation Programs.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a producer
party to a contract entered into under this subtitle may--
``(A) subject to section 1235(j), enroll the land
enrolled under the contract in the conservation reserve
program established under subchapter B of chapter 1 of
subtitle D;
``(B) subject to section 1240B(d)(6), enroll the
land enrolled under the contract in the environmental
quality incentives program established under subchapter
A of chapter 4 of subtitle D; or
``(C) both enroll land in accordance with
subparagraph (A) and receive a cost-share assistance in
accordance with subparagraph (B).
``(2) Limitation.--A producer shall not be eligible for
payments for practices on eligible land under the program if
the producer receives payments or other benefits for the same
practice on the same land under another program under this
title.''.
SEC. 2704. ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS.
Section 1271C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871c) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``for a period of 5
years'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(5); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Advance payments to producers.--
``(A) In general.--On an election by a producer,
the Secretary may provide an advance payment for costs
related to purchasing materials or contracting
associated with implementing an eligible activity.
``(B) Return of funds.--If the funds provided under
subparagraph (A) are not expended within 120 days, the
Secretary may--
``(i) determine that the producer is in
violation of the program contract; and
``(ii) require the funds to be returned
within a reasonable period, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(4) Advance payments to eligible partners.--
``(A) In general.--On an election by an eligible
partner, the Secretary may provide an advance payment
to the eligible partner related to project
implementation, as provided in the partnership
agreement, including an alternative funding arrangement
under subsection (d)(1).
``(B) Timeframe.--If the funds provided under
subparagraph (A) are not expended within the period
specified in the partnership agreement, but not more
than 120 days, the Secretary shall not provide any
additional advance payment under that paragraph until
the eligible partner demonstrates the ability to expend
the funds within the applicable period.
``(C) Return of funds.--The Secretary may determine
that an eligible partner is in violation of the
partnership agreement and require the funds to be
returned within a reasonable period, as determined by
the Secretary, if the eligible partner--
``(i) fails to expend the funds within the
applicable period; or
``(ii) otherwise fails to manage any funds
in accordance with the terms of the partnership
agreement.'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (B);
(ii) by striking ``shall--'' in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows
through ``under a'' in the matter preceding
clause (i) of subparagraph (A) and inserting
``shall, under a'';
(iii) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii)
as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(iv) in subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) in the case of an agreement with an Indian
Tribe or a Tribal organization, provide an opportunity
for the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization to develop
with the Secretary projects that--
``(i) address eligible resource concerns on
Indian land; and
``(ii) allow for flexibility in
conservation implementation and
administration.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)(A)(iii)--
(i) in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by striking ``in conservation with private
financial mechanisms, in conjunction with
agricultural production or forest resource
management, such as'' and inserting ``, or
innovative approaches to delivering
conservation funding to producers, including'';
(ii) in subclause (I)--
(I) by striking ``provision of''
and inserting ``use of innovative
contracting or''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(iii) in subclause (II)--
(I) by striking ``support for'' and
inserting ``supporting''; and
(II) by striking ``or'' at the end
and inserting ``and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(III) accelerating the adoption
and use of agricultural or processing
equipment by producers that achieve
conservation benefits; and''.
SEC. 2705. FUNDING.
Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871d) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsections (a) through (d) and inserting
the following:
``(a) Allocation of Funding.--
``(1) In general.--Of the funds made available for the
program under section 1241(a)(6), the Secretary shall allocate,
to the extent practicable in order to maximize conservation
benefits--
``(A) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029 for projects focused on establishing
groundwater conservation easements that--
``(i) are held by an eligible entity (as
defined in section 1265A) participating in the
partnership agreement; and
``(ii) meet the criteria described in
paragraph (2); and
``(B) of the remaining funds, for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter--
``(i) 46 percent to projects based on a
State or multistate competitive process
administered by the Secretary at the local
level with the advice of the applicable State
technical committees established under subtitle
G;
``(ii) 50 percent to projects for critical
conservation areas designated under section
1271F;
``(iii) 3 percent to carry out activities
described in section 1271B(d)(5); and
``(iv) 1 percent to carry out activities
described in subsection (d).
``(2) Groundwater conservation easement criteria.--The
criteria referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) are the following:
``(A) The terms of the groundwater conservation
easement shall contain terms that encumber and
sufficiently address the management, monitoring, and
enforcement of surface water uses and groundwater
rights and uses.
``(B) The eligible partner shall--
``(i) identify the applicable legal
framework that would allow for a groundwater
conservation easement to be established in the
applicable jurisdiction;
``(ii) outline the specific attributes of
the proposed groundwater conservation easement;
``(iii) identify the regulating
organization that meters or monitors
groundwater in the applicable jurisdiction; and
``(iv) identify the proposed valuation
methodology.
``(C) The eligible partner shall provide a letter
of support from the applicable State Conservationist
and a letter of compatibility from the appropriate
State, local, and Tribal agencies responsible for
oversight of conservation easements and groundwater use
and regulation in the applicable jurisdiction.
``(b) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide to an eligible
partner a payment for indirect costs to cover administrative
expenses of the eligible partner under a partnership agreement.
``(2) Rate.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
rate of a payment for indirect costs under paragraph
(1) shall be--
``(i) an indirect cost rate negotiated by
the Secretary and the eligible partner, which
shall not exceed 20 percent of the total
project cost; or
``(ii) if the eligible partner does not
have a negotiated indirect cost rate described
in subparagraph (A), 20 percent of the total
project cost.
``(B) Rate for certain projects.--In the case of a
partnership agreement that primarily serves
historically underserved producers, as determined by
the Secretary, the rate of a payment for indirect costs
under paragraph (1) may be up to 30 percent of the
total project cost.'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (c);
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--An eligible partner may provide
technical assistance to producers as needed to support project
planning and implementation for conservation benefits.
``(2) Limitations.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall limit costs
of the Secretary for technical assistance to costs
specific and necessary to carry out the objectives of
the program.
``(B) Technical assistance by the secretary.--The
Secretary shall not use amounts provided under a
partnership agreement for technical assistance provided
by the Secretary without providing explicit
notification to the eligible partner.
``(C) Technical assistance by eligible partners.--
The Federal share of the cost of technical assistance
provided by an eligible partner shall be not more than
30 percent of the total cost of the project.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``pursuant to a
partnership agreement'' and inserting ``and producers
participating in the program''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Information Technology and Automated Programmatic Tools.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure the timely
development and availability of integrated information
technology and automated programmatic tools to support program
implementation.
``(2) Program access.--Subject to section 1244(b) of this
Act and section 1619 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791), the Secretary may develop protocols
for eligible partners to access automatic programmatic tools of
the Department of Agriculture in a manner that supports the
implementation of an approved project.''.
SEC. 2706. ADMINISTRATION.
Section 1271E of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``2019, and every two'' and inserting ``2025,
and not less frequently than once every 2'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A)
and (B) and inserting the following:
``(A) the characteristics of ongoing projects;
``(B) the progress made towards achieving the
conservation goals of completed projects and renewed
projects;
``(C) any other related outcomes of completed
projects and renewed projects; and
``(D) conservation benefits purchased through
performance-based payments and the per-unit prices of
those conservation benefits;'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``approximate''
before ``number''; and
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``administered''
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that
follows through the end of subparagraph (C) and
inserting ``administered; and''; and
(2) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``The Secretary may not'' and inserting
``Neither an eligible partner nor the Secretary may''.
SEC. 2707. CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREAS.
Section 1271F of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f )
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``or substantially affecting'' after
``located in''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, including
restoration and enhancement of wildlife habitat
connectivity and wildlife migration corridors'' after
``local level''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``In administering funds
under section 1271D(d)(2), the Secretary'' and inserting ``The
Secretary''.
TITLE III--TRADE
Subtitle A--Food for Peace Act
SEC. 3101. UNITED STATES POLICY.
Section 2(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691(1)) is
amended by striking ``hunger and malnutrition'' and inserting ``hunger,
malnutrition, child wasting,''.
SEC. 3102. PROVISION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 202 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1722) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``governments and public
or private agencies, including intergovernmental organizations
such as the World Food Program and other multilateral
organizations'' and inserting ``eligible organizations'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) by striking ``agricultural commodities for
nonemergency assistance'' and inserting ``assistance,
including in the form of agricultural commodities, for
nonemergency purposes'';
(B) by striking ``(as described in subsection
(d))''; and
(C) by striking ``to use the commodities'';
(3) by striking subsection (d);
(4) by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as
subsections (d) through (g), respectively;
(5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``Of the funds'' and all that
follows through ``subsection (d),'' and
inserting ``Using funds made available under
this title, the Administrator may provide funds
to eligible organizations''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``developmental'' and inserting ``resilience'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively;
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Agricultural commodities.--Using funds made available
under this title, the Administrator may--
``(A) acquire and make available to eligible
organizations such agricultural commodities as are
necessary to carry out agreements under this title; and
``(B) pay all associated and incidental costs of
those commodities, including--
``(i) the cost of acquiring those
commodities;
``(ii) the costs associated with packaging,
enrichment, preservation, and fortification of
those commodities, including the costs of
carrying out section 415 with respect to the
commodities;
``(iii) the cost of processing, milling,
handling, storage, distribution, and program
implementation to use the commodities; and
``(iv) the cost of transportation to move
the commodities from the United States to pre-
positioning sites, ports of entry abroad, and
distribution sites within and between foreign
countries, including ocean and inland freight
charges, and the charges for general average
contributions arising out of ocean
transportation of those commodities.''; and
(D) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``or agricultural commodities'' after ``for
funds'';
(ii) by inserting ``or agricultural
commodities'' after ``To receive funds'';
(iii) by inserting ``or (2)'' after
``paragraph (1)''; and
(iv) by striking ``described in subsection
(d)''; and
(6) in paragraph (3) of subsection (g) (as so
redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``, for fiscal years 2014 through
2023''; and
(B) by inserting ``for each fiscal year'' after
``may be used''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 205 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1725)
is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``hereinafter''; and
(ii) by striking ``described in section
202(d)(1)''; and
(B) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``202(h)''
and inserting ``202(g)''.
(2) Section 207(f)(4)(A) of the Food for Peace Act (7
U.S.C. 1726a(f)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``202(h)(3)'' and
inserting ``202(g)(3)''.
(3) Section 407(f)(2)(I) of the Food for Peace Act (7
U.S.C. 1736a(f)(2)(I)) is amended by striking ``section
202(e),'' and inserting ``sections 202(d),''.
(4) Section 412(e)(2) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1736f(e)(2)) is amended by striking ``202(e)(1)(C)'' and
inserting ``202(d)(1)(C)''.
SEC. 3103. LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE.
Section 204 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1724) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Minimum assistance.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), the Administrator shall make agricultural
commodities available for food distribution under this
title for emergency assistance under section 202(a) for
each fiscal year in a quantity that results in the
amount described in subparagraph (B) being not less
than 40 percent of the funds made available through
annual appropriations in that fiscal year for this
title.
``(B) Amount described.--The amount referred to in
subparagraph (A) is the sum obtained by adding--
``(i) the value of the agricultural
commodities made available pursuant to that
subparagraph; and
``(ii) the cost of ocean shipping for those
agricultural commodities.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking the third sentence;
(ii) in the second sentence, by striking
``In making a waiver'' and all that follows
through ``House of Representatives'' and
inserting the following:
``(C) Report.--If the Administrator provides a
waiver under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall
submit to the Committees on Agriculture,
Appropriations, and Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives''; and
(iii) by striking the paragraph designation
and heading and all that follows through the
period at the end of the first sentence and
inserting the following:
``(2) Waiver.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Administrator may waive the requirements of paragraph
(1) for any fiscal year if, after the beginning of the
applicable fiscal year, the Administrator determines
that--
``(i) such quantities of commodities cannot
be used effectively to carry out this title or
in order to meet an emergency; or
``(ii) the requirements of that paragraph
cannot otherwise be met due to circumstances
beyond the control of the Administrator.
``(B) Subsequent year minimum assistance.--In the
first fiscal year beginning after the date on which a
waiver is provided under subparagraph (A), the
Administrator shall make agricultural commodities
available for food distribution under this title for
emergency assistance under section 202(a) in a quantity
that represents--
``(i) the quantity of agricultural
commodities needed to meet the requirement
under paragraph (1)(A); and
``(ii) the quantity of agricultural
commodities covered by the waiver under
subparagraph (A) for the preceding fiscal
year.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``subsection (a)(2)
be'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(1) is''.
SEC. 3104. FOOD AID CONSULTATIVE GROUP.
Section 205(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1725(f)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3105. ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS.
Section 207(c)(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726a(c)(1))
is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ``the enactment of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018'' and inserting ``enactment of the
Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024''.
SEC. 3106. OVERSIGHT, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION.
Section 207(f)(4) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726a(f)(4))
is amended, in subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i), by striking ``2023'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3107. ASSISTANCE FOR STOCKPILING AND RAPID TRANSPORTATION,
DELIVERY, AND DISTRIBUTION OF SHELF-STABLE PREPACKAGED
FOODS.
Section 208(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726b(f)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2024, and $15,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 3108. DEFINITIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 402 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1732) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``As
used in'' and inserting ``In'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the second sentence, by striking
``Effective'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Treatment.--Effective''; and
(B) in the first sentence--
(i) by striking ``and livestock as well
as'' and inserting ``livestock, specialized
nutrition products, and''; and
(ii) by striking ``The term'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--The term'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3);
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(5) Eligible organization.--The term `eligible
organization' means--
``(A) a government of a foreign country;
``(B) a private voluntary organization or
cooperative;
``(C) an intergovernmental organization, such as
the World Food Program; and
``(D) any other organization, as determined by the
Administrator.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 407(f)(1) of the Food for Peace
Act (7 U.S.C. 1736a(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``appropriate
committees of Congress'' and inserting ``Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture
and Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives''.
SEC. 3109. USE OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.
Section 406(b)(6) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736(b)(6))
is amended by striking ``in the case of commodities for urgent and
extraordinary relief requirements (including pre-positioned
commodities)''.
SEC. 3110. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 407 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C.
1736a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(4)(A)--
(A) by striking ``for fiscal years 2001 through
2023'';
(B) by striking ``for each of fiscal years 2001
through 2013 not more than $10,000,000 of such funds
and''; and
(C) by striking ``of fiscal years 2014 through
2023'' and inserting ``fiscal year''; and
(2) in subsection (f)(2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(J) An assessment of activities specifically
targeting women and girls and the impact of those
activities in addressing the unique needs of women and
girls.''.
(b) Clerical Correction.--
(1) In general.--Section 216 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110
Stat. 957) is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``(as amended by section 1011(e) of Public
Law 104-66 (109 Stat. 709))'' after ``(7 U.S.C.
1736a)'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``(c)'' and inserting
``(b)'';
(C) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``(d)'' and inserting
``(c)'';
(D) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``(g)(2)'' and inserting
``(f)(2)''; and
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``(h)'' and
inserting ``(g)''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect as if enacted in the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-127; 110
Stat. 888).
SEC. 3111. DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENTS TO FINANCE SALES OR TO PROVIDE OTHER
ASSISTANCE.
Section 408 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736b) is amended
by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3112. FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY AND NONEMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.
Section 412(e)(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f(e)(1))
is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023, not less than
$365,000,000'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029, not less than 18
percent''.
SEC. 3113. MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION PROGRAMS.
Section 415(c) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736g-2(c)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3114. JOHN OGONOWSKI AND DOUG BEREUTER FARMER-TO-FARMER PROGRAM.
Section 501 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1737) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``18'' and inserting ``(18)''; and
(B) in clause (viii) of subparagraph (A), by adding
a semicolon at the end;
(2) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029'';
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029'';
and
(4) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3115. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Food for Peace Act.--Section 414(b) of the Food for Peace Act
(7 U.S.C. 1736g-1(b)) is amended by striking ``(as defined'' and all
that follows through ``1961)'' and inserting ``(as defined in section
481(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291(e)))''.
(b) President's Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1984.--Section
303(c) of the President's Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1984 (7
U.S.C. 1728a(c)) is amended by striking ``expanded'' and inserting
``expended''.
Subtitle B--Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
SEC. 3201. PRESERVING FOREIGN MARKETS FOR GOODS USING COMMON NAMES.
(a) Definitions.--Section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978
(7 U.S.C. 5602) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``As
used in this Act--'' and inserting ``In this Act:'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as
paragraphs (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (4), respectively,
and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Common name.--
``(A) In general.--The term `common name' means a
name that, as determined by the Secretary--
``(i) is ordinarily or customarily used for
an agricultural commodity or food product;
``(ii) is typically placed on the packaging
and product label of the agricultural commodity
or food product;
``(iii) with respect to wine--
``(I) is--
``(aa) ordinarily or
customarily used for a wine
grape varietal name; or
``(bb) a traditional term
or expression that is typically
placed on the packaging and
label of the wine; and
``(II) does not mean any
appellation of origin for wine listed
in subpart C of part 9 of title 27,
Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations); and
``(iv) the use of which is consistent with
standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
``(B) Considerations.--In making a determination
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may take into
account--
``(i) competent sources, such as
dictionaries, newspapers, professional journals
and literature, and information posted on
websites that are determined by the Secretary
to be reliable in reporting market information;
``(ii) the use of the common name in a
domestic, regional, or international product
standard, including a standard promulgated by
the Codex Alimentarius Commission, for the
agricultural commodity or food product; and
``(iii) the ordinary and customary use of
the common name in the production or marketing
of the agricultural commodity or food product
in the United States or in other countries.'';
(4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph
(A)--
(A) in clause (v), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) prohibits or disallows the use of
the common name of an agricultural commodity or
food product of the United States.''; and
(5) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses
(i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively,
and indenting appropriately;
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(C) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``The term'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--The term''; and
(D) in the undesignated matter at the end, by
striking ``For purposes'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Inclusion.--For purposes''.
(b) Negotiations To Defend Use of Common Names.--Title III of the
Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5652 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 303. NEGOTIATIONS TO DEFEND USE OF COMMON NAMES.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall coordinate efforts with the
United States Trade Representative to secure the right of United States
agricultural producers, processors, and exporters to use common names
for agricultural commodities or food products in foreign markets
through the negotiation of bilateral, plurilateral, or multilateral
agreements, memoranda of understanding, or exchanges of letters that
assure the current and future use of each common name identified by the
Secretary in connection with United States agricultural commodities or
food products.
``(b) Report.--The Secretary and the United States Trade
Representative shall submit to Congress a report every 2 years
regarding efforts and successes in carrying out subsection (a).''.
SEC. 3202. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN FOREIGN
MARKETS FOR UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.
Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
5623(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Technical assistance to improve infrastructure in
foreign markets for united states agricultural commodities.--
``(A) In general.--As part of the program
established under this subsection, the Secretary shall
enter into contracts or other agreements with eligible
trade organizations to provide needs assessment,
training, and other technical assistance--
``(i) to enhance the capabilities of
infrastructure in new and developing foreign
markets, including infrastructure relating to
cold chain capacity, port improvements, and
other developments; and
``(ii) to ensure United States agricultural
commodities are not damaged or lost due to
deficiencies in the infrastructure described in
clause (i).
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(i) In general.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this paragraph
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029.
``(ii) Rule of construction.--Except as
provided in clause (iii), amounts authorized to
be appropriated under this subparagraph may be
used only to carry out subparagraph (A).
``(iii) Availability.--If the Secretary
determines that the total amount made available
pursuant to this subparagraph for a fiscal year
is not necessary to carry out subparagraph (A),
any excess amounts may be used to carry out the
program established under this subsection.''.
SEC. 3203. REPORT ON COMPETITIVENESS OF UNITED STATES EXPORTS OF
SPECIALTY CROPS.
Section 203(e) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
5623(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the
following:
``(7) Annual report.--
``(A) In general.--Each year, the Secretary, in
consultation with the United States Trade
Representative, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report detailing the
competitiveness of United States exports of specialty
crops.
``(B) Elements.--The report required by
subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) identify and analyze acts, policies,
or practices of foreign countries that
constitute significant barriers to, or
distortions of United States exports of
specialty crops, including the imposition of--
``(I) tariffs (including
retaliatory tariffs) and quotas
(including tariff-rate quotas); and
``(II) nontariff barriers,
including technical barriers to trade,
sanitary and phytosanitary measures,
import licensing procedures, and
subsidies;
``(ii) in conjunction with the United
States International Trade Commission, make an
estimate of--
``(I) the impacts on the
competitiveness of United States
exports of specialty crops of any act,
policy, or practice identified under
clause (i); and
``(II) if feasible, the value of
additional specialty crops that would,
during the year preceding submission of
the report, have been exported from the
United States to each foreign country
an act, policy, or practice of which is
identified under clause (i) if each
such act, policy, or practice of that
country did not exist;
``(iii) assess the extent to which each
act, policy, or practice identified under
clause (i) is subject to international
agreements to which the United States is a
party;
``(iv) include information with respect to
any action taken by the executive branch during
the year preceding submission of the report, or
expected to be taken after submission of the
report, to eliminate any act, policy, or
practice identified under clause (i),
including--
``(I) any action under section 301;
``(II) negotiations or
consultations with foreign governments,
which may include engagement through
the standing committee on sanitary and
phytosanitary matters established under
a free trade agreement to which the
United States is a party; and
``(III) action at the World Trade
Organization, including dispute
settlement actions, consultations, or
negotiations; and
``(v) a description of--
``(I) any funds provided under
subsection (f)(3)(A)(iv) that were not
obligated in the fiscal year preceding
submission of the report; and
``(II) the reason such funds were
not obligated.
``(C) Comment period.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the United States Trade
Representative, shall--
``(i) before preparing the report required
by subparagraph (A), seek comment from the
public and the Agricultural Technical Advisory
Committee for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables;
and
``(ii) take such comments into account in
preparing the report.
``(D) Form of report.--
``(i) In general.--The report required by
subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in
unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
``(ii) Public availability.--The
unclassified portion of the report required by
subparagraph (A) shall be made available to the
public in machine readable format.''.
SEC. 3204. AGRICULTURAL TRADE PROMOTION AND FACILITATION.
Section 203(f) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C.
5623(f)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``For each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023, of'' and inserting ``Of''; and
(B) by striking ``section'' and all that follows
through the period at the end and inserting the
following: ``section, to remain available until
expended--
``(A) for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2027,
$255,000,000; and
``(B) for each of fiscal years 2028 and 2029,
$495,500,000.'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by
striking ``In general'' and inserting ``Fiscal
years 2019 through 2027''; and
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2027'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as
subparagraph (C);
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) Fiscal years 2028 and 2029.--For each of
fiscal years 2028 and 2029, the Secretary shall
allocate funds to carry out this section in accordance
with the following:
``(i) Market access program.--For market
access activities authorized under subsection
(b), of the funds of, or an equal value of
commodities owned by, the Commodity Credit
Corporation, not less than $400,000,000 for
each fiscal year.
``(ii) Foreign market development
cooperator program.--To carry out subsection
(c), of the funds of, or an equal value of
commodities owned by, the Commodity Credit
Corporation, not less than $69,000,000 for each
fiscal year.
``(iii) E (kika) de la garza emerging
markets program.--To provide assistance under
subsection (d), of the funds of, or an equal
value of commodities owned by, the Commodity
Credit Corporation, not more than $8,000,000
for each fiscal year.
``(iv) Technical assistance for specialty
crops.--To carry out subsection (e), of the
funds of, or an equal value of the commodities
owned by, the Commodity Credit Corporation,
$15,000,000 for each fiscal year.
``(v) Priority trade fund.--
``(I) In general.--In addition to
the amounts allocated under clauses (i)
through (iv), and notwithstanding any
limitations in those clauses, as
determined by the Secretary, for 1 or
more programs under this section for
authorized activities to access,
develop, maintain, and expand markets
for United States agricultural
commodities, $3,500,000 for each fiscal
year.
``(II) Considerations.--In
allocating funds made available under
subclause (I), the Secretary may
consider providing a greater allocation
to 1 or more programs under this
section for which the amounts requested
under applications exceed the funding
for 1 or more programs.''; and
(D) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated)--
(i) in the first sentence--
(I) by inserting ``or (B)'' after
``of subparagraph (A)''; and
(II) by striking ``subparagraph
(A)(v)'' and inserting ``clause (v) of
subparagraph (A) or (B), as
applicable''; and
(ii) in the second sentence, by inserting
``or (B), as applicable'' before the period at
the end; and
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking the second sentence.
SEC. 3205. INTERAGENCY SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLE
WORKING GROUP.
Subtitle B of title IV of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7
U.S.C. 5671 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 418. INTERAGENCY SEASONAL AND PERISHABLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
WORKING GROUP.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs,
the United States Trade Representative, the Secretary of Commerce, and
the heads of other Federal agencies or entities, as determined to be
appropriate by the Secretary, shall jointly establish an interagency
working group (referred to in this section as the `working group')
composed of representatives from each agency to monitor and assess, on
an ongoing basis, seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables trade
data and related information.
``(b) Trade Actions and Investigations.--The working group shall
coordinate as appropriate regarding potential additional trade actions
and investigations with respect to any seasonal or perishable
agricultural products, as determined to be advisable by the working
group.
``(c) Consultation.--The working group shall consult with the
Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, relevant seasonal or perishable
agricultural producers, and other relevant trade associations to
identify threats that imports pose to domestic producers of seasonal
and perishable fruits and vegetables.
``(d) Recommendations to Secretary.--The working group shall
recommend programs or assistance that the Secretary could provide to
producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables to address
market impacts.''.
Subtitle C--Other Agricultural Trade Laws
SEC. 3301. FOOD FOR PROGRESS ACT OF 1985.
The Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) Commodities to prevent waste.--Unless authorized in
advance in appropriation Acts, no funds of the Corporation may
be used to carry out this section with respect to eligible
commodities made available under section 416(b) of the
Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1431(b)) in excess of
(exclusive of the cost of eligible commodities)--
``(A) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and
2024;
``(B) $52,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(C) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(D) $58,000,000 for fiscal years 2027;
``(E) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
``(F) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.''; and
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``eligible
eligible commodities'' and inserting ``eligible
commodities'';
(2) in subsection (g), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(3) in subsection (j), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not enter into any
agreement pursuant to this section under which more than 50
percent of the amounts made available to carry out the program
for a fiscal year are awarded to a single entity.'';
(4) in subsection (k), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(5) in subsection (l)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(6) in subsection (p)--
(A) in paragraphs (1) and (3), by striking ``2023''
each place it appears and inserting ``2029''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2024'' and
inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 3302. BILL EMERSON HUMANITARIAN TRUST ACT.
Section 302 of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 U.S.C.
1736f-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by adding ``and'' after
the semicolon at the end; and
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' at
the end and inserting a period; and
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ``shall not be--'' in
the matter preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows through
the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting the
following: ``shall not be considered to be a part of the total
domestic supply (including carryover) for the purpose of--
``(1) subsection (c); or
``(2) administering the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1691
et seq.).''.
SEC. 3303. PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO EMERGING MARKETS.
Section 1542(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note; Public Law 101-624) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3304. GROWING AMERICAN FOOD EXPORTS.
Section 1543A(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5679(d)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3305. INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
Section 1543B(f) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 1736dd(f)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3306. MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION AND CHILD
NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 1736o-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)(2)(C), by striking ``indigenous
institutions as well as local'' and inserting ``indigenous
institutions, women-led and women-owned organizations, and
local''; and
(2) in subsection (l)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029'';
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``not more than
10 percent'' and inserting ``not less than 10 percent,
but not more than 20 percent,''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Capacity-building activities.--Of the amounts
described in paragraph (4), the Secretary may provide funds for
capacity-building activities to support the purchase of
agricultural commodities described in subsection (a)(2)(A).''.
SEC. 3307. GLOBAL CROP DIVERSITY TRUST.
Section 3202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (22
U.S.C. 2220a note; Public Law 110-246) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 3308. LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD AID PROCUREMENT PROJECTS.
Section 3206(e)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 1726c(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 3309. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 3307(g)(1) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 3295(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
TITLE IV--NUTRITION
Subtitle A--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SEC. 4101. ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THRIFTY FOOD
PLAN.
(a) In General.--Section 3(u) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2012(u)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by inserting after the second sentence the following: ``Those re-
evaluations shall include an external peer review process and be
submitted to Congress and the Comptroller General of the United States
in accordance with section 801 of title 5, United States Code. To the
extent legally allowable, the computer code and data used for the re-
evaluations to generate the market baskets shall be made publicly
available.''.
(b) Hawaii.--
(1) Interim final rule.--Notwithstanding section
273.10(e)(4)(i) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in
effect on the date of enactment of this Act), not later than
January 1, 2025, the Secretary shall promulgate an interim
final rule to use food price data throughout the State of
Hawaii to calculate the cost of the thrifty food plan (as
defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2012)) for that State.
(2) Cost adjustment.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), on October 1, 2025, and on October 1 of each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall apply the
cost estimate for the thrifty food plan (as defined in
section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2012)) for the State of Hawaii pursuant to the
interim final rule promulgated under paragraph (1).
(B) Exception for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.--
For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the
Secretary may not apply the cost estimate described in
subparagraph (A) if that application would result in
the cost of the diet under the thrifty food plan (as so
defined) being below the amount of the cost of that
diet as calculated using the method of calculating the
cost of the diet under the thrifty food plan for the
State of Hawaii for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
SEC. 4102. FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2013(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (C) and
inserting the following:
``(C) Participation in snap.--Any household
eligible to participate or participating in the program
established under this subsection may simultaneously
participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program.'';
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking subparagraphs (B) through (D); and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking the
designation and heading and all that follows through
``80 percent'' and inserting the following: ``The
Secretary shall pay 100 percent'';
(3) in paragraph (6)(E), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) Tribal procurement.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Eligible tribal organization.--The
term `eligible Tribal organization' means a
Tribal organization that meets the requirements
for a participating Tribal organization under
clause (ii), except that the Tribal
organization does not satisfy the requirement
described in subclause (II) of that clause.
``(ii) Participating tribal organization.--
The term `participating Tribal organization'
means a Tribal organization that--
``(I) is successfully administering
the food distribution program of the
Tribal organization established under
this subsection;
``(II) has entered into a self-
determination contract to procure
agricultural commodities for
distribution under that food
distribution program for not less than
12 months of distribution across the
contract period;
``(III) has the capacity to
purchase agricultural commodities in
accordance with subparagraph (C); and
``(IV) meets any other criteria
determined by the Secretary, in
consultation with Indian tribes.
``(iii) Self-determination contract.--The
term `self-determination contract' means a
self-determination contract (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) as
implemented under the demonstration project
established under section 4003(b) of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
2013 note; Public Law 115-334), with
modifications as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Tribal commodity purchases.--The Secretary
shall--
``(i) subject to the availability of
appropriations under subparagraph (E)(i), enter
into self-determination contracts with eligible
Tribal organizations to allow those eligible
Tribal organizations to directly purchase
agricultural commodities for distribution under
the food distribution program of the eligible
Tribal organization established under this
subsection; and
``(ii) subject to the availability of
appropriations under subparagraph (E)(ii),
enter into self-determination contracts with
participating Tribal organizations to allow
those participating Tribal organizations to
directly purchase agricultural commodities for
distribution under the food distribution
program of the participating Tribal
organization established under this subsection.
``(C) Procurement requirements.--Any agricultural
commodity purchased by a Tribal organization under a
self-determination contract entered into under
subparagraph (B)--
``(i) shall be domestically produced;
``(ii) shall supplant, not supplement, the
types of agricultural commodities in existing
food packages for that Tribal organization;
``(iii) shall be--
``(I) of a similar or higher
nutritional value as the types of
agricultural commodities that would be
supplanted in the existing food package
of the Tribal organization; or
``(II) an agricultural commodity
with Tribal significance to that Indian
Tribe;
``(iv) shall not result in a material
increase in the total amount of food in the
food package of that Tribal organization, as
compared to the amount of food authorized under
the monthly distribution guide rates
established by the Food and Nutrition Service;
and
``(v) shall meet any other criteria
determined by the Secretary.
``(D) Public availability.--The Secretary shall
make publicly available on the website of the
Department of Agriculture a list of each Tribal
organization purchasing agricultural commodities in
accordance with a self-determination contract entered
into under subparagraph (B).
``(E) Funding.--
``(i) Authorization of appropriations for
eligible tribal organizations.--
``(I) In general.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary $10,000,000 for each fiscal
year, to remain available until
expended, to enter into self-
determination contracts under
subparagraph (B)(i) with eligible
Tribal organizations.
``(II) Appropriations in advance.--
Only funds appropriated pursuant to
subclause (I) in advance specifically
to the Secretary to enter into self-
determination contracts under
subparagraph (B)(i) with eligible
Tribal organizations shall be available
for that purpose.
``(III) Option.--If any funds
described in subclause (II) are
remaining in a fiscal year after
requests to enter into self-
determination contracts from eligible
Tribal organizations for that fiscal
year have been met, the Secretary may
use those remaining funds to enter into
self-determination contracts under
subparagraph (B)(ii) with participating
Tribal organizations.
``(ii) Funding for participating tribal
organizations.--Of the funds made available
under section 18(a), not more than $20,000,000
shall be made available to the Secretary for
each fiscal year, to remain available for 2
fiscal years, to enter into self-determination
contracts under subparagraph (B)(ii) with
participating Tribal organizations.
``(F) Limitation.--Notwithstanding any provision of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), the Secretary shall not
be liable, or use any amounts made available under
subparagraph (E)(i) or section 18(a) for purposes of
carrying out this paragraph, for contract support costs
or other costs not expressly authorized in this
paragraph.
``(9) Emergencies and disasters.--
``(A) Definition of emergency period.--In this
paragraph, the term `emergency period' means a period
during which there exists--
``(i) a public health emergency declared by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services
under section 319 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or a renewal of such a
public health emergency declaration;
``(ii) a major disaster declared by the
President under section 401 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); or
``(iii) an emergency declared by the
President under section 501 of that Act (42
U.S.C. 5191).
``(B) Modification or waiver.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of this subsection, during an emergency
period, the Secretary may modify or waive any
regulatory requirement promulgated pursuant to this
section for a Tribal organization or State agency
administering the program under this section if--
``(i) the regulatory requirement cannot be
met by the Tribal organization or State agency
during any portion of the emergency period
under the conditions that prompted the
emergency period; and
``(ii) the modification or waiver of such a
requirement is necessary to provide assistance
to that Tribal organization or State agency
under this subsection.
``(C) Duration.--A modification or waiver made
under subparagraph (B) may be available for not more
than 2 calendar months after the end of the applicable
emergency period.''.
(b) Research, Demonstration, and Evaluations.--Section 17(a)(1) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026(a)(1)) is amended in
the first sentence by striking ``program'' and inserting ``program, the
food distribution program on Indian Reservations carried out under
section 4(b), and the emergency food assistance program established
under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et
seq.)''.
(c) Demonstration Project for Tribal Organizations Termination.--
Section 4003(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
2013 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) Termination of authority.--The demonstration project
under this subsection shall terminate on the date on which the
Secretary certifies that paragraph (8) of section 4(b) of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)) has been
implemented.''.
SEC. 4103. INCOME EXCLUSION FOR MILITARY BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING.
Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2014(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (18), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (19)(B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(20) the value of an allowance received under section 403
of title 37, United States Code.''.
SEC. 4104. SNAP MATERIALS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Training Materials for Health Care Professionals.--
``(1) Definition of health care professional.--In this
subsection, the term `health care professional' means an
individual who is licensed, registered, or certified under
Federal or State law to provide health care services.
``(2) Training materials.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall--
``(A) develop and make available materials designed
to train health care professionals to inform their
patients about the availability of benefits under the
supplemental nutrition assistance program and other
nutrition assistance programs administered by the
Secretary; and
``(B) perform outreach to hospitals, universities,
nursing associations, and similar entities to ensure
that health care professionals have access to those
materials and are informed about the supplemental
nutrition assistance program and other nutrition
assistance programs administered by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 4105. COLLEGE STUDENTS.
(a) College Students.--Section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) is 24 years of age or younger and was in foster care
under the responsibility of a State on the date of attaining 18
years of age or such higher age as the State has elected under
section 475(8)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
675(8)(B)(iii)).''.
(b) Ensuring Coordination.--Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(y) Coordination To Support SNAP Access to College Students.--
``(1) Guidance and other materials.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall issue--
``(A) clear, understandable, and easy-to-use
guidance on eligibility for the supplemental nutrition
assistance program for students at institutions of
higher education;
``(B) a template for institutions of higher
education to use to provide students with local food
assistance information, including contact information
for--
``(i) the appropriate State agency
administering the supplemental nutrition
assistance program;
``(ii) local and campus food pantries; and
``(iii) any other local food assistance
facilities and services available to students
enrolled in the institution of higher
education; and
``(C) any other information or material, as
determined by the Secretary, that would assist
institutions of higher education with ensuring that
students who are likely to be eligible for benefits
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program
have access to--
``(i) those benefits; and
``(ii) available food assistance facilities
and services.
``(2) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with
the Secretary of Education--
``(A) to disseminate, not less frequently than
annually, the guidance and other materials described in
paragraph (1) to, as applicable--
``(i) institutions of higher education; and
``(ii) low-income students and other
students at risk of experiencing food
insecurity, as determined by the Secretary, at
institutions of higher education, including
students who--
``(I) are eligible to participate
in a State or federally financed work
study program during the regular school
year, as determined by the institution
of higher education; or
``(II) for the current academic
year, have an expected family
contribution or student aid index of $0
or less, as determined in accordance
with part F of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk
et seq.); and
``(B) to make the guidance and other materials
described in paragraph (1) publicly available on the
websites of the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Education.''.
SEC. 4106. IMPROVEMENTS TO SNAP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.
(a) Exclusions From Income.--
(1) In general.--Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(A) in subsection (d) (as amended by section
4103)--
(i) in paragraph (19)(B), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (20), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(21) any payment, income, allowance, or earnings made to
household members provided under--
``(A) any work program (as defined in section
6(o)(1));
``(B) any employment and training program;
``(C) any vocational rehabilitation program (as
defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102)); and
``(D) any refugee employment and training program
established under section 412(c) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)).'';
(B) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the
following:
``(9) Time-limited exclusion for certain employment and
training programs.--The Secretary shall exclude from financial
resources under this subsection any payment, income, allowance,
or earnings described in subsection (d)(21) received by any
member of a household for the month of receipt, and each of the
11 months beginning after the month of receipt, if that member
was participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program at the time the payment, income, allowance, or earning
was received.'';
(C) by striking subsection (l); and
(D) by redesignating subsections (m), (n), and (o)
(as added by section 4104) as subsections (l), (m), and
(n), respectively.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 6(s)(2) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(s)(2)) is amended by
striking ``(l), (m), and (n)'' and inserting ``(l), and (m)''.
(b) Employment and Training.--Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(4)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(i) in subclause (VII), by striking ``90''
and inserting ``180''; and
(ii) by striking subclause (VIII) and
inserting the following:
``(VIII) Programs and activities
with demonstrated effectiveness in
increasing skills and improving the
ability of participants to find and
retain employment that leads to
increased household income, as
determined by the Secretary.'';
(B) in subparagraph (I)(i)(I), by inserting
``addressing barriers to'' after ``directly related
to'';
(C) by striking subparagraph (L) and inserting the
following:
``(L) State agency requirement.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
ensure that each State agency complies with--
``(I) the requirements of this
paragraph and section 11(e)(19); and
``(II) the plan of the State agency
developed pursuant to that section.
``(ii) Certification.--The chief executive
officer of a State, in coordination with the
State agency, shall annually submit to the
Secretary the following information:
``(I) A statement certifying that
the State has cooperated with the
Secretary to ensure the compliance
described in clause (i).
``(II) The total number of
participants served by the employment
and training program of the State under
this paragraph in the prior fiscal
year.
``(III) The total amount of Federal
and State funding expended on the
employment and training program of the
State under this paragraph, including
the total amount of payments and
reimbursements made under subparagraph
(I), in the prior fiscal year.'';
(D) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``title I of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act'' and
inserting ``the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.)'';
(E) in subparagraph (O)(i)--
(i) in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by striking ``eligible for an exemption under
paragraph (2) and who'' and inserting ``exempt
from meeting a requirement under paragraph
(1)(A) and'';
(ii) in subclause (II), by adding ``or'' at
the end;
(iii) in subclause (III), by striking
``or'' at the end; and
(iv) by redesignating subclauses (I), (II),
and (III) as subclauses (II), (III), and (I),
respectively, and moving the subclauses so as
to appear in numerical order; and
(F) by adding at the end the following:
``(P) Procedures for referrals.--In accordance with
regulations issued by the Secretary, the State agency
shall establish procedures to ensure that each referral
results in directly connecting a participant with a
service provider or other appropriate entity to receive
appropriate support and services.'';
(2) in subsection (e)(3)(A), by striking ``title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act'' and inserting ``the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.)''; and
(3) in subsection (o)(1)(A), by striking ``title I of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act'' and inserting ``the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102),
other than a self-service activity authorized under the Wagner-
Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.)''.
(c) State Plans.--Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)(19), by striking ``the activities''
and all that follows through the semicolon at the end and
inserting ``appropriate activities carried out under the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.), as determined by the Secretary, a description of the
State agency's screening of individuals to determine whether an
individual is exempt from meeting a requirement under
subsections (d)(1)(A) and (o)(2) of section 6 and the
appropriateness of the employment and training program for the
skills and circumstances of the individual prior to the
referral of that individual to an employment and training
program, the basis, including any cost information, for
exemptions of categories and individuals, and the justification
for the choice of employment and training program components
reflected in the plans, including how those components address
the skill needs of participants and regional or local workforce
needs;''; and
(2) by striking subsection (w) and inserting the following:
``(w) Additional Notification of Employment and Training
Opportunities.--
``(1) In general.--For households containing at least 1
individual between the ages specified in section 6(d)(1), a
State agency shall, at the time of certification and
recertification, be required to provide information to those
individuals on available employment and training services and
local employment and training providers.
``(2) Notification.--A State agency that does not exempt
all work registrants from participation in an employment and
training program shall notify, in writing, households with
members that are exempt from the requirements of paragraph
(1)(A) of section 6(d) due to physical or mental unfitness or
pursuant to paragraph (2) of that section that those households
are not required to contact the providers or participate in the
services described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Request for employment and training provider
assessment.--
``(A) In general.--An individual who is determined
to be eligible to participate in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program by a State agency that
exempts all work registrants from an employment and
training program may request that the provider of a
component of the employment and training program of the
State assess the individual for appropriateness for
participation in that component, notwithstanding any
determination by the State agency of the eligibility of
the individual for the employment and training program
of that provider.
``(B) Notification.--Each provider of a component
of an employment and training program shall--
``(i) notify the applicable State agency of
each individual that the provider identifies as
appropriate for the component of the employment
and training program under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) verify other eligibility conditions
with the State agency prior to enrolling each
of those individuals in the component of the
employment and training program.''.
(d) SNAP Employment and Training Reallocation.--Section 16(h)(1) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``24'' and inserting ``36''; and
(B) by striking ``$103,900,000'' and inserting
``$110,000,000''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``(v)'' and
inserting ``(iv)''; and
(B) by striking clauses (iv) and (v) and inserting
the following:
``(iv) Priority.--In reallocating
unexpended funds under clause (i), the
Secretary shall give priority to State agencies
requesting such funds for work-based learning
employment and training programs and activities
that--
``(I) are coordinated with
employers that can transition to
unsubsidized employment;
``(II) are targeted to--
``(aa) individuals 50 years
of age or older;
``(bb) formerly
incarcerated individuals;
``(cc) individuals
participating or having
recently participated in a
substance abuse treatment
program;
``(dd) homeless
individuals;
``(ee) individuals with
disabilities seeking to enter
the workforce;
``(ff) other individuals
with substantial barriers to
employment;
``(gg) households facing
multigenerational poverty, to
support employment and
workforce participation through
an integrated and family-
focused approach in providing
supportive services; and
``(hh) members of Indian
tribes; and
``(III) meet any other criteria
determined by the Secretary.''.
(e) Employment and Training Study.--
(1) Study.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study on--
(A) the level of coordination among various
employment and training programs that are federally
funded and State- or locality-administered, including--
(i) programs under sections 6(d) and 20 of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2015(d), 2029);
(ii) programs under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101
et seq.);
(iii) work supports funded under a State
program funded under part A of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
and
(iv) the Jobs Plus Initiative Program
administered by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development;
(B) differences in the populations served by each
program studied under subparagraph (A);
(C) the different performance and reporting
measures used in each program studied under
subparagraph (A) and opportunities for aligning those
performance measures; and
(D) to the maximum extent practicable, the
effectiveness of each of those programs in serving
individuals with substantial barriers to employment,
such as substance use disorders, mental health issues,
physical or mental disabilities, unstable housing, lack
of basic education or life skills, or lack of
childcare, transportation, or access to appropriate
technologies, including with respect to--
(i) assessing the suitability of those
individuals for the employment and training
activities offered; and
(ii) improving the short-term and long-term
employment outcomes for those individuals.
(2) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the completion of
the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the
United States shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report describing
the results of that study.
SEC. 4107. ENSURING EBT INTEGRITY.
(a) Protecting EBT Cardholders.--
(1) In general.--Section 7 of the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016) is amended--
(A) in subsection (d), by inserting ``and security,
including completeness of fraud protection and
prevention tools and coverage of infrastructure cost''
before the period at the end;
(B) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the
following:
``(6) Updating point-of-sale equipment.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall promulgate
regulations to require retail food stores to make any
necessary and appropriate upgrades to point-of-sale
equipment to ensure a more secure means of conducting
transactions.
``(B) Liability.--Except as otherwise provided by
the Secretary, a retail food store shall be liable to
the Secretary for the value of benefits redeemed via
fraudulent on-site transactions using an EBT card with
a magnetic stripe in lieu of more secure means, as
determined by the Secretary, after the requirement for
those secure means is implemented nationwide by
regulation.'';
(C) in subsection (h)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end
the following:
``(E) State review.--Each State agency shall review
existing technology and contract requirements before
entering into or renewing an electronic benefit
transfer contract to ensure the electronic benefit
transfer technology of the State agency reflects up-to-
date standards to ensure the security of benefits.'';
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (C)--
(aa) in clause (ii), by
redesignating subclauses (I)
and (II) as items (aa) and
(bb), respectively, and
indenting appropriately; and
(bb) by redesignating
clauses (i) and (ii) as
subclauses (I) and (II),
respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(II) by redesignating subparagraphs
(A) through (H) as clauses (i) through
(viii), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(III) in the matter preceding
clause (i) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``(2) The Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(2) Federal standards.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(B) Additional specifications.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 240 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
electronic benefit transfer system of each
State agency shall include--
``(I) a prohibition on the use of
common personal identification numbers;
``(II) an option for households to
temporarily lock all activity of the
EBT card of the household, with 2 or
more easy-to-use options to unlock the
EBT card before making a purchase;
``(III) validation of the card
authentication value of an EBT card;
``(IV) a means to authenticate card
balance inquiries;
``(V) a means for States and the
applicable benefit issuer to record and
track data on reports of stolen
benefits;
``(VI) an option for households to
view EBT card transaction history; and
``(VII) the household option under
subsection (j)(5).
``(ii) Recipient protection.--A State
agency may not deny a claim of a household for
replacement of stolen benefits based on the
decision of the household not to use any of the
options described in subclauses (II), (VI), and
(VII) of clause (i).
``(iii) Regulations.--
``(I) In general.--Not later than
120 days after the date of enactment of
the Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024, the Secretary shall
promulgate interim final rules to
implement clauses (i) and (ii).
``(II) Procedure.--Regulations
promulgated pursuant to subclause (I)
shall be made without regard to--
``(aa) the notice and
comment provisions of section
553 of title 5, United States
Code; or
``(bb) chapter 35 of title
44, United States Code.
``(iv) Subsequent reviews.--Not less
frequently than once every 5 years, the
Secretary shall--
``(I) review the requirements
described in clause (i); and
``(II) promulgate regulations to
make such revisions to those
requirements as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(C) Failure to comply.--
``(i) In general.--In addition to
compliance and enforcement required under
section 16, for each 30-day period during which
a State agency is not acting in good faith to
comply with subparagraph (B), the Secretary may
assess against the State agency a fine in an
amount equal to $250,000.
``(ii) Administrative and judicial
review.--Any amount assessed by the Secretary
under this subparagraph shall be subject to
administrative and judicial review under
section 14.'';
(iii) by striking paragraph (7) and
inserting the following:
``(7) Replacement of benefits.--
``(A) In general.--Regulations issued by the
Secretary regarding the replacement of benefits and
liability for replacement of benefits under an
electronic benefit transfer system shall be similar to
the regulations in effect for a paper-based
supplemental nutrition assistance issuance system.
``(B) Replacement of stolen benefits.--The
Secretary shall require States to replace benefits that
are determined by the State agency to have been stolen
through EBT card skimming, EBT card cloning, or similar
fraudulent methods, subject to the conditions that--
``(i) the State plan of operation shall
include a plan for the replacement of stolen
benefits that includes appropriate procedures,
as determined by the Secretary, for--
``(I) the timely submission of
claims to, timely validation of claims
by, and replacement issuance by the
State agency that includes--
``(aa) a signed statement
by the affected household on
the benefit theft, consistent
with the signature requirements
and options provided under
section 11(e)(2)(C);
``(bb) criteria for
determining whether a submitted
claim is valid;
``(cc) procedures for the
documentation of replacement
issuances, including the
submitted claims and findings
from the validation;
``(dd) the submission to
the Secretary of data reports
relating to benefit theft and
replacement activity;
``(ee) procedures to inform
households of the right to a
fair hearing, consistent with
the procedures established
under section 11(e) (including
regulations) with respect to
replacement issuances; and
``(ff) the use and planned
use by the State agency of
benefit theft prevention
measures; and
``(II) reporting to the Secretary
the scope and frequency of EBT card
skimming affecting households within
the State;
``(ii) the replacement of stolen benefits
for a household--
``(I) shall not exceed the lesser
of--
``(aa) the amount of
benefits stolen from the
household; and
``(bb) an amount equal to 2
months of the monthly allotment
of the household immediately
prior to the date on which the
benefits were stolen;
``(II) shall not occur more than 2
times per fiscal year per household by
a single State agency; and
``(III) shall only apply to
benefits stolen on or after October 1,
2022; and
``(iii) the replacement of stolen benefits
under this subparagraph shall not be regarded
as a loss for purposes of subsection (e), to
the extent such replacement is in accordance
with an approved plan that complies with this
subparagraph.''; and
(iv) in paragraph (13)--
(I) in subparagraph (B), by
striking ``Effective through fiscal
year 2023, neither'' and inserting
``Neither''; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Additional EBT fees.--Effective through
fiscal year 2029, no agent, contractor, or
subcontractor of a State who facilitates the provision
of benefits in that State may impose a fee on retail
food stores authorized under this Act for costs to
implement paragraph (1)(E), subsection (d), or for
other costs associated with updating electronic benefit
transfer processing infrastructure.''; and
(D) in subsection (j), by striking paragraph (5)
and inserting the following:
``(5) Household option.--
``(A) In general.--Each State shall allow a
household to control the interoperability of the EBT
card of the household, including by allowing the
household to restrict the EBT card to work only in 1 or
more particular States.
``(B) Ensuring household access.--The Secretary
shall ensure that, pursuant to subparagraph (A)--
``(i) a State agency provides 2 or more
easy-to-access and easy-to-use options for a
household to control the interoperability of
the EBT card of the household; and
``(ii) any EBT card received by the
household is interoperable.''.
(2) Application of amendments.--The amendments made by
subparagraph (A), and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B),
of paragraph (1) shall be applied to supersede section
501(a)(2) of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2023 (7 U.S.C. 2016a(a)(2)), and any agency action taken
pursuant to that section.
(b) Preventing Unauthorized Benefit Redemptions.--Section 9 of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (iii), by adding
``and'' at the end;
(II) by striking clause (iv); and
(III) by redesignating clause (v)
as clause (iv); and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) EBT equipment or service provider
requirement.--An applicant shall not be authorized to
accept and redeem benefits unless the applicant
certifies that the applicant will use an electronic
benefit transfer equipment and service provider that is
included on the list described in paragraph (4)(B).'';
and
(B) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following:
``(4) Electronic benefit transfer equipment and service
provider standards.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 18 months after
the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations to establish standards for approving
electronic benefit transfer equipment and service
providers to route electronic benefit transfer
transactions, which shall include--
``(i) requiring those providers to submit
to benefit issuers sufficient transaction
information to minimize the risk of fraudulent
transactions and unauthorized redemptions;
``(ii) registration in the System for Award
Management maintained by the General Services
Administration;
``(iii) safeguarding confidential retail
food store identifiers necessary for processing
and routing electronic benefit transfer
transactions; and
``(iv) other requirements to ensure the
security and stability of the electronic
benefit transfer system, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(B) List of approved providers.--The Secretary
shall--
``(i) compile and publish a list of
electronic benefit transfer equipment and
service providers that meet the standards
established under subparagraph (A); and
``(ii) regularly update that list.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Sale or transfer of retail food store.--
``(A) In general.--A retail food store authorized
under this section to accept and redeem benefits or
currently serving a period of disqualification under
the supplemental nutrition assistance program shall--
``(i) notify the Secretary of a sale or
transfer of ownership of the retail food store
before the sale or transfer in a timely manner,
as determined by the Secretary; and
``(ii) submit documentation to the
Secretary confirming the sale or transfer in a
timely manner, as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Certification.--A retail food store seeking
authorization under this section shall certify in the
application of the retail food store that the retail
food store shall comply with the requirements under
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Disabling SNAP functions.--The Secretary
shall ensure that any electronic benefit transfer
equipment used by a retail food store described in
subparagraph (A) that is sold or transferred shall be
disabled not later than 72 hours after the Secretary
confirms the sale or transfer.''.
(c) Civil Penalties, Flagrant Violations, and Suspensions.--Section
12 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2021) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking ``$100,000'' and
inserting ``$150,000'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``$100,000'' and
inserting ``$150,000'';
(3) in subsection (h)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establish
procedures'' and all that follows through the period at
the end and inserting ``promulgate regulations to
establish procedures under which benefit transactions
likely to be in flagrant violation of this Act
(including regulations promulgated pursuant to this
Act), as determined through the use of real-time
transaction data, may be blocked in real time, for the
purpose of the immediate protection of Federal
funds.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``determines
that'' in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all
that follows through the period at the end of
subparagraph (B)(ii) and inserting ``blocks a benefit
transaction likely to be in flagrant violation of this
Act (including regulations promulgated pursuant to this
Act), the Secretary shall provide prompt notification
to the affected retail food store, household, and
benefit issuer with an explanation for the block,
including an explanation of the necessity of the block
for the immediate protection of Federal funds, and the
suspected violation.''; and
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) No liability.--The Secretary shall not be liable for
the value of any funds or interest on funds blocked under this
subsection.
``(4) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report describing the total number of
benefits transactions and the total benefits amount blocked
under this subsection in each State during the preceding year.
``(5) Termination of authority.--The authority under this
subsection shall expire 5 years after the effective date of
regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1).''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) EBT Equipment and Service Providers.--
``(1) In general.--An electronic benefit transfer equipment
or service provider that facilitates unauthorized redemption of
benefits or otherwise violates a provision of this Act
(including regulations) may be--
``(A) suspended or debarred in accordance with the
procedures under part 417 of title 2, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations);
``(B) assessed a civil penalty in an amount not to
exceed $150,000 per violation; or
``(C) both.
``(2) Review and appeal of civil penalty.--The imposition
of a civil penalty under paragraph (1) shall be subject to
review, and may be appealed by the electronic benefit transfer
equipment or service provider, in accordance with section
14.''.
(d) Administrative and Judicial Review.--Section 14(a)(1) of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2023(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``of this Act'' each place it appears;
(2) by inserting ``or an electronic benefit transfer
equipment or service provider is assessed a civil penalty under
section 12(j),'' before ``or all or part of''; and
(3) by inserting ``or retail food store or wholesale food
concern'' before ``is stated pursuant to''.
SEC. 4108. RETAIL FOOD STORES.
(a) Stocking Units.--
(1) In general.--Section 3(o)(1) of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(o)(1)) is amended by striking
subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:
``(A) offers and displays for sale, on a continuous
basis, at least 25 stockkeeping units of foods in each
of the 4 categories of staple foods described in
subsection (q)(1)--
``(i) including--
``(I) perishable foods in at least
3 of those categories; and
``(II) 7 varieties in the category
described in subparagraph (C) of that
subsection; and
``(ii) of which not less than 12 of the
stockkeeping units in each of those 4
categories of staple foods are identified for
increased consumption for any age group,
consistent with the most recent Dietary
Guidelines for Americans published under
section 301 of the National Nutrition
Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 5341), as determined by the Secretary;
or''.
(2) Regulations.--
(A) Promulgation.--Not later than 18 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
promulgate regulations to implement the amendment made
by paragraph (1), which shall take effect not later
than 180 days after publication of the regulation in
the Federal Register.
(B) Listening sessions.--In promulgating
regulations pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall conduct 2 or more public listening sessions that
shall--
(i) engage the full range of interested
groups, including, to the maximum extent
practicable--
(I) households participating in the
supplemental nutrition assistance
program established under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et
seq.); and
(II) different types of retail food
stores authorized to participate in
that program under section 9 of that
Act (7 U.S.C. 2018); and
(ii) be included in the rulemaking record.
(3) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which
regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) take
effect, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a
report that assesses the compliance by retail food stores (as
defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2012)), including small grocery stores and convenience
stores, with those regulations, which shall include--
(A) a description of any challenges retail food
stores face with respect to meeting the requirements in
those regulations; and
(B) recommendations for additional approaches that
small-scale retail food stores may take to stock and
promote healthy food options.
(b) Online-Only Entities.--
(1) Definition of retail food store.--Section 3(o)(1) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(o)(1)) is
amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``sells food'' and inserting ``owns food inventory and sells
that food''.
(2) Additional requirements for participation of retail
food stores.--Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2018) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) in paragraph (2)--
(I) by striking ``(2) The
Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary''; and
(II) by indenting subparagraphs (A)
and (B) appropriately; and
(ii) by conforming the margin of paragraph
(3) with the margin of paragraph (4);
(B) in subsection (c), in the third sentence, by
inserting ``(42 U.S.C. 1786)'' after ``Act of 1966'';
and
(C) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the
following:
``(f) Additional Requirements for Participation.--
``(1) House-to-house trade routes, online-only entities.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall limit
participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance
program of house-to-house trade routes and entities
that operate solely online (referred to in this
paragraph as `online-only entities') to include only
such routes and online-only entities that support the
purposes of the supplemental nutrition assistance
program.
``(B) Terms and conditions.--The Secretary shall
establish terms and conditions for participation of
house-to-house trade routes and online-only entities in
the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which
shall include, at a minimum--
``(i) a requirement to be fully operational
with respect to sales to the public for not
less than 1 year before receiving authorization
under this section, including, for online-only
entities, operation in e-commerce for not less
than that 1-year period;
``(ii) a requirement to provide to the
Secretary, on request--
``(I) documentation to establish
inventory ownership, such as business
records; and
``(II) evidence of sufficient and
consistent minimum inventory levels,
such as business records, inventory
storage facility visit reports, and
other means, including, for online-only
entities, documentation matching owned
inventory with online offerings, as the
Secretary determines to be sufficient
to qualify continuously as a retail
food store; and
``(iii) a requirement to demonstrate sales
consistent with inventory, as determined by the
Secretary, for not less than 1 year before
receiving authorization under this section and
periodically thereafter, as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(2) Entities without inventory.--An entity (including a
product aggregator) that does not qualify as a retail food
store described in section 3(o)(1) because the entity does not
own food inventory may not participate in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program.
``(3) Third-party entities and inventory.--
``(A) Retailers.--An entity that is not an approved
retail food store may not offer food for sale in
exchange for benefits through an approved retail food
store.
``(B) Inventory.--An approved retail food store may
not offer inventory for sale in exchange for benefits
if that inventory is owned by an entity that is not an
approved retail food store.''.
(3) Review and pilot project.--Section 17 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(o) Report on Entities That Sell Food but Do Not Own Their Own
Food Inventory; Pilot Project.--
``(1) Report.--The Secretary shall conduct, and make
publicly available a report describing the results of, a study
that assesses--
``(A) the types of entities that sell food but do
not own their own food inventory (referred to in this
subsection as `covered entities');
``(B) vulnerabilities that covered entities may
pose to the supplemental nutrition assistance program
if covered entities are authorized to accept and redeem
benefits under that program;
``(C) opportunities that covered entities may
provide to participants of the supplemental nutrition
assistance program if covered entities are authorized
to accept and redeem benefits under that program;
``(D) recommendations for additional oversight of
covered entities under the supplemental nutrition
assistance program if covered entities are authorized
to accept and redeem benefits under that program;
``(E) standards that may be established to ensure
the integrity of the supplemental nutrition assistance
program with respect to covered entities if covered
entities are authorized to accept and redeem benefits
under that program, including--
``(i) ensuring that covered entities are
able--
``(I) to provide to the customer
the food purchased using benefits by
customers in a timely manner; and
``(II) to continuously meet the
requirements described in subparagraph
(A) or (B) of section 3(o)(1); and
``(ii) ensuring that the Department of
Agriculture has sufficient information to
conduct appropriate oversight over covered
entities; and
``(F) any other considerations, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(2) Pilot project.--After the Secretary makes publicly
available the report described in paragraph (1), the
Secretary--
``(A) may conduct a pilot project to authorize
entities that sell food but do not own their own food
inventory, but otherwise meet the definition of the
term `retail food store' under section 3(o) and meet
the standards described in paragraph (1)(E), to accept
and redeem benefits to test the effectiveness of those
standards--
``(i) in protecting and increasing healthy
food access for households participating in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program; and
``(ii) in providing sufficient information
for the Secretary to conduct appropriate
oversight over those entities; and
``(B) shall make publicly available a report
describing the results of the pilot project conducted
under subparagraph (A).''.
(c) Online Delivery Standards.--Section 7(k) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(k)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``on-line'' each place it appears and
inserting ``online'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (F); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
``(E) meet the delivery and data submission
standards established under paragraph (5); and'';
(3) in paragraph (4), in the paragraph heading, by striking
``on-line'' and inserting ``online''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Safe delivery standards.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through
the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, in
consultation with the Administrator of the Food Safety
and Inspection Service, shall promulgate regulations
that, for any retail food store that accepts benefits
through an online transaction and offers delivery
services for the food purchased using those benefits--
``(i) establish standards for delivery
conditions and practices that ensure the
preservation of the quality of the food,
including perishable food, to prevent
contamination and food-borne illnesses; and
``(ii) describe the manner in which data,
and the type of data that, should be submitted
by retail food stores so that the Secretary may
verify compliance with the standards described
in clause (i).
``(B) Listening sessions.--In promulgating
regulations pursuant to subparagraph (A), the
Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Food
and Nutrition Service, shall conduct 2 or more public
listening sessions that--
``(i) engage the full range of interested
groups; and
``(ii) shall be included in the rulemaking
record.
``(C) Compliance.--Not later than 1 year after
regulations are promulgated pursuant to subparagraph
(A), the Secretary shall ensure compliance with those
regulations.''.
SEC. 4109. IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE TO RETAIL FOOD STORES.
Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2018) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Improving Customer Service.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Food and
Nutrition Service, in coordination with offices of the Food and
Nutrition Service that oversee retail food store operations or
policies, shall develop a plan that considers store owner and
operator training and agency timeliness to enhance customer
service for applicant and authorized retail food stores.
``(2) Public availability.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) not later than 240 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, make publicly available
on the website of the Food and Nutrition Service the
plan developed under paragraph (1); and
``(B) post periodic updates on the implementation
of that plan on that website.''.
SEC. 4110. RESTORING SNAP BENEFITS FOR DRUG-RELATED CONVICTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 11(e)(2)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(B)) is amended--
(1) in clause (vi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (vii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(viii) notwithstanding clause (iii) and
section 3(m)(4), may consider an application
from an incarcerated individual to be filed on
the date that the incarcerated individual is
released, subject to the condition that the
application is received not more than 30 days
prior to the scheduled release date of the
incarcerated individual.''.
(b) Amendment to PRWORA.--Section 115 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21
U.S.C. 862a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``for--'' and all that follows through the
period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ``for
assistance under any State program funded under part A of title
IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``The amount of''
in paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(b) Effects on Assistance for Others.--The amount of''; and
(C) by inserting ``(42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)'' after
``Social Security Act''; and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``, and'' in
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(e) Definition of State.--In this section, the term `State' has
the meaning given the term in section 419 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 619), when referring to assistance provided under a State
program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).''.
(c) State Law Effects.--Any State law limitations enacted in
accordance with section 115(d) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a(d)) (as in
effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act) with
respect to benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et
seq.) or any State program carried out under that Act shall have no
force or effect.
(d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall take effect on October 1, 2025.
SEC. 4111. STREAMLINING SNAP APPLICATIONS.
Section 11(e)(2)(C) of the Food and Nutrition of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2020(e)(2)(C)) is amended--
(1) in clause (ii)--
(A) in the clause heading, by inserting ``or
gestured'' after ``telephonic''; and
(B) by inserting ``or, for hearing impaired
applicants, by gesture over a video phone or in
person'' before the period at the end; and
(2) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ``record for future
reference the verbal assent'' and inserting ``record, as audio
or video or in writing, for future reference the verbal or
gestured assent''.
SEC. 4112. IMPROVING STATE ADMINISTRATION AND QUALITY CONTROL.
Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a) Subject to
subsection (k)'' and inserting the following:
``(a) Administrative Cost-share.--Subject to subsections (k) and
(l)'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(G)--
(i) by striking ``The Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--The Secretary'';
(ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by
inserting ``to improve the accuracy of
eligibility and benefit determinations'' before
``to reduce payment errors''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Early root cause analysis.--
``(I) Notification.--Not later than
the end of the second quarter of each
fiscal year, the Secretary shall notify
State agencies if a preliminary review
of data from the most recent 6-month
period conducted in accordance with the
system established under subparagraph
(A) indicates that the payment error
rate of the State agency for that
fiscal year is trending higher than 6
percent.
``(II) Root cause analysis.--The
Secretary, acting through the Office of
Technical Assistance within the Food
and Nutrition Service, shall provide 1-
on-1 technical assistance to State
agencies that receive a notification
under subclause (I)--
``(aa) to identify the
causes of the payment errors;
and
``(bb) to develop a
strategy to improve the
accuracy of the eligibility and
benefit determinations of the
State agency to reduce payment
errors.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in each of subparagraphs (A) through
(C), by striking ``the term'' and inserting
``The term''; and
(ii) by striking the paragraph designation
and all that follows through ``section--'' and
inserting the following:
``(2) Definition of error rates.--In this section:'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) through (5);
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the paragraph
designation and heading and all that follows through
``each fiscal year thereafter'' in the matter preceding
clause (i) in subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(1) Performance criteria.--
``(A) In general.--With respect to each fiscal
year'';
(C) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated), by
striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
``(B) Publicly available.--For each fiscal year,
the Secretary shall make publicly available on the
website of the Department of Agriculture each of the
performance criteria established under subparagraph (A)
for each State.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Reporting requirements for additional performance
indicators.--
``(A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2027,
each month, each State agency shall submit to the
Secretary a report on the activities of the State
agency carried out during the immediately preceding
month relating to application processing and
certifications for the supplemental nutrition
assistance program, which shall include, with respect
to the month covered by the report--
``(i) the number and percentage of
applications and recertifications completed
within the applicable timeframe required under
this Act;
``(ii) the number and percentage of
households that were denied benefits, the cases
of which were closed, or the certification
periods of which expired due to missed
interviews, missing verifications, unreturned
recertification or interim reporting forms, and
other similar reasons, as determined by the
Secretary;
``(iii) the number of applications,
periodic reports, and recertifications that
remained pending past the date on which those
documents were due;
``(iv) the number and percentage of cases
due for recertification or periodic reporting
that lost benefits and reapplied within the
following 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days;
``(v) the total call center volume, average
wait time, and average answer rate, as
determined by the Secretary, for--
``(I) each call center of the State
agency responsible for administering
the supplemental nutrition assistance
program; and
``(II) any additional call center
operated by a county in the State to
support the operations of that program;
and
``(vi) any other relevant information
relating to the application or certification
process of the supplemental nutrition
assistance program, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(B) Standardized requirements for monthly
reporting.--
``(i) In general.--For fiscal year 2027 and
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary
shall establish standardized requirements for
the monthly reporting required under
subparagraph (A) that shall be used to develop
customer service metrics that track and assist
State agencies with the administration of the
supplemental nutrition assistance program.
``(ii) Grace period.--During fiscal year
2027, a State agency shall not be required to
comply with the standardized requirements
established under clause (i) in carrying out
the monthly reporting required under
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Revision and streamlining of existing
requirements.--In establishing the reporting system
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall--
``(i) review existing State agency
performance criteria and reporting
requirements; and
``(ii) make necessary modifications to
ensure that data collection for those existing
performance criteria and reporting requirements
are not duplicative of the requirements under
subparagraph (A).
``(D) Enforcement.--
``(i) In general.--If a State agency fails
to act in good faith to meet the reporting
requirements established under this paragraph,
the Secretary may assess that State agency a
civil penalty for each monthly report described
in subparagraph (A) that is not submitted by
the date that is 60 days after the end of the
month covered by the report.
``(ii) Amount.--The amount of a civil
penalty assessed under clause (i) shall be
$250,000 for each 30-day period during which
the applicable monthly report described in
subparagraph (A) is overdue.
``(iii) Appeal.--The amount of the civil
penalty assessed under this subparagraph shall
be subject to administrative and judicial
review under section 14.
``(E) Annual customer service metrics.--
``(i) In general.--Using the information
submitted by a State agency each month, the
Secretary shall calculate annual customer
service metrics of the State agency, in a
manner to be determined by the Secretary.
``(ii) Customer service standards.--The
Secretary shall notify a State agency of the
annual customer service metrics of that State
agency at the time of notification to the State
agency of the payment error rate of the State
agency.
``(3) Publicly available state data.--
``(A) Quarterly reports for fiscal years 2025 and
2026.--For each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the
Secretary shall make publicly available on the website
of the Department of Agriculture, not later than 60
days after receipt from each State agency, the
quarterly data that each State agency reports to the
Secretary relating to the total number of--
``(i) initial applications that are
approved, denied, or overdue, including
applications that are subject to expedited
service; and
``(ii) recertifications that are approved,
denied, or overdue.
``(B) Monthly reports.--For fiscal year 2027 and
each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall make
publicly available on the website of the Department of
Agriculture, not later than 60 days after receipt from
each State agency, the monthly data that each State
agency reports under paragraph (2)(A).'';
(4) in subsection (i)(1), by striking ``(as defined in
subsection (d)(1))''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(l) Cost-Share for Monthly Reporting.--Notwithstanding section
16(a), the Secretary shall pay to each State agency an amount equal to
90 percent of all administrative costs related to the implementation by
the State agency of the reporting requirements under subsection
(d)(2).''.
SEC. 4113. PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION GRANTS.
Section 11(t) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2020(t)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$5,000,000'' and
inserting ``$25,000,000'';
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, including the governmental agency in each of
those territories that administers a nutrition
assistance program under section 19 or Public Law 96-
597 (94 Stat. 3477), as applicable.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Multiyear awards.--A grant may be awarded under this
section for a project that spans up to 6 years.''.
SEC. 4114. ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION OPTION.
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020)
(as amended by section 4105(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(z) Elderly Simplified Application Option.--
``(1) In general.--In carrying out the supplemental
nutrition assistance program, a State may elect to implement a
streamlined application and certification process (referred to
in this subsection as a `covered process') for households in
which all adult members--
``(A) are elderly or disabled members; and
``(B) have no earned income.
``(2) Certification period.--The certification period for a
household participating through a covered process shall be 36
months.
``(3) Income and other data verification.--
``(A) In general.--A State agency determining the
eligibility of an applicant household under a covered
process shall, notwithstanding subsection (e)(3),to the
maximum extent practicable--
``(i) use data matching for income
verification and household size; and
``(ii) allow self-declaration by the
applicant of the information required under
section 273.2(f) of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation), but
verify, prior to certification of the
household, factors of eligibility required
under this Act or that are provided by the
applicant that the State agency determines are
questionable.
``(B) Accountability and fraud prevention.--In
carrying out subparagraph (A), a State agency shall,
subject to the approval of the Secretary, establish
accountability and fraud protection measures to deter
fraud and ensure the integrity of the supplemental
nutrition assistance program.
``(4) Interviews.--Notwithstanding subsection (e)(6)(A),
for recertification of a household under a covered process, the
State agency shall not require an interview unless requested by
the household, which may be conducted in-person, if requested
by the household, or virtually.
``(5) Guidance.--Prior to allowing States to implement a
covered process, the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition
Service shall develop guidance for States, including by
consulting with States, to carry out a covered process, which
shall include--
``(A) general implementation guidelines;
``(B) reporting requirements;
``(C) quality control requirements; and
``(D) best practices.''.
SEC. 4115. HOT FOODS.
Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026)
(as amended by section 4108(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(p) Report on Treatment of Hot Food Products; Pilot Projects.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct, and
make publicly available a report describing the results of, a
study that assesses the potential impacts to the supplemental
nutrition assistance program of a statutory change to the
definition of the term `food' in section 3 that would--
``(A) include hot foods and hot food products ready
for immediate consumption at retail food stores
authorized to participate in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program; and
``(B) exclude hot foods and hot food products ready
for immediate consumption from the definition of the
term `staple food' in that section.
``(2) Contents.--The study under paragraph (1) shall
include an assessment of--
``(A) the types of hot and prepared foods that
would be available at authorized retail food stores
(including co-located entities at those retail food
stores) for purchase using supplemental nutrition
assistance program benefits, for different types of
authorized retail food stores;
``(B) of the total gross sales of an authorized
retail food store, the percentage of sales of hot and
prepared foods not intended for home preparation or
home consumption, for different types of authorized
retail food stores;
``(C) the potential impact of the statutory change
described in paragraph (1) on retail food store
eligibility under section 278.1(b)(1)(i)(A) of title 7,
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation); and
``(D) any other considerations, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(3) Pilot projects.--After the report described in
paragraph (1) is made publicly available, the Secretary--
``(A) may conduct not more than 5 pilot projects
designed to test the effectiveness and efficiency of
supplemental nutrition assistance program changes to
allow households to purchase hot and prepared foods
using benefits; and
``(B) shall make publicly available a report
describing the results of each pilot project conducted
under subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 4116. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 18(a)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2027(a)(1)) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 4117. INCLUSION OF PUERTO RICO IN SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended--
(1) in subsection (r), by inserting ``the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico,'' after ``Guam,''; and
(2) in subsection (u)(2), by striking ``Hawaii and the
urban and rural parts of Alaska to reflect the cost of food in
Hawaii and urban and rural Alaska'' and inserting ``Hawaii, the
urban and rural parts of Alaska, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii, urban and rural
Alaska, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively''.
(b) Eligible Households.--Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by inserting
``the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,'' after ``Guam,'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and Guam,'' and
inserting ``Guam, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico,''; and
(B) in the undesignated matter after paragraph (2),
by striking ``States or Guam'' and inserting ``States,
Guam, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico''; and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico'' after ``Hawaii'' each
place it appears; and
(B) in paragraph (6)(B), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by inserting ``and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico'' after ``Columbia''.
(c) Regulations.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to
carry out the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b), which
regulations shall not take effect until the effective date of the
amendments made by those subsections, as described in subsection (d).
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on
the covered start date (as defined in subsection (f)(1) of section 19
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2028)) if a
certification under subsection (f)(8)(C) of that section (7 U.S.C.
2028) has been submitted to Congress.
(e) Transition of Puerto Rico to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program.--Section 19 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2028) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), in the subparagraph heading,
by striking ``commonwealth of puerto rico'' and inserting
``Commonwealth of Puerto Rico''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Transition of Puerto Rico to Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Covered start date.--The term `covered start
date' means the date on which the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico intends for all eligible households
participating in the program under subsections (a)
through (e) to have been transitioned to the
supplemental nutrition assistance program.
``(B) Phase-in period.--The term `phase-in period'
means a period of not less than 2 years and not more
than 5 years beginning not earlier than 9 years and not
later than 15 years after the date on which the
transition plan is approved under paragraph (3)(A).
``(C) Plan of operation.--The term `plan of
operation' means a plan of operation for the
supplemental nutrition assistance program described in
section 11(d) submitted by the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
``(D) Planning period.--The term `planning period'
means the period beginning on the date on which the
transition plan is approved under paragraph (3)(A) and
ending on the date on which the phase-in period begins.
``(E) Transition plan.--The term `transition plan'
means the transition plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico described in paragraph (2)(B).
``(2) Request to transition to snap.--
``(A) In general.--The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
may submit to the Secretary a request to transition
from operating the nutrition assistance program under
this section to operating the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
``(B) Transition plan.--A request submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include a transition plan, which
shall include--
``(i) the anticipated covered start date;
``(ii) a description of plans for the
planning period, which shall include a detailed
description of the manner and timeline in which
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will implement
the statutory changes and regulatory
development, program design, and planning steps
described in the report of the Department of
Agriculture entitled `Update to Feasibility
Study on Implementing SNAP in Puerto Rico,
Final Report' and dated July 2022 (or a
subsequent feasibility study); and
``(iii) a description of plans for the
phase-in period, which shall include a detailed
description of the manner and timeline in which
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will implement
the testing, training, and rollout steps
described in the report described in clause
(ii) (or a subsequent feasibility study) and
carry out activities required under paragraph
(6).
``(3) Determination of transition plan.--
``(A) Approval.--Not later than 180 days after the
date on which the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico submits a
transition plan with a request under paragraph (2)(A),
the Secretary shall approve the transition plan if the
transition plan--
``(i) meets the requirements described in
paragraph (2)(B); and
``(ii) provides a reasonable strategy and
timeline for the planning, development, and
rollout of the supplemental nutrition
assistance program that is likely to ensure
successful implementation of the program, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Disapproval.--If the Secretary does not
approve the transition plan under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall provide a statement that describes--
``(i) each requirement under paragraph
(2)(B) or this paragraph that is not satisfied
by the transition plan; and
``(ii) the changes that the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico may make to the transition plan for
the Secretary to approve the transition plan.
``(4) Action by secretary.--Not later than 180 days after
the date on which the Secretary approves the transition plan
under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall make publicly
available a report describing the steps that the Secretary
shall take to assist the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico during the
planning period and phase-in period and the timeline for those
steps.
``(5) Planning period.--During the planning period, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall carry out activities, as
described in the transition plan pursuant to paragraph
(2)(B)(ii), to prepare for the phase-in period.
``(6) Phase-in period.--
``(A) Purpose.--The purpose of the phase-in period
is to allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to test new
systems and make real-time updates to improve accuracy
and maintain program integrity while transitioning to
the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
``(B) Updated plan.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year
before the anticipated start date of the phase-
in period, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
shall submit to the Secretary--
``(I) an updated plan for the
phase-in period described in paragraph
(2)(B)(iii);
``(II) the anticipated covered
start date; and
``(III) a draft plan of operation.
``(ii) Determination.--The Secretary shall
approve or disapprove the updated plan for the
phase-in period and the draft plan of operation
submitted under clause (i) in accordance with
paragraph (3).
``(C) Requirements.--During the phase-in period,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall carry out the
plans described in the transition plan pursuant to
paragraph (2)(B)(iii) and the updated plan submitted
under subparagraph (B)(i)(I), including--
``(i) implementing the supplemental
nutrition assistance program in a staggered
manner throughout the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico;
``(ii) coordinating with the Secretary to
carry out subparagraph (D); and
``(iii) ensuring that activities carried
out during the phase-in period substantially
meet the requirements for the supplemental
nutrition assistance program under this Act, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(D) Approval of retail food stores.--On the date
that is 270 days before the start date of the phase-in
period, the Secretary shall begin accepting
applications from retail food stores located in the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to be authorized under
section 9 to participate in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
``(E) Administration.--During the phase-in period,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico--
``(i) may concurrently operate the program
under subsections (a) through (e) until
September 30 of the fiscal year of the covered
start date;
``(ii) shall not be subject to the
requirements of section 16(c); and
``(iii) shall be eligible for funding in
accordance with section 16(a) for
administrative costs relating to carrying out
the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
``(7) Request for implementation.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year before the
anticipated covered start date, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico shall submit to the Secretary a request to
implement the supplemental nutrition assistance
program, which shall include--
``(i) the covered start date; and
``(ii) an updated plan of operation.
``(B) Determination of updated plan of operation.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 90 days
after the date on which the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico submits the updated plan of
operation under subparagraph (A)(ii), the
Secretary shall approve the updated plan of
operation if the Secretary determines that--
``(I) the updated plan of operation
meets the requirements of this Act; and
``(II) the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico has successfully completed a
significant majority of the activities
under the plan for the phase-in period.
``(ii) Disapproval.--If the Secretary does
not approve the updated plan of operation plan
under clause (i), the Secretary shall provide a
statement that describes--
``(I) the reason for the
disapproval, including any aspects of
the updated plan of operation that do
not meet the requirements of this Act;
and
``(II) the changes that the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico may make to
the updated plan of operation for the
Secretary to approve the updated plan
of operation.
``(8) Certification of snap implementation by secretary.--
``(A) In general.--On submission of a request by
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico under paragraph (7),
the Secretary shall certify the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico as qualified to begin full operation of the
supplemental nutrition assistance program if the
Secretary has approved the updated plan of operation
under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph.
``(B) Certification decision.--The Secretary shall
certify or deny the request of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico under subparagraph (A) as soon as
practicable after the Secretary receives the request.
``(C) Submission to congress.--The Secretary shall
submit a certification under subparagraph (B) to
Congress.
``(9) Quality control liability waiver.--Notwithstanding
section 16(c), any payment error rates by the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico during the first 3 years following the covered
start date shall not count towards assessing a liability amount
under that section.
``(10) Family market program.--Notwithstanding subsection
(g), the Secretary shall allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
to continue to carry out under the supplemental nutrition
assistance program the Family Market Program established
pursuant to this section, under terms and conditions approved
by the Secretary.
``(11) Annual report.--Not later than 1 year after the
Secretary makes publicly available the report under paragraph
(4), and each year thereafter until the end of the phase-in
period, the Secretary shall make publicly available a report
with respect to the progress of the transition of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
``(12) Transition funding.--Of amounts made available under
section 18(a)(1), the Secretary shall use such sums as are
necessary to carry out this subsection, to remain available
until expended.
``(g) Termination of Effectiveness.--Subsections (a) through (e)
shall cease to be effective with respect to the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico on the covered start date (as defined in subsection (f)(1)) if a
certification under subsection (f)(8)(C) has been submitted to
Congress.''.
SEC. 4118. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS.
Section 25(b)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2034(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``fiscal year 2019 and
each fiscal year thereafter.'' and inserting ``each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2024; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 4119. NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OBESITY PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 28 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 2036a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``or community
organizations'' and inserting ``community-based,
nongovernmental, or nonprofit organizations'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(i) in clause (iii)(II)(ii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in clause (iv)--
(I) by inserting ``, including
standards for reporting and evaluating
the effectiveness of different
projects,'' before ``established''; and
(II) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) ensure, to the maximum extent
practicable, that interventions consider
traditional and cultural foodways appropriate
for the target populations of the
interventions.'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and any entity
that enters into an agreement with a State agency to
deliver services under this subsection'' after ``State
agencies'';
(D) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by striking ``and community
organizations'' and inserting ``community-
based, nongovernmental, and nonprofit
organizations''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``, including the consideration of
traditional and cultural foodways appropriate
for the target population of the project.'';
and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Option in electronic reporting system.--The
Secretary shall provide an option for State agencies to submit
information describing the successes and challenges of projects
and interventions through the electronic reporting system
described in paragraph (2)(B)(iii).'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (F)--
(i) by striking ``fiscal year 2016 and each
subsequent fiscal year'' and inserting ``each
of fiscal years 2016 through 2029''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028,
in addition to the amount described in subparagraph (F)
for each of those fiscal years--
``(i) for fiscal year 2025, $10,000,000;
``(ii) for fiscal year 2026, $12,000,000;
``(iii) for fiscal year 2027, $14,000,000;
and
``(iv) for fiscal year 2028, $16,000,000;
and
``(H) for fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the total amount reserved for the preceding
fiscal year, as adjusted to reflect any increases for
the 12-month period ending the preceding June 30 in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor.''; and
(3) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Emergencies and Disasters.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Emergency period.--The term `emergency
period' means a period during which there exists--
``(i) a public health emergency declared by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services
under section 319 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or a renewal of such a
public health emergency declaration;
``(ii) a major disaster declared by the
President under section 401 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); or
``(iii) an emergency declared by the
President under section 501 of that Act (42
U.S.C. 5191).
``(B) Qualified administrative requirement.--The
term `qualified administrative requirement' means a
requirement under this section or a regulatory
requirement promulgated pursuant to this section.
``(2) Modification or waiver.--Notwithstanding any other
provision in this Act, during an emergency period, the
Secretary may modify or waive for a State agency any qualified
administrative requirement if--
``(A) the qualified administrative requirement
cannot be met by the State agency; and
``(B) the modification or waiver of the requirement
is necessary to provide modified nutrition education
and obesity prevention programming to eligible
individuals during the emergency period, including by
offering that programming in conjunction with other
nutrition assistance programs.
``(3) Duration.--A modification or waiver made under
paragraph (2) may be available until the date that is 60 days
after the end of the applicable emergency period.''.
(b) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate such
regulations as are necessary to implement this section and the
amendments made by this section.
(2) Comments.--In promulgating the regulations required
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall request and consider
public comments on the usability of the electronic reporting
system described in section 28(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036a(c)).
SEC. 4120. RETAIL FOOD STORE AND RECIPIENT TRAFFICKING.
Section 29 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036b)
is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``retail food store
and recipient trafficking'' and inserting ``prevention of
trafficking and benefit theft'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``, including benefit theft,''
before ``in violation''; and
(B) by striking ``recipient and retail food store
program'' and inserting ``recipient, retail food store,
and electronic benefit transfer system'';
(3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``store and
recipient'' and inserting ``store, recipient, and electronic
benefit transfer system''; and
(4) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``$5,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' and inserting ``$10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
Subtitle B--Emergency Food Assistance Program
SEC. 4201. TEFAP FARM-TO-FOOD BANK PROJECTS.
Section 203D(d) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7
U.S.C. 7507(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``50'' and inserting
``90''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``$4,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$8,000,000 for
fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter''.
SEC. 4202. KOSHER, HALAL, AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS PROJECTS.
Section 203D of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C.
7507) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Kosher, Halal, and Culturally Relevant Food Projects.--
``(1) Definition of eligible entity.--In this subsection,
the term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State agency administering the program
established under this Act; and
``(B) a private nonprofit entity, such as a
community-based organization, food bank, or other
emergency feeding organization.
``(2) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants on a
competitive basis to eligible entities to carry out the
projects described in paragraph (3).
``(3) Projects described.--A project referred to in
paragraph (2) is a project to purchase for distribution under
the program established under this Act food that--
``(A) meets 1 or more demonstrated specific needs
of the area served by the eligible entity; and
``(B) as applicable, is--
``(i) Kosher food bearing a Kosher
certification;
``(ii) Halal food bearing a Halal
certification; or
``(iii) another culturally relevant food,
as determined by the Secretary.
``(4) Verification.--An eligible entity carrying out a
project using a grant awarded under paragraph (2) shall verify,
in accordance with a process established by the Secretary, that
foods purchased under the project are domestically produced.
``(5) Funding.--
``(A) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated,
out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until the
end of the subsequent fiscal year.
``(B) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition
to amounts made available under subparagraph (A), there
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to
carry out this subsection $8,000,000 for fiscal year
2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain
available until the end of the subsequent fiscal
year.''.
SEC. 4203. FLEXIBILITIES FOR GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED STATES AND INDIAN
TRIBES.
Section 214(c) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7
U.S.C. 7515(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Flexibilities for geographically isolated states and
indian tribes.--
``(A) Definition of geographically isolated
state.--In this paragraph, the term `geographically
isolated State' means--
``(i) the State of Hawaii;
``(ii) the State of Alaska;
``(iii) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
``(iv) Guam;
``(v) the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands; and
``(vi) the Virgin Islands of the United
States.
``(B) Alternative delivery options.--At the request
of a State agency of a geographically isolated State or
a Tribal organization, the Secretary shall coordinate
with the State agency or Tribal organization to
establish alternative delivery options for commodities
allocated to that State agency or Tribal organization
under this section to ensure that the geographically
isolated State or Tribal organization is able to
receive those commodities.
``(C) Direct purchase option.--
``(i) In general.--At the request of a
State agency of a geographically isolated State
or a Tribal organization, the Secretary may
transfer to the State agency or Tribal
organization the cash value of not more than
100 percent of the commodities allocated to
that State agency or Tribal organization under
this section to be used by the State agency or
Tribal organization to procure domestically
grown food in lieu of receipt of those
commodities.
``(ii) Plan.--A State agency or Tribal
organization making a request under clause (i)
shall submit to the Secretary a plan that
describes how the State agency or Tribal
organization will track and regularly report to
the Secretary the commodity purchases made with
the funds received under clause (i).''.
SEC. 4204. FRESH PRODUCE PROCUREMENT OPTION.
Section 214(c) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7
U.S.C. 7515(c)) (as amended by section 4203) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(4) Option for purchasing through dod fresh.--At the
request of a State agency, the Secretary may allow the State
agency to use not more than 20 percent of the cost of the
commodities allocated to that State agency under this section
to order commodities through the Department of Defense Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Program.''.
SEC. 4205. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.
(a) Definitions.--Section 201A of the Emergency Food Assistance Act
of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(B) in clause (v), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) a Tribal organization, including any
Tribal organization participating in the food
distribution program on Indian reservations
under section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b));'';
(2) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
``(10) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012).''.
(b) Indian Tribes.--The Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 is
amended by inserting after section 202A (7 U.S.C. 7503) the following:
``SEC. 203. TRIBAL ORGANIZATION PLAN.
``(a) Plans.--
``(1) In general.--To receive commodities under this Act, a
Tribal organization shall submit to the Secretary an operation
and administration plan for the provision of benefits under
this Act.
``(2) Updates.--A Tribal organization shall submit to the
Secretary for approval any amendment to a plan submitted under
paragraph (1) in any case in which the Tribal organization
proposes to make a change to the operation or administration of
a program described in the plan.
``(b) Requirements.--Each plan submitted under subsection (a)
shall--
``(1) designate the Tribal entity responsible for
distributing the commodities received under this Act;
``(2) set forth a plan of operation and administration to
expeditiously distribute commodities under this Act, which may
include the use of warehouses and facilities used to store food
under the program established under section 4(b) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b));
``(3) set forth the standards of eligibility for recipient
agencies; and
``(4) set forth the standards of eligibility for individual
or household recipients of commodities, which shall require--
``(A) individuals that are, or households to be
composed of, needy persons; and
``(B) individual or household members to be
residing in the geographic location served by the
distributing agency at the time of applying for
assistance.
``(c) Applicability.--
``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act
or section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2036), the provisions of this Act that apply to States with
plans approved under section 202A, shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, be applicable to Tribal organizations with plans
approved under this section.
``(2) Allotments.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall apply the
allocation formula under section 214(a) to allot
additional commodities using funding under section
27(a)(3) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2036(a)(3)) to Tribal organizations with
approved plans under this section using the best
available data, as determined by the Secretary in
accordance with subparagraph (B), on--
``(i) with respect to each applicable
Indian Tribe--
``(I) the number of persons in
households that have incomes below the
poverty line; and
``(II) the average monthly number
of unemployed persons in the Indian
Tribe; and
``(ii) with respect to all applicable
Indian Tribes--
``(I) the number of persons in
households that have incomes below the
poverty line; and
``(II) the average monthly number
of unemployed persons in all the Indian
Tribes.
``(B) Best available data.--The Secretary shall
determine the best available data for purposes of
subparagraph (A) by consulting with other Federal
agencies with responsibilities relating to collection
of data on Tribal populations, such as the Bureau of
the Census, the Indian Health Service, the Office of
Minority Health, the Administration on Native Americans
at the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Center
for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve,
the Department of Labor, and the Department of
Transportation.''.
SEC. 4206. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.
(a) Availability of Commodities for Emergency Food Assistance
Program.--Section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2036(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Amounts.--The Secretary shall use to carry out
paragraph (1)--
``(A) for fiscal year 2025, $550,000,000;
``(B) for fiscal year 2026, $565,000,000;
``(C) for fiscal year 2027, $585,000,000;
``(D) for fiscal year 2028, $610,000,000; and
``(E) for fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the total dollar amount of commodities
specified in subparagraph (D), adjusted by the
percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been
adjusted under section 3(u)(4) to reflect changes
between June 30, 2027, and June 30 of the immediately
preceding fiscal year.
``(3) Amounts for tribal organizations.--The Secretary
shall use to carry out paragraph (1) for Tribal organizations
with plans approved under section 203 of the Emergency Food
Assistance Act of 1983--
``(A) for fiscal year 2025, $55,000,000;
``(B) for fiscal year 2026, $56,500,000;
``(C) for fiscal year 2027, $58,000,000;
``(D) for fiscal year 2028, $61,000,000; and
``(E) for fiscal year 2029 and each subsequent
fiscal year, the total dollar amount of commodities
specified in subparagraph (D) adjusted by the
percentage by which the thrifty food plan has been
adjusted under section 3(u)(4) to reflect changes
between June 30, 2027, and June 30 of the immediately
preceding fiscal year.
``(4) Funds availability.--For purposes of the funds
described in this subsection, the Secretary shall--
``(A) make the funds available for 2 fiscal years;
and
``(B) allow States and Tribal organizations to
carry over unexpended balances to the next fiscal year
pursuant to such terms and conditions as are determined
by the Secretary.
``(5) Conversion.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may use not more
than 20 percent of the funds made available under
paragraph (2) for costs associated with the
distribution of commodities.
``(B) Tribal organizations.--
``(i) Fiscal years 2025 through 2028.--For
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, the
Secretary may use not more than 30 percent of
the funds made available under paragraph (3)
for costs associated with the distribution of
commodities by Tribal organizations with plans
approved under section 203 of the Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983.
``(ii) Fiscal year 2029 and thereafter.--
For fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary may use not more than
20 percent of the funds made available under
paragraph (3) for costs associated with the
distribution of commodities by Tribal
organizations with plans approved under section
203 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of
1983.''.
(b) Storage, Distribution, and Infrastructure Funding.--
(1) Authorization and appropriations.--Section 204(a)(1) of
the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7508(a)(1))
is amended--
(A) by striking ``(a)(1) There are'' and inserting
the following:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Funds.--
``(A) States.--There are'';
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by
striking ``Funds appropriated'' in the second sentence
and inserting the following:
``(B) Tribal organizations.--In addition to the
amounts authorized to be appropriated in subparagraph
(A), there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000
for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter
for the Secretary to make available to Tribal
organizations with plans approved under section 203 to
pay for the direct and indirect costs of the Tribal
organization related to the processing, storage,
transportation, and distribution to eligible recipient
agencies of commodities provided by the Secretary under
this Act and commodities secured from other sources,
including commodities secured by gleaning (as defined
in section 111(a) of the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988
(7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 100-435)) and donated
wild game.
``(C) Allocation.--Funds appropriated'';
(C) in subparagraph (C) (as so designated)--
(i) by inserting ``and Tribal
organizations'' after ``States'' the first two
places it appears; and
(ii) by striking ``States. If a State
agency'' and inserting the following: ``States
or Tribal organizations.
``(D) Unused funds.--If a State agency or Tribal
organization''; and
(D) in subparagraph (D) (as so designated), by
inserting ``or Tribal organizations'' before the period
at the end.
(2) Emergency food program infrastructure grants.--Section
209 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C.
7511a) is amended by striking subsections (a) through (d) and
inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary shall use funds made available under
subsection (e) to make grants to States and Tribal organizations to pay
the costs of activities described in subsection (d) and to pay State
and Tribal costs associated with administering the grant.
``(b) Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant received by States
and Tribal organizations under subsection (a) shall be based on a
formula determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Rural, Underserved, and Tribal Area Preference.--The
Secretary shall ensure that a State or Tribal organization shall apply
not less than 50 percent of the grant received under subsection (a), in
each fiscal year, to support efforts that strengthen and expand
emergency food assistance in rural, underserved, or Tribal communities,
as applicable.
``(d) Use of Funds.--A State or Tribal organization shall use a
grant received under subsection (a) in any fiscal year to carry out
activities of the State or Tribal organization authorized under this
Act or to make funds available for eligible recipient agencies to carry
out such activities, including--
``(1) developing and maintaining computerized systems
needed to safely and efficiently distribute food to people in
need;
``(2) providing capital, infrastructure, and operating
costs associated with the collection, storage, distribution,
and transportation of commodities provided by the Secretary
under this Act and commodities secured from other sources;
``(3) improving the security and diversity of the emergency
food distribution and recovery systems of the United States;
``(4) providing recovered foods to food banks and similar
nonprofit, governmental, or Tribal emergency food providers to
reduce hunger in the United States;
``(5) improving the identification of--
``(A) potential providers of donated foods;
``(B) potential nonprofit, governmental, or Tribal
emergency food providers; and
``(C) persons in need of emergency food assistance;
and
``(6) renovating, expanding, or repairing a facility or
equipment to support hunger relief agencies in the community.
``(e) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, to remain available until the end of the subsequent fiscal
year.''.
Subtitle C--Commodity Distribution Programs
SEC. 4301. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973
(7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93-86) is amended, in the first
sentence, by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 4302. COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM.
Section 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7
U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93-86) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in each of paragraphs (1) and
(2)(B), by striking ``2023'' each place it appears and
inserting ``2029'';
(2) in subsection (d)(2), in the first sentence, by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''; and
(3) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Exclusion of value of medicare benefits from
income.--In determining the income of an individual for
purposes of eligibility for assistance under the commodity
supplemental food program, a State shall exclude the value of
any benefits provided to the individual (or a member of the
individual's household) under the Medicare program under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).''.
SEC. 4303. DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS COMMODITIES TO SPECIAL NUTRITION
PROJECTS.
Section 1114(a)(2)(A) of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7
U.S.C. 1431e(a)(2)(A)) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous
SEC. 4401. SENIOR FARMERS' MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM.
Section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 3007) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``seniors'' and
inserting ``senior'';
(2) by striking ``seniors farmers' market'' each place it
appears and inserting ``senior farmers' market'';
(3) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``Of the funds'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Of the funds'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)--
(i) by inserting ``(referred to in this
section as the `Secretary')'' after ``Secretary
of Agriculture''; and
(ii) by striking ``2008 through 2023'' and
inserting ``2025 through 2029''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Additional funding.--In addition to the funds made
available under paragraph (1), of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this
section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, with priority given to expanding the senior
farmers' market nutrition program to States, territories, and
Indian Tribes that are not participants of that program as of
the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024.'';
(4) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``maple syrup,''
after ``honey,''; and
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Waiver and modification authorities.--
``(A) Innovation and program modernization.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
on request of a State, the Secretary may waive
or modify a requirement under regulations
promulgated pursuant to this section if the
Secretary determines that the waiver or
modification of the requirement would
facilitate the ability of the State to carry
out innovation and program modernization
efforts that would improve services and
redemption of benefits under the senior
farmers' market nutrition program.
``(ii) Exceptions.--The Secretary may not
waive or modify under clause (i)--
``(I) any requirement under section
249.7 of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor
regulation); or
``(II) any requirement under
section 249.8(a) of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation).
``(iii) Request.--To request a waiver or
modification under clause (i), a State shall
submit to the Secretary an application that--
``(I) identifies the requirement
that is requested to be waived or
modified; and
``(II) describes--
``(aa) the goal of the
waiver or modification to
improve services under the
senior farmers' market
nutrition program; and
``(bb) the expected
outcomes of the waiver or
modification.
``(B) Emergencies and disasters.--
``(i) Definition of emergency period.--In
this subparagraph, the term `emergency period'
means a period during which there exists--
``(I) a public health emergency
declared by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under section 319 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d) or a renewal of such a public
health emergency declaration;
``(II) a major disaster declared by
the President under section 401 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5170); or
``(III) an emergency declared by
the President under section 501 of that
Act (42 U.S.C. 5191).
``(ii) Modification or waiver.--The
Secretary may modify or waive for a State
agency any requirement under regulations
promulgated pursuant to this section if--
``(I) the requirement cannot be met
by the State agency during--
``(aa) any portion of an
emergency period under the
conditions that prompted the
emergency period; or
``(bb) a supply chain
disruption that significantly
affects the availability of
food eligible for purchase; and
``(II) the modification or waiver
of the requirement is necessary to
provide assistance under this section.
``(iii) Limitations.--A modification or
waiver made under clause (ii)--
``(I) may be available until the
date that is 60 days after the end of
the applicable emergency period or
supply chain disruption;
``(II) shall not modify or waive
any requirement under section 249.7 of
title 7, Code of Federal Regulations
(or a successor regulation); and
``(III) shall not substantially
change the types of foods eligible for
purchase in accordance with section
249.8(a) of title 7, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor
regulation).''.
SEC. 4402. PURCHASE OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO
SCHOOLS AND SERVICE INSTITUTIONS.
Section 10603(b) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c-4(b)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 4403. GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 7517) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by redesignating paragraphs (3),
(4), and (5) as paragraphs (5), (3), and (4), respectively, and
moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical order;
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``subsection (c)'' and inserting ``subsection
(g)'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) by striking ``(D)(iii)'' and
inserting ``(D)(ii)''; and
(II) by striking ``50'' and
inserting ``80''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) in clause (i)(I), by striking
``or services'' and inserting
``services, or retailer associate
wages'';
(II) by striking clause (ii); and
(III) by redesignating clause (iii)
as clause (ii);
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Restriction.--The Secretary may not require
that projects test innovative or promising strategies
or technologies.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Cooperative agreements for expansion projects.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the criteria and
priorities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
paragraph (2), respectively, beginning in fiscal year
2025, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative
agreement with a State agency administering the
supplemental nutrition assistance program, or a
nonprofit entity in partnership with such a State
agency, for a project that--
``(i) is proposed by a State agency or
nonprofit entity that--
``(I) has previously received a
large-scale grant under this
subsection;
``(II) has a demonstrated record
for launching and maintaining projects
described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii); and
``(III) has the project design,
infrastructure, and administrative
support necessary for project
implementation in, as applicable, a
State, region, or Indian lands;
``(ii) will expand participation and access
levels in a State, region, or land of an Indian
Tribe compared to the existing project carried
out by the State agency or nonprofit entity
using the grant described in clause (i)(I);
``(iii) will allocate, by the fourth year
of the cooperative agreement, not less than 90
percent of the amount of the cooperative
agreement to providing direct incentives to
households participating in the supplemental
nutrition assistance program;
``(iv) will be carried out in a variety of
retail settings; and
``(v) will be for a duration of not less
than 4 years.
``(B) Limitation.--For the period of fiscal years
2025 through 2029, the Secretary may enter into new
cooperative agreements under this paragraph for a total
of not more than 15 projects.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as
paragraphs (3) through (6), respectively;
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant
program--
``(A) that meets the purposes described in
paragraph (2); and
``(B) under which the Secretary shall--
``(i) award grants of not more than
$400,000 per project to 1 or more eligible
entities--
``(I) to study previously unknown
facts about designing produce
prescription projects;
``(II) to establish or validate
best practices for produce prescription
projects; or
``(III) to establish infrastructure
that aids Federally-qualified health
centers described in subsection
(a)(3)(B) and independent produce
retailers, including direct marketing
farmers, in carrying out produce
prescription projects; and
``(ii) award grants of not less than
$1,000,000 per project to 1 or more eligible
entities--
``(I) that have a demonstrated
ability to expand clinical research on
the value of delivering a produce
prescription project through healthcare
partners; and
``(II) to carry out produce
prescription projects that--
``(aa) demonstrate and
evaluate the impact of the
projects on each of the
purposes of the program
described in paragraph (2);
``(bb) have a minimum
intervention cohort of 300
patients;
``(cc) compare intervention
results to a control group;
``(dd) have an intervention
duration of not less than 12
months; and
``(ee) have demonstrated
the ability to scale when
delivered through healthcare
partners.
``(2) Program purposes.--The purposes of the grant program
established under paragraph (1) are--
``(A) to improve dietary health through increased
consumption of fruits and vegetables;
``(B) to reduce individual and household food
insecurity; and
``(C) to optimize healthcare use and associated
costs.'';
(C) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a
grant under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary
an application containing such information as the
Secretary may require, including the information
described in subparagraph (B).'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking
``paragraph (2)'' and inserting
``paragraph (3)''; and
(II) in clause (ii)(I)(cc), by
striking ``subparagraphs (A) through
(C) of paragraph (1)'' and inserting
``items (aa) through (dd) of paragraph
(1)(B)(ii)(II), if applicable''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Priority.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to
produce prescription projects that include multiple
locations or a variety of locations at which produce
prescriptions may be redeemed.
``(D) Panel to review applications.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish a panel--
``(I) to review applications
submitted to the Secretary pursuant to
this paragraph; and
``(II) to make recommendations to
the Secretary with respect to those
applications.
``(ii) Reviewers.--The panel established
under clause (i) shall include--
``(I) at least 1 individual with
experience as a healthcare provider;
``(II) at least 1 individual with
experience administering health plans;
and
``(III) at least 1 individual with
experience providing healthcare in
community-based health clinics.''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Definition of produce prescription project.--In this
subsection, the term `produce prescription project' means a
project under which an eligible entity--
``(A) prescribes fruits and vegetables to members;
``(B) provides financial or nonfinancial incentives
for members to purchase or procure fruits and
vegetables; and
``(C) may--
``(i) provide educational resources on
nutrition to members; and
``(ii) establish additional accessible
locations for members to procure fruits and
vegetables.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(I) by inserting ``and cooperative
agreements'' after ``grants''; and
(II) by inserting ``as
applicable,'' before ``including'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``grantees'' and
inserting ``recipients of grants and
cooperative agreements'';
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``grantee projects'' and inserting
``the projects of those recipients'';
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) by striking
``grantees'' and inserting
``those recipients''; and
(bb) by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(IV) by redesignating clauses (iv)
and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi),
respectively; and
(V) by inserting after clause (iii)
the following:
``(iv) developing training and guidance, in
conjunction with the Food and Nutrition
Service, on providing, and promoting the
provision of, direct incentives to participants
electronically, such as through the electronic
benefit transfer system of a State agency;'';
and
(iii) in subparagraph (B)(iii)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subclause (I)--
(aa) by striking
``grantees'' and inserting
``those recipients''; and
(bb) by striking ``grant
outcomes'' and inserting
``project outcomes''; and
(II) in subclause (II), by
inserting ``or cooperative agreement''
after ``grant''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Commitment.--Any organization entering into a
cooperative agreement with the Secretary under this
paragraph shall commit--
``(i) to working collaboratively and
sharing appropriate data with any other
organization entering into a cooperative
agreement with the Secretary under this
paragraph; and
``(ii) to the maximum extent practicable,
to providing 1-on-1 technical assistance to
applicants for grants and cooperative
agreements under subsections (b) and (c).'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
(6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Policies and Procedures.--The Secretary shall establish
policies and procedures--
``(1) to require coordination between the appropriate
partner agencies within the Department of Agriculture--
``(A) that allows reasonable timeframes for each
agency to review applications for grants and
cooperative agreements under subsections (b) and (c) to
ensure that eligible entities receiving those grants or
cooperative agreements--
``(i) meet the grant administration
requirements; and
``(ii) comply with the applicable statutory
and regulatory requirements for the
supplemental nutrition assistance program; and
``(2) relating to conflicts of interest, including
prohibiting any individual from reviewing or selecting eligible
entities to receive grants under this section if the financial
interest of that individual would directly or predictably be
affected by such a grant.''; and
(7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by redesignating the second
subparagraph (C) (relating to fiscal year 2019)
through subparagraph (G) as subparagraphs (D)
through (H), respectively;
(ii) in subparagraph (G) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (H) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``fiscal year 2023
and each fiscal year thereafter.'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024;
and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking
``2023.'' and inserting ``2029; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, use for cooperative agreements under
subsection (b)(3) not less than $75,000,000 for fiscal
year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 4404. HEALTHY DAIRY NUTRITION INCENTIVES PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Section 4208 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (7 U.S.C. 2026a) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``fluid milk'' and
inserting ``dairy nutrition'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in each of paragraphs (1) through (3), by
striking the comma and inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``for any age
group'' after ``recommendations'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as
clauses (i) through (iv), respectively, and indenting
appropriately; and
(D) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``the term'' in
the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Dairy product.--The term `dairy product' means a
product--
``(A) for which cow's milk is listed as--
``(i) the first ingredient on the labeled
ingredients list of the product; or
``(ii) the second ingredient on the labeled
ingredients list of the product, if the first
listed ingredient is water;
``(B) that is consistent with the most recent
dietary recommendations for any age group; and
``(C) that is without flavoring or sweeteners.
``(2) Fluid milk.--The term'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``of Agriculture'';
(B) by striking ``healthy fluid milk incentive
projects'' and inserting ``healthy dairy nutrition
incentive projects'';
(C) by inserting ``and dairy products'' before ``by
members of households''; and
(D) by inserting ``and dairy products'' before ``at
the point of purchase'';
(4) in subsection (c)(3), by inserting ``and dairy
products'' after ``fluid milk'';
(5) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``fluid milk''
and inserting ``dairy nutrition''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``31 of 2020'' and inserting
``31, 2026''; and
(ii) in subparagraphs (A) and (B)--
(I) by striking ``fluid milk'' each
place it appears and inserting ``dairy
nutrition''; and
(II) by striking ``, and'' each
place it appears and inserting ``;
and''; and
(6) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029'' before ``to carry out''.
(b) Effect on Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive Projects.--In carrying
out the amendments made by subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure
that there is no interruption in any project carried out under section
4208 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2026a) (as in
effect before October 1, 2025) until the conclusion of the grant terms
of that project.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on October 1, 2025.
SEC. 4405. HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE.
Section 243 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act (7
U.S.C. 6953) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Program Evaluation.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Secretary, in coordination with the national fund manager and the
Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, shall complete and
publish an evaluation of the program established under this section--
``(1) based on a random sample of funded projects; and
``(2) that measures, at a minimum, the short-term and long-
term impacts of a funded project on access to healthy foods in
the applicable community.
``(e) Funding.--
``(1) In general.--There is appropriated to carry out this
section, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$125,000,000, to remain available until expended.
``(3) Use of funds.--Of the funds made available under this
subsection, the Secretary shall use not more than $2,000,000 to
carry out subsection (d) for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
SEC. 4406. MICROGRANTS FOR FOOD SECURITY.
Section 4206 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
7518) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``distribution of
subgrants'' and inserting ``and noncompetitive distribution of
subgrants or other financial assistance'';
(2) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (3);
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Other Financial Assistance'' after ``Subgrants'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(iv) in subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``distribution of subgrants
under subsection (c)'' and inserting ``and
noncompetitive distribution of subgrants or
other financial assistance under this
section''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
other financial assistance provided'' after
``subgrant'';
(D) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance under this section'' after
``subgrants'';
(E) in paragraph (4), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or other financial
assistance provided'' after ``subgrant''; and
(F) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``or other
financial assistance'' after ``subgrant'';
(4) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) by inserting ``or other financial assistance''
after ``subgrant'' each place it appears; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``subgrants by
eligible entities'' and inserting ``subgrant or other
financial assistance by the eligible entity''; and
(5) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``fiscal year 2019
and'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024,
and $30,000,000 for''.
SEC. 4407. STUDY AND REPORT ON NUTRITION PROGRAMS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY
ISOLATED STATES.
(a) Definition of Geographically Isolated State.--In this section,
the term ``geographically isolated State'' has the meaning given the
term in paragraph (3)(A) of section 214(c) of the Emergency Food
Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7515(c)) (as added by section 4203).
(b) Study.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a
study on all nutrition programs (excluding child nutrition programs)
administered by the Secretary to evaluate whether those nutrition
programs are working effectively and equitably within geographically
isolated States, as compared to those nutrition programs operating
within the continental United States, including whether--
(1) there are unique challenges that result from the
particular location of a geographically isolated State,
including the availability of food price data and whether the
food price data used by the Department of Agriculture are
reflective of food costs in the geographically isolated State;
(2) the needs of different communities are being addressed
by those nutrition programs; and
(3) language barriers are preventing individuals in any
geographically isolated State from accessing a nutrition
program.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
completion of the study under subsection (b), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a
report describing the results of the study.
(2) Recommendations.--If the Comptroller General of the
United States determines under the study under subsection (b)
that nutrition programs administered by the Secretary are not
working effectively and equitably within geographically
isolated States, as compared to the operation of those
nutrition programs within the continental United States
(including with respect to food price data and whether the food
price data used by the Department of Agriculture accurately
reflect food costs in each geographically isolated State), the
report under paragraph (1) shall include such legislative and
other recommendations as the Comptroller General determines
would result in those programs working effectively and
equitably within geographically isolated States.
SEC. 4408. STREAMLINING APPLICATION PROCESS FOR DIRECT MARKETING
FARMERS IN NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
(a) Definition of Covered Nutrition Program.--In this section, the
term ``covered nutrition program'' means--
(1) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2011 et seq.);
(2) the senior farmers' market nutrition program
established under section 4402 of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007); and
(3) any other nutrition program, as determined by the
Secretary.
(b) Streamlined Application Process.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a
streamlined application process for direct marketing farmers to apply
to be authorized to sell eligible foods under each of the covered
nutrition programs by developing, to the maximum extent practicable--
(1) a single application that a direct marketing farmer may
use to apply to each of the covered nutrition programs; or
(2) an information-sharing system that--
(A) notifies and shares the necessary and
appropriate information of a direct marketing farmer
who is approved to be authorized to sell eligible foods
under a covered nutrition program with each of the
other covered nutrition programs such that another
covered nutrition program is prompted to determine the
eligibility of the direct marketing farmer to be
authorized to sell eligible foods under that covered
nutrition program; and
(B) meets appropriate security standards, as
established by the Secretary.
(c) Report.--Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that--
(1) describes the extent to which the Secretary was able to
develop a single application or information-sharing system
under subsection (b); and
(2) identifies any statutory, regulatory, and operational
barriers to implementing subsection (b).
(d) Coordination.--The Secretary shall carry out this section in
coordination with the Office of Customer Experience and the Office of
Digital Services of the Department of Agriculture.
(e) Funding.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(2) Appropriation in advance.--Only funds appropriated
under paragraph (1) in advance specifically to carry out this
section shall be available to carry out this section.
SEC. 4409. NUTRITION SECURITY REPORT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Food security.--The term ``food security'' means access
by all people at all times to enough food for an active,
healthy life.
(2) Nutrition security.--The term ``nutrition security''
means consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, and
affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being.
(3) Supplemental nutrition assistance program.--The term
``supplemental nutrition assistance program'' means the
supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and make
publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture, a
report on food security and nutrition security in the United States.
(c) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (b) shall
include, for the period covered by the report--
(1) an analysis of the food security, nutrition security,
and diet quality of participants and nonparticipants in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program;
(2)(A) a summary of changes made to the supplemental
nutrition assistance program that are intended to improve food
security, nutrition security, and diet quality; and
(B) an analysis of the impact and effectiveness of those
changes on food security, nutrition security, and diet quality;
and
(3) recommendations for additional authority to be provided
to the Secretary to improve food security, nutrition security,
and diet quality for participants in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
(d) Appropriations.--There are appropriated, out of any funds in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as are necessary to
carry out this section for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
SEC. 4410. SENIOR NUTRITION TASK FORCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Disability.--The term ``disability'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
(2) Older person.--The term ``older person'' has the
meaning given the term ``older individual'' in section 102 of
the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
(3) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the
Interagency Task Force to Address Hunger and Promote Access to
Healthy Food Among Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities
established by subsection (b).
(b) Establishment.--There is established a task force, to be known
as the ``Interagency Task Force to Address Hunger and Promote Access to
Healthy Food Among Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities''.
(c) Members.--
(1) In general.--The members of the Task Force shall be the
following:
(A) The Secretary (or a designee).
(B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services (or
a designee).
(C) The Secretary of Transportation (or a
designee).
(D) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (or a
designee).
(E) The Administrator of the Food and Nutrition
Service (or a designee).
(F) The Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living (or a designee).
(G) The Administrator for Independent Living within
the Administration for Community Living (or a
designee).
(H) The Administrator of the Health Resources and
Services Administration (or a designee).
(I) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
(or a designee).
(J) The Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration (or a designee).
(K) The Assistant Secretary for Planning and
Evaluation (or a designee).
(L) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (or a designee).
(M) The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and
Substance Use (or a designee).
(N) The Surgeon General (or a designee).
(O) The Deputy Administrator for Medicare and
Medicaid Innovation (or a designee).
(P) The Director of the Office on Nutrition
Research of the National Institutes of Health (or a
designee).
(Q) The Director of the Indian Health Service (or a
designee).
(R) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (or a designee).
(S) The head of any other relevant Federal
department or agency, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary, and appointed by the President.
(T) At least 2 older persons, appointed by the
President, who are recipients of Federal nutrition
benefits, as determined by the President.
(U) At least 2 adults with disabilities, appointed
by the President, who are recipients of Federal
nutrition benefits, as determined by the President.
(V) At least 2 members of grandfamilies or kinship
families, appointed by the President, who are
recipients of Federal nutrition benefits, as determined
by the President.
(W) At least 1 representative, appointed by the
President, from a national older adult nutrition
organization.
(X) At least 1 representative, appointed by the
President, from a national organization that addresses
hunger among adults with disabilities.
(Y) At least 1 representative, appointed by the
President, from a national antihunger organization.
(2) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Task Force shall
be the Secretary (or a designee).
(3) Vice chairperson.--The Vice Chairperson of the Task
Force shall be the Administrator of the Administration for
Community Living (or a designee).
(d) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall be the following:
(1) Identify, promote, coordinate, and disseminate
information and resources and other available best practices--
(A) to address hunger, food insecurity, and
malnutrition among older adults and adults with
disabilities; and
(B) to increase access to healthy foods.
(2) Measure and evaluate progress in--
(A) addressing hunger, food insecurity, and
malnutrition among older adults and adults with
disabilities; and
(B) increasing access to healthy, affordable, and
local or regional food for older adults and adults with
disabilities.
(3) Examine interagency opportunities--
(A) to collaboratively address hunger, food
insecurity, and malnutrition among older adults and
adults with disabilities;
(B) to promote access to healthy, affordable, and
local or regional food for older adults and adults with
disabilities; and
(C) to foster participation across Federal
nutrition services.
(4) Examine challenges to interagency efforts to carry out
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3).
(e) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2027, the Task Force
shall submit to Congress a report that describes--
(1) best practices for addressing hunger, food insecurity,
and malnutrition and promoting access to healthy, affordable,
and local or regional food among older adults and adults with
disabilities;
(2) recommendations to support interagency efforts to
address hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition and promote
access to healthy, affordable, and local or regional food among
older adults and adults with disabilities;
(3) existing barriers to promoting interagency
collaboration to address hunger, food insecurity, and
malnutrition and access to healthy, affordable, and local or
regional food among older adults and adults with disabilities;
and
(4) innovative practices to address hunger, food
insecurity, and malnutrition and promote access to healthy,
affordable, and local or regional food among older adults and
adults with disabilities.
SEC. 4411. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)
is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
``(g) Reserved.--''.
(b) Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2014(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``law)'' and all that
follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting
``law);''; and
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking ``3312'' and inserting
``5312''.
(c) Section 6(r)(1)(A)(iv) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2015(r)(1)(A)(iv)) is amended by inserting ``section'' before
``40002(a)''.
(d) Section 7 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016)
(as amended by section 4107(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``subsection
(h)(13)'' and inserting ``subsection (h)(12)'';
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as
paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively;
(2) in subsection (h)--
(A) by striking paragraph (5);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (14) as
paragraphs (5) through (13), respectively; and
(C) in paragraph (11) (as so redesignated), by
striking subparagraph (D); and
(3) in subsection (j)(1)(A), by striking ``subsection
(h)(11)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (h)(10)(A)''.
(e) Section 12 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2021) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), in the matter
preceding clause (i)--
(I) by striking ``the purchase of
coupons or trafficking in coupons or
authorization cards'' and inserting
``trafficking related to benefits'';
and
(II) by striking ``such purchase of
coupons or trafficking in coupons or
cards'' and inserting ``such occasion
of trafficking related to benefits'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``coupons'' and inserting ``benefits''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``coupons'' and
inserting ``benefits'';
(2) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``coupons'' each
place it appears and inserting ``benefits'';
(3) in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (3); and
(4) in subsection (f), in the first sentence, by striking
``food coupons'' and inserting ``benefits''.
(f) Section 3(9)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2
U.S.C. 622(9)(B)) is amended by striking ``the food stamp program'' and
inserting ``the supplemental nutrition assistance program established
under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.)''.
SEC. 4412. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided, this title and the amendments made by
this title shall take effect on October 1, 2025.
TITLE V--CREDIT
Subtitle A--Farm Ownership Loans
SEC. 5101. MODIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR FARM
OWNERSHIP LOANS.
(a) Persons Eligible for Real Estate Loans.--Section 302 of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), in the second sentence, by
striking ``without regard to any lapse between farming
experiences,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may make a direct loan
under this subtitle only to a farmer or rancher who has at
least 1 year of experience substantially participating in the
management and business operations of a farm or ranch, as
determined by the Secretary, or has other acceptable education
or experience, as determined by the Secretary.''; and
(B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Waiver authority.--In the case of a qualified
beginning farmer or rancher, the Secretary may waive the 1-year
requirement described in paragraph (1) if the qualified
beginning farmer or rancher has an established relationship
with an individual who has experience in farming or ranching,
or with a local farm or ranch operator or organization,
approved by the Secretary and committed to mentoring the
qualified beginning farmer or rancher.''.
(b) Allowed Purposes of Loans.--Section 303(a) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1923(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``described in section
304''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``described in section
304''.
SEC. 5102. CONSERVATION AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE LOAN AND LOAN
GUARANTEE PROGRAM.
(a) Conservation Plan.--Section 304(b)(3) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(b)(3)) is amended by--
(1) redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as
subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) the adoption of precision agriculture
practices and the acquisition of precision agriculture
technology;''.
(b) Priority.--Section 304(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``1985.'' and inserting
``1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812); and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) producers who use the loans to adopt precision
agriculture practices or acquire precision agriculture
technology, including adoption or acquisition for the purpose
of participating in the environmental quality incentives
program under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title
XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et
seq.).''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 304(h) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924(h)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 304 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) is amended, in the section
heading, by inserting ``and precision agriculture'' after
``conservation''.
SEC. 5103. LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS.
(a) In General.--Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively;
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Except as
provided in subsection (b), the Secretary''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$600,000, or,
in the case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary,
$1,750,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year
2019'' and inserting ``$850,000, or, in the case of a
loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $3,000,000
(increased, beginning with fiscal year 2025''; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Refinanced Guaranteed Loans.--In the case of a direct loan
refinancing a guaranteed loan pursuant to section 303(a)(1)(F), the
Secretary may make a loan equal to the unpaid indebtedness of the
borrower.''.
(b) Inflation Percentage.--Section 305 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925) is amended, in subsection (d) (as
redesignated by subsection (a)(1))--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of the Prices Paid By
Farmers Index (as compiled by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture) for the
12-month period ending on July 31 of the immediately preceding
fiscal year'' and inserting ``of the per acre average United
States farm real estate value for the preceding year (as
published in the applicable Agricultural Land Values report of
the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department
of Agriculture)''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``of such index (as so
defined) for the 12-month period that immediately precedes the
12-month period described in paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``of
the per acre average United States farm real estate value for
the year immediately preceding the year described in paragraph
(1) (as so published)''.
SEC. 5104. REFINANCING OF GUARANTEED LOANS INTO DIRECT LOANS.
(a) In General.--Section 303(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1923(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E)(ii), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) refinancing a guaranteed loan described in
paragraph (2), if the Secretary determines that--
``(i) the guaranteed loan is distressed;
``(ii) the borrower on that guaranteed loan
has attempted to work with the lender and has
been unsuccessful;
``(iii) the borrower has a reasonable
chance for success of the operation financed by
the guaranteed loan; and
``(iv) the refinanced loan will have no
more than a minimal impact on the loan programs
of the Farm Service Agency.''.
(b) Guaranteed Loans.--Section 309(h) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the principal and
interest due on''; and
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the paragraph heading and
inserting ``Guaranteed loans to down payment loan program
participants guaranteed up to 95 percent''.
SEC. 5105. DOWN PAYMENT LOAN PROGRAM.
Section 310E(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1935(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(A) by inserting ``, subject to section 305(a),''
after ``exceed''; and
(B) by striking ``least'' and inserting ``lesser'';
(2) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a period; and
(4) by striking subparagraph (C).
SEC. 5106. SUPPORT FOR RESOLVING OWNERSHIP AND SUCCESSION ISSUES
RELATING TO FARMLAND.
Section 310I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1936c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``relend the funds to
individuals and entities'' and inserting ``use the funds'';
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Eligible Purposes.--An eligible entity that receives a loan
made by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a)--
``(1) shall relend the proceeds from the loan for projects
that assist heirs with undivided ownership interests to resolve
ownership and succession on farmland that has multiple owners;
and
``(2) may use not more than 25 percent of the amount of the
loan to pay administrative costs of relending the proceeds.'';
and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``be''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) The Secretary may forgive, as the Secretary
determines appropriate, the amount of a loan used to pay
administrative costs of relending the proceeds from the
loan.''.
(4) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
``(f) Reports.--
``(1) Reports of eligible entities.--Each eligible entity
that receives a loan under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an annual report that--
``(A) describes the progress and outcomes of the
activities conducted by the eligible entity pursuant to
the loan using funding provided under this section,
including--
``(i) the number of individuals who
received assistance from the eligible entity;
``(ii) the number of individuals whose farm
ownership interests were resolved; and
``(iii) the number of individual heirs
involved in each case involving undivided
ownership; and
``(B) the number of requests for assistance
received by the eligible entity.
``(2) Report by the secretary.--Not later than September
30, 2027, the Secretary shall make publicly available a report
that--
``(A) identifies--
``(i) each eligible entity that received a
loan under this section;
``(ii) the number of individuals whose
farmland ownership interests were resolved by
each eligible entity identified under clause
(i); and
``(iii) the number of individual heirs
affected by the resolution of those ownership
interests;
``(B) describes the operation and outcomes of the
projects and activities carried out by eligible
entities under this section; and
``(C) includes recommendations on how to strengthen
the programs carried out by the Secretary under
subsection (a).''; and
(5) in subsection (g)--
(A) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029'';
and
(B) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``There'' and
inserting the following:
``(g) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make available to carry
out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
other amounts available to the Secretary, there''.
Subtitle B--Operating Loans
SEC. 5201. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF OPERATING LOANS.
Section 313(a)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``$400,000, or, in the
case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $1,750,000 (increased,
beginning with fiscal year 2019'' and inserting ``$750,000, or, in the
case of a loan guaranteed by the Secretary, $2,600,000 (increased,
beginning with fiscal year 2026''.
SEC. 5202. ELIGIBILITY FOR OPERATING LOANS.
Section 311 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1941) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), in the second sentence, by
striking ``without regard to any lapse between farming
experiences,'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``4-H Clubs, Future
Farmers of America'' and inserting ``4-H clubs, National FFA
Organization chapters''; and
(3) by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 5203. MICROLOANS.
(a) In General.--Section 313(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting
``$100,000''; and
(2) in paragraph (4)(A), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(b) Interest Rate.--Section 316(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1946(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``2501(e)'' and inserting
``2501(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``2279(e)),'' and inserting
``2279(a)),''; and
(2) by striking ``not be--'' in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) and all that follows through the period at the
end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ``be equal to the
interest rate for direct farm operating loans under this
subtitle, not to exceed 5 percent per year.''.
Subtitle C--Emergency Loans
SEC. 5301. EMERGENCY LOAN DETERMINATION FACTORS.
Section 322 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1962) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that
follows through ``For'' in subsection (a) and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 322. LOAN DETERMINATION FACTORS.
``For''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
SEC. 5302. ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE BASED ON PRODUCTION LOSS.
Section 329 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1970) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``at least
a 30 per centum loss of normal per acre or per animal production, or
such lesser per centum of loss as the Secretary may determine, as a
result of the disaster based upon the average monthly price in effect
for the previous year'' and inserting ``a qualifying production loss,
as determined by the Secretary, as a result of a disaster,''.
Subtitle D--Administrative Provisions
SEC. 5401. DISTRESSED BORROWERS.
Section 331 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1981) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Distressed Borrowers.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be
appropriated $250,000,000 to provide payments to, for the cost
of loan modifications for, or to carry out subsection (b)(4)
with respect to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed
loans administered by the Farm Service Agency under subtitle A,
B, or C.
``(2) Cash flow-based assistance.--In using funds
appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide
relief to those borrowers whose agricultural operations are at
financial risk as expeditiously as possible, including through
indefinite extension of the Cash Flow-Based Assistance and
Distressed Borrower Set-Aside Program, as determined by the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 5402. BEGINNING FARMER AND RANCHER INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS
PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 333B(h) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1983b(h)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 5403. LOAN AUTHORIZATION LEVELS.
Section 346(b)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b)(1)) is amended, in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 5404. DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER.
Section 343(a)(11) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(11)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting the
following:
``(C) who--
``(i) in the case of a loan made to an
individual, individually or with the immediate
family of the applicant--
``(I) materially and substantially
participates (in the case of an owner
and operator of a farm or ranch) or
will materially and substantially
participate (in the case of an
applicant seeking to own and operate a
farm or ranch) in the operation of the
farm or ranch; and
``(II) provides (in the case of an
owner and operator of a farm or ranch)
or will provide (in the case of an
applicant seeking to own and operate a
farm or ranch) substantial day-to-day
labor and management of the farm or
ranch, consistent with the practices in
the State or county in which the farm
or ranch is located; or
``(ii) in the case of a loan made to a
cooperative, corporation, partnership, joint
operation, or such other legal entity as the
Secretary considers appropriate--
``(I) has members, stockholders,
partners, joint operators, or owners,
all of whom are qualified beginning
farmers or ranchers; and
``(II) has (in the case of an owner
and operator of a farm or ranch) or
will have (in the case of an applicant
seeking to own and operate a farm or
ranch) members, stockholders, partners,
joint operators, or owners materially
and substantially participate in the
operation of the farm or ranch;''; and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) as
subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively.
SEC. 5405. LOAN FUND SET-ASIDES.
Section 346 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1994) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (i)(II), by inserting ``, to
the extent practicable'' after ``April 1 of the
fiscal year'';
(ii) in clause (ii)(III), by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''; and
(iii) in clause (iii), by inserting ``, to
the extent practicable'' after ``September 1 of
the fiscal year''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by inserting ``, to
the extent practicable'' after ``April 1 of the fiscal
year''; and
(2) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
SEC. 5406. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF LOANS TO BORROWERS THAT HAVE
RECEIVED DEBT FORGIVENESS.
Section 373(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 2008h(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Prohibition.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
the Secretary may not make or guarantee a loan under this title
to a borrower for a period of 7 years after the borrower has
received debt forgiveness.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)(ii), by striking ``chapters'' and
inserting ``chapter''.
SEC. 5407. GUARANTEED FARMER PROGRAM LOAN APPLICATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 333A(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983a(g)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``$125,000 or less''
and inserting ``less than a limit determined by the
Secretary'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Accelerated consideration for certain guaranteed
farmer program loans.--
``(A) Option for accelerated consideration.--The
Secretary shall provide to certified lenders (within
the meaning of section 339(c)) and Preferred Certified
Lenders (within the meaning of section 339(d)) the
option to submit for accelerated consideration an
application to guarantee a farmer program loan the
principal amount of which is $1,000,000 or less.
``(B) Notice.--Not later than 5 business days after
receipt of an application to guarantee a farmer program
loan originated by a certified lender (within the
meaning of section 339(c)) or a Preferred Certified
Lender (within the meaning of section 339(d)) that is
submitted for accelerated consideration under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall notify the lender
as to whether the application is approved or
disapproved.
``(C) Failure to provide timely notice.--If the
Secretary fails to provide the notice required under
subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall approve the
application submitted for accelerated consideration.
``(D) Maximum guarantee.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this title, the percentage of the
principal amount of a loan that may be guaranteed
pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed--
``(i) 75 percent, in the case of a loan of
$500,000 or less; or
``(ii) 50 percent, in the case of a loan of
more than $500,000 but less than or equal to
$1,000,000.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 333A(h) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983a(h)) is amended by striking
``subsection (g)(2)'' and inserting ``subsection (g)(3)''.
Subtitle E--Miscellaneous
SEC. 5501. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Technical Corrections to Title I of the Agricultural Act of
1961.--
(1) Section 102 of the Agricultural Act of 1961 (7 U.S.C.
1911) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the Secretary'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the Secretary of Agriculture''; and
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ``he is
authorized, whenever he'' and inserting ``the Secretary
is authorized, whenever the Secretary''.
(2) Section 103 of the Agricultural Act of 1961 (7 U.S.C.
1912) is amended by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
Secretary''.
(b) Technical Corrections to the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act.--
(1) Section 307 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1927) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(B), by striking ``not be--
'' in the matter preceding clause (i) and all that
follows through the period at the end of clause (ii)
and inserting ``be equal to the interest rate for
direct farm ownership loans under this subtitle, not to
exceed 5 percent per year.''; and
(B) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by
striking ``he'' and inserting ``the Secretary''.
(2) Section 310D(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1934(a)) is amended, in the first
sentence--
(A) by striking ``, or paragraphs (1) through (5)
of section 304(a),'' and inserting ``or section
304(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``paragraphs (2) through (4) of
section 302'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) through
(D) of the second sentence of section 302(a)(1)''.
(3) Section 310E(d)(4)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1935(d)(4)(C)) is amended by
striking ``and; and'' and inserting ``and''.
(4) Section 312 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1942) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (d); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(d).
(5) Section 319 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1949) is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``or
guarantees''; and
(B) by striking ``or with respect to whom there is
an outstanding guarantee under this subtitle''.
(6) Section 331(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``his powers and duties''
and inserting ``the powers and duties of the
Secretary'';
(ii) by striking ``he determines'' each
place it appears and inserting ``the Secretary
determines''; and
(iii) by striking ``, and until January''
and everything that follows through ``see
fit)'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the Secretary'';
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking ``subsection. After
consultation with a local or area county
committee, the Secretary'' and inserting the
following: ``subsection; and
``(C) the Secretary'';
(ii) by striking ``paragraph. The
Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``paragraph;
``(B) the Secretary'';
(iii) by striking ``1949. In'' and
inserting ``1949 (42 U.S.C. 1441 et seq.),
subject to the conditions that--
``(A) in'';
(iv) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A) (as so designated)--
(I) by striking ``Consolidated'';
and
(II) by striking ``the Rural
Development Administration'' and
inserting ``Rural Development''; and
(v) in subparagraph (C) (as so designated),
by striking ``1949,'' and inserting ``1949 (42
U.S.C. 1441 et seq.),'';
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by striking ``1949,'' and inserting
``1949 (42 U.S.C. 1441 et seq.),'';
(ii) by striking ``administered by the
Farmers Home Administration,'' and inserting
``administered under this title,''; and
(iii) by striking ``by the Farmers Home
Administration and, if in his judgment'' and
inserting ``under this title, and, if the
Secretary determines'';
(E) in paragraph (7), by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration'' and all that follows through
``thereof'' and inserting ``Farm Service Agency and
Rural Development''; and
(F) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by striking ``Rural Development
Administration or by the Farmers Home
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service
Agency or Rural Development''; and
(ii) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
Secretary''.
(7) Section 331A(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981a(a)) is amended, in the first
sentence, by striking ``Farmers Home Administration or by the
Rural Development Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service
Agency or Rural Development''.
(8) Section 333(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
applicant''; and
(B) by striking ``his actual needs'' and inserting
``the actual needs of the applicant''.
(9) Section 333A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983a) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(2)(B)--
(i) in clause (iii), by striking ``district
office of the Farmers Home Administration'' and
inserting ``District Director of the Farm
Service Agency'';
(ii) in clause (iv), by striking ``district
office of the Farmers Home Administration'' and
inserting ``District Director of the Farm
Service Agency'';
(iii) in clause (v), by striking ``district
office'' and inserting ``District Director'';
and
(iv) in clause (vi)--
(I) by striking ``district office''
and inserting ``District Director'';
(II) by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm
Service Agency''; and
(III) by striking ``by the county
committee'' and inserting ``of the
application''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``Farmers
Home Administration'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Farm Service Agency''.
(10) Section 333D(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983d(a)) is amended by striking
``that are consistent with subtitle A through this subtitle''.
(11) Section 335 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1985) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration or the Rural Development
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service Agency or
Rural Development'';
(B) in subsection (c)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``15''
and inserting ``60'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(I) by striking ``135'' and
inserting ``180''; and
(II) by inserting ``suitable for
farming or ranching, as determined by
the Secretary,'' after ``acquiring real
property''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``not later than 135 days'' and all that
follows through ``135-day period, sell'' and
inserting ``, or if the property is not
suitable for farming or ranching, as determined
by the Secretary, not later than 60 days after
the 180-day period described in subparagraph
(B)(i), the Secretary shall sell'';
(C) in subsection (d), in the second sentence, by
striking ``Farmers Home Administration'' and inserting
``Farm Service Agency''; and
(D) in subsection (f)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``Agricultural
Stabilization and Conservation
Service'' and inserting ``Farm Service
Agency farm program'';
(II) by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration liens'' and inserting
``liens for a farmer program loan'';
and
(III) by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration farmer'' and inserting
``Farm Service Agency farmer'';
(ii) by striking paragraphs (3) through
(5);
(iii) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and
(7) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively;
and
(iv) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated),
by striking ``that--'' in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A) and all that follows through
the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and
inserting ``that ensure the release of funds to
each borrower, consistent with this section.''.
(12) Section 336 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1986) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by striking ``of the Secretary'' and
inserting ``of the Department of Agriculture'';
and
(ii) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
officer, attorney, or employee'';
(B) in subsection (b), by striking the second
sentence;
(C) by striking subsection (c); and
(D) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection
(c).
(13) Section 338(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1988(a)) is amended by striking
``Farmers Home Administration or the Rural Development
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service Agency or Rural
Development''.
(14) Section 339 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1989) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the Secretary'';
(B) in subsection (c)(4)(A), by striking ``county
committee certification that the borrower of the loan
meets the eligibility requirements and'' and inserting
``the borrower meeting''; and
(C) in subsection (d)(4)(A), by striking ``county
committee certification that the borrower meets the
eligibility requirements or'' and inserting ``the
borrower meeting''.
(15) Section 340 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1990) is amended by striking ``in his
discretion'' and inserting ``the President determines to be
appropriate''.
(16) Section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ``Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands'' and inserting ``Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, and the Republic of Palau''; and
(B) in paragraph (10)--
(i) by striking ``section 304,'' and
inserting ``section 304 prior to June 18, 2008,
conservation loan (CL) under section 304 on or
after June 18, 2008,'';
(ii) by striking ``section 1254 of the Food
Security Act of 1985'' and inserting ``section
608 of the Agricultural Programs Adjustment Act
of 1984 (7 U.S.C. 1981 note; Public Law 98-
258)''; and
(iii) by striking ``of 1949'' and inserting
``of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472)''.
(17) Section 347 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1995) is amended, in the first
sentence, by striking ``Farmers Home Administration'' and
inserting ``Farm Service Agency or Rural Development''.
(18) Section 349(e)(1)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1997(e)(1)(B)) is amended by
striking ``Farmers Home Administration'' and inserting ``Farm
Service Agency''.
(19) Section 352(c)(3) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2000(c)(3)) is amended, in the second
sentence, by striking ``section 333B'' and inserting ``subtitle
H of title II of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6991 et seq.)''.
(20) Section 353 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2001) is amended--
(A) in subsection (h), by striking ``under section
333B'';
(B) in subsection (i)(1), by striking ``registered
or certified mail'' and inserting ``any method that
provides documentation of delivery'';
(C) in subsection (j)--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking
``filed with the appeals division under section
333B'' and inserting ``to the National Appeals
Division''; and
(ii) in the second sentence--
(I) by striking ``appeals
division'' and inserting ``Secretary'';
and
(II) by striking ``county
supervisor'' and inserting
``Secretary''; and
(D) in subsection (o), by striking ``$300,000'' and
inserting ``$600,000''.
(21) Section 356 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2004) is amended, in the first
sentence--
(A) by striking ``The Farmers Home Administration''
and inserting ``The Farm Service Agency and Rural
Development''; and
(B) by striking ``the inventory of the Farmers Home
Administration'' and inserting ``inventory''.
(22) Section 359(c)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2006a(c)(1)) is amended by striking
``(as determined by the appropriate county committee during the
determination of eligibility for the loan)''.
(23) Section 360(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2006b(d)(1)) is amended by striking
``annual review of direct loans, and periodic review (as
determined necessary by the Secretary) of guaranteed loans,''
and inserting ``periodic review (as determined necessary by the
Secretary) of direct loans and guaranteed loans''.
(24) Section 361 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2006c) is amended, in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service Agency''.
SEC. 5502. QUALIFYING AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Qualifying States and Tribes.--Section 501 of the Agricultural
Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and tribes''
after ``states'';
(2) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or Tribe'' after
``State'' each place it appears;
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Determination by Secretary.--Not later than 30 days after the
Secretary receives from the Governor, or comparable executive official
or officials, of a State or Tribe a description of the mediation
program of the State or Tribe and a statement certifying that the State
or Tribe has met all the requirements of subsection (c), the Secretary
shall determine whether the State or Tribe is a qualifying State or
Tribe.'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``State'' and inserting ``Qualifying'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``or Tribe'' after
``State'' each place it appears; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(x), by inserting
``or comparable agency'' after ``agriculture'';
(C) in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), by inserting ``or
Tribal'' after ``State''; and
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``or Tribe'' after ``State''
each place it appears; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) is authorized or administered by--
``(i) an agency of the State or Tribal
government; or
``(ii) the Governor, or comparable
executive official or officials, of the State
or Tribe;''; and
(5) in subsection (d)(3), by inserting ``or Tribal'' after
``State''.
(b) Matching Grants.--Section 502 of the Agricultural Credit Act of
1987 (7 U.S.C. 5102) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and tribes''
after ``states'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$500,000'' and
inserting ``$700,000''; and
(3) by inserting ``or Tribe'' after ``State'' each place it
appears.
(c) Duties of the Secretary.--Section 503(a)(1)(A) of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5103(a)(1)(A)) is amended by
inserting ``or Tribal'' after ``State''.
(d) Regulations.--Section 504 of the Agricultural Credit Act of
1987 (7 U.S.C. 5104) is amended, in the second sentence--
(1) by inserting ``or Tribes'' after ``States''; and
(2) by inserting ``or Tribe'' after ``State''.
(e) Definitions.--Subtitle A of title V of the Agricultural Credit
Act of 1987 (7 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 506 as section 507; and
(2) by inserting after section 505 the following:
``SEC. 506. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) Insular area.--The term `insular area' means--
``(A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
``(B) Guam;
``(C) America Samoa;
``(D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;
``(E) the Federated States of Micronesia;
``(F) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
``(G) the Republic of Palau; and
``(H) the Virgin Islands of the United States.
``(2) State.--The term `State' means--
``(A) a State;
``(B) the District of Columbia; and
``(C) any insular area.
``(3) Tribe.--The term `Tribe' has the meaning given the
term `Indian Tribe' in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 507 of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (as redesignated by subsection (e)(1))
is amended by inserting ``and $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029'' after ``2023''.
(g) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 (7
U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended--
(A) in the title heading, by striking ``STATE'' and
inserting ``QUALIFYING''; and
(B) in subtitle A, in the subtitle heading, by
striking ``State'' and inserting ``Qualifying''.
(2) Section 4.14E of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C.
2202E) is amended by inserting ``or Indian Tribe (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304))'' before the period at the
end.
(3) Section 358 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2006) is amended by inserting ``or
Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304))''
before the period at the end.
SEC. 5503. FINANCING FOR ESSENTIAL RURAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
Title IV of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2153 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART H--SUPPORT FOR RURAL AND TRIBAL ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES
PROJECTS
``SEC. 4.40. ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Essential community facility.--
``(A) In general.--The term `essential community
facility' means a public improvement that--
``(i) is owned by 1 or more--
``(I) Indian Tribes or Tribal
organizations;
``(II) towns, cities, counties, or
other political subdivisions of States,
Indian Tribes, or Tribal organizations;
or
``(III) nonprofit organizations,
including Native Hawaiian Organizations
(as defined in section 6207 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)); and
``(ii) is needed for the orderly
development of a rural community.
``(B) Inclusions.--
``(i) In general.--The term `essential
community facility' includes a community
center, a library, a firehouse, a healthcare
facility, a senior living facility, a childcare
facility, an education facility, and a
transportation facility.
``(ii) Proportionate use.--The term
`essential community facility' may include, at
the determination of the Farm Credit
Administration, a multi-use facility that
provides services, including healthcare
services, senior living services, childcare
services, education services, or transportation
services, in the proportion that--
``(I) the use of the applicable
facility to provide such services;
bears to
``(II) all other uses of the
facility.
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(3) Rural community.--The term `rural community' means
any area other than an area described in clause (i) or (ii) of
section 343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)).
``(4) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(b) Financing and Technical Assistance.--In order to make
available private capital to develop, build, maintain, improve, or
provide related equipment or other support for essential community
facilities in rural communities, Farm Credit System institutions
chartered and operating under title I, II, or III may provide financing
and technical assistance for essential community facilities.
``(c) Limitations.--
``(1) Amount of financing.--A Farm Credit System
institution shall not provide financing under this section in
an aggregate amount that exceeds 15 percent of the total of all
outstanding loans of the Farm Credit System institution.
``(2) Offer requirement.--
``(A) In general.--A Farm Credit System institution
shall not provide financing under this section unless
the Farm Credit System institution has--
``(i) offered, under reasonable terms and
conditions acceptable to the owner of the
essential community facility involved, an
interest in the financing to at least 1
nongovernmental lending institution that is not
chartered and operating under this Act; and
``(ii) reported that offer, including the
terms and conditions of the offer, to the Farm
Credit Administration.
``(B) Rural community bank parity.--In offering an
interest in the applicable financing to a
nongovernmental lending institution under subparagraph
(A)(i), the Farm Credit System institution shall give
priority to community banks located in the service area
of the essential community facility being financed.
``(d) Report to Congress.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Farm
Credit Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the
activities undertaken pursuant to this section by Farm Credit
System institutions during the period covered by the report,
including activities undertaken through partnerships between
Farm Credit System institutions and other nongovernmental
lending institutions.
``(2) Publication.--The Farm Credit Administration shall
publish on the website of the Administration a copy of each
report submitted to Congress under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 5504. QUALIFIED LOAN DEFINITION.
Section 8.0(7) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2279aa(7))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``pursuant to the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.)''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``for an electric or telephone
facility by a cooperative lender to a borrower that has
received, or is eligible to receive, a loan under'' and
inserting ``made or guaranteed for a purpose provided
in''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``or title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8101 et seq.); or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) that is a loan, or an interest in a loan, to
a borrower residing in the United States for
aggregating, processing, manufacturing, storing,
transporting, wholesaling, or distributing an
agricultural commodity or product within the United
States.''.
SEC. 5505. ELIGIBILITY FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FACILITY
LOANS.
Section 3.7(f) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2128(f))
is amended, in the undesignated matter following paragraph (2), by
inserting ``or, in the case of such loans, commitments, and assistance
that are guaranteed, means an area described in section 343(a)(13)(A)
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)(A))'' before the period at the end.
TITLE VI--RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Subtitle A--Rural Healthcare and Childcare
SEC. 6101. IMPROVING RURAL HEALTHCARE.
Section 6101 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law
115-334; 132 Stat. 4725) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``combating
substance use disorder in rural america'' and inserting
``improving the rural care economy''; and
(2) in subsection (a), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and all that follows through period at
the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(a) Improving Rural Healthcare.--
``(1) Improving rural healthcare access.--
``(A) Prioritizations.--The Secretary shall make
the following prioritizations for fiscal years 2025
through 2031:
``(i) Distance learning and telemedicine.--
In addition to the priorities under section
2333(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-2(d)),
in selecting recipients of financial assistance
under chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XXIII of
that Act (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.), the
Secretary shall give priority to telemedicine
projects that--
``(I) provide substance use
disorder prevention services, treatment
services, recovery services, or any
combination of those services; or
``(II) provide mental or behavioral
health services.
``(ii) Community facilities direct loans
and grants.--
``(I) In general.--In selecting
recipients of direct loans or grants
for the development of essential
community facilities under section
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)), the Secretary shall give
priority to entities eligible for those
direct loans or grants to develop--
``(aa) healthcare
facilities; or
``(bb) mental or behavioral
health facilities, including
certified community behavioral
health clinics described in
section 223 of the Protecting
Access to Medicare Act of 2014
(42 U.S.C. 1396a note; Public
Law 113-93).
``(II) Use of funds.--In addition
to the eligible uses of direct loans or
grants for the development of essential
community facilities under section
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)), an entity described in
subclause (I) that receives a direct
loan or grant for a purpose described
in that subclause may use the direct
loan or grant funds for--
``(aa) providing medical
supplies to increase medical
surge capacity;
``(bb) increasing
telehealth capabilities,
including underlying healthcare
information systems;
``(cc) supporting staffing
needs of the facility described
in that subclause, subject to
the condition that the eligible
entity shall not use more than
25 percent of the direct loan
or grant funds for the purpose
described in this item; and
``(dd) engaging in any
other efforts to support rural
development determined to be
critical to address the
healthcare or mental or
behavioral health needs of
rural areas, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(B) Limitation on other reprioritizations.--For
fiscal years 2025 through 2031, the Secretary shall not
make any national reprioritizations within the
Community Facilities direct loan and grant programs or
the Distance Learning and Telemedicine programs under
section 608 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7
U.S.C. 2204b-2).''.
SEC. 6102. IMPROVING RURAL CHILDCARE.
(a) In General.--Section 6101(a) of the Agriculture Improvement Act
of 2018 (Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4725) (as amended by section
6101(2)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Improving childcare in rural America.--
``(A) Definition of childcare program.--
``(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the
term `childcare program' means a program that--
``(I) provides quality care and
early education for children who--
``(aa) are in elementary
school or secondary school (as
those terms are defined in
section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); or
``(bb) have not yet entered
elementary school (as so
defined); and
``(II) is operated by--
``(aa) an eligible
childcare provider described in
section 658P(6)(A) of the Child
Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
9858n(6)(A)); or
``(bb) a childcare provider
that, on the date of enactment
of this Act--
``(AA) is licensed,
regulated, or
registered in the
State, territory, or
Indian Tribe in which
the provider is
located; and
``(BB) meets
applicable State,
Tribal, territorial,
and local health and
safety requirements.
``(ii) Inclusions.--In this paragraph, the
term `childcare program' includes--
``(I) a school-based program
described in clause (i);
``(II) a program described in
clause (i) that accommodates
nontraditional working hours;
``(III) a program described in
clause (i) that is an Early Head Start
or Head Start program, including a
migrant and seasonal Head Start
program, carried out under the Head
Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
``(IV) a facility used for a
program described in clause (i); and
``(V) a service provided under a
program described in clause (i).
``(B) Prioritizations.--The Secretary shall make
the following prioritizations for fiscal years 2025
through 2031:
``(i) Community facilities direct loans and
grants.--
``(I) In general.--In addition to
the priorities described in paragraph
(1)(A)(ii), in selecting recipients of
direct loans or grants for the
development of essential community
facilities under section 306(a) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)), the Secretary
shall give priority to entities
eligible for those direct loans or
grants to develop facilities used for a
childcare program, subject to the
condition that the childcare program
that uses those facilities shall employ
staff that have appropriate expertise
and training in childcare.
``(II) Use of funds.--In addition
to the eligible uses of direct loans or
grants for the development of essential
community facilities under section
306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)), an entity described in
subclause (I) that receives a direct
loan or grant for the purpose described
in that subclause may use the direct
loan or grant funds to support the
staffing needs of the facility
described in that subclause, subject to
the condition that the eligible entity
shall not use more than 25 percent of
the direct loan or grant funds for
staffing purposes.
``(ii) Rural business programs.--In
selecting recipients of financial assistance
under the rural business development grant
program under section 310B(c) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1932(c)), the rural cooperative
development grant program under section 310B(e)
of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)), the rural
microentrepreneur assistance program under
section 379E of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s), and
the rural innovation stronger economy (RISE)
grant program under section 379I of that Act (7
U.S.C. 2008w), the Secretary may give priority
to entities eligible for financial assistance
under those sections--
``(I) to provide technical or
financial assistance for the
acquisition, construction, renovation,
or improvement of facilities used for a
childcare program;
``(II) to provide technical,
financial, or managerial assistance to
childcare programs;
``(III) to assist in securing
private sources of capital financing
for childcare programs or other low-
income community development; or
``(IV) to address the needs of
licensed childcare programs located in
the home of the childcare program
provider.
``(C) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Secretary shall conduct a
comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evaluation
of the projects carried out under this paragraph to
improve access to childcare programs in rural areas,
including a description of--
``(i) the types of projects carried out
under this paragraph;
``(ii) the communities in which those
projects are carried out;
``(iii) the organizations and entities
participating in those projects;
``(iv) the types of partnerships developed
to carry out those projects; and
``(v) the economic and social impacts of
investments in rural childcare programs.''.
(b) Interagency Coordination on Rural Childcare.--Beginning not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall--
(1) regularly coordinate to provide user-friendly resources
to stakeholders in rural communities with information to
improve access to childcare facilities in those communities,
including information relating to--
(A) programs and funding opportunities at the
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health
and Human Services that can be used to improve
childcare access in rural communities;
(B) eligibility requirements for the programs
described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) considerations in leveraging Federal resources;
and
(2) not less frequently than once every 2 years, publish or
update a joint resource guide that contains the information
described in paragraph (1).
SEC. 6103. ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR RURAL HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE.
Section 6101 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law
115-334; 132 Stat. 4725) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Access to Credit for Care Industries.--Of the amount made
available for business and industry guaranteed loans under section
310B(g) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(g)) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2031, the Secretary
shall make available not less than 10 percent for supporting childcare
programs (as defined in subsection (a)(2)(A)) and healthcare.''.
Subtitle B--Rural Partnerships and Prosperity
SEC. 6201. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means an
Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as those terms are defined
in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), including a wholly or
majority owned Tribal entity or corporation that provides
services or programs consistent with the purposes of the
applicable program under this subtitle.
(2) Rural; rural area.--The terms ``rural'' and ``rural
area'' have the meaning given those terms in section
343(a)(13)(A) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)).
SEC. 6202. RURAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to make
multiyear grant awards to coordinate Federal, nonprofit, and for-profit
investment in rural areas.
(b) Grant Requirements.--
(1) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under subsection (a)
shall be not less than 2 years and not more than 5 years.
(2) Awards.--Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4),
the State offices of the rural development mission area shall
be responsible for reviewing applications for grant awards
under subsection (a) and selecting eligible applicants
described in subsection (d) for those grant awards.
(3) Tribal awards.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), in
the case of grants under subsection (a) allocated to Indian
Tribes under subsection (c)(1)(B), the national office of the
rural development mission area shall be responsible for
reviewing applications for grant awards under subsection (a)
and selecting eligible applicants described in subsection (d)
for those grant awards.
(4) Competitive process.--If the amount made available to
carry out this section for a fiscal year under section 6205 is
less than $50,000,000, the national office of the rural
development mission area shall be responsible for reviewing
applications for grant awards under subsection (a) and
selecting eligible applicants described in subsection (d) for
those grant awards--
(A) on a competitive basis; and
(B) by giving priority to areas that have higher
nonmetropolitan poverty levels and lower population
levels, while ensuring that grants under this section
are awarded in diverse geographic regions of the United
States.
(c) Grant Allocation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (b)(4),
the Secretary shall allocate funding for grants under
subsection (a)--
(A) for each State based on a formula determined by
the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (2); and
(B) for Indian Tribes in such amounts as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate, subject to the
condition that the total amount allocated to Indian
Tribes under this subparagraph shall not be less than 5
percent of the amount made available to carry out this
section for a fiscal year under section 6205, with
Indian Tribes located in areas that have higher poverty
levels and lower populations receiving higher levels of
funding.
(2) Allocation requirements.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a
graduated scale to allocate funding for States under
paragraph (1)(A) based on the nonmetropolitan poverty
and population levels in each State.
(B) Limitation.--The amount allocated to any State
under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 5 percent of
the amount made available to carry out this section for
a fiscal year under section 6205.
(3) Small state exception to formula.--Notwithstanding
paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A), the Secretary shall ensure that
each State is allocated an amount for grants under this
subsection that is sufficient to fulfill the purposes of the
program established under this section, as determined by the
Secretary.
(4) Reallocation.--If a State or Indian Tribe does not use
funds allocated to the State or Indian Tribe under this
subsection, the Secretary may reallocate the unused funds to 1
or more other States or Indian Tribes, each of which has used
all of the funding allocated to the State or Indian Tribe under
this subsection.
(d) Eligible Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an applicant shall--
(1) propose to serve a rural area;
(2) be composed of a partnership of 2 or more of--
(A) an instrumentality or political subdivision of
a State, such as a municipality, county, district, or
authority;
(B) a nonprofit corporation or association with
significant ties to the rural area described in
paragraph (1), including through--
(i) association with, or control by, 1 or
more public bodies in the rural area;
(ii) broadly based ownership and control by
members of the rural area; or
(iii) a substantial public funding
contribution to the rural area through taxes,
revenue bonds, other local government sources,
or substantial voluntary community funding;
(C) a cooperative with significant ties to the
rural area described in paragraph (1);
(D) a for-profit entity with a significant presence
in the rural area described in paragraph (1);
(E) an institution of higher education--
(i) with a significant contribution to or
presence in the rural area described in
paragraph (1); and
(ii) that includes representatives who are
members of the rural area; and
(F) an Indian Tribe--
(i) in a rural area described in paragraph
(1); and
(ii) with demonstrated support from the
Tribal council or duly elected Tribal executive
of the appropriate Tribal government; and
(3) demonstrate cooperation among the members of the
partnership described in paragraph (2) necessary to complete
comprehensive, asset-based rural development through eligible
activities described in subsection (e).
(e) Eligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in
subsection (d) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use the
grant funds in rural areas--
(1) to coordinate Federal, State, regional, or Tribal
initiatives to reduce duplicative efforts with respect to
Federal investments;
(2) to leverage non-Federal financial and technical
resources;
(3) to complete comprehensive predevelopment activities and
planning;
(4) to create public-private partnerships and attract
private investment;
(5) to support eligible operational activities, including
staffing, of the eligible applicants, except that a for-profit
entity may not use the grant funds for the purpose described in
this paragraph;
(6) to provide capital to existing or new projects, subject
to the condition that not more than 50 percent of the grant
funds may be used for that purpose;
(7) to support regional projects and initiatives;
(8) to address economic recovery from emergencies and
natural or man-made disasters; and
(9) to develop strategic community investment plans
described in section 379H(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)).
(f) Ineligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in
subsection (d) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may not use
the grant funds--
(1) to fund operational activities, including staffing, at
a for-profit institution;
(2) to purchase or lease real property; or
(3) to support a non-rural area.
(g) Selection Criteria.--In awarding grants under subsection (b),
the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible applicant described in
subsection (d) that proposes to serve--
(1) a rural area with a significant change in population,
as determined by the Secretary;
(2) a rural area with significant workforce changes or
changes in major employers, as determined by the Secretary;
(3) an economically distressed rural area, as determined by
the Secretary;
(4) a rural area that has historically received minimal
Federal funding, as determined by the Secretary; or
(5) a rural area for the purpose of job retention and
economic stabilization, as determined by the Secretary.
(h) Matching Funds.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
applicant described in subsection (d) that receives a grant
under subsection (a) shall provide non-Federal matching funds
in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution in an amount
that is not less than 25 percent of the amount of the grant.
(2) Waiver.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the
requirement under paragraph (1) based on the
demonstrated need of the eligible applicant or the
population served by the eligible applicant, as
determined by the Secretary, including--
(i) an eligible applicant serving an area
with a higher nonmetropolitan poverty level;
(ii) an eligible applicant serving a Tribal
population; and
(iii) an eligible applicant composed of a
partnership that includes an entity described
in subsection (d)(2)(A).
(B) Justification.--The Secretary shall provide to
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a justification
for each waiver provided under subparagraph (A).
(3) Providers.--Non-Federal matching funds under paragraph
(1) may be provided by any member of the applicable partnership
described in subsection (d)(2).
(i) Coordination.--The Secretary shall carry out this section in
coordination with the Rural Partners Network established by section
6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2204b-3).
(j) Administration.--The Secretary may retain not more than 2
percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for
administration of the program established under this section.
SEC. 6203. RURAL PARTNERSHIP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to award
grants, on a competitive basis, for up to a 5-year period, to be
administered at the national level through the Under Secretary for
Rural Development, for the purpose of advising on and assisting rural
community organizations with--
(1) Federal grant management and the development of
financial management systems;
(2) housing or community economic development projects; and
(3) the development of placemaking plans and applications
for Federal grants.
(b) Eligible Applicants.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an applicant shall be a qualified private or nonprofit
intermediary organization, including an institution of higher education
with an existing community development and planning program, including
an extension program, that has demonstrated experience and capacity to
provide technical assistance on community development and planning in
rural areas.
(c) Eligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may use the
grant funds to support the capacity building and economic development
of identified rural areas and local partners in those rural areas
through one or more of the following activities:
(1) Training and supporting local staff, including relating
to systems development and support.
(2) Identifying vetted technical consultants for planning
and designing physical infrastructure.
(3) Facilitating coordination between Federal agencies and
local partners.
(4) Providing expertise on developing public-private
partnerships.
(5) Development and project predevelopment activities.
(6) Grant writing and grant management activities.
(d) Ineligible Activities.--An eligible applicant described in
subsection (b) that receives a grant under subsection (a) may not use
the grant funds--
(1) to fund staffing at a for-profit entity;
(2) to purchase or lease real property, buildings, or
equipment;
(3) to support a non-rural area; or
(4) for research and development.
(e) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (a), the
Secretary may give priority to an eligible applicant described in
subsection (b) that serves--
(1) a nonmetropolitan area with a high poverty level, as
determined by the Secretary; or
(2) an Indian Tribe with demonstrated support from the
Tribal council or duly elected Tribal executive of the
appropriate Tribal government.
(f) Matching Funds.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
applicant described in subsection (b) that receives a grant
under subsection (a) shall provide non-Federal matching funds
in an amount that is not less than 30 percent of the amount of
the grant.
(2) Waiver.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may waive the
requirement under paragraph (1) based on the
demonstrated need of the area in which activities using
the grant are to be carried out, as determined by the
Secretary.
(B) Justification.--The Secretary shall provide to
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a justification
for each waiver provided under subparagraph (A).
(g) Administration.--The Secretary may retain not more than 2
percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for
administration of the program established under this section.
SEC. 6204. RURAL PARTNERS NETWORK.
Section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
2204b-3) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``council on rural
community innovation and economic development'' and inserting
``rural partners network'';
(2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``council'' and
inserting ``network'';
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--There is established a Rural Partners
Network (referred to in this section as the `Network').
``(2) Successor.--The Network shall be the successor to the
Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development
established by this section (as in effect on the day before the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act
of 2024).'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking subparagraphs (C), (D),
(N), (Q), (R), (S), (T), (V), (X), (Y), and
(Z);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (E)
through (M), (O), (P), (U), (W), and (AA) as
subparagraphs (C) through (K), (L), (M), (N),
(O), and (X), respectively; and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (O)
(as so redesignated) the following:
``(P) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
``(Q) The Appalachian Regional Commission.
``(R) The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
``(S) The Social Security Administration.
``(T) The Delta Regional Authority.
``(U) The Denali Commission.
``(V) The Northern Border Regional Commission.
``(W) The Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission.''; and
(B) in paragraphs (2) through (4), by striking
``Council'' each place it appears and inserting
``Network'';
(5) by striking subsection (d);
(6) by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as
subsections (d) through (g), respectively;
(7) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Council'' and inserting ``Network'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``Council'' and inserting ``Network'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(D) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) to improve the efficiency of Federal assistance to
rural communities by--
``(A) reducing administrative burdens on rural
communities to pursue Federal funding;
``(B) improving the administrative efficiency of
Federal economic development programs serving rural
communities; and
``(C) streamlining and simplifying the application
process for Federal funding opportunities for rural
communities.'';
(8) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``Council'' and inserting
``Network'';
(9) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by striking
``Council'' each place it appears and inserting ``Network'';
and
(10) by striking subsection (g) (as so redesignated) and
inserting the following:
``(g) Innovative Cross-Agency Coordination.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting as Chair of the
Network, may carry out innovative strategies for coordinating
with other Federal departments and agencies with respect to
programs that serve rural areas.
``(2) Priorities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall prioritize--
``(A) improving ease of access to Federal programs
for resource-constrained rural communities;
``(B) utilizing early technical assistance to
reduce duplicative applications and administrative
costs at the Federal level;
``(C) leveraging partnerships with local, State,
philanthropic, and private entities to maximize returns
on Federal investments;
``(D) integrating stakeholder and program user
experience into program design; and
``(E) targeting areas experiencing economic
distress, as determined by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 6205. FUNDING.
(a) Mandatory Funding.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $100,000,000 for fiscal year
2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out--
(1) sections 6201 through 6203; and
(2) section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(7 U.S.C. 2204b-3).
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to the funds made
available under subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as necessary for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to
carry out--
(1) sections 6201 through 6203; and
(2) section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(7 U.S.C. 2204b-3).
(c) Limitation.--Of the funds made available by and pursuant to
subsections (a) and (b), respectively, for a fiscal year--
(1) not more than 25 percent may be used to carry out
section 6203; and
(2) not more than 5 percent may be used to carry out
section 6306 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 2204b-3).
Subtitle C--Rural Electrification Act of 1936
PART I--RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS
SEC. 6301. RECONNECT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through the period at the end of subsection (f)
and inserting the following:
``SEC. 601. RECONNECT PROGRAM.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
assistance in the form of grants, loans, and combinations of grants and
loans for the costs of the construction, improvement, and acquisition
of facilities and equipment for broadband service in rural areas.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Broadband service.--The term `broadband service'
means any technology identified by the Secretary as having the
capacity to transmit data to enable a subscriber to the service
to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics,
and video.
``(2) Rural area.--
``(A) In general.--The term `rural area' means any
area other than--
``(i) an area described in clause (i) or
(ii) of section 343(a)(13)(A) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)); and
``(ii) a city, town, or incorporated area
that has a population of greater than 20,000
inhabitants.
``(B) Urban area growth.--The Secretary may, by
regulation only, consider an area described in section
343(a)(13)(F)(i)(I) of that Act to not be a rural area
for purposes of this section.
``(C) Exclusion of certain populations.--The term
`rural area' does not include any population described
in subparagraph (H) or (I) of section 343(a)(13) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)).
``(c) Grants, Loans, and Combinations.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants, loans,
and combinations of grants and loans to eligible entities
described in subsection (d) to provide funds for the
construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and
equipment for the provision of broadband service in rural
areas.
``(2) Project eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant,
loan, or grant and loan combination under paragraph (1), in
addition to the requirements of subsection (d), the project
that is the subject of the grant, loan, or grant and loan
combination shall--
``(A) provide broadband service of at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 100-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity; and
``(B) subject to paragraph (4), be carried out in a
proposed service territory in which at least 75 percent
of the households lack access to broadband service of
at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity.
``(3) Priority.--In making grants, loans, and grant and
loan combinations under paragraph (1), the Secretary--
``(A) shall give priority to applications for
projects to provide broadband service in a proposed
service territory in which at least 90 percent of
households lack access to broadband service of at
least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity; and
``(B) may give priority to applications for
projects to provide broadband service--
``(i) in proposed service territories--
``(I) with a population of less
than 10,000 permanent residents;
``(II) that are experiencing
outmigration and have adopted a
strategic community investment plan
under section 379H(d) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)) that includes
considerations for improving and
expanding broadband service;
``(III) with a high percentage of
low income families or persons (as
defined in section 501(b) of the
Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1471(b));
``(IV) that are isolated from other
significant population centers; or
``(V) that have systems vulnerable
to cybersecurity attacks;
``(ii) that would ensure that all laborers
and mechanics employed by contractors or
subcontractors on the construction work
performed on projects financed, in whole or in
part, with the grant, loan, or grant and loan
combination shall be paid wages at rates not
less than those prevailing on similar
construction in the immediate locality as
determined by the Secretary of Labor in
accordance with sections 3141 through 3144,
3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code;
``(iii) that would provide rapid and
expanded deployment of fixed and mobile
broadband service on cropland and ranchland
within the service territory for use in various
applications of precision agriculture; or
``(iv) submitted by an eligible entity that
has provided broadband service or other utility
service for not less than 5 years in rural
areas in the State in which the project would
be carried out.
``(4) Additional requirements for grant-only awards.--To be
eligible for assistance under paragraph (1) in the form of a
grant only, in addition to the requirements of subsection (d)--
``(A) an entity shall be--
``(i) a federally recognized Indian Tribe
or Tribal organization, including any wholly or
majority owned Tribal entity or corporation
that provides services or programs consistent
with the purposes of the program under this
section; or
``(ii) an entity serving--
``(I) a colonia;
``(II) a persistent poverty county,
as determined by the Secretary; or
``(III) a socially vulnerable
community, as determined by the
Secretary; or
``(B) the project that is the subject of the grant
shall be carried out in a proposed service territory in
which at least 90 percent of households lack access to
broadband service of at least--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity.
``(5) Application costs.--An entity to which a grant or
grant and loan combination is made under this subsection may
use such funding to pay for up to 5 percent of the costs
associated with applying for the program under this section.
``(d) Eligibility.--
``(1) Eligibility for assistance.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to obtain a
grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under
subsection (c), an entity shall--
``(i) submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary
may require;
``(ii) agree to complete buildout of the
broadband infrastructure described in the
application by not later than 5 years after the
initial date on which assistance under
subsection (c) is made available; and
``(iii) participate or agree to participate
in--
``(I) the Affordable Connectivity
Program established under section
904(b) of division N of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
(47 U.S.C. 1752(b));
``(II) the Lifeline program under
subpart E of part 54 of title 47, Code
of Federal Regulations (or any
successor regulation); or
``(III) any successor Federal
internet affordability assistance
program.
``(B) Inclusions.--An entity eligible to obtain a
grant, loan, or grant and loan combination under
subsection (c) may include--
``(i) a State or local government,
including any agency, subdivision,
instrumentality, or political subdivision of a
State or local government;
``(ii) a territory or possession of the
United States;
``(iii) a federally recognized Indian Tribe
or Tribal organization, including any wholly or
majority owned Tribal entity or corporation
that provides services or programs consistent
with the purposes of the program under this
section;
``(iv) a cooperative or mutual
organization;
``(v) an organization of 2 or more
incorporated areas that have established an
intermunicipal legal agreement for the purpose
of delivering communication services to
residents;
``(vi) a corporation; and
``(vii) a limited liability company or
limited liability partnership.
``(C) Ineligible entities.--An individual or legal
general partnership that is formed with individuals
shall not be eligible to obtain a grant, loan, or grant
and loan combination under subsection (c).
``(D) Limitation.--
``(i) In general.--An eligible entity
described in this paragraph that provides
telecommunications or broadband service to at
least 20 percent of the households in the
United States may not receive an amount of
funds under this section for a fiscal year in
excess of 15 percent of the funds authorized
and appropriated under subsection (i) for the
fiscal year.
``(ii) States and state agencies and
instrumentalities.--A State or an agency or
instrumentality of a State may not, in total,
receive an amount of funds under this section
for a fiscal year in excess of 15 percent of
the funds authorized and appropriated under
subsection (i) for the fiscal year.
``(E) Previous awards.--
``(i) In general.--An entity to which a
grant or grant and loan combination is made
under subsection (c) shall not use the grant or
grant and loan combination to deploy broadband
service in a service area in which broadband
service is deployed by any other entity that
has received, prior to the date on which the
application window is opened by the Rural
Utilities Service with respect to that grant or
grant and loan combination, a broadband grant
or loan from the Rural Utilities Service, the
National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, the Department of the Treasury,
the Federal Communications Commission, or a
State broadband grant program, unless the
service provided by the other entity does not
provide to at least 75 percent of the
households in the service area access to
broadband service of at least--
``(I) a 100-Mbps downstream
transmission capacity; and
``(II) a 20-Mbps upstream
transmission capacity.
``(ii) Consideration.--In carrying out
clause (i), the Secretary shall, at a minimum,
consider the maps created by the Federal
Communications Commission pursuant to section
802(c)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47
U.S.C. 642(c)(1)).
``(2) Equity requirements.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may require an
entity to provide a cost share in an amount not to
exceed 25 percent of the amount of the grant (including
the grant in a grant and loan combination) under
subsection (c) requested in the application of the
entity.
``(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the cost
share requirement under subparagraph (A) for entities
or projects described in subsection (c)(4).
``(3) Technical assistance and training.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may provide to
eligible entities described in paragraph (1) that are
applying for assistance under this section for a
project described in subsection (c)(3)(A) technical
assistance and training--
``(i) to prepare reports and surveys
necessary to request grants, loans, and grant
and loan combinations under this section for
broadband deployment;
``(ii) to improve management, including
financial management, relating to the proposed
broadband deployment;
``(iii) to prepare applications for grants,
loans, and grant and loan combinations under
this section; or
``(iv) to assist with other areas of need
identified by the Secretary.
``(B) Funding.--Not less than 3 percent and not
more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated under
subsection (i) to carry out this section for a fiscal
year shall be used for technical assistance and
training under this paragraph.
``(e) Broadband Service.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), for purposes
of this section, the minimum acceptable level of broadband
service for a rural area shall be at least--
``(A) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity;
and
``(B) a 100-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
``(2) Adjustments.--At least once every 2 years, the
Secretary shall review, and may adjust through notice published
in the Federal Register, the minimum acceptable level of
broadband service established under paragraph (1) and broadband
buildout requirements under paragraph (3) to ensure that high
quality, cost-effective broadband service is provided to rural
areas over time.
``(3) Broadband buildout requirements.--
``(A) Definition of broadband buildout
requirement.--In this paragraph, the term `broadband
buildout requirement' means the level of internet
service an applicant receiving assistance under this
section must agree, at the time the application is
finalized, to provide for the duration of any project-
related agreement between the applicant and the
Department.
``(B) Establishment of broadband buildout
requirements.--The Secretary shall establish broadband
buildout requirements that--
``(i) utilize the same metrics used to
define the minimum acceptable level of
broadband service under paragraph (1); and
``(ii) reasonably ensure--
``(I) the repayment of all loans;
and
``(II) the financed network is
technically capable of providing
broadband service for the lifetime of
any project-related agreement.
``(C) Substitute service standards for unique
service territories.--
``(i) In general.--If an applicant shows
that it would be cost prohibitive to meet the
broadband buildout requirements established
under this paragraph for the entirety of a
proposed service territory due to the unique
characteristics of the proposed service
territory, the Secretary and the applicant may
agree to utilize substitute standards for any
unserved portion of the project.
``(ii) Requirement.--Any substitute service
standards described in clause (i) should
continue to consider the best technology
available to meet the needs of the residents in
the unserved area.'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), and (i) as
subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
(3) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Loans
and Loan Guarantees.--'' and inserting ``Loans.--'';
and
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``or loan guarantee''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking clause (ii);
(II) by striking ``Secretary--'' in
the matter preceding clause (i) and all
that follows through ``in the case'' in
the matter preceding subclause (I) of
clause (i) and inserting ``Secretary in
the case''; and
(III) by redesignating subclauses
(I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(4) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking
``or loan guarantee'' each place it appears;
(5) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(1), by striking ``1974)'' and inserting ``1974 (2 U.S.C.
661a))''; and
(6) by striking subsections (j) and (k) and inserting the
following:
``(i) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsections
(a) through (h) $650,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated to the
Secretary, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter to carry out subsections (a) through (h), to
remain available until expended.
``(3) Direct funding.--
``(A) Rescission.--There is rescinded the
unobligated balance of amounts made available to carry
out section 779 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141; 132 Stat.
399).
``(B) Direct funding.--On the day after the
execution of the rescission in subparagraph (A), there
is appropriated to the Secretary, out of amounts in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, an amount equal to
the amount rescinded in subparagraph (A), to carry out
subsections (a) through (h), to remain available until
expended.
``(4) Administration.--Not more than 5 percent of the
amounts made available under paragraphs (1) through (3) shall
be available to the Secretary for the administration of
subsections (a) through (h).
``(j) Additional Rural Broadband Program Loans.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide direct and
guaranteed loans in accordance with the requirements under this
section, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment
of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $350,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, to remain available until expended.''.
(b) Sunset.--Beginning on the date that is 120 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, section 779 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141; 132 Stat. 399), shall
have no force or effect.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 701(b)(2) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950cc(b)(2)) is amended, in the
matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``section
601(c)(2)(A)(i)'' and inserting ``section 601(c)(3)(A)''.
(d) Improving Federal Broadband Program Coordination.--Section 6212
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 950bb-6) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) as
subsections (b), (c), (e), and (a), respectively, and moving
the subsections so as to appear in alphabetical order;
(2) in subsection (a) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(3), by striking ``section 601(b)(3) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936'' and inserting ``section 601(b) of
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b))'';
(3) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(1)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Access to broadband telecommunications
services in rural areas.--On awarding a grant or loan
under section 601 of the Rural Electrification Act of
1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb), the Secretary shall notify the
Commission of that award.''; and
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(d) Memorandum of Understanding Relating to Outreach.--The
Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Assistant Secretary and the Commission to facilitate outreach to
residents and businesses in rural areas, including--
``(1) to evaluate the broadband service needs in rural
areas;
``(2) to inform residents and businesses in rural areas of
available Federal programs that promote broadband access,
broadband affordability, and broadband inclusion; and
``(3) for such additional goals as the Secretary, the
Assistant Secretary, and the Commission determine to be
appropriate.''.
SEC. 6302. EXPANSION OF MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE INTO RURAL AREAS.
Section 602(g) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
950bb-1(g)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6303. INNOVATIVE BROADBAND ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 603(e) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
950bb-2(e)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6304. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 604 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
950bb-3) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``less than the''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting the following: ``less than--
``(A) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity;
and
``(B) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``an area'' and inserting ``a
rural area'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``10-
Mbps'' and inserting ``25-Mbps''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``1-
Mbps'' and inserting ``3-Mbps'';
(2) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking ``area; or'' and
inserting ``area (including any eligible broadband service that
will be provided in the future in the eligible service area
pursuant to enforceable commitments for network deployment
applicable under another broadband funding program); or''; and
(3) in subsection (g), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
PART II--ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
SEC. 6311. GUARANTEES FOR BONDS AND NOTES ISSUED FOR ELECTRIFICATION OR
TELEPHONE PURPOSES.
Section 313A(f) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
940c-1(f)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6312. RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOANS AND GRANTS.
Section 313B(e)(1) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7
U.S.C. 940c-2(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``$10,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$15,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 6313. EXPANSION OF 911 ACCESS.
Section 315(d) of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
940e(d)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle D--Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
SEC. 6401. WATER, WASTE DISPOSAL, AND WASTEWATER FACILITY GRANTS.
(a) In General.--Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence--
(A) by striking ``Indian tribes on'' and inserting
``Indian Tribes on''; and
(B) by striking ``tribes, and'' and inserting
``Tribes and Tribal organizations, including wholly or
majority owned Tribal entities or corporations that
provide services or programs consistent with the
purposes of the applicable program under this section,
and''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking ``per centum'' and
inserting ``percent''; and
(ii) by striking ``area.'' and inserting
``area, except that in the case of demonstrated
need, as determined by the Secretary, the
amount of a grant made under the authority of
this subparagraph for necessary expenses of
developing a complete application to carry out
an eligible project under this subparagraph may
exceed 75 percent, but shall not exceed 100
percent, of those expenses to be incurred.'';
and
(B) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (iii), by striking
``$200,000'' each place it appears and
inserting ``$500,000''; and
(ii) in clause (vii), by striking
``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (13), in the first sentence, by striking
``(including an Indian tribe'' and all that follows through
``tribal group)'' and inserting ``(including Indian Tribes and
Tribal organizations described in paragraph (1))'';
(2) in paragraph (19)(A), by striking ``Indian Tribes'' and
all that follows through ``federally recognized Indian tribes''
and inserting ``and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
described in paragraph (1)'';
(3) paragraph (20)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i),
by striking ``Indian tribes'' and all that follows through
``450b))'' and inserting ``Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations described in paragraph (1)'';
(4) paragraph (21)(A)--
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``Indian tribes'' and all that follows through
``450b))'' and inserting ``Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations described in paragraph (1)''; and
(B) in clause (i)--
(i) in subclause (I), by adding ``or''
after the semicolon; and
(ii) by striking subclauses (II) and (III)
and inserting the following:
``(II) an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization described in paragraph
(1);''.
(5) paragraph (26)(A), in the matter preceding clause (i),
by striking ``Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations''
and inserting ``Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
described in paragraph (1)''.
SEC. 6402. SEARCH GRANTS.
Section 306(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(2)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(III) In-kind contribution.--In
the case of demonstrated need, as
determined by the Secretary, the non-
Federal share of the cost of a project
funded under this subparagraph may be
provided in the form of in-kind
contributions.''.
SEC. 6403. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS.
Section 306(a)(14) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(14)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(D) Multiyear grants.--The Secretary may award
grants under subparagraph (A) for a period of more than
1 year, but not more than 5 years, to private nonprofit
organizations described in subparagraph (B), as
determined by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 6404. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CIRCUIT RIDER PROGRAM.
Section 306(a)(22)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(22)(B)) is amended by striking
``$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 6405. RURAL WATER AND WASTEWATER CYBERSECURITY CIRCUIT RIDER
PROGRAM.
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (22) the
following:
``(23) Rural water and wastewater cybersecurity circuit
rider program.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
cybersecurity circuit rider program, which shall be
structured similar to the general authorities under
paragraph (22), to provide technical assistance to
associations described in paragraph (1) that operate
rural water or wastewater systems--
``(i) to provide rapid assessments of the
current ability or inability of those
associations--
``(I) to respond to cybersecurity
threats; and
``(II) to protect the
cyberinfrastructure of those
associations and public health;
``(ii) to develop reasonable protocols to
enhance cybersecurity protection;
``(iii) to provide assistance to address
inadequate cyber protection plans; and
``(iv) to document the state of cyber
protection with respect to the water supplies
of those associations.
``(B) Report requirement.--A circuit rider that
receives funding under this paragraph shall submit to
the Secretary an annual report documenting--
``(i) the associations served by the
circuit rider under this paragraph; and
``(ii) the activities performed by the
circuit rider under this paragraph.
``(C) Requirements for circuit riders.--To provide
technical assistance under subparagraph (A), a circuit
rider shall possess the necessary experience and
certification to effectively carry out the activities
described in that subparagraph, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(D) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
paragraph $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029.''.
SEC. 6406. TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY
FACILITIES.
Section 306(a)(25)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(25)(C)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6407. ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
TRAINING.
Section 306(a)(26) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(26)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(D) National or multi-state awards.--Of the
amounts available to carry out this paragraph for a
fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than 2
percent to award grants under this paragraph to 1 or
more of the entities described in subparagraph (A) for
the purpose of providing on-site technical assistance
and training on a national or multi-State regional
basis.''.
SEC. 6408. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(27) Emergency preparedness and response technical
assistance program.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an
emergency preparedness and response technical
assistance program to provide grants to eligible
entities to assist associations described in paragraph
(1) that operate rural water or wastewater systems in
preparing for and responding to natural or man-made
disasters, as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Eligible entities.--An entity eligible to
receive a grant under subparagraph (A) is a nonprofit
organization that--
``(i) has demonstrated experience providing
emergency technical assistance for disaster
preparation, recovery, and response activities
to water and wastewater utilities nationwide;
and
``(ii) has the capacity to deploy personnel
that possess--
``(I) an active water or wastewater
system operators' license; or
``(II) documented knowledge of
water and wastewater utilities
necessary to carry out activities
described in subparagraph (C).
``(C) Eligible activities.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under subparagraph (A) shall use the
grant--
``(i) to provide on-site personnel and
equipment to assist with water and wastewater
systems in the event of a disaster;
``(ii) to coordinate with statewide
emergency response networks to assist with
water and wastewater systems;
``(iii) to facilitate the development of
disaster action plans between associations
described in subparagraph (A), units of local
government, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, and State emergency management
agencies;
``(iv) to improve resiliency and mitigation
planning with respect to water or wastewater
systems;
``(v) to provide geographic information
system mapping of water and wastewater systems;
``(vi) to prepare or update predisaster
risk and resiliency assessments, emergency
response plans, communication protocols, or
hazard recognition and evaluation skills with
respect to water and wastewater systems;
``(vii) to conduct preliminary damage
assessments of critical infrastructure in the
event of a disaster;
``(viii) to provide emergency services with
respect to water and wastewater systems to
restore service in the event of a disaster,
including--
``(I) pump and motor evaluation and
repair;
``(II) water disinfection and
flushing;
``(III) leak detection;
``(IV) line repair;
``(V) water main and valve
location;
``(VI) emergency power generation;
``(VII) bypass pumping;
``(VIII) water treatment; and
``(IX) maintaining safety measures;
``(ix) to address outstanding deficiencies
focused on resolving health-based regulatory,
operational, financial, and managerial
deficiencies that impact the sustainability of
water and wastewater systems;
``(x) to assist with application and
reporting requirements for Federal and State
agencies, including the Federal Emergency
Management Agency and insurance recovery
claims, with respect to water and wastewater
systems; and
``(xi) to provide for disaster preparation,
support, and response activities targeted to
disadvantaged communities that lack the
financial resources and human capital necessary
to adequately address significant health,
safety, or sanitary concerns with respect to
the water and wastewater systems of those
communities.
``(D) Use of funds.--
``(i) In general.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under subparagraph (A) may use
the grant for salaries, supplies, and expenses
relating to the activities described in
subparagraph (C).
``(ii) Limitation.--Not more than 25
percent of the amount of a grant under
subparagraph (A) may be used to purchase or
reimburse the rental costs of appropriate
emergency equipment, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(E) Restriction.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under subparagraph (A) may not use the
grant funds to pay for eligible activities for which
the eligible entity receives other Federal funds.
``(F) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
paragraph $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029.''.
SEC. 6409. ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES IN
FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED RURAL AREAS.
Section 306(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1926(a)) (as amended by section 6408) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(28) Assistance to provide water and wastewater services
in financially distressed rural areas.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Eligible area.--The term `eligible
area' means a rural area that--
``(I) is a low-income community, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(II) is unable to provide water
and wastewater services to the
residents of the rural area because the
rural area--
``(aa) lacks the capacity--
``(AA) to operate,
maintain, or manage
water and wastewater
facilities or services;
or
``(BB) to provide
for the continued
availability and use of
those facilities or
services at reasonable
user rates and charges;
or
``(bb) lacks the financial,
technical, or managerial
capability to consistently
comply with pertinent Federal
and State laws and
requirements; and
``(III) voluntarily agrees to the
provision of water or wastewater
services in the rural area by an
eligible association the service area
of which is contiguous to, or in the
locality of, the rural area.
``(ii) Eligible association.--The term
`eligible association' means an association
described in paragraph (1) that--
``(I) currently receives, or is
eligible for, assistance under a rural
water or wastewater program; and
``(II) is experienced in, and
currently, providing functioning water
and wastewater services to the
residents of a rural area.
``(iii) Rural water or wastewater
program.--The term `rural water or wastewater
program' means a water or wastewater program
under this subsection.
``(B) Assistance.--The Secretary may provide
financial or technical assistance under a rural water
or wastewater program to an eligible association for
the purpose of providing water and wastewater services
to the residents of an eligible area that is contiguous
to, or in the locality of, the service area of the
eligible association.
``(C) Consolidation and regionalization.--
``(i) In general.--For purposes of
providing water and wastewater services using
assistance provided under subparagraph (B), an
eligible association and an eligible area may--
``(I) consolidate governance,
management, and financial functions; or
``(II) enter into a regional
partnership.
``(ii) Effect on population limitation.--If
an eligible association and an eligible area
consolidate or enter into a regional
partnership pursuant to clause (i), the
Secretary shall only consider the population of
the eligible area for purposes of eligibility
for assistance under subparagraph (B).
``(iii) Use of systems.--Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, an eligible
association may use assistance provided under
subparagraph (B) to provide water or wastewater
services to an eligible area using--
``(I) the system of the eligible
association;
``(II) a system located in the
eligible area; or
``(III) a combination of both
systems.
``(D) Limitation.--An eligible association that
receives financial assistance under subparagraph (B)
shall only use that financial assistance for the
benefit of the residents of the eligible area with
respect to which the financial assistance is
provided.''.
SEC. 6410. EMERGENCY AND IMMINENT COMMUNITY WATER ASSISTANCE GRANT
PROGRAM.
Section 306A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1926a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``entity;'' and
inserting ``entity or federally recognized Indian Tribe or
Tribal organization (including wholly or majority owned Tribal
entities or corporations that provide services or programs
consistent with the purposes of the program under this
section);''; and
(2) in subsection (i)(2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6411. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS.
Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is
amended by inserting after section 306A (7 U.S.C. 1926a) the following:
``SEC. 306B. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL WATER SYSTEMS.
``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
`eligible entity' means a rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal
facility with respect to which assistance may be provided under a
water, wastewater, or waste disposal program under section 306(a),
306A, 306C, or 306D.
``(b) Additional Assistance.--
``(1) Grants and loans.--The Secretary may provide a grant,
a zero percent interest loan, or a 1 percent interest loan to
an eligible entity.
``(2) Existing loans.--The Secretary may--
``(A) forgive principal or interest or modify any
term or condition of an outstanding loan made to an
eligible entity; or
``(B) refinance part or all of any other loan (if
the purpose of the loan is an eligible purpose under
section 306(a)(1) or 306C) made to an eligible entity.
``(3) Limitation.--The Secretary may not provide
forgiveness under paragraph (2)(A) with respect to a loan made
under paragraph (1).
``(c) Eligible Purposes.--The Secretary may provide assistance to
an eligible entity under subsection (b) as the Secretary determines is
necessary--
``(1) to ensure that the eligible entity has the necessary
resources to improve or construct public utilities or to
otherwise maintain or enhance public health, safety,
affordability, or order; or
``(2) to address financial hardships of the eligible
entity, if the eligible entity is located in a disadvantaged or
economically distressed area, as determined under subsection
(d).
``(d) Determination.--To determine whether an eligible entity may
receive assistance pursuant to subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall
establish and use--
``(1) a residential indicator of affordable water services
in each State or local or geographic area, calculated using the
cost per household as a percentage of median household income;
and
``(2) factors relating to disadvantaged or economically
distressed areas.''.
SEC. 6412. WATER SYSTEMS FOR RURAL AND NATIVE VILLAGES IN ALASKA.
Section 306D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1926d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``construction of water
and wastewater systems'' and inserting ``construction of water
systems and wastewater systems, including community-based
systems,'';
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``and the Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium'' after ``State of Alaska''; and
(3) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6413. RURAL DECENTRALIZED WATER SYSTEMS.
Section 306E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1926e) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(d) and (e), respectively;
(2) by striking subsection (a) and all that follows through
the period at the end of subsection (b)(1) and inserting the
following:
``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
`eligible entity' means--
``(1) a private nonprofit organization; and
``(2) a federally recognized Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization, including any wholly or majority owned Tribal
entity or corporation that provides services or programs
consistent with the purposes of the program under this section.
``(b) Grants to Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may provide
grants to eligible entities for the purpose of providing subgrants and
loans in accordance with subsection (c) to individuals for the
construction, refurbishing, and servicing of individual household water
well systems and individually owned household decentralized wastewater
systems in rural areas that are or will be owned by the individuals.
``(c) Loans and Subgrants to Individuals.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall use grant
amounts received under subsection (b) to provide--
``(A) subgrants for use in accordance with this
section to individuals residing in the service area of
the eligible entity who are members of a household with
a combined income (for the most recent 12-month period
for which the information is available) that is less
than 60 percent of the median nonmetropolitan household
income for the area, according to the most recent
decennial census; and
``(B) loans for use in accordance with this section
to individuals residing in the service area of the
eligible entity who are members of a household with a
combined income (for the most recent 12-month period
for which the information is available) that is not
more than 100 percent of the median nonmetropolitan
household income for the area, according to the most
recent decennial census.'';
(3) in subsection (c) (as so designated)--
(A) by striking ``this section'' each place it
appears and inserting ``subsection (b)'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``$15,000''
and inserting ``$25,000''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Funding to cover cost of performance warranties.--A
subgrant provided to an individual under this subsection for an
individually owned household decentralized wastewater system
may include sufficient additional funding to cover the cost of
a performance warranty with a duration of at least 5 years.
``(6) Technical assistance and support.--An eligible entity
that receives a grant under subsection (b) may use an amount
equal to not more than 10 percent of the grant to provide
technical assistance and support to individuals eligible for a
subgrant or loan under this subsection relating to the
installation and maintenance of household decentralized water
and wastewater systems.
``(7) Determination of ownership.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under subsection (b) shall allow for multiple
methods to determine ownership under that subsection to account
for undivided ownership interests.'';
(4) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), by striking
``this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an
applicant'' and inserting ``subsection (b), the Secretary shall
give priority to an eligible entity''; and
(5) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking
``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 6414. HEALTHY DRINKING WATER AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Subtitle A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is
amended by inserting after section 306E (7 U.S.C. 1926e) the following:
``SEC. 306F. HEALTHY DRINKING WATER AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Approved installation.--The term `approved
installation' means the installation of an eligible drinking
water quality improvement product or a certified filter
component by a qualified third-party installer that--
``(A) complies with all local and State
regulations; and
``(B) follows the installation instructions of the
manufacturer.
``(2) Approved maintenance.--The term `approved
maintenance' means required maintenance--
``(A) performed on an eligible drinking water
quality improvement product that includes maintenance
and replacement of the certified filter component;
``(B) performed by a service technician who--
``(i) is--
``(I) professionally qualified,
certified, or licensed as a water
treatment product maintenance
professional, including a professional
credentialed through a manufacturer or
third party;
``(II) operating under the
supervision of a service technician
described in subclause (I);
``(III) a licensed plumber or a
plumber operating under the supervision
of a licensed plumbing contractor; or
``(IV) an individual who holds a
license or certification related to
water treatment technologies issued by
a State or local government; and
``(ii) regularly completes continuing
education on water treatment technology and
other subjects that enhance the services
provided under this section;
``(C) that complies with all local and State
regulations; and
``(D) that follows the maintenance instructions of
the manufacturer.
``(3) Certified filter component.--The term `certified
filter component' means a replaceable or replacement filter
component--
``(A) for which approved maintenance can be
performed; and
``(B) that is certified by a third-party certifier
as compliant with--
``(i) NSF P231;
``(ii) NSF/ANSI Standard 42, 44, 53, 55,
58, or 401; or
``(iii) another successor or relevant
consensus-based standard for drinking water
treatment units or systems that addresses
health contaminant reduction, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(4) Eligible drinking water quality improvement
product.--The term `eligible drinking water quality improvement
product' means a point-of-use or point-of-entry system--
``(A) incorporating a certified filter component;
and
``(B) that is certified by a third-party certifier
to meet standards described in paragraph (3)(B)--
``(i) for material safety and performance;
and
``(ii) to improve drinking water quality.
``(5) Eligible end user.--The term `eligible end user'
means a person or entity located in a rural area (as defined in
section 343(a)(13)(B)) that is--
``(A)(i) a homeowner;
``(ii) an individual lessee or renter of a home,
apartment, or other dwelling;
``(iii) a property owner of a multi-unit
residential building with 25 or fewer owned, leased, or
rented dwelling units;
``(iv) a licensed child-care facility; or
``(v) an owned, leased, or rented facility; and
``(B) supported by a finding of need through--
``(i) a qualified water quality test
demonstrating the presence of 1 or more health
contaminants; or
``(ii) other documentation determined to be
satisfactory by the Secretary demonstrating the
presence of 1 or more health contaminants.
``(6) Eligible grant recipient.--The term `eligible grant
recipient' means--
``(A) an eligible end user; and
``(B) a nonprofit organization that uses a grant
provided under this section for the purposes described
in subsection (c)(2).
``(7) Health contaminant.--The term `health contaminant'
means--
``(A) a health contaminant found in drinking water,
including lead, arsenic, nitrate, perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances, hexavalent chromium
(chrome-6), and volatile organic compounds; and
``(B) any other contaminant--
``(i) that can be reduced by an eligible
drinking water quality improvement product or a
certified filter component in accordance with
the standards described in paragraph (3)(B);
and
``(ii)(I) with respect to which the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency has established--
``(aa) a primary drinking water
regulation (as defined in section 1401
of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42
U.S.C. 300f));
``(bb) a maximum contaminant level
goal established in accordance with
section 1412(b) of that Act (42 U.S.C.
300g-1(b)); or
``(cc) a health advisory issued
pursuant to section 1412(b)(1)(F) of
that Act (42 U.S.C. 300g-1(b)(1)(F));
or
``(II) that is regulated by a State agency.
``(8) Improve drinking water quality.--The term `improve
drinking water quality' means to improve the quality of the
water supplied between its source and human consumption by
reducing or removing 1 or more health contaminants.
``(9) Qualified third-party installer.--The term `qualified
third-party installer' means a person who--
``(A) is--
``(i) a professionally qualified,
certified, or licensed water treatment product
installation professional, including such a
professional credentialed through a
manufacturer or third party;
``(ii) a licensed plumber or individual who
holds a license or certification related to
water treatment technologies issued by a State
or local government; or
``(iii) a company or plumbing contractor
employing individuals described in clause (i)
or (ii); and
``(B) regularly completes, or requires applicable
employees to complete, continuing education on water
treatment technology and other subjects that enhance
the services provided under this section.
``(10) Qualified water quality test.--The term `qualified
water quality test' means a baseline analysis of the bacterial
and chemical characteristics of concern from a drinking water
sample collected at the point of consumption and tested by a
laboratory certified to conduct water quality testing--
``(A) that is provided to--
``(i) the Secretary; and
``(ii) as applicable--
``(I) a person seeking a grant
under this section;
``(II) an eligible end user
receiving a grant under this section;
or
``(III) an eligible grant recipient
receiving a grant under this section
and any eligible end users served by
the eligible grant recipient; and
``(B) that includes information that provides--
``(i) guidance on test interpretation,
including whether the bacteria or chemical
characteristic of concern meets or exceeds a
prescribed health-based contaminant level; and
``(ii) sources and citations that eligible
grant recipients, independent third-party
organizations and institutions, and government
agencies may review and consult--
``(I) to determine available
eligible drinking water quality
improvement products for addressing
detected contaminants; and
``(II) to evaluate efficacy across
eligible drinking water quality
improvement products.
``(11) Third-party certifier.--The term `third-party
certifier' means an independent certification body accredited
to ISO Standard 17065, `Conformity assessment--Requirements for
bodies certifying products, processes and services', by an
entity domiciled in the United States that is a signatory to
the International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition
Arrangement, such as the Water Quality Association, NSF
International, the International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials, and the International Code Council
Evaluation Service.
``(b) Establishment of Program.--Not later than 120 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations to establish, and shall carry out, a clean drinking water
program to provide grants to eligible grant recipients to improve
drinking water quality of eligible end users.
``(c) Eligible Uses of Grants.--
``(1) In general.--A grant under this section shall be
used, as directed by the Secretary, for--
``(A) the purchase of an eligible drinking water
quality improvement product or a replacement certified
filter component;
``(B) the approved installation by a qualified
third-party installer of an eligible drinking water
quality improvement product;
``(C) the purchase and approved installation by a
qualified third-party installer of a replacement
certified filter component;
``(D) the approved maintenance of an eligible
drinking water quality improvement product; or
``(E) qualified water quality tests to support
products and services described in subparagraphs (A)
through (D).
``(2) Nonprofit organizations.--A nonprofit organization
that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant,
in a manner consistent with the uses described in paragraph (1)
and as directed by the Secretary--
``(A) to offer qualified water quality tests for
eligible end users on a voluntary basis;
``(B) to facilitate the analysis of qualified water
quality test results for eligible end users;
``(C) to assist an eligible end user in determining
the response options available and supporting the
selection by the eligible end user of a response that
best fits the needs of the eligible end user, informed
by--
``(i) a qualified water quality test; and
``(ii) an understanding of the relevant
plumbing systems and environmental factors that
will impact point-of-use or point-of-entry
water safety; and
``(D) to coordinate or facilitate the approved
installation by a qualified third-party installer of
the eligible drinking water quality improvement product
selected by an eligible end user.
``(d) Grant Limitations.--
``(1) Amount.--The amount of a grant under this section
shall not exceed the reasonable costs, as determined by the
Secretary, of the purposes described in subsection (c) for
which the grant is provided.
``(2) Income.--No grant provided under this section shall
be used to assist an eligible end user who is a member of a
household the members of which have a combined income, or an
eligible end user with business income, for the most recent 12-
month period for which the information is available, that is
more than 150 percent of the median nonmetropolitan household
income for the State or territory in which the eligible end
user resides, according to the most recent decennial census of
the United States.
``(e) Grant Administrator.--The Secretary shall appoint an officer
or employee of the Department of Agriculture to administer and manage
grants provided under this section.
``(f) Grant Allocation.--In providing grants under this section to
eligible grant recipients, the Secretary shall allocate funds and make
grants available in a manner that--
``(1) responds to a range of water quality challenges;
``(2) prioritizes funding to eligible end-users the sources
of drinking water of which are private wells;
``(3) improves local and regional capacity to respond to
contamination; and
``(4) ensures reasonable access to funds for--
``(A) eligible end users seeking a grant under this
section; and
``(B) nonprofit organizations seeking a grant under
this section.
``(g) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this section, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available, a
report--
``(1) identifying ongoing barriers to universal safe
drinking water prior to and after filtration or other
treatment;
``(2) analyzing conditions impacting eligible grant
recipients, including--
``(A) sources of contamination or degradation of
water resources, especially groundwater resources or
upstream resources that recharge stores of drinking
water;
``(B) trends in bioaccumulation and attenuation of
contaminants and nutrients; and
``(C) impacts of infrastructure materials, crop and
land management practices, waste management, and other
factors that impact drinking water quantity and
quality;
``(3) providing a comprehensive analysis of--
``(A) technologies available to and purchased by
eligible grant recipients; and
``(B) the emerging safe drinking water needs of
rural and other homeowners, renters, residential multi-
unit property owners, licensed child-care facilities,
and other groups, as determined by the Secretary;
``(4) that includes information describing--
``(A) the types of treatment systems and filter
components used under the program established under
this section;
``(B) the number of qualified water quality tests
conducted under the program established under this
section;
``(C) emerging and changing trends relating to
steps taken to ensure safe drinking water in
communities and households; and
``(D) trends relating to the availability and use
of eligible drinking water quality improvement
products, including--
``(i) affordability at purchase and through
the lifecycle of the products;
``(ii) consistency of operation as intended
by the manufacturer and installer, including
effectiveness across systems and technologies
at achieving stated health protections; and
``(iii) lifecycle product performance,
energy use, and environmental impact;
``(5) providing recommendations regarding the best methods
to increase access to--
``(A) grants under this section; and
``(B) the products and services described in
subsection (c);
``(6) that incorporates input from relevant--
``(A) nongovernmental organizations; and
``(B) certification institutions that oversee the
criteria for products and training of installation and
maintenance professionals; and
``(7) the purposes of which are--
``(A) to improve data on health contaminants in
drinking water;
``(B) to provide educational resources on water
testing and water quality improvement products and
services to eligible grant recipients with drinking
water contamination issues;
``(C) to collect information that improves
understanding of water testing and water quality
improvement products and services, including their
associated health and economic benefits; and
``(D) to increase public awareness of water quality
issues and treatment options.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 6415. RURAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY GUARANTEED LOANS.
(a) In General.--Section 310B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``reservations or other federally recognized
Indian tribal groups'' and inserting ``reservations or
Tribal organizations (including any wholly or majority
owned Tribal entity or corporation that provides
services or programs consistent with the purposes of
the program under this subsection or the program under
subsection (g), as applicable)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``workforce
housing and'' before ``pollution abatement''; and
(2) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and each
December 31 thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and make publicly available a report that
includes, with respect to the immediately preceding fiscal
year, the following:
``(A) The name and description of each underlying
loan recipient that closed on a business and industry
loan under this subsection, including whether the loan
recipient is a minority-owned, Tribal-owned, or woman-
owned entity.
``(B) A description of the project funded by that
loan, including the location of the project.
``(C) The amount of that loan.''.
(b) Review and Revision.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, to ensure that entities less likely to have
private funding opportunities have adequate access to business and
industry direct and guaranteed loans under section 310B(g) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)), the
Secretary shall review and revise section 4279.117 of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), to include such
additional ineligible purposes and entity types as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
SEC. 6416. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS.
Section 310B(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1932(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by inserting
``and federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations (including any wholly or majority owned Tribal
entity or corporation that provides services or programs
consistent with the purposes of the program under this
subsection)'' after ``related agencies''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$10,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' and inserting ``$20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 6417. RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
Section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1932(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) and
inserting the following:
``(B) federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal
organizations (including wholly or majority owned
Tribal entities or corporations that provide services
or programs consistent with the purposes of the program
under this subsection), Alaska Native Corporations, or
Native Hawaiian organizations; and'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(A) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (v), by striking ``or'' at the end
and inserting ``and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) support outdoor recreation; or'';
(3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Multiyear grants.--The Secretary may award grants
under this subsection for a period of more than 1 year, but not
more than 5 years.''.
SEC. 6418. RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.
Section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(A) Cooperative development.--The term
`cooperative development' means activities, including
outreach, education, training, and technical
assistance, to support the startup, expansion, or
ongoing sustainability of new and existing
cooperatives.'';
(2) in paragraph (5)(F), by striking ``contributions,'' and
inserting ``contributions by awarding applications that meet
the criterion described in this subparagraph the maximum points
for this subparagraph in the scoring criteria,'';
(3) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ``If the Secretary
determines it to be in the best interest of the program, the''
and inserting ``The'';
(4) in paragraph (12)--
(A) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Not later''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, and annually thereafter, the
interagency working group established under
subparagraph (A) shall make publicly available and
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture
of the House of Representatives a report describing--
``(i) research and analysis based on data
from the latest available Economic Census
conducted by the Bureau of the Census on the
effects of all types of cooperatives on the
national economy; and
``(ii) the activities carried out by the
interagency working group in the prior fiscal
year.''; and
(5) in paragraph (13), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6419. LOCALLY OR REGIONALLY PRODUCED AGRICULTURAL FOOD PRODUCTS.
Section 310B(g)(9)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(g)(9)(B)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by inserting ``wholly or majority owned
Tribal entities or corporations that provide services or
programs consistent with the purposes of the program under this
paragraph,'' after ``businesses''; and
(2) in clause (iv)(I), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6420. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR RURAL AREAS PROGRAM.
Section 310B(i)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(4)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6421. RURAL ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP ZONES.
Section 310B(j) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 1932(j)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6422. INTERMEDIARY RELENDING PROGRAM.
Section 310H of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1936b(i)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``Indian tribes'' and
inserting ``federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations (which shall include wholly or majority owned
Tribal entities or corporations that provide services or
programs consistent with the purposes of the program under this
section)''; and
(2) in subsection (i)--
(A) by striking ``subsection'' and inserting
``section''; and
(B) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6423. RURAL BUSINESS-COOPERATIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.
Section 368(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2008c(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6424. NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.
Section 378 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 2008m) is amended--
(1) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6425. GRANTS FOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTERS.
Section 379B(d) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 2008p(d)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6426. RURAL MICROENTREPRENEUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 2008s) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means an
Indian Tribe or a Tribal organization (as those terms are
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$50,000'' and
inserting ``$75,000'';
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(E) Use of loans.--A loan made by the Secretary
to a microenterprise development organization under
this paragraph may--
``(i) be used for 100 percent of a loan to
a rural microenterprise; and
``(ii) provide up to 50 percent of the cost
of demolition and construction and related
costs of real estate.''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6427. HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
Section 379G(e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act
(7 U.S.C. 2008u(e)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6428. STRATEGIC COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLANS.
Section 379H(d)(4) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v(d)(4)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 6429. RURAL INNOVATION STRONGER ECONOMY GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 379I of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 2008w) is amended--
(1) by striking ``jobs accelerator'' each place it appears
and inserting ``jobs and technology accelerator'';
(2) by striking ``industry clusters'' each place it appears
and inserting ``industries'';
(3) by striking ``industry cluster'' each place it appears
and inserting ``industry'';
(4) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)(iv), by striking
subclause (II) and inserting the following:
``(II) a federally recognized
Indian Tribe or Tribal organization
(including any wholly or majority owned
Tribal entity or corporation that
provides services or programs
consistent with the purposes of the
program under this section) or a
consortium of federally recognized
Indian Tribes.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii)--
(I) by striking subclause (II); and
(II) by redesignating subclauses
(III) and (IV) as subclauses (II) and
(III), respectively;
(B) by striking paragraph (2);
(C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following:
``(4) Jobs and technology accelerator.--The term `jobs and
technology accelerator' means a jobs and technology accelerator
center or program located in or serving a low-income rural
community that--
``(A) may provide co-working space, in-demand
skills training, entrepreneurship support, and any
other services described in subsection (d)(1)(B); and
``(B) increases jobs in that low-income rural
community.''; and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively;
(5) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``jobs accelerators,''
and inserting ``jobs and technology accelerators,'';
and
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``not fewer than
25 States at any time'' and inserting ``a
geographically diverse manner and taking into account
different methods of measuring distress in rural
communities''; and
(6) in subsection (f), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6430. RURAL BUSINESS INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
Section 384S of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 2009cc-18) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6431. INVESTMENTS IN RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
There is appropriated, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated--
(1) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, to remain available until expended, for rural water
and waste disposal grants under section 306(a)(2) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1926(a)(2)); and
(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, to remain available until expended, for community
facilities grants under section 306(a)(19) of that Act (7
U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)), to remain available until expended.
Subtitle E--Miscellaneous
SEC. 6501. DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE.
(a) Use of Grants for Operating Expenses.--Section 2333 of the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
950aaa-2) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and operation'' after
``construction'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding ``and'' at the
end; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``or extend''
each place it appears and inserting ``extend, or
operate'';
(3) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph
(5); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) operation of the programming, equipment, or
facilities referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2); or''; and
(4) by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:
``(g) Operating Expenses.--Not more than 15 percent of the amount
of financial assistance provided to a recipient under this chapter may
be used for operating expenses, including salaries or administrative
expenses, that are reasonable and allocable to the project carried out
by the recipient.''.
(b) Waiver of Matching Requirement.--Section 2334 of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-3) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Waiver of Matching Requirement.--The Secretary shall waive
any requirement for a recipient of financial assistance under this
chapter to provide non-Federal matching funds--
``(1) in a case of demonstrated need or if the matching
requirement would create a substantial burden, as determined by
the Secretary; or
``(2) if the recipient is a federally recognized Indian
Tribe.''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2335A of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa-5) is
amended by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2025 through
2029''.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1(b) of Public Law 102-551 (7
U.S.C. 950aaa note) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6502. LAST ACRE PROJECTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Broadband service.--The term ``broadband service'' has
the meaning given the term in section 601(b) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950bb(b)).
(2) Configuration management plan.--The term
``configuration management plan'', with respect to a covered
provider, means a comprehensive description of the roles,
responsibilities, policies, and procedures intended to improve
the integrity of the systems and networks of the covered
provider.
(3) Covered producer.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered producer''
means a person or entity that is directly engaged in
the production of agricultural products, including
crops or livestock, on eligible land that is unserved
or underserved, such that a majority of the gross
income of the person or entity is derived from those
products.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``covered producer''
includes agricultural research centers of the
Agricultural Research Service.
(4) Covered provider.--The term ``covered provider''
means--
(A) with respect to the provision of qualifying
connectivity to eligible land, a provider of broadband
service; or
(B) with respect to the provision of wireless
solutions using or extending the range of network
connectivity, a provider of wireless equipment or
communications services, in association with an entity
described in subparagraph (A).
(5) Eligible land.--The term ``eligible land'' means
cropland, grassland, rangeland, pastureland, farm sites, and
other agricultural land used for the active production of
agricultural commodities or livestock.
(6) Farm site.--The term ``farm site'' means a portion of
land contiguous to land actively devoted to agricultural
production and that includes improvements that are agricultural
or horticultural in nature.
(7) Precision agriculture.--The term ``precision
agriculture'' means managing, tracking, or reducing crop or
livestock production inputs, including seed, feed, fertilizer,
chemicals, water, and time, at a heightened level of spatial
and temporal granularity to improve efficiencies, reduce waste,
and maintain or improve environmental quality.
(8) Qualifying connectivity.--
(A) In general.--The term ``qualifying
connectivity'' means the service offered by a covered
provider as a result of assistance under this section
that--
(i) is capable of a speed of not less
than--
(I) a 100-Mbps downstream
transmission capacity; and
(II) a 20-Mbps upstream
transmission capacity; and
(ii) carries out not less than 1 of the
activities described in subparagraph (B).
(B) Activities described.--The activities referred
to in subparagraph (A)(ii) are--
(i) providing broadband service by any
technology to structures and devices on
eligible land, including tractors, combines,
irrigation systems, drones, under-soil sensors,
livestock facilities, and farm offices;
(ii) providing multipoint wireless network
connectivity that facilitates data transmission
between structures and devices on eligible
land, including structures and devices
described in clause (i); and
(iii) supporting--
(I) the construction of wireless
infrastructure, including poles,
towers, base stations, or other
structures, regardless of whether the
structure has an existing antenna
facility, that is used or will be used
for the provision of wireless service;
or
(II) the retrofitting of existing
towers or vertical structures, such as
water towers, grain elevators, or
center pivots, to accommodate wireless
infrastructure.
(9) Remote area.--The term ``remote area'' means the
frontier and remote ZIP Code areas published by the Economic
Research Service.
(10) Underserved.--The term ``underserved'' means, with
respect to eligible land, that the eligible land lacks access
to broadband service that is capable of a speed of not less
than--
(A) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission capacity;
and
(B) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
(11) Unserved.--The term ``unserved'' means, with respect
to eligible land, eligible land that lacks access to broadband
service that is capable of a speed of not less than--
(A) a 25-Mbps downstream transmission capacity; and
(B) a 3-Mbps upstream transmission capacity.
(b) Purposes.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall carry out, under terms and conditions as
the Secretary considers to be appropriate, projects--
(1) to advance precision agriculture connectivity
nationwide; and
(2) to augment last mile broadband service deployment for
agricultural producers by expanding high-speed internet access
across the last acre.
(c) Grants and Loans.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall make grants and make loans to covered providers
to provide qualifying connectivity to covered producers on
unserved and underserved eligible land.
(2) Limitation.--Of the amounts made available under
subsection (k) for a fiscal year for assistance under this
section, the Secretary may award not more than 10 percent to
provide qualifying connectivity to agricultural research
centers described in subsection (a)(3)(B).
(3) Use of funds.--
(A) Cybersecurity.--The Secretary may allow a
covered provider to use a portion of the assistance
provided to the covered provider under this section, as
necessary, to address the cybersecurity requirements
under subsection (g).
(B) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not award any
assistance under this section for broadband service to
an inhabitable residence that is identified as
serviceable or has to be served due to an enforceable
commitment to deploy on the broadband maps (as
determined by the Secretary).
(4) Federal share.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Federal share of a project carried out using
assistance under this section shall be not more than 80
percent of the total cost of the project.
(B) Limited resource farmers or ranchers.--The
Secretary may increase the Federal share described in
subparagraph (A) to 90 percent if the covered producer
on the applicable eligible land is a limited resource
farmer or rancher.
(d) Application.--To apply for assistance under this section, a
covered provider shall submit to the Secretary an application in such
manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including--
(1) the measures by which the covered producer has engaged
with the covered provider to identify the appropriate
qualifying connectivity plan to serve the eligible land of the
covered producer;
(2) a description of how the assistance provided under this
section would be used to establish qualifying connectivity on
the unserved or underserved eligible land of a covered
producer, including the entire acreage in need of qualifying
connectivity;
(3) a description of how the assistance provided under this
section could be used to provide broadband service to residents
or essential community facilities (if any) in areas near or
adjacent to unserved or underserved eligible land of a covered
producer;
(4) the amount of the Federal share for the project and the
amount of the non-Federal share for the project;
(5) information necessary for the covered provider to
demonstrate to the Secretary that the covered provider--
(A) is capable of carrying out the specific
activities for which assistance is provided under this
section in compliance with all applicable Federal,
State, and local laws;
(B) has the financial and managerial capacity to
meet the specific commitments contained in the
application, including buildout obligations; and
(C) has the technical and operational capability--
(i) to construct and operate broadband
networks; and
(ii) to meet the requirement described in
paragraph (1) of subsection (g) and provide the
cybersecurity certification required under
paragraph (2) of that subsection;
(6) whether the eligible land of the covered producer--
(A) is unserved or underserved; and
(B) is not subject to an enforceable commitment to
deploy broadband by the applicant or another covered
provider, as determined according to the broadband maps
(as determined by the Secretary);
(7) a description of the means by which the covered
provider will provide to the Secretary the information
necessary for the Secretary to prepare the annual reports under
subsection (i); and
(8) any additional information that the Secretary
determines necessary to ensure the effective function of the
program under this section.
(e) Timeline.--
(1) In general.--For each project for which assistance is
provided under this section, the Secretary shall establish
service buildout milestones and periodic certifications by
recipients of the assistance for purposes of project compliance
and implementation.
(2) Requirement.--The milestones required under paragraph
(1) shall establish a maximum buildout timeframe of not more
than 4 years from the date on which the assistance is provided.
(3) Penalties.--The Secretary shall establish and enforce
standardized penalties, fines, and sanctions for noncompliance
with a milestone or certification established under paragraph
(1).
(f) Priority.--
(1) In general.--In selecting applicants for assistance
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
applicants that propose to carry out projects in the following
order:
(A) Unserved eligible land in remote areas.
(B) Other unserved eligible land.
(C) Underserved eligible land in remote areas.
(D) Other underserved eligible land.
(2) Residents and essential community facilities.--The
Secretary may give priority to applicants for assistance under
this section that propose to carry out projects that would also
provide broadband service at speeds higher than the speeds
described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subsection (a)(8)(A)(i)
to residents or essential community facilities (if any) in
areas that--
(A) are near or adjacent to unserved or underserved
eligible land; and
(B) lack access to broadband service that is
capable of those higher speeds.
(3) Enhanced speeds.--
(A) Finding.--Congress finds that there are unique
connectivity needs to support the adoption of precision
agriculture.
(B) Prioritization.--In selecting applicants for
assistance under this section, the Secretary may give
priority to an applicant that proposes to carry out a
project to provide broadband service speeds that are
greater than the speeds described in subclauses (I) and
(II) of subsection (a)(8)(A)(i), if the applicant
demonstrates that the proposal to serve the eligible
land of a covered producer that is unserved or
underserved requires those greater speeds.
(g) Cybersecurity.--As a condition on receipt of assistance under
this section, a covered provider shall--
(1) ensure that any structure, device, or system provided
or constructed using the assistance incorporates a layered
defense strategy as a means of defensible security
architecture; and
(2) certify to the Secretary that the covered provider
maintains a regularly updated configuration management plan.
(h) Public Notice and Assessments.--Subsections (a) and (b)(1) of
section 701 of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950cc)
shall apply to assistance and applications for assistance under this
section.
(i) Report to Congress.--For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year
thereafter through the fiscal year that is 2 fiscal years after the
fiscal year during which the last project funded under this section is
completed, the Secretary shall--
(1) submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives a report that describes--
(A) applications for assistance under this section
submitted during the previous fiscal year, including
the number of parcels of eligible land for which
applications were submitted during the previous fiscal
year;
(B) the amount of assistance awarded for each
project under this section during the previous fiscal
year;
(C) the number of projects for which assistance is
provided under this section, including the number of
parcels of eligible land on which those projects were
carried out, that were successfully completed during
the previous fiscal year; and
(D)(i) the number of covered producers subscribing
to the broadband service provided under each project
for which assistance is provided under this section;
(ii) the download and upload speeds of the
broadband service provided under each such project; and
(iii) the purposes for which the broadband service
under each such project is used, including the use of
precision agriculture; and
(2) make the report required under paragraph (1) publicly
available on the website of the Secretary.
(j) Termination of Authority.--The authority to make grants and to
make loans under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2029.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $160,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until expended.
SEC. 6503. FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN GUARANTEED LOAN AND GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commercial food product.--The term ``commercial food
product'' means a product derived from domestically grown food
in regular production that is routinely sold in significant
quantities to the general public or industry.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a cooperative organization;
(B) a for-profit entity;
(C) a Tribal entity;
(D) a public body;
(E) an individual; and
(F) a nonprofit organization.
(3) Tribal entity.--
(A) In general.--The term ``Tribal entity'' means--
(i) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
(ii) any other Tribe (as determined by the
Secretary); and
(iii) a Tribal organization (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``Tribal entity''
includes an entity or a corporation that--
(i) is wholly or majority owned by one or
more Tribal entities described in subparagraph
(A) or one or more members thereof; and
(ii) provides services or programs
consistent with the purposes of the program
under this section.
(b) Authority.--The Secretary shall guarantee loans and make grants
to eligible entities to support the commencement or expansion of
projects in the United States to increase the capacity of the food
supply chain in the United States to aggregate, process, manufacture,
store, transport, wholesale, or distribute domestically grown food for
commercial food products.
(c) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a loan guarantee or
grant under this section, an eligible entity shall be engaged
in or propose to engage in aggregating, processing,
manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, or
distributing domestically grown food for a commercial food
product project--
(A) directly; or
(B) through a contractual, lease, or service
agreement with another entity.
(2) Restrictions.--To be eligible for a loan guarantee or
grant under this section--
(A) an eligible entity engaged in or proposing to
engage in the processing of meat, poultry, processed
egg products, or fish of the order Siluriformes shall
comply with the requirements of the Food Safety and
Inspection Service;
(B) an eligible entity engaged in or proposing to
engage in the processing of any food or food ingredient
not described in subparagraph (A) shall comply with the
requirements of the Food and Drug Administration; and
(C) an eligible entity engaged in or proposing to
engage in beef, pork, chicken, or turkey processing,
including an affiliate of such an eligible entity,
shall not hold a market share greater than or equal to
the entity that holds the fourth-largest share of the
market for the species addressed in the loan guarantee
or grant award.
(3) Requirement.--The Secretary shall not limit the
eligibility of an eligible entity for a loan guarantee or grant
under this section based on the availability of credit from any
other source.
(d) Applications.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible for a loan guarantee or
grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to
the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and
containing such information as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
(2) Inclusion.--An application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall demonstrate that the loan or grant funds will be used
in the United States to carry out a project described in
subsection (b).
(3) Feasibility study.--
(A) In general.--An application submitted under
paragraph (1) shall include a feasibility study that
meets criteria established by the Secretary.
(B) Requirement.--The Secretary may not approve an
application submitted under paragraph (1) unless the
Secretary determines that the project described in the
application is technically and economically feasible,
based on the feasibility study described in
subparagraph (A).
(4) Combination.--An eligible entity may apply for both a
loan guarantee and a grant under this section using the same
application.
(e) Loan Guarantees.--
(1) Eligible uses.--A loan guaranteed under this section
may be used by the eligible entity--
(A) to purchase or develop real property;
(B) to expand, renovate, construct, or otherwise
improve leased or owned property;
(C) to purchase machinery or equipment;
(D) for--
(i) debt refinancing;
(ii) interim financing;
(iii) the purchase of membership into the
Farm Credit System;
(iv) the purchase of cooperative stock or
taxable corporate bonds;
(v) the financing of working capital; or
(vi) to cover interest or fees;
(E) to conduct a feasibility study under subsection
(d)(3)(A);
(F) for education and training facilities or
equipment; or
(G) for pollution control or abatement.
(2) Amount.--The principal amount of a loan guaranteed
under this section may not exceed $80,000,000.
(f) Grants.--
(1) Eligible uses.--A grant made under this section may be
used by the eligible entity receiving the grant for--
(A) technical assistance;
(B) employee training and certification;
(C) costs of an environmental assessment; or
(D) food safety certification and training.
(2) Amount.--The amount of a grant made under this section
may not exceed $500,000.
(3) Funding.--
(A) In general.--Of the amount made available to
carry out this section for each fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reserve not less than 10 percent to
make grants under this section.
(B) Availability.--If amounts reserved under
subparagraph (A) are not obligated by September 30 of
the fiscal year for which the amounts are reserved, the
amounts shall be available for other purposes
authorized under this section.
(g) Priorities.--In guaranteeing loans and making grants under this
section, when the amount available to carry out this section is less
than the total of the amounts requested by applications under this
section that are eligible for approval, the Secretary shall give
preference to applications for projects that--
(1) would create jobs in economically distressed
communities, as determined by the Secretary;
(2) are submitted by eligible entities that are small food
processors (as determined by the Secretary) and are small
business concerns (within the meaning of section 3 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632));
(3) would support local or regional foods; or
(4) would help to create a more resilient, diverse, and
secure United States food supply chain, as determined by the
Secretary.
(h) Nonsupplantation of Other Funds.--The Secretary shall use the
amounts made available to carry out this section to supplement, and not
supplant, funds provided under other Federal law or State or local law.
(i) Requirement.--
(1) In general.--As a condition of receiving a loan
guarantee or grant under this section, an eligible entity shall
ensure that all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors
or subcontractors in the performance of construction work
financed in whole or in part by the loan guarantee or grant
shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on
similar construction in the locality, as determined by the
Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141 through
3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, United States Code.
(2) Authority and functions.--The Secretary of Labor shall
have, with respect to the labor standards described in
paragraph (1), the authority and functions set forth in
Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5
U.S.C. App) and section 3145 of title 40, United States Code.
(j) Funding.--
(1) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated, out of
amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $30,000,000
for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry
out this section, to remain available until expended.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
not more than $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, to remain available until expended.
(3) Administration.--Of the amount made available to carry
out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary may use
not more than 5 percent for administrative purposes.
SEC. 6504. AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
Section 6402 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 1632b) is amended--
(1) by striking ``agricultural producers'' each place it
appears and inserting ``eligible participants'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Eligible participant.--The term `eligible
participant' means--
``(A) an agricultural producer;
``(B) an agricultural enterprise (as defined in
section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
647(b))); and
``(C) a small business concern (within the meaning
of section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632))
engaged in manufacturing value-added agricultural
products.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``(in cash or
in kind)''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Advisory board.--
``(A) In general.--Each Agriculture Innovation
Center of an eligible entity shall have an advisory
board.
``(B) Requirements.--An advisory board described in
subparagraph (A) shall be composed of a diverse group
of representatives of public and private entities in
the State in which the eligible entity is located (or
the region in which the eligible entity is located if
the service area of the eligible entity comprises more
than 1 State), including the following:
``(i) General agricultural organizations.
``(ii) Entities representing commodities
produced in the State or region, as
applicable.''; and
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ``$15,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$25,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 6505. RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM.
Section 6407 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8107a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:
``(C) any Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(D) any public, quasipublic, or nonprofit entity
that uses innovative financing techniques and market
development tools to accelerate the deployment of clean
energy technology (commonly known as a `green bank');
and''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Energy efficiency measure.--The term `energy
efficiency measure', with respect to any property served by an
eligible entity, means--
``(A) a structural improvement or investment in a
cost-effective, commercial technology to increase
energy efficiency (including cost-effective on- or off-
grid renewable energy or energy storage systems); and
``(B) the replacement of a manufactured housing
unit or large appliance with a substantially similar
manufactured housing unit or appliance, respectively,
if that replacement is a cost-effective option with
respect to energy savings.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Grants'' after ``Loans'';
(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Subject to the requirements of this
subsection, the Secretary shall provide--
``(A) loans to eligible entities that agree to use
the loan funds to make loans under subsection (d) to
qualified consumers for the purpose of implementing
energy efficiency measures; and
``(B) at the election of any eligible entity that
receives a loan under subparagraph (A), a grant in
accordance with paragraph (10).'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting
``for loans'' after ``Requirements''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking
``that is'';
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting the clauses appropriately;
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``With respect to
a loan under paragraph (1)'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B),
with respect to a loan under paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Extensions.--The Secretary may extend the
term of a loan under subparagraph (A)(i), or the
deadline for the repayment of an advance under
subparagraph (A)(ii), as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.'';
(E) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``paragraph
(1)(A)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (C), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking ``Repayment
of the special advance'' and inserting
``Subject to an applicable extension under
paragraph (5)(B), repayment of a special
advance under this paragraph'';
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (1)''
and inserting ``paragraph (1)(A)''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--At the election of an eligible
entity that receives a loan under this subsection, the
Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity a grant
to pay for a portion of the costs incurred in--
``(i) applying for the loan;
``(ii) making a loan to a qualified
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iii) making repairs to the property of a
qualified consumer that facilitate the energy
efficiency measures for the property financed
through a loan provided to the qualified
consumer under subsection (d);
``(iv) entering into a contract under
subsection (e); or
``(v) carrying out any other duties of the
eligible entity under this section.
``(B) Amount.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), the amount of a grant provided to
an eligible entity under this paragraph shall
be equal to not more than 5 percent of the
amount of the loan provided to the eligible
entity under this subsection.
``(ii) Persistent poverty counties.--The
amount of a grant provided under this paragraph
to an eligible entity that will use the grant
to make loans under subsection (d) to qualified
consumers located in a persistent poverty
county (as determined by the Secretary) shall
be equal to 10 percent of the amount of the
loan provided to the eligible entity under this
subsection.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by inserting ``or grant'' before
``funds'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``(B) shall
finance'' and inserting the following:
``(B)(i) may have a term and amortization schedule
the length of which is the useful life of the energy
efficiency measures implemented using the loan,
provided that the loan to the qualified consumer does
not exceed 20 years; and
``(ii) shall finance''; and
(II) in clause (ii) (as so
designated), by striking ``a loan term
of not more than 10 years'' and
inserting ``the applicable loan term
described in clause (i)''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``unless the personal property is or becomes
attached to real property (including a
manufactured home) as a fixture;'' and
inserting ``unless the personal property--
``(i) is a manufactured housing unit or
large appliance described in subsection
(b)(2)(B); or
``(ii) is or becomes attached to real
property as a fixture;''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Clarification of eligibility.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law (including regulations), an eligible
entity may make a loan under this subsection to any qualified
consumer located within the service territory of the eligible
entity, regardless of whether the qualified consumer is located
in a rural area.'';
(4) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting
``Outreach,'' after ``Training,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and
technical assistance of the program'' and
inserting ``outreach, and technical assistance
relating to the program under this section'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting
``, outreach,'' after ``technical assistance'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Funding.--Of the amounts made available under
subsection (i), the Secretary may use such sums as are
necessary to provide outreach, training, and technical
assistance under this subsection.''; and
(5) in subsection (i), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 6506. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
Section 306 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1926) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and all that
follows through ``The Secretary'' in the first sentence of
subsection (a)(1) and inserting the following:
``SEC. 306. WATER AND WASTE FACILITY LOANS AND GRANTS.
``(a) Authority.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``(3) No'' and
inserting the following:
``(3) Determination; requirement.--No'';
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking ``(4) (A) The term'' and
inserting the following:
``(4) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Development cost.--The term''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``(B)
The term'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Project.--The term'';
(C) in paragraph (6), by striking ``(6) The'' and
inserting the following:
``(6) Grants for certain development plans.--The'';
(D) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by striking ``(8) In'' and inserting
the following:
``(8) Projects proposed to serve the same residents.--In'';
and
(ii) by striking ``he'' and inserting ``the
Secretary'';
(E) in paragraph (12)--
(i) by striking ``(12)(A) The'' and
inserting the following:
``(12) Informational system for certain institutions.--(A)
The''; and
(ii) by indenting subparagraphs (B) through
(D) appropriately;
(F) in paragraph (13)--
(i) by striking ``(13) In'' and inserting
the following:
``(13) Priority.--In''; and
(ii) in the second sentence--
(I) by striking ``Soil Conservation
Service'' and inserting ``Natural
Resources Conservation Service''; and
(II) by striking ``he'' and
inserting ``the Secretary'';
(G) in paragraph (15), by striking ``(15) In'' and
inserting the following:
``(15) Projects serving multiple communities.--In'';
(H) in paragraph (16), by striking ``(16) Grants''
and inserting the following:
``(16) Use of grants for local share requirements.--
Grants'';
(I) in paragraph (17)--
(i) by striking ``(17)(A) In'' and
inserting the following:
``(17) Design and materials.--(A) In''; and
(ii) by indenting subparagraph (B)
appropriately; and
(J) in paragraph (18), by striking ``(18) In'' and
inserting the following:
``(18) Prohibition of additional conditions.--In''; and
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``(b) The'' and
inserting the following:
``(b) Curtailment or Limitation of Service Prohibited.--The''; and
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``(d) Any'' and
inserting the following:
``(c) Availability of Amounts; Carryover of Authorizations.--Any''.
TITLE VII--RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND RELATED MATTERS
Subtitle A--National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977
SEC. 7101. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND
ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD.
Section 1408 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``7 additional
members'' and inserting ``3 additional members'';
(2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``$500,000'' and
inserting ``$750,000''; and
(3) in subsection (h), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 7102. SPECIALTY CROP COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--Section 1408A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123a)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``11 members'' and inserting ``12
members''; and
(ii) adding at the end the following:
``(iv) One of such members shall represent
a State with not less than 1,000 acres of
citrus production, and shall be a nonvoting
member.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Appointment; service.--Members of the specialty crops
committee shall--
``(A) be appointed by the Secretary; and
``(B) serve at the discretion of the Secretary.'';
and
(3) in subsection (g)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (5) and (6) as
paragraph (6) and (7), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) review grant applications under such subsection and
submit a summary of comments, including the relevancy of the
applications to the annual priorities established under
paragraph (4), to the Director of the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture for consideration prior to the awarding of
grants under such subsection;''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 412(d) of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7632(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) for competitive grants under subsection (j), the
review and summary submitted to the Director of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture under section 1408A(g)(5) of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123a(g)(5)).''.
(c) Effect.--The amendments made by subsection (a)--
(1) shall take effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year
that begins after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2) shall not affect the terms of the members of the citrus
disease subcommittee established under section 1408A(a)(2) of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123a(a)(2)) who are--
(A) appointed by the Secretary before the effective
date described in paragraph (1); and
(B) members of that subcommittee on that effective
date.
SEC. 7103. GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SCIENCES
EDUCATION.
Section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) to conduct workforce training, education,
research, and outreach activities relating to the food
and agricultural sciences.''; and
(2) in subsection (m)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023.'' and
inserting ``2024; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
SEC. 7104. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD POLICY RESEARCH CENTERS.
Section 1419A(e) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3155(e)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7105. EDUCATION GRANTS TO ALASKA NATIVE SERVING INSTITUTIONS AND
NATIVE HAWAIIAN SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1419B of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3156) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``$10,000,000 in
fiscal years 2001 through 2023'' and inserting ``$15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``$10,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2001 through 2023'' and inserting
``$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 7106. NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 1425(g) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3175(g)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7107. CONTINUING ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Carryover.--The balance of any annual funds provided
to an eligible institution for a fiscal year under this
subsection that remains unexpended at the end of the fiscal
year may be carried over for use during the following fiscal
year.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7108. EXTENSION AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY.
Section 1444(a)(2) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3221(a)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``2003'' and inserting ``2025''; and
(2) by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``40
percent''.
SEC. 7109. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING
TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1445(a) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``2003'' and inserting ``2025'' and
(B) by striking ``30 percent'' and inserting ``40
percent''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``graduate student
tuition and fees,'' after ``direction,''.
(b) Payment of Allotments to Eligible Institutions.--Section
1445(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222(d)) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence, by striking ``a research
director'' and inserting ``an agricultural research director'';
and
(2) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking ``or other officer''; and
(B) by inserting ``agricultural'' before ``chief
administrative officer''.
SEC. 7110. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1446 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``2020, and each of
the 4 succeeding academic years'' and inserting ``2025, and
each succeeding academic year''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``$40,000,000
not later than October 1, 2019,'' and inserting
``$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter,''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7111. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCES FACILITIES
AT 1890 LAND-GRANT COLLEGES, INCLUDING TUSKEGEE
UNIVERSITY.
Section 1447(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b(b)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7112. GRANTS TO UPGRADE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SCIENCES FACILITIES
AND EQUIPMENT AT INSULAR AREA LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1447B(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222b-2(d)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7113. RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1449 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222d) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(g) Attestation to the Secretary.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each
fiscal year, a State shall submit to the Secretary an
attestation that describes whether the State--
``(A) plans to fulfill the matching funds
requirement under subsection (c) for that fiscal year;
or
``(B) is unable to fulfill that matching funds
requirement for that fiscal year.
``(2) Letter.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and each
year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to each Governor
whose State did not fulfill the matching funds requirement
under subsection (c) for the prior fiscal year a letter that
shall--
``(A) notify the Governor that the State did not
fulfill that matching funds requirement; and
``(B) describe the amounts of matching funds
received by 1890 Institutions and 1862 Institutions (as
those terms are defined in section 2 of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform
Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)) in that State for each of
the agricultural research, extension, education, and
related programs described in paragraphs (1) through
(3) of section 7116 of the Agriculture Improvement Act
of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2207d).
``(3) Publication.--The Secretary shall make publicly
available, on an annual basis, each attestation submitted under
paragraph (1) and each letter submitted under paragraph (2).''.
SEC. 7114. NEW BEGINNING FOR TRIBAL STUDENTS.
Section 1450(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3222e(d)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7115. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1455(c) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3241(c)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7116. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 1458A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292) is
amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting
``international agriculture partnerships and grants program'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
(3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Competitive Grants for International Agricultural Science and
Education Programs.--
``(1) Competitive grants authorized.--The Secretary may
make competitive grants to colleges and universities in order
to strengthen United States economic competitiveness and to
promote international market development.
``(2) Purpose of grants.--Grants under this subsection
shall be directed to agricultural research, extension, and
teaching activities that will--
``(A) enhance the international content of the
curricula in colleges and universities so as to ensure
that United States students acquire an understanding of
the international dimensions and trade implications of
their studies;
``(B) ensure that United States scientists,
extension agents, and educators involved in
agricultural research and development activities
outside of the United States have the opportunity to
convey the implications of their activities and
findings to their peers and students in the United
States and to the users of agricultural research,
extension, and teaching;
``(C) enhance the capabilities of colleges and
universities to do collaborative research with other
countries, in cooperation with other Federal agencies,
on issues relevant to United States agricultural
competitiveness;
``(D) enhance the capabilities of colleges and
universities to provide cooperative extension education
to promote the application of new technology developed
in foreign countries to United States agriculture; and
``(E) enhance the capability of United States
colleges and universities, in cooperation with other
Federal agencies, to provide leadership and educational
programs that will assist United States natural
resources and food production, processing, and
distribution businesses and industries to compete
internationally, including product market
identification, international policies limiting or
enhancing market production, development of new or
enhancement of existing markets, and production
efficiencies.''; and
(4) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), by striking
``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1459A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b) is
repealed.
(2) Section 251(f)(1)(D)(vii) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6971(f)(1)(D)(vii)) is amended by striking ``section 1459A of
the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3292b)'' and inserting
``subsection (d) of section 1458A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3292)''.
SEC. 7117. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT GRANTS.
Section 1462A(e) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310a(e)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7118. UNIVERSITY RESEARCH.
Section 1463 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3311) is amended by striking
``2023'' each place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 7119. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE.
Section 1464 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3312) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7120. SUPPLEMENTAL AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS.
Section 1473D of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(3), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7121. NEW ERA RURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
Section 1473E(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319e(d)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7122. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR NLGCA INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1473F(b) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319i(b)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7123. AGRICULTURE ADVANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
Section 1473H of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319k) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
(2) in subsection (a)(6)(A), by striking ``growing,'' and
inserting ``growing (including water conservation technologies
and innovation),'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``pilot program'' each place it
appears and inserting ``program'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``the long-term
and high-risk technological'' before
``barriers''; and
(II) by striking ``and resilience
to extreme weather;'' and inserting
``water conservation, the reduction,
avoidance, sequestration, or mitigation
of greenhouse gas emissions from the
agriculture sector, and resilience to
extreme weather, drought, infectious
diseases, plant and animal pathogens,
and plant and animal pests;''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``or
economic cost'' before the period at the end;
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(i) in clause (ii), in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by striking ``advise the Chief
Scientist on, and''; and
(ii) by striking clause (iii) and inserting
the following:
``(iii) Relationship within the department
of agriculture.--
``(I) Chief scientist.--The
Director shall work in close
collaboration with the Office of the
Chief Scientist.
``(II) Other programs.--No other
official who is the head of any other
program of the Department of
Agriculture shall report to the
Director.''; and
(D) in paragraph (9), by striking the paragraph
designation and heading and all that follows through
``In carrying out'' and inserting the following:
``(9) Personnel matters.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish and
maintain within the AGARDA a staff with sufficient
qualifications and expertise to enable the AGARDA to
carry out the responsibilities of the AGARDA under this
section in conjunction with other operations of the
Department of Agriculture.
``(B) Use of existing personnel authorities.--In
carrying out'';
(4) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Use of strategic plan.--The Secretary shall use the
strategic plan developed under paragraph (1) and dated 2022 to
inform the administration of the AGARDA under this section.'';
(5) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Funding.--In addition to funds otherwise deposited in
the Fund under paragraph (1) or (2)--
``(A) there is appropriated to the Fund, out of any
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to remain available
until expended; and
``(B) there is authorized to be appropriated to the
Fund $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, to remain available until expended.''; and
(6) by striking subsection (e).
SEC. 7124. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL
PROGRAMS.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1473I. CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a junior or community college supporting
agriculture advancement; and
``(B) a consortium or alliance of 2-year public
colleges supporting agriculture advancement.
``(2) Junior or community college.--The term `junior or
community college' has the meaning given the term in section
312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).
``(b) Competitive Grants.--The Secretary shall make competitive
grants to eligible entities to assist the eligible entities in
maintaining and expanding the capacity of the eligible entities to
conduct workforce training, education, research, and outreach
activities relating to the following disciplines:
``(1) Food and agricultural sciences.
``(2) Agribusiness and farm business management.
``(3) Meat and poultry processing.
``(4) Related disciplines, as determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Priority.--In making grants under subsection (b), the
Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity coordinating with a
local stakeholder engaged in activities relating to 1 or more of the
disciplines described in that subsection to provide experiential
training and other opportunities for students.
``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
subsection (b) may use the funds made available through the grant to
expand and maintain the capacity of the eligible entity to conduct
workforce training, education, research, and outreach activities
relating to the disciplines described in that subsection by--
``(1) successfully competing for funds from Federal grants
and other sources to carry out workforce training, education,
research, and outreach activities relating to those
disciplines;
``(2) disseminating information relating to those
disciplines to interested members of the food and agricultural
sciences, agribusiness, and farm business management
communities and to the public;
``(3) encouraging members of those communities to
participate in workforce training, education, research, and
outreach activities relating to those disciplines through
providing matching funding from sources other than funds
received through the grant; and
``(4) through--
``(A) the purchase or other acquisition of
equipment and other infrastructure (not including the
alteration, repair, renovation, or construction of
buildings);
``(B) the professional growth and development of
faculty; and
``(C) the development of apprenticeships and other
work-based learning opportunities.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 7125. AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION CORRIDORS.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 et seq.) (as amended by
section 7124) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1473J. AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION CORRIDORS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a
network of research corridors, each operated by an institution
described in paragraph (2), for research and development on
agricultural technology, to be known as `Agricultural
Innovation Corridors' (referred to in this section as `Ag
Innovation Corridors').
``(2) Eligible institutions.--An Ag Innovation Corridor
shall be operated by any of the following institutions:
``(A) An 1862 Institution, an 1890 Institution, or
a 1994 Institution (as those terms are defined in
section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601)).
``(B) An institution described in section 371(a) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
``(3) Geographic areas.--An Ag Innovation Corridor shall be
established in each of the following geographic areas of the
United States:
``(A) Northeast.
``(B) North Central.
``(C) Southeast.
``(D) Great Plains.
``(E) Rocky Mountain West.
``(b) Goals.--The Ag Innovation Corridors shall have the following
goals:
``(1) To demonstrate new and emerging technologies as
applied to agricultural and natural resource practices.
``(2) To demonstrate benefits of--
``(A) providing farms with internet service that is
capable of a speed of not less than--
``(i) a 100-Mbps downstream transmission
capacity; and
``(ii) a 20-Mbps upstream transmission
capacity;
``(B) controlled-environment food and agricultural
production; and
``(C) agrivoltaics systems for collocated
agricultural and solar energy production.
``(3) To engage with rural and urban audiences regarding
emerging agricultural technologies and educational
opportunities.
``(4) To cooperate and collaborate with agricultural
industry partners on emerging agricultural technologies and
opportunities.
``(5) To advance research to find new technologies and
practices to apply to agriculture and natural resources to
increase sustainability, profitability, and conservation of
resources.
``(6) To connect industry, researchers, and practitioners
across geographical areas to share research, new ideas, and
practices.
``(c) Activities.--The activities of the Ag Innovation Corridors
shall include--
``(1) long-term research--
``(A) to develop novel agricultural technologies
for use at regional and national scales; and
``(B) to evaluate the applicability and
adaptability of those technologies to local conditions;
``(2) the establishment and maintenance of multiple sites
or research centers that capture the diversity of agricultural
production systems that function as a network;
``(3) engagement and education of rural and urban audiences
regarding agricultural technologies; and
``(4) collaboration with agricultural industry partners at
research centers and sites to develop and research new
agricultural technologies and practices that increase
sustainability, profitability, and conservation.
``(d) Coordination of Research.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) coordinate long-term agricultural technology research
to improve understanding within the Department of Agriculture
of how technologies function at the field, regional, and
national scales;
``(2) ensure that each research site included within an Ag
Innovation Corridor conducts experiments with common goals and
methods--
``(A) to increase agricultural productivity and
profitability;
``(B) to enhance agricultural resilience and the
capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
``(C) to work with the agricultural industry to
develop technologies that address the goals described
in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
``(D) to educate both rural and urban audiences on
agriculture and new agricultural technologies;
``(3) make data collected at research sites included in Ag
Innovation Corridors open to researchers and the public
whenever practicable, and integrate data across the network and
partner sites; and
``(4) provide infrastructure to research sites included in
the Ag Innovation Corridors for data collection, common
measurements, and data streams that complement other national
networks, such as the National Ecological Observatory Network
and the Long-Term Ecological Research Network.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 7126. NATIONAL AGROFORESTRY SURVEY.
Subtitle K of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3310 et seq.) (as amended by
section 7125) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1473K. NATIONAL AGROFORESTRY SURVEY.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Forest
Service, the National Agroforestry Center, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and the
National Agricultural Statistics Service, shall conduct a national
agroforestry survey every 3 years beginning in 2026.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 7127. AQUACULTURE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 1477(a) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3324(a))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023.'' and inserting
``2024; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
(b) Indirect Costs.--Section 1477 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3324) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Indirect Costs.--Effective beginning on the date of enactment
of this subsection--
``(1) the limitation with respect to indirect costs under
section 1462 shall apply with respect to awards made under this
subtitle; and
``(2) the limitation with respect to indirect costs under
section 1473 shall not apply with respect to those awards.''.
SEC. 7128. RANGELAND RESEARCH PROGRAMS.
Section 1483(a)(2) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3336(a)(2)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7129. SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION FOR BIOSECURITY PLANNING AND RESPONSE.
Section 1484(a)(3) of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3351(a)(3)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7130. DISTANCE EDUCATION AND RESIDENT INSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM
FOR INSULAR AREA INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Distance Education Grants for Insular Areas.--Section
1490(f)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3362(f)(2)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(b) Resident Instruction Grants for Insular Areas.--Section
1491(c)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3363(c)(2)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle B--Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990
SEC. 7201. BEST UTILIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS.
Section 1624 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5814) is amended in the first sentence by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7202. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.
Section 1627(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821(d)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7203. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER
PROGRAM.
Section 1628(f)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831(f)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7204. NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM.
Section 1629(i) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832(i)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7205. NATIONAL GENETICS RESOURCES PROGRAM.
Section 1635(b)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5844(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7206. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEM.
Section 1641(c) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5855(c)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7207. AGRICULTURAL GENOME TO PHENOME INITIATIVE.
Section 1671(g) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5924(g)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7208. HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVES.
(a) In General.--Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (9) and inserting the following:
``(9) Coffee plant health initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purposes of--
``(A) developing and disseminating science-based
tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious
weeds (as those terms are defined in section 403 of the
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7702)) that impact
coffee plants;
``(B) establishing an areawide integrated pest
management program in areas affected by, or areas at
risk of being affected by, plant pests or noxious weeds
(as so defined) that impact coffee plants;
``(C) surveying and collecting data on coffee plant
production and health;
``(D) investigating coffee plant biology,
immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and
``(E) conducting research on--
``(i) factors that may contribute to or be
associated with coffee plant immune systems;
``(ii) other serious threats to coffee
plants, including the sublethal effects of
insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on
insects and plants beneficial to coffee plant
growth; and
``(iii) the development of mitigating and
preventative measures to improve habitat
conservation and best management practices in
coffee-growing regions.'';
(2) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following:
``(11) Macadamia tree health initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purposes of--
``(A) developing and disseminating science-based
tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious
weeds (as those terms are defined in section 403 of the
Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7702)) that impact
macadamia trees;
``(B) establishing an areawide integrated pest
management program in areas affected by, or areas at
risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or
noxious weeds (as so defined);
``(C) surveying and collecting data on macadamia
tree production and health;
``(D) investigating macadamia tree biology,
immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and
``(E) conducting research on various factors that
may contribute to or be associated with macadamia tree
immune systems, and other serious threats to macadamia
trees, including--
``(i) the sublethal effects of
insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on
beneficial insects and plants to macadamia tree
growth; and
``(ii) the development of mitigative and
preventative measures to improve habitat
conservation and best management practices in
macadamia tree growing regions.'';
(3) in paragraph (14)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F)
as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) to review the effectiveness of current cattle
fever tick eradication efforts in preventing and
reducing the spread of cattle fever ticks;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(21) PFAS agricultural effects research initiative.--
Research and extension grants may be made under this section
for the purposes of carrying out research relating to--
``(A) the effects of perfluoroalkyl substances and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (as those terms are defined
in section 7331(2)(B) of the PFAS Act of 2019 (15
U.S.C. 8931(2)(B))) on agricultural land used for the
production of crops and livestock, including cropland,
grassland, rangeland, pasture land, cropped woodland,
marshes, environmentally sensitive areas, and other
land related to agricultural production, as determined
by the Secretary; and
``(B) identifying methods to mitigate and remediate
the impacts of perfluoroalkyl substances and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (as so defined).
``(22) Peanut aflatoxin research initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purposes of--
``(A) pre- and post-harvest improvements in the
peanut production, handling, and processing sectors to
improve efficiency and manage aflatoxin;
``(B) advanced curing systems to minimize moisture
variation of individual peanut kernels; and
``(C) other efforts that can lead to a reduction in
the risk of losses due to mold and potential aflatoxin
contamination in storage.
``(23) Biochar research initiative.--Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the purposes of--
``(A) assessing the soil carbon sequestration
potential of various biochars and management systems
integrating biochar use;
``(B) understanding how to use biochar productively
to contribute to climate mitigation, crop production,
resilience to extreme weather events, ecosystem and
soil health, natural resource conservation, and farm
profitability; and
``(C) delivering science-based, region-specific,
cost-effective, and practical information to farmers,
ranchers, foresters, land reclamation managers, urban
land managers, and other land and natural resource
managers and businesses on sustainable biochar
production and application.
``(24) Spotted wing drosophila initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made and cooperative agreements may be
entered into under this section to mitigate the negative
effects of spotted wing drosophila.
``(25) Spotted lanternfly control initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the
purposes of developing and disseminating research-based tools
and treatments to combat the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma
delicatula).
``(26) Wheat resiliency initiative.--Research and extension
grants may be made under this section for the purpose of
building capacity to address emerging pest and disease
challenges to wheat production throughout the United States.
``(27) Invasive species research and extension.--Research
and extension grants may be made under this section for the
purpose of supporting research projects at land-grant colleges
and universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) to develop and apply methods to manage
and eradicate invasive species of plants and animals, including
through methods of biocontrol.
``(28) Advanced mechanized harvester technologies research
and extension.--
``(A) In general.--Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
developing and evaluating technologies to mechanize
agricultural processes.
``(B) Emphasis.--In awarding grants under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may place emphasis on
mechanizing the process for harvesting specialty crops.
``(29) Agricultural application of artificial intelligence
research and extension.--
``(A) In general.--Research and extension grants
may be made under this section for the purpose of
developing and evaluating agricultural uses of
artificial intelligence.
``(B) Emphasis.--In awarding grants under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary may place emphasis on
uses of artificial intelligence that improve specialty
crop production.
``(30) Aquaculture research and extension.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose
of supporting research projects at land-grant colleges and
universities (as defined in section 1404 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) to develop and apply aquaculture methods,
including through the propagation and rearing of economically
and ecologically valuable aquatic and marine species.
``(31) White oak research initiative.--
``(A) In general.--Research grants may be made
under this section to a land-grant college or
university (as defined in section 1404 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) for the purpose of
improving white oak species resiliency, health, and
preservation.
``(B) Priorities.--In awarding grants under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall prioritize
research relating to the resistance of white oak to
disease, pests, heat, and drought in cultivated, new,
and old-growth white oak timber stands.
``(32) Sunflower breeding initiative.--Research and
extension grants may be made under this section for the purpose
of developing sunflower hybrids adapted for United States
growing regions.''.
(b) Pulse Crop Health Initiative.--Section 1672(e)(5) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(e)(5))
is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(c) Training Coordination for Food and Agriculture Protection.--
Section 1672(f)(5) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(f)(5)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
(d) Pollinator Protection.--Section 1672(g) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(g)) is
amended in paragraphs (1)(B), (2)(B), and (3) by striking ``2023'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1672(h) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925(h)) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7209. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
Section 1672B of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``in each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'';
and
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A)
through (G) and inserting the following:
``(A) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 and
2020;
``(B) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
``(D) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and
2024;
``(E) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(F) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(G) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(H) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
``(I) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2029 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7210. ENHANCED COORDINATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH.
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 is
amended by inserting after section 1672B (7 U.S.C. 5925b) the
following:
``SEC. 1672C. ENHANCED COORDINATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--The Chief Scientist of the Department of
Agriculture shall coordinate research, extension, education, and
economic activities in the Department of Agriculture relating to
organic agriculture.
``(b) Duties.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Chief Scientist
shall--
``(1) assign an individual to serve in the Office of the
Chief Scientist as an Organic Agriculture Research Coordinator
(referred to in this section as the `Coordinator') who shall be
responsible for leading the efforts of the Chief Scientist in
carrying out that subsection;
``(2) implement and coordinate organic agriculture research
efforts of the Department of Agriculture;
``(3) establish annual strategic priorities and goals for
the Department of Agriculture for organic agriculture research;
``(4) communicate such priorities and goals to each agency
or office of the Department of Agriculture, organic agriculture
stakeholders, and relevant grant recipients under programs
administered by the Secretary; and
``(5) coordinate and identify all research on organic
agriculture research needed and conducted by the Department of
Agriculture and relevant grant recipients under programs
administered by the Secretary to ensure consistency and reduce
unintended duplication of effort.
``(c) Surveys; Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, and every 5 years thereafter, in coordination with the
roadmap for agricultural research, education, and extension
described in section 7504 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7614a), the Coordinator shall--
``(A) conduct a survey of all research of the
Secretary relating to organic agriculture, including a
survey of the acreage of certified organic agricultural
land used by the Agricultural Research Service; and
``(B) submit to the Secretary a report containing
the findings of the survey conducted under subparagraph
(A), which shall include sections relating to the
Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service,
the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and such
other agencies of the Department of Agriculture as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(2) Recommendations.--The Coordinator shall include in
each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B) recommendations
relating to--
``(A) enhancing the research conducted by the
Secretary that--
``(i) is applicable to agricultural
producers that adhere to the requirements under
the national organic program established under
the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.); and
``(ii) would explore the new or enhanced
research opportunities that could lead to new
discoveries, foster innovation, improve
technologies, and promote integrated systems
approaches to assist--
``(I) organic agricultural
producers;
``(II) consumers of organic food
products;
``(III) organic marketing and
distribution channels;
``(IV) transitioning-to-organic
agricultural producers, including with
respect to barriers to transitioning to
organic production and producers who
have considered transitioning to
organic production but decided not to
do so; and
``(V) the organic food industry;
and
``(B) strategies to increase the coordination and
effectiveness of projects carried out by the Secretary
that are applicable to organic production and that
would improve the efficiency, productivity,
profitability, and ecosystem services of organic crop
and livestock production.
``(3) Review of prior report.--The Coordinator shall
include in each report submitted under paragraph (1)(B)--
``(A) a review of the recommendations described in
paragraph (2) included in the prior report submitted
under paragraph (1)(B); and
``(B) the actions taken by the Secretary to
implement those recommendations.
``(4) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make each
report received under paragraph (1)(B) publicly available.''.
SEC. 7211. FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.
Section 1672D(d)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925f(d)(2)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7212. URBAN, INDOOR, AND OTHER EMERGING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Section 1672E of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5925g) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) managing waste streams of production practices to
improve the environmental impact of urban, indoor, and other
emerging agricultural practices.''; and
(2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
(b) Data Collection.--Section 7212(b) of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4812) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(A) by striking ``Not later than one year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the'' and inserting
``The''; and
(B) by striking ``the census of agriculture
conducted in the calendar year 2017'' and inserting
``each census of agriculture''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$14,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2019 through 2021'' and inserting
``$18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to
remain available until expended''.
SEC. 7213. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AT 1890 INSTITUTIONS.
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``excellence.'' and
inserting ``excellence at 1890 institutions.'';
(2) by striking subsections (a) through (c);
(3) in subsection (d), by striking the subsection
designation and heading and all that follows through ``The
Secretary'' in paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(a) Recognition.--The Secretary'';
(4) in subsection (a) (as so designated)--
(A) by inserting ``and not more than 10'' after
``not less than 3'';
(B) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting
``subsection (b)''; and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
subsections (b) through (d), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(5) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F)
as paragraphs (1) through (6), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) by striking ``paragraph (1)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``subsection (a)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Climate change.--A center of excellence established
under subsection (a) may focus on climate change adaption and
mitigation, soil health and carbon sequestration, nutrient and
manure management, advanced grazing management and crop-
livestock integration, perennial production systems,
agroforestry, on-farm and food system energy efficiency and
renewable energy production, and food waste reduction.
``(8) Forestry resilience and conservation.--A center of
excellence established under subsection (a) may focus on
fostering forest conservation, agroforestry, enhancing forest
resilience, and urban and community forestry programs to
promote biodiversity and environmental health.
``(9) Food safety, bioprocessing, and value-added
agriculture.--A center of excellence established under
subsection (a) may focus on food safety, bioprocessing, value-
added agriculture enterprise development, and innovative food
and agriculture product development.
``(10) Food and agricultural sciences and the social
sciences.--A center of excellence established under subsection
(a) may focus on the integration of the social sciences,
including economics, psychology, rural sociology, and other
social sciences and data sciences, into the food and
agricultural sciences to develop comprehensive solutions to
issues impacting underserved farmers and communities.'';
(6) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by striking
``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and
inserting ``$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029''; and
(7) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and indenting
appropriately; and
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``subsection
(a)''.
SEC. 7214. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR FARMERS WITH DISABILITIES.
Section 1680(c)(1)(B) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5933(c)(1)(B)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7215. NATIONAL RURAL INFORMATION CENTER CLEARINGHOUSE.
Section 2381(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3125b(e)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle C--Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act
of 1998
SEC. 7301. NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION, EXTENSION,
OUTREACH, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 405(j) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7625(j)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7302. INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION COMPETITIVE
GRANTS PROGRAM.
Section 406(f) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626(f)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7303. SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH REGARDING DISEASES OF WHEAT, TRITICALE,
AND BARLEY CAUSED BY FUSARIUM GRAMINEARUM OR BY TILLETIA
INDICA.
Section 408(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7628(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2023.'' and inserting
``2024; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
SEC. 7304. GRANTS FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS.
Section 410(d)(2) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7630(d)(2)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7305. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Section 412 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (f)(3), by striking ``subsection (d) and
(j),'' and inserting ``subsections (d), (j), and (k),'';
(2) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching
funds requirement under subparagraph (A).''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the
Initiative'' and inserting ``this section'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections
(k) and (l), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
``(j) Specialty Crop Mechanization and Automation Research and
Development Program.--
``(1) Establishment and purpose.--The Secretary shall
establish a competitive research and extension grant program to
increase the competitiveness of specialty crops in the United
States through the advancement and acceleration of
mechanization and automation, under which the Secretary awards
competitive grants to eligible entities--
``(A) to create or improve cost-effective
mechanization, automation, and other innovations and
technologies--
``(i) to reduce the manual labor
requirements of a specialty crop grower;
``(ii) to improve specialty crop farmworker
safety and health or working conditions; or
``(iii) to increase the efficiency of
specialty crop--
``(I) production;
``(II) resource management;
``(III) harvesting;
``(IV) processing;
``(V) postharvest technologies; or
``(VI) packaging;
``(B) to increase the adoption of specialty crop
mechanization, automation, and other innovations and
technologies by--
``(i) emphasizing adoption drivers, which
may include connectivity, autonomy,
reliability, durability, in-field validation,
and cost-effectiveness; or
``(ii) investing in and developing human
capital to increase the capacity of the
specialty crop sector to work with new
technologies; or
``(C) to accelerate specialty crop mechanization
and automation through--
``(i) prototype development;
``(ii) in-field trial testing;
``(iii) ongoing industry engagement; or
``(iv) rapid commercialization.
``(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to proposals for projects
that--
``(A) address the training or retraining of
farmworkers to operate, repair, program, or otherwise
maintain mechanization and automation solutions
involved in the project; and
``(B) include explicit mechanisms to communicate
the results of the project to producers and the public.
``(3) Applicability.--Subsections (a), (c) through (g),
(i), and (l) shall apply to the program established under this
subsection.'';
(5) in subsection (k) (as so redesignated), in paragraph
(5), by striking ``In addition to the amounts reserved under
subsection (k)(1)(C), there'' and inserting ``There''; and
(6) in subsection (l) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the subparagraph heading, by
striking ``Subsequent funding'' and
inserting ``Fiscal years 2014 through
2024''; and
(II) by striking ``fiscal year 2014
and each fiscal year thereafter'' and
inserting ``each of fiscal years 2014
through 2024''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D)
and inserting the following:
``(C) Subsequent funding.--
``(i) In general.--Of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary
shall make available to carry out this section
$170,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter.
``(ii) Allocation.--The Secretary shall
allocate funds made available under clause (i)
in accordance with the following:
``(I) Specialty crop research and
extension initiative.--For the
Initiative, not less than--
``(aa) $150,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029; and
``(bb) $170,000,000 for
fiscal year 2030 and each
fiscal year thereafter.
``(II) Specialty crop mechanization
and automation research and development
program.--For the specialty crop
mechanization and automation research
and development program established
under subsection (j), $20,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
``(iii) Reallocation.--Any funds allocated
under clause (ii)(II) that remain unobligated
on the date that is 1 year after the last day
of the fiscal year in which those funds are
first made available shall be reallocated for
the purposes described in clause (ii)(I).
``(iv) Availability of mechanization and
automation funds.--
``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding
paragraph (4), funds made available
under clause (i) and allocated under
clause (ii)(II) shall remain available
until expended.
``(II) Reallocated funds.--For
purposes of paragraph (4), amounts
reallocated under clause (iii) shall be
considered to be made available for the
fiscal year for which the amounts are
reallocated.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``for fiscal years 2014 through 2023'';
(ii) by striking ``In addition'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--In addition''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (A) (as so
designated), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029'';
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as subparagraph
(B) of paragraph (2) and indenting appropriately; and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 1408A of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3123a) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking ``(j)(3)''
and inserting ``(k)(3)'';
(B) in subsection (c)(5), by striking ``specialty
crop research initiative'' and inserting ``programs'';
and
(C) in subsection (g), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``(j)'' and inserting
``(k)''.
(2) Section 251(f)(1)(D)(x) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6971(f)(1)(D)(x)) is amended by striking ``specialty crop
research initiative under section 412 of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998'' and
inserting ``programs under section 412 of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7632)''.
(3) Section 12605(c) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of
2018 (7 U.S.C. 7632 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended--
(A) by striking ``412(j)'' and inserting
``412(k)''; and
(B) by striking ``7632(j))'' and inserting
``7632(k))''.
SEC. 7306. FOOD ANIMAL RESIDUE AVOIDANCE DATABASE PROGRAM.
Section 604(e) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7642(e)) is amended by striking
``$2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023'' and inserting
``$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 7307. OFFICE OF PEST MANAGEMENT POLICY.
Section 614(f) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7653(f)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023.'' and inserting
``2024; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
SEC. 7308. FORESTRY PRODUCTS ADVANCED UTILIZATION RESEARCH.
Section 617(f)(1) of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7655b(f)(1)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
Subtitle D--Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
PART I--AGRICULTURAL SECURITY
SEC. 7401. AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY COMMUNICATION CENTER.
Section 14112(c)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8912(c)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7402. ASSISTANCE TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY IN AGRICULTURAL
BIOSECURITY PLANNING, PREPARATION, AND RESPONSE.
Section 14113 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 8913) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7403. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COUNTERMEASURES.
Section 14121(b)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8921(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7404. AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 14122(e)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 8922(e)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
PART II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 7411. GRAZINGLANDS RESEARCH LABORATORY.
Section 7502 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 2019; 128 Stat. 901; 132 Stat. 4817) is
amended by striking ``15-year period beginning on the date of enactment
of this Act'' and inserting ``period beginning on the date of enactment
of this Act and ending on September 30, 2029''.
SEC. 7412. FARM AND RANCH STRESS ASSISTANCE NETWORK.
Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 5936) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ``, including
crisis lines'' before the semicolon at the end;
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ``$10,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$15,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029'';
(3) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
(4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Referrals to Providers.--As part of the efforts of the
recipient of a grant under subsection (a) to connect individuals to
behavioral health counseling and wellness support and to ensure
individuals have access to a comprehensive scope of mental health and
substance use treatments and supports, when applicable, the grant
recipient may establish referral relationships with--
``(1) certified community behavioral health clinics (as
defined in section 1905(jj)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396d(jj)(2));
``(2) health centers (as defined in section 330(a) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(a)));
``(3) rural health clinics (as defined in section 1861(aa)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)));
``(4) Federally qualified health centers (as defined in
that section); and
``(5) critical access hospitals (as defined in section
1861(mm) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm))).
``(f) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
submit to Congress and any other relevant Federal department or agency,
and make publicly available, a report describing--
``(1) the state of behavioral and mental health of
individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other
occupations relating to agriculture, including farmworkers and
food system workers; and
``(2) how the Department of Agriculture can improve
coordination and cooperation with Federal health departments
and agencies, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, to better address the behavioral and
mental health of individuals who are engaged in farming,
ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture
(including farmworkers and food system workers), such as
coordination and cooperation on serving those individuals
through existing national hotlines.''.
SEC. 7413. NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH PROGRAM.
Section 7525(e) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 5937(e)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 7414. SUN GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 7526(g) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 8114(g)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
Subtitle E--Other Matters
SEC. 7501. FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH.
Section 7601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 5939) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(1)(B)(iii), by striking ``annual
report required in subsection (f)(3)(B)'' and inserting
``annual report and strategic plan required under subsection
(f)(3)(B);'';
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(i) in clause (i)(I)--
(I) in item (bb), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(II) in item (cc), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(dd) a description of all
collaborative stakeholder
engagements providing an
opportunity for stakeholders to
provide input on agricultural
research priorities that were
conducted in the preceding
fiscal year.''; and
(ii) by striking clauses (iii) and (iv) and
inserting the following:
``(iii) Stakeholder notice and
engagement.--The Foundation shall publish an
annual notice with a description of
agricultural research priorities under this
section for the upcoming fiscal year,
including--
``(I) a schedule for funding
competitions;
``(II) a discussion of how
applications for funding will be
evaluated;
``(III) how the Foundation will
communicate information about funded
awards to the public to ensure that
grantees and partners understand the
objectives of the Foundation; and
``(IV) virtual and in-person
opportunities for collaborative
stakeholder engagement to provide input
on agricultural research priorities.
``(iv) Strategic plan.--Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, and
every 5 years thereafter, the Foundation shall
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate a strategic plan describing--
``(I) a forecast of major
agricultural challenge opportunities
identified by the scientific advisory
councils of the Foundation and approved
by the Board, including short- and
long-term objectives;
``(II) an overview of the efforts
that the Foundation has taken to be
transparent in each of the processes of
the Foundation, including--
``(aa) processes relating
to grant awards, including the
selection, review, and
notification processes;
``(bb) communication of
past, current, and future
research priorities;
``(cc) coordination with
the Department of Agriculture
to minimize duplication and
avoid conflicts; and
``(dd) plans to solicit and
respond to public input on the
opportunities identified in the
strategic plan;
``(III) the financial goals and
benchmarks for the next 5 years,
including a detailed plan for--
``(aa) raising funds in
amounts greater than the
amounts required under
subsection (g)(1)(B);
``(bb) soliciting
additional resources pursuant
to subsection (e)(4)(A)(iv) and
paragraph (2)(A)(iii); and
``(cc) managing and
leveraging such resources
pursuant to paragraph
(2)(A)(vii);
``(IV) the goals for the next 5
years relating to engaging stakeholders
in providing input on agricultural
research priorities; and
``(V) other related issues, as
determined by the Board.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Transparency.--To ensure transparency in the
decision-making and grant-making process of the Foundation, the
Foundation shall--
``(A) provide feedback to an individual or entity
that submits a completed research concept for which the
individual or entity has private funding but that does
not receive a public match from the Foundation for the
program or initiative;
``(B) provide feedback to one or more researchers
who apply for but do not receive a research grant
within a Foundation-led program or initiative; and
``(C) not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this paragraph, undergo a third-party
strategic review to solicit feedback from the food and
agricultural community on the quality of feedback
provided by the Foundation.''; and
(3) in subsection (g)(1)(A)--
(A) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting
the following:
``(i) General funding.--Of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary
shall transfer to the Foundation to carry out
this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain
available until expended.''; and
(B) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii).
SEC. 7502. HEIRS PROPERTY AND FRACTIONATED LAND LEGAL CLINICS.
Subtitle F of title VII of the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended
by inserting after section 7603 (7 U.S.C. 3125a-1) the following:
``SEC. 7603A. HEIRS PROPERTY AND FRACTIONATED LAND LEGAL CLINICS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) 1862 institution; 1890 institution.--The terms `1862
Institution' and `1890 Institution' have the meanings given
those terms in section 2 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
``(2) 1994 institution.--The term `1994 Institution' has
the meaning given the term in section 532 of the Equity in
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note;
Public Law 103-382).
``(b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall support the
provision of legal services to resolve ownership and succession on
farmland, including heirs property and fractionated land, by entering
into cooperative agreements with 1890 Institutions, 1994 Institutions,
and 1862 Institutions that demonstrate the ability to provide such
legal services through--
``(1) the law school of the 1890 Institution, 1994
Institution, or 1862 Institution; or
``(2) a partnership with--
``(A) a nonprofit legal organization or community-
based organization with experience providing such legal
services; or
``(B) an accredited law school of another
institution of higher education.
``(c) Priority.--In entering into cooperative agreements under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to 1890 Institutions
and 1994 Institutions.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 7503. CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL MATERIALS ACT.
Section 16(a)(2) of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7
U.S.C. 178n(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 7504. EQUITY IN EDUCATIONAL LAND-GRANT STATUS ACT OF 1994.
(a) Endowment for 1994 Institutions.--Section 533(b) of the Equity
in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public
Law 103-382) is amended in the first sentence by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
(b) Appropriations.--Section 534(a)(1) of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)
is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(1) by striking ``1996'' and inserting ``2025''; and
(2) by striking ``equal to'' and inserting ``not less
than''.
(c) Institutional Capacity Building Grants.--Section 535 of the
Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note;
Public Law 103-382) is amended by striking ``2023'' each place it
appears in subsections (b)(1) and (c) and inserting ``2029''.
(d) Research Grants.-- Section 536 of the Equity in Educational
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``with--'' in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(b) Cooperative Agreements.--A 1994 Institution that receives a
grant under subsection (a) may conduct research described in that
subsection under a cooperative agreement with--''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``at least 1'' and
inserting ``1 or more''; and
(2) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7505. REPORT ON THE EXTENSION SERVICE NEEDS OF TRIBAL LANDS AND
POPULATIONS.
(a) Study.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States (referred to in
this section as the ``Comptroller General'') shall conduct a study of--
(1) the extension service needs with respect to Tribal
lands and Tribal populations, regardless of the location of
those populations;
(2) whether the cooperative extension program and the
Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program established under
section 1677 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5930) are meeting those needs, including
by examining, for the most recent 20 years--
(A) the total amount of Federal funding received in
each State for extension services;
(B) the types of extension services, including
extension services on agriculture, serving the Tribal
population in each State and the amount of funding
spent on each type of extension service in the State;
and
(C) the Tribal population in each State; and
(3) how the program established under section 1677 of the
Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 5930) was established when that section was enacted by
Congress and the significant changes to the operation and
funding of that program since that enactment.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the
completion of the study under subsection (a), the Comptroller
General shall submit a report describing the results of the
study to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Recommendations.--If the Comptroller General finds
under the study under subsection (a) that the existing
cooperative extension program and the Federally Recognized
Tribes Extension Program are not meeting the needs described in
subsection (a)(1), the report under paragraph (1) shall include
such legislative and other recommendations as the Comptroller
General determines would result in a system under which those
needs are met in an equitable and effective manner.
SEC. 7506. RESTORATION OF 4-H NAME AND EMBLEM AUTHORITY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) 4-H club.--
(A) In general.--The term ``4-H club'' means a 4-H
club recognized under the 4-H Program.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``4-H club'' includes an
authorized agent of a 4-H club.
(2) 4-H emblem or name.--The term ``4-H emblem or name''
means the 4-H sign or emblem, consisting of a green four-leaf
clover with stem and the letter ``H'' in white or gold on each
leaflet, and the words ``4-H'', ``4-H Club'', and ``4-H
Clubs'', used to identify and distinguish the 4-H Program and
the activities, clubs, members, goods, and services of the 4-H
Program.
(3) 4-H program.--
(A) In general.--The term ``4-H Program'' means the
youth development program of the land-grant colleges or
universities, the Cooperative Extension System (as
defined by the Secretary), and the Department of
Agriculture.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``4-H Program'' includes
an authorized agent of the 4-H Program.
(4) Land-grant college or university.--
(A) In general.--The term ``land-grant college or
university'' means an 1862 Institution, an 1890
Institution, or a 1994 Institution (as those terms are
defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7601)).
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``land-grant college or
university'' includes an authorized agent of a land-
grant college or university.
(b) Effect of Repeal; Ratification.--
(1) Civil acts.--Any civil act or action of the 4-H
Program, a 4-H club, the Secretary, or a land-grant college or
university taken with respect to the use of the 4-H emblem or
name, or the recognition of any 4-H club, during the period
beginning on May 8, 1914, and ending on the date of enactment
of this Act, is deemed to be of legal force and effect and
ratified as if section 1002(3) of the Clean Up the Code Act of
2019 (title X of division O of Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat.
2155) had not been enacted into law.
(2) Effect on criminal law.--Nothing in this subsection
affects the effect on criminal law of the repeal made by
section 1002(3) of the Clean Up the Code Act of 2019 (title X
of division O of Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 2155).
(c) Authorizations for Use of 4-H Emblem or Name; Fees; Deposits.--
(1) Authorization.--The Secretary may--
(A) use the 4-H emblem or name; and
(B) grant authorizations to use the 4-H emblem or
name, as provided by regulations issued by the
Secretary.
(2) Fees.--An authorization under paragraph (1) may be
granted--
(A) without a fee or other consideration; or
(B) for a fee or other consideration.
(3) Use of fees.--The Secretary shall deposit into a
special account any fees collected under paragraph (2)(B), the
amounts in which shall remain available to the Secretary until
expended, without further appropriation, for furthering the 4-H
Program.
(d) Unauthorized Use of 4-H Emblem or Name.--
(1) Prohibition.--Whoever, other than the 4-H Program, a 4-
H club, the Department of Agriculture, a land-grant college or
university, and those authorized by them, uses in commerce the
4-H emblem or name or any reproduction, counterfeit, copy, or
colorable imitation of the 4-H emblem or name to indicate
membership in an association, organization, or other collective
group, or in connection with the sale, offering for sale,
distribution, or advertising of goods or services, on or in
connection with which that use is likely to cause confusion, to
cause mistake, or to deceive as to membership or participation
in, an affiliation, connection, or association with, or
authorization or approval by, a 4-H club or the 4-H Program,
shall be subject to the civil action in paragraph (2).
(2) Civil action.--The Attorney General on behalf of the
Secretary, or contract counsel procured by the Secretary, may
bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the
United States against whoever engages in any of the prohibited
acts described in paragraph (1) for the remedies provided in
the Act of July 5, 1946 (commonly known as the ``Trademark Act
of 1946'' or the ``Lanham Act'') (15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.).
(e) Savings Clauses.--
(1) Prior authorized uses.--Nothing in this section makes
unlawful the use of any emblem, name, sign, symbol, insignia,
or words that was lawful on December 26, 2020.
(2) Delegation.--Nothing in this section limits the
authority of the Secretary to delegate authority of the
Secretary as otherwise authorized by law.
SEC. 7507. AMENDMENTS TO THE HATCH ACT.
(a) Matching Funds.--Section 3(d)(1) of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7
U.S.C. 361c(d)(1)) is amended by striking ``agricultural research'' and
inserting ``agricultural research, for graduate student tuition and
fees,''.
(b) Use of Funds.--Section 4 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C.
361d) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ``administrative
planning'' and inserting ``graduate student tuition and fees,
administrative planning''.
(c) Payment of Allotments to State Agricultural Experiment
Stations.--Section 5 of the Hatch Act of 1887 (7 U.S.C. 361e) is
amended--
(1) in the second sentence, by striking ``officer known as
a director, and a treasurer or other officer appointed by the
government board of the station'' and inserting ``officer, to
be known as a `State Agricultural Experiment Station Director',
and a treasurer''; and
(2) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking ``or other officer''; and
(B) by striking ``director'' and inserting ``State
Agricultural Experiment Station Director,''.
SEC. 7508. RESEARCH FACILITIES ACT.
Section 6 of the Research Facilities Act (7 U.S.C. 390d) is
amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through ``Subject to'' in subsection (a) and
inserting the following:
``SEC. 6. FUNDING.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Subject to subsections (b), (c),
and (d), out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out the competitive grant program under section 4
$2,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to remain available until
expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--Subject to''; and
(2) in subsection (a)(2) (as so designated), in the first
sentence, by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7509. PUBLIC CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(iii), by inserting ``regionally
adapted cultivar and breed development,'' before ``selection
theory,''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by inserting ``regionally
adapted breed development,'' before ``selection theory,''.
(b) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2026, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
a report that provides information on all public cultivar and animal
germplasm research funded by the Department of Agriculture, including--
(1) an assessment of the research funded by the Department
of Agriculture relating to public cultivar and animal germplasm
development;
(2) identified research gaps relating to public cultivar
and animal germplasm development; and
(3) recommendations to improve coordination of all public
cultivar and animal germplasm work across the Department of
Agriculture, including engagement with relevant stakeholders.
SEC. 7510. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Subsection (b) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ``,
including shellfish'' before the semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in clause (vii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (viii), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ix) measuring, monitoring, reporting,
and verifying greenhouse gas emissions and
carbon sequestration.'';
(C) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (v), by striking the period
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) precision agriculture technologies;
``(vii) hydroponics, aquaponics,
aeroponics, and other production technologies
used in controlled-environment agricultural
production; and
``(viii) food loss and waste prevention and
reduction, including new technologies to extend
shelf life and new opportunities for new
upcycled food products.'';
(D) in subparagraph (F)--
(i) in clause (vii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (viii), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ix) workforce training, education,
research, and outreach activities relating to
the food and agricultural sciences (as defined
in section 1404 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).''; and
(E) adding at the end the following:
``(G) Agricultural climate adaptation and
mitigation.--Agricultural climate adaptation and
mitigation, including--
``(i) strategies for agricultural
adaptation to climate change and drought,
including strategies for small and medium-sized
farms and ranches;
``(ii) on-farm mitigation strategies and
solutions, including infrastructure, equipment,
and ecosystems-based strategies;
``(iii) economic and social costs and
benefits of adopting conservation practices to
mitigate and adapt to climate change;
``(iv) ecosystem service co-benefits of
reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and
adapting to climate change;
``(v) new technologies, methods, and models
to measure and predict greenhouse gas emissions
and soil carbon sequestration; and
``(vi) the intersection of agricultural
production, soil health, climate change, and
human health.'';
(2) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
``(E) to a consortium of junior or community
colleges (as defined in section 312 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058)) that may
partner with land-grant colleges or universities (as
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3103)), to carry out workforce training,
education, research, and outreach priorities described
in paragraph (2)(F)(ix).''; and
(3) in paragraph (11)(A), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7511. EXTENSION DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE.
Subsection (d)(6) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(d)(6)) is amended by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7512. BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Section 9008(h)(2) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8108(h)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7513. RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION ACT OF 1978.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 6 of the Renewable
Resources Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1675) is amended in the
first sentence by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
(b) Termination Date.--Section 8 of the Renewable Resources
Extension Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1671 note; Public Law 95-306) is
amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7514. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE ACT OF 1980.
Section 10 of the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2809)
is amended--
(1) by striking ``2023'' each place it appears and
inserting ``2029''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``the'' before
``Interior''.
SEC. 7515. FEDERAL AGRICULTURE RESEARCH FACILITIES.
Section 1431 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act Amendments of 1985 (title XIV of Public Law 99-198;
99 Stat. 1556) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 7516. ENHANCED USE LEASE AUTHORITY PROGRAM.
Section 308(b)(6)(A) of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 3125a
note; Public Law 103-354) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 7517. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS.
(a) Definition of Agrivoltaic System.--In this section, the term
``agrivoltaic system'' means a system under which solar energy
production and agricultural production, including crop or animal
production, occurs in an integrated manner on the same piece of land
through the duration of a project.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Secretary of Energy and relevant experts, shall conduct a study
on agrivoltaic systems that shall include--
(A) a review of the current research and gaps in
research relating to the regional compatibility of
different species of livestock with different
agrivoltaic panel and agrivoltaic system designs,
including--
(i) the optimal height of and distance
between solar panels for--
(I) livestock grazing; and
(II) shade for livestock;
(ii) manure management considerations;
(iii) fencing requirements;
(iv) other animal handling considerations;
and
(v) the incorporation of apiculture;
(B) an assessment of animal breeding research needs
with respect to beneficial and compatible
characteristics and behaviors of different species of
grazing animals in agrivoltaic systems;
(C) a review of the current research and gaps in
research relating to the regional compatibility of
different crop types with different agrivoltaic system
designs, including--
(i) the optimal height of and distance
between solar panels for--
(I) plant shading; and
(II) farm equipment use;
(ii) the impact on crop yield;
(iii) the impact on soil moisture and water
availability; and
(iv) market opportunities to sell crops at
a premium price;
(D) an assessment of plant breeding research needs
with respect to beneficial and compatible
characteristics of different crops, including specialty
and perennial crops, in agrivoltaic systems;
(E) a risk-benefit analysis of agrivoltaic systems
in different regions of the United States, including a
comparison between the total greenhouse gas impact of
agrivoltaic systems and solar energy systems that
displace agricultural production;
(F) an assessment of the economic scalability of
agrivoltaic systems across different agricultural land
types, production systems, and regional markets;
(G) an assessment of the types of agricultural land
best suited and worst suited for agrivoltaic systems;
(H) an assessment of how to best develop
agrivoltaic systems on a national and local scale
consistent with--
(i) maintaining or increasing agricultural
production;
(ii) increasing agricultural resilience;
(iii) retaining prime farmland;
(iv) increasing economic opportunities in
farming and rural communities;
(v) reducing nonfarmer ownership of
farmland; and
(vi) enhancing biodiversity;
(I) an assessment of the unique risk management and
crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic systems;
(J) an assessment of how Federal procurement of
agricultural products could help build a market for
agricultural products from farms with agrivoltaic
systems; and
(K) an assessment of appropriate modifications to
better incorporate agrivoltaic systems into existing
Federal--
(i) agricultural conservation programs;
(ii) agricultural risk management programs,
including Federal crop insurance;
(iii) renewable energy programs;
(iv) agricultural procurement programs; and
(v) investment tax credits.
(2) 5-year plan.--Based on the study under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall develop a 5-year plan for using the
research, extension, outreach, conservation, and renewable
energy activities of the Department of Agriculture to better
support agrivoltaic systems that do not displace agricultural
production.
(3) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, 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 containing the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
SEC. 7518. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, AND
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION JOINT RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out, with the Secretary
of Energy and the Director of the National Science Foundation, cross-
cutting and collaborative research and development activities focused
on the joint advancement of Department of Agriculture, Department of
Energy, and National Science Foundation mission requirements and
priorities.
(b) Memoranda of Understanding.--The Secretary shall carry out and
coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the
establishment of one or more memoranda of understanding, or other
appropriate interagency agreements, with the Secretary of Energy and
the Director of the National Science Foundation.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of the
National Science Foundation may--
(1) conduct collaborative research over a variety of focus
areas, such as--
(A) modeling and simulation, machine learning,
artificial intelligence, data assimilation, large-scale
data analytics, and predictive analysis in order to
optimize algorithms for purposes relating to
agriculture and rural energy, such as life cycle
analysis of agricultural or rural energy systems;
(B) fundamental agricultural, biological,
computational, and environmental science and
engineering, including advanced crop science, crop
protection, breeding, and biological pest control;
(C) integrated natural resources and the energy-
water nexus in agricultural or rural communities;
(D) advanced biomass, biobased products, and
biofuels, including in collaboration with the
activities authorized under title IX of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8101 et seq.);
(E) diverse feedstocks for economically and
environmentally sustainable fuels, including aviation
and naval fuels;
(F) colocation of agricultural resources and
activities and ecosystem services with diverse energy
technologies and resources, such as geothermal energy,
nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, natural gas,
hydropower, and energy storage;
(G) colocation of agricultural resources and
activities with carbon storage and utilization
technologies;
(H) invasive species management to further the work
done by the Federal Interagency Committee for the
Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds;
(I) long-term and high-risk technological barriers
in the development of transformative science and
technology solutions in the agriculture and energy
sectors, including in collaboration with the programs
authorized under section 1473H of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319k) and section 5012 of the
America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538);
(J) grid modernization and grid security and
resiliency for the purpose of improving and
strengthening electric service in rural areas;
(K) agricultural and rural technology development,
including manufacturing, precision agriculture
technologies, mechanization and automation
technologies, and technologies that strengthen the food
supply chain;
(L) wildfire risks and prevention, including the
power sector's role in fire prevention and mitigation
and wildfire impacts on energy infrastructure;
(M) technologies to address food and nutrition
security, including food loss and waste; and
(N) other relevant topics, as jointly agreed to by
the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, and the
Director of the National Science Foundation;
(2) develop methods to accommodate large voluntary
standardized and integrated data sets on agricultural,
environmental, supply chain, and economic information with
variable accuracy and scale;
(3) promote collaboration, open community-based
development, and data and information sharing between Federal
agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit institutions, industry partners, and other
appropriate entities by providing reliable access to secure
data and information that are in compliance with Federal rules
and regulations;
(4) support research infrastructure and workforce
development as the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, and the
Director of the National Science Foundation determine
necessary; and
(5) conduct collaborative research, development, and
demonstration of methods and technologies--
(A) to improve the efficiency of agriculture
operations and processing of agricultural products; and
(B) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated
with such operations and such processing.
(d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of the
National Science Foundation may--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the
National Science Foundation, and other entities in order to
maximize the effectiveness of research and development; and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies as appropriate.
(e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of
the National Science Foundation shall jointly submit to the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report detailing the following:
(1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency
involved in the research and development activities carried out
under this section.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical
capabilities of the Department of Agriculture, the Department
of Energy, and the National Science Foundation.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
(5) Continuation of coordination activities between the
Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, and the
National Science Foundation.
(f) Research Security.--The activities authorized under this
section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with subtitle D of
title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation
Act (42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
SEC. 7519. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION PARTNERSHIP ON COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Secretary of Commerce that provides for coordination and collaboration
between the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic
Development Administration to--
(1) identify Economic Development Administration funding
opportunities for cooperative extension activities at State
cooperative institutions (as defined in section 1404 of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
(2) publish a list of the funding opportunities identified
under paragraph (1); and
(3) provide targeted outreach to State cooperative
institutions (as so defined) to ensure that the State
cooperative institutions are aware of the funding opportunities
identified under paragraph (1).
TITLE VIII--FORESTRY
Subtitle A--Forest Data Modernization
SEC. 8101. FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS.
(a) In General.--Section 3(e) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``their resources'' and inserting
``the resources of those forests, including forest
carbon,'';
(B) by striking ``In compliance'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--In compliance''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Additional methods.--Under the program under
this subsection, the Secretary shall carry out, as a
data collection method--
``(i) a national timber products output
survey; and
``(ii) a national woodland owner survey.'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``including with
respect to available forest carbon data,'' after ``2
decades,'';
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ``The
standards'' and inserting the following:
``(B) Inclusions.--The standards described in
subparagraph (A)'';
(B) by striking ``(4) National standards and
definitions.--To ensure'' and inserting the following:
``(4) National consistency.--
``(A) Standards and definitions.--To ensure''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Terminology.--The Secretary shall include a
clear description of the definition of `forest' used
for purposes of reporting data from inventories and
analyses of forests and the resources of forests under
this subsection with--
``(i) any data or report provided under the
program under this subsection;
``(ii) Renewable Resource Assessments
prepared under section 3(a) of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(a)); and
``(iii) any data or report provided to an
entity outside the United States.'';
(4) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection,'' and inserting ``In
accordance with paragraph (7),''; and
(B) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E) and
inserting the following:
``(D) the organization and procedures necessary to
understand and report on changes in land cover and use;
``(E) the organization and procedures necessary to
evaluate carbon-related data variables, including soil
carbon, collected from forest inventory and analysis
plots, timber products output studies, and national
woodland owner surveys to ensure that carbon accounting
information needs can be met; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Updates to strategic plan.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall prepare an
update to the strategic plan under paragraph (6) to
include--
``(i) a plan to implement nationally
consistent data collection protocols and
procedures to improve the statistical precision
of base program estimates;
``(ii) pathways to integrate and report on
status and trends in--
``(I) forest carbon pools,
including below-ground carbon; and
``(II) rangeland, wetland, wet
meadow, and aquatic carbon sinks;
``(iii) plans, including the identification
of challenges, to collaborate with other
Federal agencies, non-Federal partners, and the
private sector to integrate existing nationally
available data sets and best available
commercial technologies, such as remote
sensing, spatial analysis techniques, and other
new technologies;
``(iv) a plan to increase transparency and
clarity in reporting in accordance with
paragraph (4)(C);
``(v) a plan to expand current data
collection, further integrate remote sensing
technology, or both, to include procedures to
improve the statistical precision of estimates
at the sub-State level;
``(vi) a plan to expand current data
collection, further integrate remote sensing
technology, or both, to include information on
renewable biomass supplies and carbon stocks at
the local, State, regional, and national
levels, including by ownership type; and
``(vii) such other matters as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate based on
recommendations of the Forest Inventory and
Analysis National User Group.
``(B) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives the
update to the strategic plan prepared under
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Further updates.--Not later than 5 years
after the date on which the update is submitted under
subparagraph (B), and every 5 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall--
``(i) prepare an additional update to the
strategic plan; and
``(ii) submit the additional update to the
committees described in subparagraph (B).
``(8) Accessibility.--The Secretary shall ensure that data
collected under this subsection is--
``(A) presented in a manner that is easily
accessible to the general public and technical experts,
including through tools to deliver smaller area
estimates; and
``(B) collected and made accessible using means
that ensure the confidentiality, in accordance with
section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
2276), of--
``(i) plot locations;
``(ii) nonaggregated data of woodland
owners; and
``(iii) nonaggregated data from the timber
products output survey carried out under
paragraph (1)(B)(i).
``(9) Confidentiality of information.--All data collected
through the national timber products output survey and the
national woodland owners survey under paragraph (1)(B) shall be
considered confidential in accordance with section 1770 of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 2276).
``(10) Annual compilations.--Annually, the Secretary shall
prepare and make publicly available a compilation of national
forest inventory and analysis forest statistics, which shall be
similar to the tables contained in the Renewable Resource
Assessments prepared under section 3(a) of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C.
1601(a)) and accompanied by relevant geospatial products.
``(11) Reports.--Each year, the Secretary shall publish as
part of the forest inventory and analysis business report a
detailed description of the progress of the Secretary in
implementing the programmatic elements of the strategic plan
described in paragraph (6), including--
``(A) the costs and priorities of the strategic
plan; and
``(B) how the program under this subsection
leverages new technology, improves and standardizes
collection protocols, and increases workforce
capacity.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 2(c) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641(c)) is amended
by inserting ``of Agriculture (referred to in this Act as the
`Secretary')'' after ``the Secretary''.
(c) Remote Sensing Technologies.--Section 8632(1) of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (16 U.S.C. 1642 note; Public Law
115-334) is amended by striking ``technologies'' and inserting
``technologies, such as microwave, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and high-
resolution remote sensing data, and advanced computing technologies,
such as machine learning, for improved modeling, including to provide
tabular statistical estimates and geospatial products,''.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts
otherwise available, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out the amendments made
by this section for each fiscal year.
SEC. 8102. DATA ON FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECTS.
Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(f) Data on Forest Management Projects.--
``(1) Data collection and mapping.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, shall--
``(A) create a publicly available database of--
``(i) forest management activities
conducted by the Secretary or the Secretary of
the Interior, including fuel breaks and
hazardous fuel reduction projects; and
``(ii) features on Federal land that are
relevant in the event of a wildland fire,
including functional roads and bridges, intact
wetlands, and wet meadow systems; and
``(B) develop a publicly available map that
indicates the management activities and features
described in subparagraph (A).
``(2) Updates.--
``(A) Database.--The database created under
paragraph (1)(A) shall track the progress of the forest
management activities described in clause (i) of that
paragraph, including anticipated completion dates.
``(B) Map.--The map developed under paragraph
(1)(B) shall be updated biannually to indicate the
status of the management activities and features
described in that paragraph.
``(3) Non-federal coordination.--The Secretary shall
coordinate with non-Federal entities, including affected State
fire protection agencies, to incorporate in the map developed
under paragraph (1)(B) management activities or features
referred to in that paragraph that were developed, are
maintained, or otherwise occur on non-Federal land.
``(4) Protected tribal information.--Information prohibited
from disclosure under section 8106 of the Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008 (25 U.S.C. 3056) that is included in the
database created under paragraph (1)(A) shall not be made
public.
``(5) Timeframe.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall establish the database and map under paragraph
(1) not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this
subsection.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise available, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to
carry out this subsection for each fiscal year.''.
SEC. 8103. FOREST AND WOOD PRODUCTS CARBON PROVISION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the
Forest Service, in collaboration with the Chief of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, State foresters, and private sector
partners, and in consultation with Indian Tribes, shall establish a
publicly available platform to provide measurement, monitoring,
verification, and reporting of data regarding the carbon emissions,
sequestration, storage, and related atmospheric impacts of forest
management and wood products.
(b) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
shall source data, information, and analyses from Department of
Agriculture programs, including--
(1) the Forest Inventory and Analysis program, including
the Timber Products Output Survey;
(2) Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation
Service soil carbon estimations;
(3) the Forest Products Laboratory;
(4) the Federal Life Cycle Assessment Commons;
(5) Department of Agriculture entity-level guidelines and
subsequent revisions; and
(6) other relevant programmatic data, emerging science, and
information sources that are published and made available by
the Department of Agriculture.
(c) Priorities.--The platform established by subsection (a) shall
provide tools that calculate--
(1) the above- and below-ground forest carbon stocks and
stock changes associated with species composition, forest
management regime, and landowner types, including small area
estimations for regional and localized geographies across the
United States, which shall be made available through the Forest
Inventory and Analysis program updates and annual reports;
(2) the embodied carbon involved in the manufacturing of
products, using data from published environmental product
declarations and life cycle assessments, which shall be updated
as new and more refined data becomes available;
(3) the long-term stored carbon in manufactured timber
products; and
(4) the carbon displacement of wood products, compared to
other materials, using substitution factors.
(d) Timeframe.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary
shall establish the platform under subsection (a) not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(e) Data Collection.--The platform established by subsection (a)
shall be distinct from the database established under subsection
(f)(1)(A) of section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1642).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
Subtitle B--Forest Health and Management
SEC. 8201. DEFINITION OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM.
In this subtitle, the term ``National Forest System'' has the
meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
PART I--FOREST SERVICE MANAGEMENT
SEC. 8211. HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION ON FEDERAL LAND.
Section 108 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6518) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8212. INSECT INFESTATIONS AND RELATED DISEASES.
Section 406 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6556) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8213. INSECT AND DISEASE TREATMENT AREAS.
Section 602(d)(2) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6591a(d)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 8214. STUDY ON PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM INVASIVE SPECIES.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract
(referred to in this section as the ``Contract'') with the National
Academy of Sciences, or another nongovernmental entity that the
Secretary determines to be most appropriate, under which the National
Academy of Sciences or other entity, as applicable, not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, shall conduct, and submit
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a
report describing the results of, a study to analyze the available
resources that Federal agencies have to research, and find solutions
to, nonnative invasive plants, insects, and pathogens.
(b) Recommendations.--The report submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include recommendations--
(1) with respect to--
(A) establishing a national policy to effectively
counter the threat posed to tree species and forest
ecosystems by invasive species (as defined in section 1
of Executive Order 13112 (42 U.S.C. 4321 note; relating
to invasive species)), including plants, insects, and
pathogens, including preventing the introduction and
spread of those invasive species, minimizing the damage
caused by those invasive species, and restoring
affected tree species to forest ecosystems;
(B) improving coordination and cooperation among
Federal agencies with responsibility for management and
repair of the decimation of tree species affected by
invasive species and associated ecological destruction,
including through activities of the National Invasive
Species Council;
(C) addressing the low prioritization by the
Federal agencies described in subparagraph (B) of
invasive species affecting forests and trees;
(D)(i) identifying expertise and site and facility
resources within the Federal agencies described in
subparagraph (B); and
(ii) improving coordination among those agencies
with respect to the management and repair described in
subparagraph (B), including coordination with academic
institutions and other appropriate nonprofit
organizations;
(E) identifying opportunities for the National
Invasive Species Council to increase the provision of
advice and technical assistance relating to the control
or prevention of invasive species and the restoration
of native species, with an emphasis on services that
are available, or could be made available through
additional legislation, to the Department of
Agriculture, including the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, the Agricultural Research Service,
the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Forest
Service; and
(F)(i) giving priority to the emergency response of
the Department of Agriculture to an emergency relating
to invasive species;
(ii) clarifying the coordination of the Department
of Agriculture with other Federal agencies in
responding to those emergencies; and
(iii) identifying funding levels sufficient to
carry out responses to those emergencies; and
(2) that--
(A) take into account existing Federal resources;
and
(B) may be implemented through further legislative
and administrative action.
(c) Consultation.--The Contract shall require the National Academy
of Sciences or other entity, as applicable, to consult with specialists
in entomology, genetics, forest pathology, tree breeding, forest and
urban ecology, and invasive species management.
SEC. 8215. FOREST SERVICE PARTICIPATION IN ACES PROGRAM.
Section 8302(b) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C.
3851a(b)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8216. TRIBAL CONSULTATION IN LAND USE PLANS.
Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(43 U.S.C. 1712) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at
the end the following: ``, in consultation with the governing
body of any Indian tribe or Alaska Native Corporation that
has--
``(1) rights or interests on the National Forest System
land that may be impacted; or
``(2) access to participate in traditional or cultural
practices, or in the protection of scared sites or resources,
on the National Forest System land.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(9)--
(A) in the second sentence, by inserting ``and
consultation with the governing bodies of Indian tribes
and Alaska Native Corporations,'' after ``appointed,'';
and
(B) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``State''
and inserting ``State, tribal,''.
SEC. 8217. PRESCRIBED FIRE CENTERS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Center.--The term ``center'' means a center established
under subsection (b).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 1 or more centers
to train individuals in prescribed fire methods and other methods
relevant to the mitigation of wildfire risk.
(c) Host Institutions.--The 1 or more centers shall be developed in
collaboration with 1 or more institutions of higher education and
located at--
(1) 1 or more institutions of higher education; or
(2) an existing Federal land management facility.
(d) Goals.--The 1 or more centers shall advance the following
goals:
(1) Training individuals, including wildland firefighters,
foresters, scientists, and land managers, to safely and
effectively plan and conduct prescribed fires and vegetation
management activities.
(2) Conducting research on the use of prescribed fire
methods in tandem with other forest restoration methods to
achieve greater forest health and resiliency outcomes,
including coordinating with research stations, institutions of
higher education, and Indian Tribes to include the latest
research on--
(A) social science, human dimensions, and
traditional ecological knowledge to best inform those
aspects of prescribed fire; and
(B) fuels, forest health, and resiliency.
(3) Developing and advancing interdisciplinary science
relating to wildfire, including social science and human
dimensions of wildfire, in consultation with stakeholders who--
(A) will benefit from the outcomes of that science
or use it to benefit populations at risk from wildfire;
and
(B) will coordinate with 1 or more other centers in
developing and advancing that science.
(4) Conducting ongoing and forward-looking needs
assessments among stakeholders, including Federal and State
agencies and Indian Tribes, to determine common need
requirements and emerging challenges to reduce wildfire risk
and adapt communities to increased risk from wildfire,
including the following hazard-related focus areas:
(A) Increasing disaster resilience.
(B) Mitigation and management methods.
(C) Air quality.
(D) Firestorm weather forecasting and burn-area
debris flow forecasting, including empirical and
modeling research.
(5) Collaborating with Federal wildfire scientists at the
Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and other
relevant agencies.
(6) Identifying, through a detailed engagement process
targeting defined end-users, the requirements and delivery
mechanisms for products and services that are practical and
will have an impact on mitigating wildfire risk.
(7) Promoting technology transfer with pathways for
dissemination, implementation, and application of research
results on the ground, using and enhancing previous research.
(8) Ensuring the connectivity and interoperability of
distributed services to maximize synergies and benefits across
services.
(9) Developing open digital infrastructure to make research
data, science, and models open for all sectors to use.
(10) Understanding the effectiveness of historical and
current wildfire management and suppression strategies,
including on wildfires that start in wilderness areas,
wilderness study areas, or inventoried roadless areas.
(e) Location.--
(1) In general.--In selecting the locations for the 1 or
more centers, the Secretary shall prioritize locations--
(A) with no nearby Federal prescribed fire training
center;
(B) with high wildfire risk; and
(C) that would offer prescribed training in forest
types not accessible through other Federal prescribed
fire training centers.
(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with the
Joint Fire Science Program to solicit and evaluate proposals
for the locations of the 1 or more centers.
(3) Selection.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, based on the consultation under
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall select locations for the 1
or more centers.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section for each fiscal year.
SEC. 8218. COST-SHARE WAIVER FOR REHABILITATION FROM WILDLAND FIRES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered matching requirement.--The term ``covered
matching requirement'' means a requirement under a program of
the Secretary for wildland fire recovery for a State, Indian
Tribe, locality, or individual to provide matching funds, in
cash, for a project.
(2) Covered wildland fire.--The term ``covered wildland
fire'' means a wildland fire that the Secretary determines to
be a result of management activities conducted by the Secretary
on National Forest System land.
(3) Wildland fire.--
(A) In general.--The term ``wildland fire'' means
any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or
natural fuels.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``wildland fire''
includes wildfire, prescribed fire, and any direct or
indirect damage resulting in watershed impairment.
(b) Waiver.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary may waive any covered matching requirement for a project in
response to a covered wildland fire that is in an area affected by that
covered wildland fire.
SEC. 8219. UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHTS-OF-WAY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PILOT PROGRAM.
Section 8630(j) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (43
U.S.C. 1772 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8220. PERMITS AND AGREEMENTS WITH ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
(a) In General.--In any special use permit or easement on National
Forest System land provided to an electric utility, the Secretary may
provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation,
including hazardous vegetation that increases fire risk, from within
150 feet of distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring
a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent
with--
(1) the applicable land management plan; and
(2) other applicable environmental laws (including
regulations).
(b) Use of Proceeds.--A special use permit or easement that
includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a)
shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electric utility
sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement,
the electric utility shall provide to the Secretary, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale, less
any transportation costs incurred in the sale.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of
any material removed under a permit or easement that includes
permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).
PART II--STATE, PRIVATE, AND TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS
SEC. 8231. SUPPORT FOR STATE ASSESSMENTS AND STRATEGIES FOR FOREST
RESOURCES.
Section 2A(f)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
(16 U.S.C. 2101a(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 8232. STATE AND PRIVATE FOREST LANDSCAPE-SCALE RESTORATION
PROGRAM.
Section 13A(l)(3) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a(l)(3)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8233. PROMOTING CROSS-BOUNDARY WILDFIRE MITIGATION.
Section 103(e)(5) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6513(e)(5)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 8234. WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM.
Section 303 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6542) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and
(H) as subparagraphs (K) and (L), respectively;
and
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (F)
the following:
``(G) an acequia association;
``(H) a local, regional, or other public entity
that manages stormwater or wastewater resources or
other related water infrastructure;
``(I) a land-grant mercedes;
``(J) a local, regional, or other private entity
that has water delivery authority;'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as
paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively; and
(C) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Adjacent land.--The term `adjacent land' means non-
Federal land, including State, local, and private land--
``(A) that is adjacent to, and within the same
watershed as, National Forest System land on which a
watershed protection and restoration project is carried
out under this section; and
``(B) the landowner of which consents to carrying
out a watershed protection and restoration project on
the land under this section.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by inserting ``and adjacent land'' before the
period at the end;
(B) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Requirements.--A watershed protection and restoration
project under the Program shall be designed to--
``(A) protect and restore watershed health, water
supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water
supply system, and water-related infrastructure;
``(B) protect and restore forest health from insect
infestation and disease or wildfire; or
``(C) advance any combination of the purposes
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(3) Priorities.--In selecting watershed protection and
restoration projects under the Program, the Secretary shall
give priority to projects that would--
``(A) provide risk management benefits associated
with drought, wildfire, post-wildfire conditions,
extreme weather, or flooding, including minimizing
risks to watershed health, water supply and quality,
and water-related infrastructure, including municipal
and agricultural water supply systems;
``(B) support aquatic restoration and conservation
efforts that complement existing or planned forest
restoration or wildfire risk reduction efforts;
``(C) provide quantifiable benefits to water supply
or quality and include the use of nature-based
solutions, such as restoring wetland and riparian
ecosystems;
``(D) improve--
``(i) resilience to climate change; or
``(ii) watershed and fire resilience;
``(E) include--
``(i) partners with demonstrated capacity
and success in designing and implementing
ecological restoration projects, wildfire risk
reduction efforts, or post-wildfire restoration
projects; or
``(ii) in the case of communities that have
historically lacked access to adequate
resources, partners with a strong likelihood of
success in designing and implementing a
watershed protection and restoration project;
``(F) include a contribution of funds or in-kind
support from non-Federal partners in an amount greater
than the amount required under subsection (g)(2); or
``(G) include such other characteristics as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(4) Conditions for projects on adjacent land.--
``(A) In general.--No project or activity may be
carried out under this section on adjacent land unless
the owner of the adjacent land provides express support
for, and is a willing and engaged partner in, carrying
out that project or activity.
``(B) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes
any change in--
``(i) the ownership of adjacent land on
which a project or activity is carried out
under this section; or
``(ii) the management of adjacent land on
which a project or activity is carried out
under this section, except during the carrying
out of that project or activity.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and adjacent land''
after ``watersheds'';
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or'';
(iii) by striking ``with end water users''
and inserting the following: ``with--
``(A) end water users''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) end waters users to protect and restore the
condition of National Forest watersheds and adjacent
land that provide water for the benefit of another end
water user.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or''
after the semicolon;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C)
the following:
``(D) in the case of an agreement with a State, a
county, or an Indian tribe for a project carried out on
National Forest System land, a good neighbor agreement
entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Cooperation with non-federal partners.--The Secretary
shall cooperate with non-Federal partners in carrying out
assessments, planning, project design, and project
implementation under this section.'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``shall be
conducted'' and inserting the following: ``shall be--
``(A) designed to protect and restore ecological
integrity (as defined in section 219.19 of title 36,
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date
of enactment of this subparagraph));
``(B) based on the best available scientific
information; and
``(C) conducted''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Reducing redundancy.--An existing watershed plan,
such as a watershed protection and restoration action plan
developed under section 304(a)(3), or other applicable
watershed planning documents may be used as the basis for a
water source management plan under this subsection.'';
(5) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``purpose of--'' in
the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows
through the period at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting
``purpose of advancing any of the purposes described in
subsection (b)(2).''; and
(6) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``at least equal to'' and
inserting ``not less than 20 percent of'';
(ii) by striking ``The Secretary'' and
inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Secretary''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
requirement under subparagraph (A) at the discretion of
the Secretary.'';
(B) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019
through 2023'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (E); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B)
the following:
``(C) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated,
out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter to carry out this section, to
remain available until expended.
``(D) Set-aside for partner participation in
planning and capacity.--Of the amounts made available
under subparagraphs (B) and (C) to carry out this
section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use
not less than 10 percent for non-Federal partner
technical assistance participation and capacity-
building efforts in developing or implementing a water
source management plan under subsection (d).''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) In-kind contributions.--The Secretary may include the
value of forest restoration and watershed improvement work
implemented on adjacent land in the project area in determining
in-kind contributions from non-Federal partners under paragraph
(4)(A).''.
SEC. 8235. WATERSHED CONDITION FRAMEWORK.
Section 304 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6543) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) that ensures that management activities and
authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of
watershed health or lower the classification under paragraph
(1) of any watershed in a National Forest.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated, out of
amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry
out this section, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 8236. TRIBAL FOREST PROTECTION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS.
Section 8703 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (25 U.S.C.
3115b) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``management
demonstration project'' and inserting ``protection management
activities and projects'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);
(3) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``demonstration'';
(B) by striking ``federally recognized'';
(C) by striking ``programs of'' and inserting
``activities and projects under''; and
(D) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``The Secretary''
and inserting the following:
``(b) Activities and Projects.--The Secretary'';
(4) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' means an
Indian tribe included on the list published by the Secretary of
the Interior under section 104 of the Federally Recognized
Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
``(2) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).'';
(5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and
inserting ``subsection (b)''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Publication of Information.--The Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary shall--
``(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this subsection, make available on the website of the
Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture in
an easily accessible format and location a list of the types of
activities and projects that Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations may contract to perform under subsection (b); and
``(2) update the list made available under paragraph (1) as
necessary.''.
SEC. 8237. INCORPORATION OF TRIBAL MANAGEMENT PLANS.
(a) In General.--Section 2(b) of the Tribal Forest Protection Act
of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(4) Incorporation of tribal management plans.--In
developing and carrying out an agreement or contract under this
section on receipt of a request from an Indian tribe, the
Secretary shall incorporate into the agreement or contract, to
the maximum extent that the Secretary determines is consistent
with Federal law and the purposes of this Act--
``(A) Tribal forest land, agriculture, and
rangeland management plans, including forest management
plans (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian
Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)); and
``(B) integrated resource management plans (as
defined in section 4 of the American Indian
Agricultural Resource Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3703)),
excluding any Tribal codes that are expressly
incorporated into such a plan, in effect on the Indian
forest land or rangeland of the applicable Indian
tribe.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Section 2(a)(3) of the Tribal Forest
Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a(a)(3)) is amended by striking
``(25 U.S.C. 450b).'' and inserting ``(25 U.S.C. 5304).''.
SEC. 8238. HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM.
Section 508 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16
U.S.C. 6578) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, to remain available
until expended'' before the period at the end;
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Mandatory Funding.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this section, to
remain available until expended.''.
SEC. 8239. AUTHORIZATION FOR LEASE OF FOREST SERVICE SITES.
Section 8623 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (16 U.S.C.
580d note; Public Law 115-334) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), by striking ``Secretary'' and
inserting ``Chief of the Forest Service'';
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii)--
(i) in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by inserting ``subject to the terms of a lease
under this section,'' after ``in-kind,'';
(ii) in subclause (II), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(iii) in subclause (III), by striking
``or'' at the end and inserting ``and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(IV) services occurring outside
of the administrative site that--
``(aa) occur--
``(AA) at another
administrative site; or
``(BB) on the unit
and within the region
of the National Forest
System in which the
administrative site is
located; and
``(bb) support Forest
Service activities occurring
within the unit of the National
Forest System in which the
administrative site is located;
or''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Lease term.--The term of a lease of an administrative
site under this section shall be up to 100 years.'';
(3) in subsection (g)--
(A) by inserting ``(or other party)'' after
``leaseholder''; and
(B) by inserting ``or constructed'' after
``improved''; and
(4) in subsection (i), by striking ``2023'' each place it
appears and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8240. MODIFICATION OF GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16
U.S.C. 2113a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (4)(A)(iii), by inserting ``,
including activities by the Governor, Indian tribe, or
county to build capacity to administer programs under
good neighbor agreements,'' after ``any other
activities''; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``or Indian
tribe''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``, Indian
tribe,'' after ``Governor'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) by striking clause (i) and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Funds received from the
sale of timber by a Governor, an Indian tribe,
or a county under a good neighbor agreement
shall be retained and used by the Governor,
Indian tribe, or county, as applicable--
``(I) to carry out authorized
restoration services under the good
neighbor agreement; and
``(II) if there are funds remaining
after carrying out subclause (I), to
carry out authorized restoration
services under other good neighbor
agreements.''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2029''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Limitations.--
``(i) Non-federal land.--Any authorized
restoration services under a good neighbor
agreement that are carried out on non-Federal
land using funds received under subparagraph
(C) shall be--
``(I) for the benefit of Federal
land; and
``(II) similar and complementary to
services being performed on adjacent
Federal land under the good neighbor
agreement, which may include activities
to build capacity to administer
programs under good neighbor
agreements.
``(ii) Majority federal land.--At any time,
not less than 51 percent of the land on which
authorized restoration services are carried out
under a good neighbor agreement shall be
Federal land.''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, Indian
tribe,'' after ``Governor''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act
of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``, Indian tribe,''
after ``Governor''; and
(2) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``, Indian tribe,''
after ``Governor''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply to
any project initiated pursuant to a good neighbor agreement (as defined
in section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C.
2113a(a))) after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement
Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4490).
SEC. 8241. GAO REPORTS ON GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.
Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) GAO Reports.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Comptroller general.--The term `Comptroller
General' means the Comptroller General of the United
States.
``(B) Project type.--The term `project type' means
the type of activities described in clause (i), (ii),
or (iii) of subsection (a)(4)(A).
``(2) Study.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and once every 3 years
thereafter, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study--
``(A) describing each project conducted under a
good neighbor agreement since the date of enactment of
this Act (Public Law 113-79; 128 Stat. 649) or the date
of the last study conducted under this paragraph, if
applicable, categorized by the project type;
``(B) identifying--
``(i) the number of projects described in
subparagraph (A) that have occurred exclusively
on Federal land; and
``(ii) the number of those projects that
have occurred on both Federal land and State,
local, Tribal, or private land;
``(C) determining whether authorized restoration
services were carried out under each project described
in subparagraph (A), as required by subsection
(b)(1)(A);
``(D) comparing the acreage of timber harvested
under each project conducted under a good neighbor
agreement with the total acreage treated under that
project;
``(E) assessing how non-Federal partners use funds
retained from the sale of timber under subsection
(b)(2)(C), including--
``(i) a description of the projects
conducted using those funds, categorized by the
project type; and
``(ii) which projects described in clause
(i), if any, have occurred on non-Federal land,
including State, local, Tribal, and private
land;
``(F) comparing the workforce conditions, pay, and
diversity metrics for workers hired under Federal
procurement authority, including those hired under the
H-2B nonimmigrant program, to the workforce conditions,
pay, and diversity metrics for workers hired under good
neighbor agreements; and
``(G) assessing how good neighbor agreements
contribute to ecosystem health and community safety.
``(3) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion
of each study conducted under paragraph (2), the Comptroller
General shall prepare and submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report
that contains the findings of that study.''.
SEC. 8242. COLLABORATIVE FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PROGRAM.
Section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (16
U.S.C. 7303) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(D), by striking ``species;'' and
inserting ``species or pathogens;'';
(2) in subsection (c)(3)(A)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (ii), by adding ``and'' at the end;
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) include a Federal Government
staffing plan for providing staff to support
collaborative engagement and implementation of
the strategy;'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) proposals that seek to reduce the risk of
uncharacteristic wildfire or increase ecological
restoration activities--
``(i) within areas across land ownerships,
including State, Tribal, and private land; and
``(ii) within the wildland-urban interface
(as defined in section 101 of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6511)); and
``(H) proposals that seek to enhance watershed
health and drinking water sources.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``10''
and inserting ``20''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``2''
and inserting ``4'';
(4) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting ``conflict
resolution or collaborative governance,'' before ``and woody'';
and
(5) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by striking
``$4,000,000'' and inserting ``$8,000,000''; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8243. JOINT CHIEFS LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title VI of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of
2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 607. JOINT CHIEFS LANDSCAPE RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Chiefs.--The term `Chiefs' means the Chief of the
Forest Service and the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
``(2) Eligible activity.--The term `eligible activity'
means an activity--
``(A) to reduce the risk of wildfire;
``(B) to protect water quality and supply;
``(C) to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk
species;
``(D) to recover from wildfire; or
``(E) to enhance soil, water, and related natural
resources.
``(3) Program.--The term `Program' means the Joint Chiefs
Landscape Restoration Partnership program established under
subsection (b)(1).
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
``(5) Wildland-urban interface.--The term `wildland-urban
interface' has the meaning given the term in section 101.
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a Joint
Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership program to improve the
health and resilience of forest landscapes across National
Forest System land and State, Tribal, and private land.
``(2) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the
Program by coordinating eligible activities conducted on
National Forest System land and State, Tribal, or private land
across a forest landscape to improve the health and resilience
of the forest landscape by--
``(A) assisting producers and landowners in
implementing eligible activities on eligible private or
Tribal land using the applicable programs and
authorities administered by the Chief of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service under title XII of the
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), not
including the conservation reserve program established
under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D of that
title (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.); and
``(B) conducting eligible activities on National
Forest System land or assisting landowners in
implementing eligible activities on State, Tribal, or
private land using the applicable programs and
authorities administered by the Chief of the Forest
Service.
``(3) Agency coordination.--In carrying out the Program,
the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall--
``(A) consider corresponding management plans from
the Chief of the Forest Service; and
``(B) collaborate with the Chief of the Forest
Service on forestry science and practice, using the
best available science.
``(c) Selection of Eligible Activities.--The appropriate Regional
Forester and State Conservationist shall jointly submit to the Chiefs
on an annual basis proposals for eligible activities under the Program.
``(d) Evaluation Criteria.--In evaluating and selecting proposals
submitted under subsection (c), the Chiefs shall consider--
``(1) criteria including whether the proposal--
``(A) reduces wildfire risk and post-wildfire
impacts in a municipal watershed or the wildland-urban
interface;
``(B) was developed through a collaborative process
with participation from diverse stakeholders;
``(C) increases forest workforce capacity or forest
business infrastructure and development;
``(D) leverages existing authorities and non-
Federal funding;
``(E) provides measurable outcomes; or
``(F) supports established State and regional
priorities identified in the corresponding State forest
action plan or a similar priority plan (such as a State
wildlife or water plan); and
``(2) such other criteria relating to the merits of the
proposals as the Chiefs determine to be appropriate.
``(e) Outreach.--The Secretary shall provide--
``(1) public notice on the websites of the Forest Service
and the Natural Resources Conservation Service describing--
``(A) the solicitation of proposals under
subsection (c); and
``(B) the criteria for selecting proposals in
accordance with subsection (d); and
``(2) information relating to the Program and activities
funded under the Program to States, Indian tribes, units of
local government, and private landowners.
``(f) Exclusions.--An eligible activity may not be carried out
under the Program--
``(1) in a wilderness area or designated wilderness study
area;
``(2) in an inventoried roadless area;
``(3) on any Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or
Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is
restricted or prohibited; or
``(4) in an area in which the eligible activity would be
inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management
plan.
``(g) Reports.--For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, the
Chiefs shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives a report describing projects for which funding
is provided under the Program, including the status and outcomes of
those projects.
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Program
$90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
``(2) Additional funds.--In addition to the funds described
in paragraph (1), the Secretary may obligate available funds
from accounts used to carry out the existing Joint Chiefs'
Landscape Restoration Partnership prior to November 15, 2021,
to carry out the Program.
``(3) Distribution of funds.--Of the funds made available
under paragraph (1)--
``(A) not less than 40 percent shall be allocated
to carry out eligible activities through the Natural
Resources Conservation Service;
``(B) not less than 40 percent shall be allocated
to carry out eligible activities through the Forest
Service; and
``(C) the remaining funds shall be allocated by the
Chiefs to the Natural Resources Conservation Service or
the Forest Service--
``(i) to carry out eligible activities; or
``(ii) for other purposes, such as
technical assistance, project development, or
local capacity building.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 40808 of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592d) is repealed.
SEC. 8244. EMERGENCY FOREST WATERSHED PROGRAM.
(a) Funding and Administration.--Section 404(b) of the Agricultural
Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2204(b)) is amended by inserting ``to
carry out section 401'' after ``for a fiscal year''.
(b) Emergency Forest Watershed Program.--Title IV of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 408. EMERGENCY FOREST WATERSHED PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Emergency watershed protection measures.--The term
`emergency watershed protection measures' means measures that--
``(A) are necessary to address runoff, soil
erosion, and flooding caused by a natural disaster or
any other natural occurrence that has caused a sudden
impairment to natural resources on National Forest
System land, and the damage, if not treated--
``(i) would significantly impair or
endanger the natural resources on the National
Forest System land; and
``(ii) would pose an immediate risk to
water resources or loss of life or property
downstream of the National Forest System land;
and
``(B) would maintain or restore forest health and
forest-related resources on the National Forest System
land.
``(2) Natural disaster.--The term `natural disaster' has
the meaning given the term in section 407(a).
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
``(4) Sponsor.--The term `sponsor' means--
``(A) a State or local government;
``(B) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
``(C) a water district, water conservation
district, water utility, or special district.
``(b) Authorization.--The Secretary, acting through a sponsor, is
authorized to undertake emergency watershed protection measures on
National Forest System land.
``(c) Agreements; Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an
agreement with a sponsor, notwithstanding chapter 63 of title
31, United States Code, and make payments to the sponsor, on
request of the sponsor, to carry out emergency watershed
protection measures.
``(2) Requirements.--
``(A) Project timelines.--
``(i) In general.--Following a natural
disaster or natural occurrence that
necessitates the carrying out of emergency
watershed protection measures, the Secretary
shall execute agreements under paragraph (1) as
expeditiously as possible.
``(ii) Timeline.--An agreement under
paragraph (1) shall contain a timeline for the
sponsor to complete all emergency watershed
protection measures not later than 2 years
after the conclusion of the applicable natural
disaster or natural occurrence, as determined
by the Secretary, that necessitated the
carrying out of those measures.
``(iii) Continued monitoring.--A sponsor
that has entered into an agreement under
paragraph (1) may monitor, maintain, repair, or
replace emergency watershed protection measures
for a period of not more than 3 years following
the conclusion of the natural disaster or
natural occurrence, as determined by the
Secretary, that necessitated the carrying out
of those measures when failure to do so would
result in unacceptable risk to National Forest
System land or downstream water users.
``(B) Payments.--The Secretary, in accordance with
an agreement entered into under paragraph (1)--
``(i) may make partial payments prior to
completion of the applicable project; and
``(ii) shall make final payment for the
project not later than 30 days after the date
on which the project is completed.
``(d) Waived Matching Requirements.--The Secretary shall waive any
matching requirements for payments made under subsection (c)(1).
``(e) Liability.--
``(1) In general.--A sponsor that carries out emergency
watershed protection measures pursuant to an agreement under
subsection (c)(1) shall not be required to indemnify the United
States for any liability resulting from carrying out emergency
watershed protection measures pursuant to that agreement.
``(2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection
precludes liability for damages or costs relating to the
carrying out of emergency watershed protection measures by a
sponsor pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection
(c)(1) if the sponsor acted with willful or wanton negligence
or reckless conduct in carrying out those measures.
``(f) Assumption of Risk.--A sponsor that carries out emergency
watershed protection measures prior to entering into an agreement under
subsection (c)(1) shall assume the risk of incurring any cost or
liability resulting from carrying out those measures.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.''.
SEC. 8245. EMERGENCY FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM.
Section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2206)
(as amended by section 2403(d)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g) Publication of Information.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, make
available in an easily accessible format and location on the
website of the Department of Agriculture a list of emergency
measures for which nonindustrial private forest land owners may
receive a payment under subsection (b); and
``(2) update the list described in paragraph (1) as
necessary.''.
SEC. 8246. NURSERY AND SEED ORCHARD SUPPORT.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient''
means--
(A) a State forestry agency;
(B) an Indian Tribe; and
(C) a private nursery that has experience, as
determined by the Secretary, growing high-quality
native trees of appropriate genetic sources in bareroot
or container stocktypes specific for reforestation,
restoration, or conservation, including native plants
and seeds that are of cultural significance to Indian
Tribes.
(2) Nursery.--The term ``nursery'' means a tree or native
plant nursery.
(3) Seed orchard.--The term ``seed orchard'' means a tree
or native plant seed orchard.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) each of the several States;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D) any territory or possession of the United
States.
(b) Partnerships, Collaboration, and Other Assistance in Support of
Nurseries.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, shall--
(1) partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes,
institutions of higher education, and private nurseries to
provide training, technical assistance, and research to nursery
and tree establishment programs that support natural
regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation;
(2) promote information-sharing to improve technical
knowledge and practices and understand demands, climate change
impacts, and other issues as necessary to address all facets of
the reforestation supply chain;
(3) provide technical and financial assistance to
international nursery and tree establishment programs through
the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of
Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of
Tropical Forestry;
(4) collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and
agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the
United States Agency for International Development, and the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and international
organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations, to provide technical and financial
assistance relating to nurseries and reforestation;
(5) coordinate the efforts of the Department of Agriculture
to--
(A) address the challenges associated with the
reforestation supply chain; and
(B) leverage economic development assistance for
work with private nurseries; and
(6) expand climate-informed reforestation supply chains
through science and research, seed collection and storage, and
nursery infrastructure and operations.
(c) Nursery and Seed Orchard Grants.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program
to provide grants to eligible recipients to support nurseries
and seed orchards.
(2) Eligible projects.--An eligible recipient that receives
a grant under paragraph (1) shall carry out a project that
comprises one or more of the following activities:
(A) The development, expansion, enhancement, or
improvement of nursery production capacity or other
infrastructure--
(i) to improve seed collection and storage;
(ii) to increase seedling production,
storage, and distribution; or
(iii) to enhance seedling survival and
properly manage tree genetic resources.
(B) The establishment or expansion of a nursery or
seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a
nursery or seed orchard.
(C) The development or implementation of quality
control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.
(D) The promotion of workforce development within
any facet of the reforestation supply chain.
(E) Such other activities as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.
SEC. 8247. CONTRACTS, GRANTS, AND AGREEMENTS TO CARRY OUT CERTAIN
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 40804 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16
U.S.C. 6592a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Contracts, Grants, and Agreements.--To carry out the
ecosystem restoration activities described in subsection (b), the
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, may enter into contracts, grants, or agreements, as
appropriate, with State agencies, Indian Tribes, institutions of higher
education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), and multistate coalitions--
``(1) for the collection and maintenance of native plant
materials, including material from managed seed orchards; and
``(2) for the production of native plant materials for
revegetation.''.
PART III--TIMBER INNOVATION
SEC. 8261. WOOD INNOVATIONS GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 8643 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
7655d) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``innovation'' and
inserting ``innovations'';
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ``equal to the amount''
and inserting ``in an amount that is not less than 50 percent
of the amount of Federal funds''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Mandatory Funding.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $80,000,000 for fiscal year
2025 to carry out this section, to remain available until expended.''.
SEC. 8262. COMMUNITY WOOD FACILITIES GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 9013 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8113) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``energy and wood
innovation'' and inserting ``facilities grant'';
(2) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``Energy and Wood
Innovation'' and inserting ``Facilities Grant'';
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``Energy and Wood
Innovation'' and inserting ``Facilities Grant'';
(4) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``35'' and
inserting ``50'';
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(2);
(5) in subsection (d), by striking ``exceed--'' in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) and all that follows through the
period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting ``exceed
$3,000,000.'';
(6) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ``25 percent'' and
inserting ``50 percent''; and
(7) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the following:
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated, out of
amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $50,000,000
for fiscal year 2025 to carry out this section, to remain
available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 8263. REPORT ON USE OF MASS TIMBER IN CONSTRUCTION OF FEDERAL
FACILITIES.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
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--
(1) describing the projects in which the Department of
Agriculture has used mass timber in the construction of
Department of Agriculture facilities;
(2) describing the factors considered when determining
whether to use mass timber in the construction of a Department
of Agriculture facility; and
(3) identifying opportunities for the use of mass timber in
the construction of new Department of Agriculture facilities
and other Federal structures.
Subtitle C--Forest Conservation
SEC. 8301. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AGROFORESTRY CENTERS.
Section 1243 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 1642 note; Public Law 101-624) is amended--
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting
``national and regional agroforestry centers'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) as
subsections (b), (d), (e), and (g), respectively;
(3) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(a) Definition of Agroforestry.--In this section, the term
`agroforestry' means a management system that intentionally integrates
trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to build more
profitable and weather-resilient farms, ranches, and communities,
address natural resource concerns and conservation needs, and establish
productive and sustainable land use practices, including--
``(1) riparian forest buffers;
``(2) alley cropping;
``(3) silvopasture;
``(4) forest farming and multistory cropping; and
``(5) windbreaks, shelterbelts, hedgerows, and living snow
fences.'';
(4) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Semiarid'' and inserting ``National'';
(B) by inserting ``(referred to in this section as
the `Secretary')'' after ``Secretary of Agriculture'';
(C) by striking ``Semiarid Agroforestry Research,
Development, and Demonstration Center (hereafter
referred to in this section as the `Center')'' and
inserting ``National Agroforestry Research,
Development, and Demonstration Center''; and
(D) by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting
``subsection (d)'';
(5) by inserting after subsection (b) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(c) Regional Agroforestry Centers.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service and in cooperation with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, shall, subject to the
availability of appropriations, establish 1 or more regional
agroforestry centers to advance agroforestry research,
outreach, technical assistance, and adoption.
``(2) Regional directors.--The Secretary, acting through
the Chief of the Forest Service and in cooperation with the
Natural Resources Conservation Service, shall appoint a
regional director to manage and coordinate each regional
agroforestry center established under paragraph (1).
``(3) Location.--In selecting the locations for the 1 or
more regional agroforestry centers under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall prioritize locations at which the Department
has, on the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, at least 1 employee providing
coordination among a diverse group of research institutions and
other partners.'';
(6) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Center'' and inserting
``centers established under subsections (b) and
(c) (referred to in this section as the
`Centers')'';
(ii) by inserting ``and organizations''
after ``nonprofit foundations''; and
(iii) by inserting ``demonstration
projects,'' after ``studies,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``on semiarid lands that''
and inserting ``that build soil health and'';
and
(ii) by inserting ``, including
agroforestry systems on semiarid land and other
fragile agroecosystems where permanent woody
perennial plant communities can enhance carbon
sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions'' before the semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``forestry
products for commercial sale from semiarid land'' and
inserting ``agroforestry products for commercial
sale'';
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking ``in semiarid regions'';
and
(ii) by striking ``the Great Plains
region'' and inserting ``particular regions'';
(E) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``technical
assistance, demonstration projects, and'' before
``technology'';
(F) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (11) as
paragraphs (8) through (12), respectively;
(G) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the
following:
``(6) develop improved silvopasture, alley cropping, forest
farming, multistory cropping, riparian buffer, windbreak and
shelterbelt, and other perennial production and conservation
systems and technologies to improve soil health, carbon
sequestration, drought preparedness, soil and water
conservation, environmental quality, and biological diversity;
``(7) address barriers to the adoption of agroforestry
practices, including--
``(A) insufficient access to plant material;
``(B) insufficient infrastructure to contain
equipment and plant material;
``(C) insufficient machinery to implement
agroforestry practices;
``(D) insufficient technical service assistance;
and
``(E) insufficient research related to agroforestry
systems, including silvopasture and alley cropping;'';
(H) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``on semiarid lands'';
(I) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``on semiarid lands worldwide'' and inserting
``worldwide, including on semiarid land''; and
(J) in paragraph (10) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by striking ``on semiarid lands''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and climate change''
after ``pollution'';
(7) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Data'' after ``Information'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary shall establish
at the Center'' and inserting ``Secretary, in
collaboration with the Economic Research
Service and the National Agricultural
Statistics Service, shall establish at the
Centers''; and
(ii) by striking ``Promotion'' and
inserting ``Promotion,'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and data'' after
``information''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(D) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by inserting ``and data'' after
``information'';
(ii) by striking ``forestry'' and inserting
``forestry, agroforestry,''; and
(iii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) facilitate agroforestry adoption by disseminating
comprehensive information and data on Federal, State, local,
and Tribal programs that provide support for agroforestry.'';
(8) by inserting after subsection (e) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(f) Grants.--The Secretary shall establish at the Centers
regional grant programs to support agroforestry projects, including
demonstration farms.''; and
(9) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``There are'' and inserting ``In
addition to amounts otherwise available, there is'';
and
(B) by striking ``$5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``$10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 8302. AMERICAN FOREST FARMING ASSOCIATION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the
American Forest Farming Association described in subsection
(b).
(2) Partner institutions.--The term ``partner
institutions'' means the 1 or more institutions of higher
education with which the Secretary collaborates to establish
the Association under subsection (b).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
acting through the National Agroforestry Center.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall collaborate with 1 or more
institutions of higher education with a history of engagement in
agroforestry to establish an American Forest Farming Association.
(c) Composition and Type.--The Association shall--
(1) be composed of a network of forest farmers,
institutions of higher education, governmental and
nongovernmental organizations, and private industry; and
(2) not be an agency or instrumentality of the United
States.
(d) Purposes and Activities.--
(1) Purposes.--The purposes of the Association shall be--
(A) to support the advancement of agroforestry
production opportunities and capabilities among forest
farmers; and
(B) to increase awareness, capacity, and long-term
viability for the forest farming industry through
education, networking, and conservation practices.
(2) Activities.--The Association may carry out activities
including--
(A) convening regional and local agroforestry
stakeholders to spread awareness of agroforestry-
related activities nationwide;
(B) crafting policy notes to share best practices
in cultivating various nontimber forest products across
different regions;
(C) development of business planning and marketing
programs;
(D) drafting science and technical agendas and
working group training initiatives;
(E) leveraging production methods to improve price
points in an emerging value-added market; and
(F) such other activities as the Secretary and the
partner institutions determine to be appropriate.
(e) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary and
the partner institutions shall consult with--
(1) staff of institutions of higher education with
experience in the agroforestry sector; and
(2) individuals from nongovernmental organizations and
private industry that work with agroforestry products.
(f) Use of Funds.--The Secretary shall use funds made available
under subsection (g) to support the establishment and operation of the
Association in accordance with this section, including for salaries and
expenses of--
(1) an executive director of the Association;
(2) other staff of the Association;
(3) operations;
(4) technical assistance; and
(5) other expenses necessary to support the Association.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.
SEC. 8303. RURAL FOREST MARKET INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means an
eligible entity for which a bond, loan, or other investment
vehicle is guaranteed under the program.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
private entity, State forestry agency, or publicly supported,
charitable nonprofit organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of that Code engaged in or
seeking to engage in the aggregation of sustainable forestry
practices implemented by rural private forest landowners to
facilitate the sale of environmental credits in voluntary
environmental credit markets.
(3) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Rural Forest
Market Investment Program established under subsection (b)(1).
(4) Rural.--The term ``rural'' has the meaning given the
term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)).
(5) Voluntary environmental credit market.--The term
``voluntary environmental credit market'' means a voluntary
market through which environmental credits may be bought or
sold.
(b) Establishment of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program,
to be known as the ``Rural Forest Market Investment Program'',
to guarantee environmental impact bonds, loans, or other
investment vehicles, as determined by the Secretary, issued for
the sole purpose of financing eligible projects described in
subsection (c), to enable rural private forest landowners and
covered entities to participate in voluntary environmental
credit markets.
(2) Administration.--
(A) Loan guarantees.--The Secretary shall make
available and administer guarantees on environmental
impact bonds, loans, or other investment vehicles, as
determined by the Secretary, through the facilities and
authorities of the Under Secretary for Rural
Development.
(B) Forestry related matters.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall carry
out through the facilities and authorities of
the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment the requirements and administration
under this section of matters relating to
forests, forestry, tree planting activities,
forest product markets, the timber supply,
appropriate activities to develop and carry out
an eligible project, and activities to
facilitate the participation of a rural private
forest landowner or a covered entity in
voluntary environmental credit markets, and as
otherwise provided in this section, as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(ii) Collaboration.--The Under Secretary
for Natural Resources and Environment shall
collaborate with the Under Secretary for Rural
Development, including by providing information
and technical assistance, to ensure that the
making and administration of guarantees under
this section is fully informed by the matters
described in clause (i) and as otherwise
provided in this section, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
(3) Consideration.--In establishing the program, the
Secretary shall consider ways to ensure that the program--
(A) minimizes disruptions to traditional forest
products markets, including by--
(i) collecting data on commercially
available timber that serves wood processing
facilities, including--
(I) the quantity and species of
timber supply available to wood
products facilities in each of the 4
regions described in the most recent
Renewable Resource Assessment prepared
under section 3 of the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601); and
(II) any additional information, as
identified by the Secretary; and
(ii) using data collected under clause (i)
to make a determination on whether financing
each eligible project described in subsection
(c) may impact commercially available timber
supply;
(B) allows for the continued production of
sustainable timber supplies by utilizing methodologies
that consider the carbon storage benefits of wood
products;
(C) allows for landowners who are not currently
involved in traditional forest products markets,
including those who have not historically accessed
Department of Agriculture assistance programs, to
participate in the program through activities such as
conservation easements, reforestation, and other
appropriate activities, as determined by the Secretary;
(D) facilitates participation opportunities for
forest landowners, and ensures program access for those
who have not historically accessed Department of
Agriculture assistance programs; and
(E) is carried out in a manner that increases
forestland values for participating landowners in ways
that enable landowners of small-acreage forests to
maintain--
(i) ownership of the land in the family of
the landowner; and
(ii) forest use of the land.
(c) Eligible Projects.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible
project referred to in subsection (b)(1) is a project developed
by an eligible entity using methodologies that, as determined
by the Secretary--
(A) are approved by a credible, third-party entity;
and
(B) meet global benchmarks for high-integrity.
(2) Uses of financing.--
(A) In general.--A covered entity shall use the
bond, loan, or other investment vehicle guaranteed for
the covered entity under the program for appropriate
activities to develop and carry out an eligible project
described in paragraph (1), as determined by the
Secretary.
(B) Additional activities for certain
organizations.--In the case of a bond, loan, or other
investment vehicle guaranteed under the program that
supports an eligible project described in paragraph
(1), the Secretary may allow a portion of the amount of
the bond, loan, or other investment vehicle to cover
additional activities to facilitate the participation
of the covered entity or a rural private forest
landowner in voluntary environmental credit markets.
(C) Prohibition.--A bond, loan, or other investment
vehicle guaranteed under the program shall not be used
to create a floor price or artificial demand for the
environmental credits generated under eligible projects
described in paragraph (1).
(d) Requirements.--A project described in subsection (c) that
includes the practice of tree planting may only be carried out, as
determined by the Secretary--
(1) on land that was historically forested, as determined
based on--
(A) data collected through the Forest Inventory and
Analysis Program of the Forest Service; and
(B) other appropriate scientific resources, as
determined by the Secretary;
(2) using tree species that are native to the region and at
ecologically appropriate densities; and
(3) in a manner that does not create other negative impacts
to biodiversity or the environment.
(e) Guarantee Amount.--With respect to bonds, loans, and other
investment vehicles guaranteed under the program, the Secretary shall
guarantee not more than $150,000,000 in the aggregate.
(f) Implementation.--
(1) Appraisals.--The Secretary may require an appraisal of
an eligible entity requesting a guarantee under the program,
including to assess the creditworthiness of the eligible
entity, by a specialized appraiser that uses standards that are
similar to standards used for similar purposes in the private
sector, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Financial information.--The Secretary may require
financial information from an eligible entity requesting a
guarantee under the program in the same manner as is generally
required by commercial lenders.
(g) Auditing.--Not less frequently than annually, the Secretary
shall conduct audits of each eligible project financed under the
program to ensure that the methodology used with respect to the project
continues to comply with the standards determined by the Secretary
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (c)(1).
(h) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to
implement the program.
(i) Termination of Authority.--The authority to guarantee a new
bond, loan, or other investment vehicle under this section terminates
on September 30, 2029.
SEC. 8304. FOREST SERVICE LEGACY ROAD AND TRAIL REMEDIATION PROGRAM.
Section 8 of Public Law 88-657 (16 U.S.C. 538a) (commonly known as
the ``Forest Roads and Trails Act'') is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) solicit and consider public input regionally
in selecting projects for funding under the Program
by--
``(i) publishing annually for each region
the list of projects considered for funding
under the Program;
``(ii) accepting public comments on the
projects listed under clause (i); and
``(iii) considering public comments
received under clause (ii) in selecting
projects for funding;''; and
(B) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``annually for each region,'' before
``publish''; and
(ii) in clause (ii)--
(I) by striking ``description and
the proposed'' and inserting the
following: ``description of--
``(I) each project considered for
funding under the Program;
``(II) the public comments received
with respect to each project considered
for funding under the Program;
``(III) the ranking in the
applicable region of each project
considered for funding under the
Program; and
``(IV) the proposed''; and
(II) in subclause (IV) (as so
designated), by striking ``each
fiscal'' and inserting ``the applicable
fiscal''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Definition of Region.--In this section, the term `region'
means 1 of the 9 regions of the Forest Service.''.
Subtitle D--Land Designations
SEC. 8401. CHESTER COUNTY REVERSIONARY AND MINERAL INTERESTS RELEASE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) within the parcel of State forest land, located in
Henderson, Chester County, Tennessee, a recent survey by the
State determined that Bethel Baptist Church is encroaching on
State-owned land in Chickasaw State Forest by roughly 19
inches;
(2) that parcel was conveyed to the State by the United
States Department of Agriculture, which retained a reversionary
interest in the land; and
(3) it is necessary to release the interests of the United
States in and to that land to resolve the encroachment issue
described in paragraph (1).
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
Tennessee.
(2) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land''
means the approximately 0.62-acre parcel of land in Chickasaw
State Forest that is identified as ``State Forest Land'' on the
map prepared by the Forest Service entitled ``State Forest Land
Detail Map'' and dated December 13, 2019.
(c) Release of Reversionary Interest.--
(1) Release.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall release,
without consideration, the reversionary interest of the
United States in and to the State forest land described
in paragraph (2).
(B) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any requirements
for any grant of land under section 32(c) of The
Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) or
any other provision of law, the release under
subparagraph (A) shall occur without any appraisal,
other reports, or environmental or similar reviews
being undertaken.
(2) Description of reversionary interest.--The reversionary
interest referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is the reversionary
interest of the United States in and to the State forest land
that--
(A) takes effect on the State forest land ceasing
to be used for public purposes; and
(B) was created by the deed--
(i) granting from the United States to the
State the State forest land;
(ii) dated August 12, 1955; and
(iii) registered on pages 588 through 591
of book 48 of the record of deeds for Chester
County, Tennessee.
(3) Payment of costs.--As a condition on the release under
paragraph (1)(A), the State shall pay to the United States any
administrative costs incurred by the United States in carrying
out the release.
(d) Conveyance of Mineral Rights.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any requirements for
conveyance of Federal mineral interests in section 209 of the
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1719), part 2720 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or
successor regulations), or any other provision of law, the
Secretary shall convey to the State, by quitclaim deed, without
warranty, and without consideration, the mineral interest owned
in the State forest land by the United States.
(2) Requirements.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the conveyance under paragraph (1) shall occur--
(A) without any exploratory program as to the
character of the mineral deposits in the land;
(B) without any findings as to known mineral values
and mineral development of the land; and
(C) without any appraisal, other reports, or
environmental or similar reviews being undertaken by
the Secretary.
(3) Payment of costs.--As a condition on the conveyance
under paragraph (1), the State shall pay to the United States
any administrative costs incurred by the United States in
carrying out the conveyance.
SEC. 8402. ROUGH MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS AND RICH HOLE WILDERNESS
DESIGNATIONS.
(a) Rough Mountain Addition.--Section 1 of Public Law 100-326 (16
U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(21) Rough mountain addition.--Certain land in the George
Washington National Forest comprising approximately 1,000
acres, as generally depicted as the `Rough Mountain Addition'
on the map entitled `GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST - South
half - Alternative I - Selected Alternative Management
Prescriptions - Land and Resources Management Plan Final
Environmental Impact Statement' and dated March 4, 2014, which
is incorporated in the Rough Mountain Wilderness Area
designated by paragraph (1).''.
(b) Rich Hole Addition.--
(1) Potential wilderness designation.--In furtherance of
the purposes of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
certain land in the George Washington National Forest
comprising approximately 4,600 acres, as generally depicted as
the ``Rich Hole Addition'' on the map entitled ``GEORGE
WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST - South half - Alternative I -
Selected Alternative Management Prescriptions - Land and
Resources Management Plan Final Environmental Impact
Statement'' and dated March 4, 2014, is designated as a
potential wilderness area for incorporation in the Rich Hole
Wilderness Area designated by section 1(2) of Public Law 100-
326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584).
(2) Wilderness designation.--The potential wilderness area
designated by paragraph (1) shall be designated as wilderness
and incorporated in the Rich Hole Wilderness Area designated by
section 1(2) of Public Law 100-326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102
Stat. 584) on the earlier of--
(A) the date on which the Secretary publishes in
the Federal Register notice that the activities
permitted under paragraph (4) have been completed; or
(B) the date that is 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(3) Management.--Except as provided in paragraph (4), the
Secretary shall manage the potential wilderness area designated
by paragraph (1) in accordance with the Wilderness Act (16
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.).
(4) Water quality improvement activities.--
(A) In general.--To enhance natural ecosystems
within the potential wilderness area designated by
paragraph (1) by implementing certain activities to
improve water quality and aquatic passage, as set forth
in the Forest Service document entitled ``Decision
Notice for the Lower Cowpasture Restoration and
Management Project'' and dated December 2015, the
Secretary may use motorized equipment and mechanized
transport in the potential wilderness area until the
date on which the potential wilderness area is
incorporated into the Rich Hole Wilderness Area under
paragraph (2).
(B) Requirement.--In carrying out subparagraph (A),
the Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall
use the minimum tool or administrative practice
necessary to carry out that subparagraph with the least
amount of adverse impact on wilderness character and
resources.
SEC. 8403. BENJAMIN HARRISON NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND WILDERNESS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee''
means the advisory committee for the National Recreation Area
established under subsection (c)(1)(A).
(2) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan'' means
the management plan for the National Recreation Area and
Wilderness developed under subsection (c)(2).
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness
Establishment Act of 2023'' and dated March 27, 2024.
(4) National recreation area.--The term ``National
Recreation Area'' means the Benjamin Harrison National
Recreation Area established by subsection (b)(1)(B).
(5) National recreation area and wilderness.--The term
``National Recreation Area and Wilderness'' means the Benjamin
Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness established by
subsection (b)(1)(A).
(6) Nonwilderness corridor.--The term ``nonwilderness
corridor'' means the land 100 feet in width from either side of
the centerline of the existing trails and roads, as depicted on
the map as ``Non-Wilderness Corridor'', which is not included
as part of the ``Proposed Wilderness'', as depicted on the map.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Indiana.
(9) Wilderness addition.--The term ``Wilderness addition''
means the land added to the Charles C. Deam Wilderness by
subsection (b)(1)(C).
(b) Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and Wilderness.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--There is established in the State
the Benjamin Harrison National Recreation Area and
Wilderness as a subunit of the Hoosier National Forest,
consisting of--
(i) the National Recreation Area; and
(ii) the Wilderness addition.
(B) Benjamin harrison national recreation area.--
There is established in the State the Benjamin Harrison
National Recreation Area, consisting of approximately
29,382 acres of National Forest System land depicted on
the map as ``Proposed National Recreation Area (NRA)''.
(C) Charles c. deam wilderness addition.--The
approximately 15,300 acres of National Forest System
land in the State generally depicted on the map as
``Proposed Wilderness'' shall be added to and
administered as part of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness
in accordance with Public Law 97-384 (16 U.S.C. 1132
note; 96 Stat. 1942), consisting of--
(i) the approximately 2,028.8 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Deckard
Ridge Units A, B, and C'';
(ii) the approximately 2,633 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Panther
Creek Units A and B'';
(iii) the approximately 5,456.9 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Nebo
Ridge Units A, B, C, D, and E'';
(iv) the approximately 2,141.4 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Browning
Mountain Unit'';
(v) the approximately 2,161.9 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Hickory
Ridge Units A, B, C, D, and E''; and
(vi) the approximately 878.3 acres of
National Forest System land in the State
generally depicted on the map as the ``Mose Ray
Branch Unit''.
(D) Availability of map.--Not later than 30 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall file the map, and make the map available for
public inspection, in the appropriate offices of the
Forest Service.
(2) Administration.--The Secretary shall manage--
(A) the Wilderness addition (other than the
nonwilderness corridors) in a manner that is consistent
with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.); and
(B) the National Recreation Area in a manner that
ensures--
(i) the protection of the water quality of
the public water supply of Monroe Reservoir in
the State in accordance with section 303(e)(1)
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003
(16 U.S.C. 6542(e)(1)); and
(ii) the promotion of recreational
opportunities in the National Recreation Area.
(C) Hunting, fishing, and trapping.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
the Secretary shall allow hunting, fishing, and
trapping in the National Recreation Area and
Wilderness.
(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary, in
consultation with designees from the State
Department of Natural Resources and the Corps
of Engineers, may, for reasons of public
safety, species enhancement, or management of a
species listed as endangered or threatened
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), designate areas in which,
and establish seasons during which, no hunting,
fishing, or trapping is permitted in the
National Recreation Area and Wilderness.
(iii) Effect.--Nothing in this section
affects the jurisdiction of the State with
respect to fish and wildlife in the National
Recreation Area and Wilderness.
(D) Recreation.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
the Secretary shall--
(I) in the National Recreation
Area, continue to permit and provide
for appropriate nonmotorized and
motorized recreational uses, including
hiking, viewing of nature and wildlife,
camping, horseback riding, mountain
biking, and other existing recreational
uses; and
(II) permit the nonmechanized
recreational use of the Wilderness
addition, in accordance with the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.)
within the boundary of the ``Proposed
Wilderness'' indicated on the map.
(ii) Limitations.--The Secretary, in
consultation with designees from the State
Department of Natural Resources and the Corps
of Engineers, may designate zones in which, and
establish periods during which, a recreational
use shall not be permitted in the National
Recreation Area and Wilderness under clause (i)
for reasons of public safety, species
enhancement, or management of a species listed
as endangered or threatened under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.).
(iii) Trail plan.--Notwithstanding any
provisions of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.) or any other provision of law,
the Secretary, in consultation with interested
parties, shall establish a trail plan--
(I) to maintain existing mountain
biking, hiking, and equestrian trails
in the nonwilderness corridors; and
(II) to develop mountain biking,
hiking, and equestrian trails in the
National Recreation Area.
(E) Vegetation management.--
(i) Wilderness addition.--Consistent with
the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
timber removal or management shall not be
permitted in the Wilderness addition, except as
the Secretary determines to be necessary for
public safety and management of diseases, as
described in section 293.3 of title 36, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation).
(ii) National recreation area.--Vegetation
management within the National Recreation Area
shall be consistent with--
(I) the Management Plan; and
(II) any applicable Forest Service
land management plan.
(c) National Recreation Area Advisory Committee; Management Plan.--
(1) National recreation area federal advisory committee.--
(A) Establishment.--As soon as practicable after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
establish an advisory committee to advise the Secretary
with respect to the management of the National
Recreation Area.
(B) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be
composed of members appointed by the Secretary, from
among--
(i) representatives of local government;
(ii) forest ecologists;
(iii) experts in dispersed recreation;
(iv) local residents who own or reside in
property located not more than 2 miles from the
boundary of the National Recreation Area;
(v) representatives of conservation and
outdoor recreation groups;
(vi) consulting foresters;
(vii) the Director of the State Department
of Natural Resources (or designees);
(viii) wildlife experts; and
(ix) designees from the Corps of Engineers.
(2) Management plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
develop a comprehensive management plan for the long-
term protection and management of the National
Recreation Area.
(B) Requirements.--The Management Plan shall--
(i) be developed--
(I) in consultation with the
Advisory Committee;
(II) after providing an opportunity
for public comment; and
(III) after engaging with
interested or affected federally
recognized Indian Tribes, other Federal
agencies, and State and local
governments, including the State
Department of Natural Resources;
(ii) address management issues associated
with the National Recreation Area, including--
(I) fires;
(II) invasive species;
(III) the response to insect and
disease infestations;
(IV) measures needed to protect the
public water supply provided by Monroe
Reservoir;
(V) the establishment, maintenance,
and closure of camp sites, campgrounds,
trails, and roadways; and
(VI) any other issues identified by
the Advisory Committee; and
(iii) include--
(I) measures to preserve and
protect native and historical
resources, flora, fauna, and
recreational, scenic, and aesthetic
values within the National Recreation
Area; and
(II) measures to prevent
degradation of the public water supply
provided by Monroe Reservoir.
(d) Funding.--
(1) No additional funds.--No additional funds are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.
(2) Use of existing funds.--This section shall be carried
out using amounts otherwise made available to the Secretary.
(e) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
(1) affects the Corps of Engineers use permits for flowage
rights within the National Recreation Area and Wilderness
established by the order entitled ``Joint Order Interchanging
Administrative Jurisdiction of Department of the Army Lands and
National Forest Lands'' (35 Fed. Reg. 10382 (June 25, 1970));
(2) prevents the Corps of Engineers from carrying out the
water control management plan of the Corps of Engineers within
the National Recreation Area and Wilderness as described in the
Corps of Engineers water control manual;
(3) prevents the Corps of Engineers from--
(A) disposing of, or otherwise managing, real
estate interests held by the Corps of Engineers as of
the date of enactment of this Act; or
(B) acquiring additional real estate interests
required to support the operation or maintenance of
Monroe Lake;
(4) affects the use of motor vessels (as defined in section
2101 of title 46, United States Code) on Monroe Lake;
(5) results in the closure of any State or county roadway
in the National Recreation Area and the nonwilderness
corridors;
(6) precludes the ownership, use, or enjoyment of private
land within the National Recreation Area and Wilderness;
(7) otherwise affects access to private land or cemeteries
within the National Recreation Area and Wilderness;
(8) affects the access to land within the nonwilderness
corridors and within 100 feet of the outer boundary of the
Wilderness addition by any State or private entity or
organization with a permit, special use authorization, or other
right to access land within the Wilderness addition, as
described in section 5(a) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1134(a)), for the purpose of maintaining infrastructure located
within the Wilderness addition, including access by--
(A) the Smithville Telephone Company;
(B) Jackson County Water Utility;
(C) Jackson County Rural Electric;
(D) the ANR Pipeline Company;
(E) the Monroe County commissioners;
(F) Hoosier Trails Council, BSA; and
(G) the State Department of Natural Resources; or
(9) affects the access to land within the Wilderness
addition by the State Department of Natural Resources or
appropriate public safety officers with the use of motor
vehicles, mechanized equipment, or motorboats for emergencies
involving the health and safety of persons within the
Wilderness addition, in accordance with section 4(c) of the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(c)).
SEC. 8404. SHENANDOAH MOUNTAIN NATIONAL SCENIC AREA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) National scenic area.--
(A) In general.--The term ``National Scenic Area''
means the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area
established by subsection (b)(1).
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``National Scenic Area''
includes--
(i) any National Forest System land within
the boundary of the National Scenic Area that
is administered as part of the National Scenic
Area; and
(ii) any National Forest System land within
the boundary of the National Scenic Area that
is administered as a component of the National
Wilderness Preservation System under the
amendments made by subsection (c).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Virginia.
(4) Wilderness area.--The term ``Wilderness Area'' means a
wilderness area designated by paragraphs (22) through (26) of
section 1 of Public Law 100-326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat.
584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat. 1002) (as added by subsection
(c)).
(b) Establishment of the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic
Area.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, there
is established the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area,
consisting of approximately 92,562 acres of National Forest
System land in the George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests, as generally depicted on the map filed under
subsection (d)(1)(A).
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the National Scenic Area
are--
(A) to ensure the protection and preservation of
the scenic quality, water quality, natural
characteristics, and water resources of the National
Scenic Area;
(B) to protect wildlife, fish, and plant habitat in
the National Scenic Area;
(C) to protect outstanding natural biological
values and habitat for plant and animal species along
the Shenandoah Mountain crest above 3,000 feet above
sea level elevation, including the Cow Knob salamander;
(D) to protect forests in the National Scenic Area
that may develop characteristics of old-growth forests;
(E) to protect the Wilderness Areas; and
(F) to provide for a variety of, and improve
existing, recreation settings and opportunities in the
National Scenic Area in a manner consistent with the
purposes of the National Scenic Area described in
subparagraphs (A) through (E).
(3) Administration.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Secretary shall administer the National Scenic
Area in accordance with--
(i) this subsection; and
(ii) the laws (including regulations)
generally applicable to the National Forest
System.
(B) Exception.--Subject to valid existing rights,
the Secretary shall administer the Wilderness Areas in
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et
seq.) and any other laws applicable to the Wilderness
Areas, except that any reference in that Act to the
effective date of that Act shall be considered to be a
reference to the date of enactment of this Act for
purposes of administering the Wilderness Areas.
(C) Effect; conflicts.--
(i) Effect.--The establishment of the
National Scenic Area shall not affect the
administration of the Wilderness Areas.
(ii) Conflicts.--In the case of any
conflict between the laws applicable to the
Wilderness Areas, the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C.
1131 et seq.) shall control.
(D) No buffer zones.--
(i) In general.--Nothing in this subsection
creates a protective perimeter or buffer zone
around the National Scenic Area or a Wilderness
Area.
(ii) Activities outside national scenic
area or wilderness areas.--The fact that an
activity or use on land outside the National
Scenic Area or a Wilderness Area can be seen or
heard by humans within the National Scenic Area
or Wilderness Area shall not preclude the
activity or use outside the boundaries of the
National Scenic Area or Wilderness Area.
(4) Recreational uses.--
(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in
this subsection or under applicable law, the Secretary
shall authorize the continuation of, or seek to
improve, authorized recreational uses of the National
Scenic Area in existence on the date of enactment of
this Act.
(B) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection interferes
with the authority of the Secretary--
(i) to maintain or improve nonmotorized
trails and recreation sites within the National
Scenic Area;
(ii) to construct new nonmotorized trails
and recreation sites within the National Scenic
Area;
(iii) to adjust recreational uses within
the National Scenic Area for reasons of sound
resource management or public safety; and
(iv) to evaluate applications for, and
issue or deny, special use authorizations in
connection with recreation within the National
Scenic Area.
(C) Requirement.--Recreation within the National
Scenic Area shall be conducted in a manner consistent
with the purposes of the National Scenic Area described
in paragraph (2).
(5) National forest system trail plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
develop a National Forest System trail plan for
National Forest System land in the National Scenic Area
that is not located in a Wilderness Area in order to
construct, maintain, and improve nonmotorized
recreation National Forest System trails in a manner
consistent with the purposes of the National Scenic
Area described in paragraph (2).
(B) Potential inclusion.--The Secretary may address
in the National Forest System trail plan developed
under subparagraph (A) National Forest System land that
is near, but not within the boundary of, the National
Scenic Area.
(C) Public input.--In developing the National
Forest System trail plan under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall seek input from interested parties,
including members of the public.
(D) Requirements.--The National Forest System trail
plan developed under subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) promote sustainable trail management
that protects natural resources and provides
diverse, high-quality safe recreation
opportunities, which may include loop trails
for nonmotorized uses;
(ii) consider natural resource protection,
trail sustainability, and trail maintenance
needs as primary factors in determining the
location or relocation of National Forest
System trails; and
(iii) develop a National Forest System
trail outside the Little River Wilderness Area
in the area of the Tillman Road corridor (along
National Forest System road 101) to connect the
Wolf Ridge Trail parking area to the Wild Oak
National Recreation Trail, as generally
depicted on the applicable map filed under
subsection (d)(1)(B), pending completion of the
required environmental analysis.
(E) Implementation report.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report that describes the
implementation of the National Forest System trail plan
developed under subparagraph (A), including the
identification of the National Forest System trail
described in subparagraph (D)(iii) and any other
priority National Forest System trails identified for
development.
(6) Roads.--
(A) In general.--The establishment of the National
Scenic Area shall not--
(i) result in the closure of any National
Forest System roads, as generally depicted on
the map filed under subsection (d)(1)(A); or
(ii) modify public access within the
National Scenic Area.
(B) No new roads.--No new roads shall be
constructed in the National Scenic Area after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(C) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection--
(i) denies any owner of private land or an
interest in private land that is located within
the National Scenic Area the right to access
the private land;
(ii) alters the authority of the Secretary
to open or close roads in the National Scenic
Area in existence on the date of enactment of
this Act in furtherance of the purposes of this
section; or
(iii) alters the authority of the State--
(I) to maintain the access road to
the crest of Shenandoah Mountain (Route
924); or
(II) to realign the access road
described in subclause (I) if necessary
for reasons of sound resource
management or public safety.
(D) Parking areas.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
the reconstruction, minor relocation, and
construction of parking areas and related
facilities within the National Scenic Area are
authorized in a manner consistent with the
purposes of the National Scenic Area described
in paragraph (2).
(ii) Limitation.--Additional trailhead
parking areas authorized in the National Scenic
Area under clause (i) may be constructed only
along National Forest System roads.
(7) Motorized travel.--Motorized travel shall be allowed
only on roads within the portions of the National Scenic Area
that are not Wilderness Areas, in a manner consistent with
paragraph (6).
(8) Water.--The Secretary shall administer the National
Scenic Area in a manner that maintains and enhances water
quality.
(9) Water impoundments.--The establishment of the National
Scenic Area shall not prohibit--
(A) the operation, maintenance, or improvement of,
or access to, dams, reservoirs, or related
infrastructure in existence on the date of enactment of
this Act, as generally depicted on the map filed under
subsection (d)(1)(A); or
(B) the establishment of new dams, reservoirs, or
related infrastructure if necessary for municipal use.
(10) Timber harvest.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), no harvesting of timber shall be allowed within
the National Scenic Area.
(B) Exceptions.--
(i) Necessary harvesting.--The Secretary
may authorize harvesting of timber in the
National Scenic Area if the Secretary
determines that the harvesting is necessary--
(I) to control fire;
(II) to provide for public safety
or trail access;
(III) to construct or maintain
overlooks and vistas; or
(IV) to control insect or disease
outbreaks.
(ii) Firewood for personal use.--Firewood
may be harvested for personal use along roads
within the National Scenic Area, subject to any
conditions that the Secretary may require.
(11) Insect and disease outbreaks.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Secretary may carry out activities necessary to control
insect and disease outbreaks in a manner consistent
with the purposes of the National Scenic Area described
in paragraph (2)--
(i) to maintain scenic quality;
(ii) to reduce hazards to visitors; or
(iii) to protect National Forest System
land or private land.
(B) Limitations.--For purposes of activities
carried out under subparagraph (A)--
(i) native forest insect and disease
outbreaks shall be controlled only--
(I) to prevent unacceptable damage
to resources on adjacent land; or
(II) to protect threatened,
endangered, sensitive, or locally rare
species, with biological control
methods being favored; and
(ii) nonnative insects and diseases may be
eradicated or suppressed only in order to
prevent a loss of a special biological
community.
(12) Vegetation management.--The Secretary may engage in
vegetation management practices within the National Scenic Area
in a manner consistent with the purposes of the National Scenic
Area described in paragraph (2)--
(A) to maintain wildlife clearings and scenic
enhancements in existence on the date of enactment of
this Act; or
(B) to construct not more than 100 acres of
additional wildlife clearings by--
(i) expanding wildlife clearings in
existence on the date of enactment of this Act;
or
(ii) constructing new wildlife clearings of
approximately 2 to 5 acres.
(13) Wildfire suppression.--
(A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection
prohibits the Secretary, in cooperation with other
Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate,
from carrying out wildfire suppression activities
within the National Scenic Area.
(B) Requirements.--Wildfire suppression activities
within the National Scenic Area shall be carried out--
(i) in a manner consistent with the
purposes of the National Scenic Area described
in paragraph (2); and
(ii) using such means as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(14) Prescribed fire.--Nothing in this subsection prohibits
the Secretary from conducting prescribed burns and necessary
burn unit preparation within the National Scenic Area in a
manner consistent with the purposes of the National Scenic Area
described in paragraph (2).
(15) Withdrawal.--
(A) In general.--Subject to valid existing rights,
all Federal land within the National Scenic Area is
withdrawn from--
(i) entry, appropriation, or disposal under
the public land laws;
(ii) location, entry, and patent under the
mining laws;
(iii) operation of the mineral leasing and
geothermal leasing laws;
(iv) wind, solar, or other renewable energy
development; and
(v) designation of new utility corridors,
utility rights-of-way, or communications sites.
(B) Effect.--Consistent with paragraph (6)(C)(i),
the withdrawal under subparagraph (A) shall not deny
access to private land or an interest in private land
within the National Scenic Area.
(16) Management plan.--
(A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the
date of the completion of the National Forest System
trail plan under paragraph (5), but not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall develop as an amendment to the land
management plan for the George Washington and Jefferson
National Forests a management plan for the National
Scenic Area that is consistent with this subsection.
(B) Effect.--Nothing in this paragraph requires the
Secretary to revise the land management plan for the
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests under
section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604).
(c) Designation of Wilderness Areas.--Section 1 of Public Law 100-
326 (16 U.S.C. 1132 note; 102 Stat. 584; 114 Stat. 2057; 123 Stat.
1002) (as amended by section 8402(a)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(22) Skidmore fork wilderness.--Certain National Forest
System land in the George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests comprising approximately 5,088 acres, as generally
depicted on the applicable map filed under section
8404(d)(1)(B) of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, which shall be known as the `Skidmore Fork Wilderness'.
``(23) Ramseys draft wilderness addition.--Certain National
Forest System land in the George Washington and Jefferson
National Forests comprising approximately 6,961 acres, as
generally depicted on the applicable map filed under section
8404(d)(1)(B) of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, which shall be incorporated into the Ramseys Draft
Wilderness designated by Public Law 98-586 (16 U.S.C. 1132
note; 98 Stat. 3106).
``(24) Lynn hollow wilderness.--Certain National Forest
System land in the George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests comprising approximately 3,568 acres, as generally
depicted on the applicable map filed under section
8404(d)(1)(B) of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, which shall be known as the `Lynn Hollow Wilderness'.
``(25) Little river wilderness.--Certain National Forest
System land in the George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests comprising approximately 12,461 acres, as generally
depicted on the applicable map filed under section
8404(d)(1)(B) of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, which shall be known as the `Little River Wilderness'.
``(26) Beech lick knob wilderness.--Certain National Forest
System land in the George Washington and Jefferson National
Forests comprising approximately 5,779 acres, as generally
depicted on the applicable map filed under section
8404(d)(1)(B) of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, which shall be known as the `Beech Lick Knob
Wilderness'.''.
(d) Maps and Boundary Descriptions.--
(1) Filing.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file with the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives maps and boundary
descriptions of--
(A) the National Scenic Area; and
(B) each of the Wilderness Areas.
(2) Force and effect.--The maps and boundary descriptions
filed under paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect
as if included in this section, except that the Secretary may
correct clerical and typographical errors in the maps and
boundary descriptions.
(3) Maps control.--In the case of any discrepancy between
the acreage of the National Scenic Area or a Wilderness Area
and the applicable map filed under paragraph (1), the
applicable map filed under that paragraph shall control.
(4) Availability.--The maps and boundary descriptions filed
under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public
inspection in the office of the Chief of the Forest Service.
SEC. 8405. FLATSIDE-BETHUNE WILDERNESS.
(a) Additions to Flatside Wilderness.--Section 3(d) of Arkansas
Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-508; 98 Stat. 2349; 132 Stat.
5520) is amended--
(1) by striking ``1984 and'' and inserting ``1984,''; and
(2) by inserting ``and certain land in the Ouachita
National Forest, which comprise approximately 2,215 acres,
generally depicted as `Land Proposed for Wilderness
Designation' on the map entitled `Flatside Wilderness, Proposed
Addition Designation', dated September 29, 2022,'' after
``2018,''.
(b) Fire, Insects, and Diseases.--Nothing in this section or the
amendment made by subsection (a) shall be construed to limit the
authority of the Secretary under section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act
(16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(1)) in accordance with existing laws (including
regulations).
(c) Designation of Wilderness Addition.--
(1) In general.--The wilderness designated by section 3(d)
of Arkansas Wilderness Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-508; 98 Stat.
2349) shall be known as the ``Flatside-Bethune Wilderness''.
(2) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
Flatside Wilderness shall be deemed to be a reference to the
``Flatside-Bethune Wilderness''.
SEC. 8406. SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST DESIGNATIONS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Designated natural area.--The term ``designated natural
area'' means an area determined to be of exceptional
ecological, botanical, geologic, scenic, or archeological value
by--
(A) the Secretary; and
(B)(i) the State of Illinois; or
(ii) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the Director of the National Park Service.
(2) Designated research natural area.--The term
``designated research natural area'' means an area that has
been selected by the Secretary, and is managed by the Forest
Service, for scientific research value.
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map prepared and
submitted by the Forest Service under subsection (e)(1).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(5) Special management area.--The term ``Special Management
Area'' means a Special Management Area established by
subsection (c)(1).
(b) Camp Hutchins Wilderness.--
(1) Addition to the national wilderness preservation
system.--In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131
et seq.), certain land in the Shawnee National Forest in the
State of Illinois managed by the Forest Service, comprising
approximately 750 acres and generally depicted on the map, is
designated as wilderness and as a component of the National
Wilderness Preservation System, and shall be known as the
``Camp Hutchins Wilderness''.
(2) Management.--Subject to valid existing rights, the Camp
Hutchins Wilderness shall be administered by the Secretary in
accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.),
except that any reference in that Act to the effective date
shall be considered to be a reference to the date of enactment
of this Act.
(3) Hiking trail.--Forest Road 211 shall be closed to
public vehicular traffic and shall be maintained as a hiking
trail, including the eastern extension of Forest Road 211
formerly known as the ``Hutchins Creek Spur'' up to the area
known as ``Hutchins Creek Corridor'', as generally depicted on
the map.
(4) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all
Federal land within the Camp Hutchins Wilderness, including any
land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States
within the Camp Hutchins Wilderness after the date of enactment
of this Act, is withdrawn from--
(A) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the
public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining
laws; and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral
materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
(c) Establishment of Special Management Areas.--
(1) Establishment.--Subject to valid existing rights, the
following Special Management Areas within the Shawnee National
Forest in the State of Illinois are established:
(A) Camp hutchins special management area.--Certain
Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising
approximately 2,953 acres and generally depicted on the
map.
(B) Ripple hollow special management area.--Certain
Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising
approximately 3,445 acres and generally depicted on the
map.
(C) Burke branch special management area.--Certain
Federal land managed by the Forest Service, comprising
approximately 6,310 acres and generally depicted on the
map.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the Special Management Areas
are--
(A) to conserve, protect, and enhance the
ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural,
historic, educational, and scientific resources of the
Special Management Areas for the benefit and enjoyment
of present and future generations;
(B) to promote biodiversity and control invasive
species; and
(C) to allow for the continuation of restoration
efforts and scientific study of the designated natural
areas and designated research natural areas within the
Special Management Areas.
(d) Administration of Special Management Areas.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the Special
Management Areas--
(A) in a manner that conserves, protects, and
enhances the purposes for which the Special Management
Areas are established; and
(B) in accordance with--
(i) this subsection; and
(ii) other applicable laws.
(2) Management plan.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a
comprehensive management plan for the long-term protection and
management of the Special Management Areas.
(3) Uses.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall allow only
uses of the Special Management Areas that are
consistent with the purposes for which the Special
Management Areas are established.
(B) Prescribed fire.--The Secretary may use
prescribed fire to sustain the ecological structure and
composition of the Special Management Areas to sustain
the biodiversity of the Special Management Areas.
(C) Management tools.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary may use
herbicides, insecticides, and mechanized
equipment in the control of fire, insects,
disease, and invasive species, including the
use of chainsaws, drones, aircraft, pickup
trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and rubber and
tracked vehicles to carry out management of the
Special Management Areas approved by the
Secretary.
(ii) Requirement.--In carrying out
management of the Special Management Areas, the
Secretary shall use the best available
technology and science.
(D) Motorized vehicles.--Except in cases in which
motorized vehicles are needed for administrative
purposes, emergency response, or access on established
roads accessing trailheads, or are essential to provide
off-road access for ecosystem management of habitat,
the use of motor vehicles in the Special Management
Areas shall be prohibited.
(E) Roads.--The Secretary shall decommission and
remove roads within the Special Management Areas,
except roads needed for management or access to
trailheads, as soon as practicable.
(F) Timber.--
(i) In general.--Commercial timber
harvesting, except as needed for fire, insect,
and disease control, and for visitor and
administrative safety, in the Special
Management Areas shall be prohibited.
(ii) Activities permitted.--Thinning of
trees and other vegetation in the Special
Management Areas shall be permitted for
restoration of the designated natural areas and
designated research natural areas and to
further the management objectives described in
this subsection.
(G) Inholdings.--
(i) In general.--Access to private
inholdings in the Special Management Areas
shall be preserved.
(ii) Acquisitions.--The Secretary shall
acquire any private inholdings in the Special
Management Areas by purchase or exchange as
soon as feasible.
(H) Hunting and trapping.--
(i) Hunting.--Hunting shall be permitted in
the Special Management Areas as permitted by
the State of Illinois and in accordance with
regulations of the State of Illinois and
regulations of the Forest Service.
(ii) Trapping.--Trapping shall not be
permitted in the Special Management Areas.
(iii) Access by motorized vehicles.--Access
within the Special Management Areas by hunters
in motorized vehicles shall be prohibited.
(I) Volunteer restoration and research.--
(i) Volunteers.--The Secretary shall allow
organized groups of volunteers to participate
in ecological restoration activities under the
guidance of Forest Service ecologists and
botanists within the Special Management Areas
through cooperative agreements.
(ii) Access for research purposes.--The
Secretary shall allow access to the Special
Management Areas for scientific research by
qualified individuals and organizations, as
determined by the Secretary.
(J) Ongoing management decisions.--The Supervisor
of the Shawnee National Forest shall have the
authority, without requiring the permission of the
Secretary, to make management decisions concerning any
designated natural area or designated research natural
area within the Special Management Areas pursuant to
the land and resource management plan for the Shawnee
National Forest.
(4) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, all
Federal land within the Special Management Areas, including any
land or interest in land that is acquired by the United States
within the Special Management Areas after the date of enactment
of this Act, is withdrawn from--
(A) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the
public land laws;
(B) location, entry, and patent under the mining
laws; and
(C) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral
materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
(5) Maps and legal descriptions.--As soon as practicable
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
transmit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House
of Representatives the maps and legal descriptions of each of
the Special Management Areas filed under subsection (e)(1).
(6) Public information.--Annually, the Secretary shall make
publicly available on the website of the Shawnee National
Forest information describing the progress in achieving the
management objectives described in this subsection.
(e) Map and Legal Description.--
(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file with the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a map and legal description that contains maps
and boundary descriptions of--
(A) the Camp Hutchins Wilderness; and
(B) each of the Special Management Areas.
(2) Effect.--The map and legal description filed under
paragraph (1) shall have the same force and effect as if
included in this Act, except that the Secretary may correct
clerical and typographical errors in the map and legal
description.
(3) Availability.--The map and legal description filed
under paragraph (1) shall be on file and available for public
inspection in the appropriate office of the Secretary and on
the Forest Service website.
SEC. 8407. PATRICK LEAHY WILDERNESS.
(a) Designation of Patrick Leahy Wilderness.--
(1) Vermont wilderness act of 1984 amendment.--Section
102(1) of the Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984 (16 U.S.C. 1132
note; Public Law 98-322; 98 Stat. 254) is amended by striking
``known as the Breadloaf Wilderness'' and inserting ``known as
the `Patrick Leahy Wilderness'''.
(2) New england wilderness act of 2006 amendment.--Section
211(3) of the New England Wilderness Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C.
1132 note; Public Law 109-382; 120 Stat. 2675) is amended by
striking ``known as the `Breadloaf Wilderness''' and inserting
``known as the `Patrick Leahy Wilderness'''.
(b) References.--Any reference in any law, map, regulation, order,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Breadloaf
Wilderness shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Patrick Leahy
Wilderness''.
SEC. 8408. BLACK RIVER STATE FOREST RELEASE OF REVERSIONARY INTEREST.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Deli, inc..--The term ``Deli, Inc.'' means Deli, Inc.,
a sphagnum moss production business located in Millston,
Wisconsin.
(2) Deli land.--The term ``Deli land'' means the
approximately 37.27 acres of land owned or optioned to acquire,
subject to the approval of the land exchange by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Natural
Resources Board, and the Governor of Wisconsin, in 2 separate
parcels, by Deli, Inc., and located in Millston, Wisconsin, as
depicted on the map and as described as follows:
(A) A parcel of real property containing
approximately 31.3 acres (which includes land within
the road right-of-way), together with any
improvements--
(i) comprising the NE\1/4\NE\1/4\ sec. 29,
T. 20 N., R. 2 W., Town of Millston, Jackson
County, Wisconsin;
(ii) excluding--
(I) land lying north of the
railroad right-of-way; and
(II) a parcel 150 feet wide, with
50 feet lying to the northeast, and 100
feet to the southwest, of a line
commencing at a point 5 feet east of
the northwest corner of the quarter-
quarter section described in clause
(i), thence south 56 east 39' a
distance of 222 feet, thence south 57
east 31' a distance of 1359 feet; and
(iii) subject to--
(I) any public water use or
easements on Lee Lake; and
(II) any easements or restrictions
of record, public roadways, zoning and
use ordinances, and the railroad right-
of-way.
(B) A parcel of real property containing
approximately 5.97 acres located in the SW\1/4\SW\1/4\
sec. 20, T. 20 N., R. 4 W., Town of Millston, Jackson
County, Wisconsin, comprising lot 7 of Certified Survey
Map No. 4483, as recorded in volume 19S of the
certified survey maps, page 334, as Document No. 413440
in the Jackson County Register of Deeds.
(3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Black
River State Forest - Deli, Inc.'' and dated June 26, 2023.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of
Wisconsin.
(5) State forest land.--The term ``State forest land''
means the approximately 31.83 acres of land located in the
Black River State Forest in Millston, Wisconsin, as depicted on
the map and as described as follows:
(A) A parcel containing 23.13 acres--
(i) comprising the portion of the E\1/
2\SE\1/4\ sec. 20, T. 20 N., R. 2. W., Town of
Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin, lying
south of the Interstate Highway 94 southern
right-of-way; and
(ii) excluding a triangular parcel in the
southwest corner described as commencing at the
southwest corner, thence east 260 feet, thence
northwesterly to a point on the west boundary
thereof 200 feet north of the southwest corner,
thence south to the place of beginning.
(B) A parcel containing 8.70 acres comprising the
portion of the NE\1/4\NE\1/4\ sec. 29, T. 20 N., R. 2.
W., Town of Millston, Jackson County, Wisconsin, lying
north of the railroad right-of-way, forming a
triangular piece and described as commencing at the
northeast corner of that quarter-quarter section,
thence west 1010 feet to the north line of the railroad
right-of-way, thence southeasterly along the boundary
of the railroad to the east line of that quarter-
quarter section, thence north on the east line 750 feet
to the place of beginning.
(b) Conditional Release.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) the State forest land is subject to a
reversionary interest of the United States pursuant to
section 32(c) of The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act (7
U.S.C. 1011(c)), requiring that the State forest land
be used for public purposes in perpetuity; and
(B) the State and Deli, Inc. have agreed that the
State will convey the State forest land in exchange for
the Deli land, and the Deli land will be added to Black
River State Forest in the State.
(2) Conditional release.--If the State offers in a written
agreement to convey the State forest land to Deli, Inc., in
exchange for the conveyance of the Deli land to the State--
(A) the reversionary interest of the United States
in the State forest land shall be released; and
(B) the Secretary shall provide, as expeditiously
as possible, recordable evidence of the release under
subparagraph (A) in the form of a quitclaim deed, which
shall--
(i) convey any interest of the United
States in the State forest land without
consideration; and
(ii) be provided to the State for recording
before the exchange deeds are recorded.
(3) Corrections.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
State, may make any necessary corrections to the legal
description of the State forest land for purposes of the
quitclaim deed described in paragraph (2)(B).
SEC. 8409. BENTON MACKAYE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Benton MacKaye Trail--
(1) is a scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses
approximately 287 miles over some of the most renowned forests
and mountains in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and North
Carolina;
(2) showcases a wide variety of scenic views, including
high-elevation peaks, mature forests, and secluded waterfalls;
(3) passes through wilderness that is rich with
biodiversity;
(4) passes through 6 designated wilderness areas, the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee,
Cherokee, and Nantahala National Forests;
(5) provides a wide array of easily accessible hikes for
novice and intermediate hikers, as well as more challenging
trails for backpacking;
(6) supports economic opportunities for numerous rural
communities that benefit from the visitors to the Benton
MacKaye Trail spending their money on accommodations, food, and
outdoor supplies;
(7) runs from Springer Mountain in the State of Georgia,
through the State of Tennessee, and extends through the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park in the State of North Carolina;
(8) is physically accessible; and
(9) can be maintained at a minimal cost because--
(A) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been maintained at
the same length since 2005;
(B) 95 percent of the Benton MacKaye Trail is
located on Federal land; and
(C) the Benton MacKaye Trail has been successfully
constructed, maintained, and managed by the Benton
MacKaye Trail Association since 1980.
(b) Feasibility Study.--Section 5(c) of the National Trails System
Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(50) Benton mackaye trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Benton MacKaye Trail, a
scenic, nonmotorized trail that traverses approximately
287 miles in the States of Georgia, Tennessee, and
North Carolina.
``(B) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of
Agriculture, in consultation with interested
organizations (including the Benton MacKaye Trail
Association), shall complete and submit to Congress the
feasibility study for designating the Benton MacKaye
Trail as a national scenic trail.''.
Subtitle E--Other Matters
SEC. 8501. URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY.
(a) In General.--Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and
(6) as subparagraphs (A), (D), (E), and (F),
respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A) (as so redesignated), by striking
``residents'' and inserting ``residents
because--'';
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A)
(as so redesignated) the following:
``(B) the maintenance and management of an urban
forest offers additional opportunities relating to
workforce development and job creation;
``(C) the presence of a healthy and well-maintained
urban forest can support stormwater management;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (E) (as so
redesignated)--
(I) by inserting ``improving air
quality,'' after ``heat island
effect,''; and
(II) by adding ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end; and
(iv) in subparagraph (F) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting ``, including by improving the
physical and mental health of community
residents;'';
(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ``communities.''
and inserting ``communities;'';
(D) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph
(3); and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) according to research by the Forest Service, the
estimated value of benefits described in paragraph (2) exceeds
$18,000,000,000;
``(5) urban forest canopy cover is inequitably distributed
among racial groups and income levels, exacerbating disparities
in exposure, for example, to the urban heat island effect, and
increasing related health risks and financial burdens relating
to cooling;
``(6) the effects of historical discriminatory policies,
such as redlining, continue to have effects on urban
environments;
``(7) a recent analysis shows that--
``(A) urbanized neighborhoods with mostly people of
color have 33 percent less tree canopy on average than
majority white neighborhoods; and
``(B) low-income neighborhoods have 41 percent less
tree cover than neighborhoods with low rates of
poverty;
``(8) additional analyses of cities in the United States
found that--
``(A) communities primarily inhabited by United
States-born, White populations contain more than twice
the urban forest canopy cover of communities primarily
inhabited by racial and ethnic minorities; and
``(B) there were elevated land temperatures in
formerly redlined areas compared to their nonredlined
counterparts, by an average 2.6 degrees Celsius and up
to 7 degrees Celsius; and
``(9) to reduce disparities in the enjoyment of the social,
environmental, and economic benefits of healthy and well-
maintained urban forests and to manage risks relating to heat
exposure and other urban stressors, the Federal Government
should accelerate actions to enhance the health and resilience
of urban forests, with investment in priority communities.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``The
Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``(1) Assistance for states.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)--
(i) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated),
in the second sentence, by striking ``In
providing such assistance'' and inserting the
following:
``(B) Cooperation with the public.--In providing
assistance under subparagraph (A)''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B) (as so
designated), by striking ``organizations. The
Secretary'' and inserting the following:
``organizations and institutions of higher
education.
``(C) Direct cooperation with local governments.--
The Secretary''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Office of urban and community forestry.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in
the Forest Service an Office of Urban and Community
Forestry.
``(B) Director.--The Chief of the Forest Service
shall appoint a senior official to serve as the
Director of the Office of Urban and Community Forestry,
which shall not be required to be a Senior Executive
Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of
title 5, United States Code).
``(C) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Urban
and Community Forestry shall be to promote the purposes
described in subsection (b), including administering
the programs and requirements described in this
section.
``(D) Duties.--The Director of the Office of Urban
and Community Forestry shall be responsible for
carrying out the mission described in subparagraph (C),
including by--
``(i) managing urban and community forest
programs, including programs for State and
local tree planting and maintenance;
``(ii) engaging in stakeholder relations
and developing external partnerships in support
of urban and community forest programs;
``(iii) identifying common State and
municipal best practices for navigating local
policies for urban and community forestry;
``(iv) coordinating the nationwide networks
of urban and community forest programs;
``(v) providing strategic guidance for
workforce development for urban and community
forest programs and longevity of urban forests;
``(vi) administering awards provided under
this section;
``(vii) advising the Chief of the Forest
Service on urban and community forestry; and
``(viii) coordinating with agencies and
officials of the Department of Agriculture and
the Forest Service to administer or update
urban and community forest programs.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the
first sentence, by striking ``organizations,'' and
inserting ``organizations and institutions of higher
education,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``and determining'' and
inserting ``determining''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, and measuring and
monitoring the atmospheric impacts of urban and
community forests'' before the semicolon at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) in connection with the Forest and Inventory Analysis
program, analyze data regarding the carbon emissions,
sequestration, storage, and related atmospheric impacts of
urban and community forests.'';
(4) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``15'' and inserting ``16'';
(ii) in each of clauses (i) through (viii),
by striking the comma at the end and inserting
a period;
(iii) in clause (ix), by striking ``, and''
at the end and inserting a period; and
(iv) by striking clause (x) and inserting
the following:
``(x) 3 members who are not officers or
employees of any governmental body and who have
expertise and have been active in urban and
community forestry, of whom--
``(I) 1 is a resident of a
community with a population of less
than 50,000 as of the most recent
census; and
``(II) 1 is a resident of an
underserved community, as determined by
the Secretary, with a population of
greater than 50,000 as of the most
recent census.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less frequently
than annually.'';
(5) by striking subsection (i);
(6) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (j);
(7) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Microforest Funding.--
``(1) Amounts awarded.--Of the amount made available under
subsection (k) for each fiscal year, not less than $150,000,
but not more than 1 percent, shall be awarded for projects that
establish microforests and used for other expenses necessary to
support those microforests, as determined by the Secretary.
``(2) Considerations.--In selecting projects under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible
parcels that--
``(A) are underutilized, degraded,
deindustrialized, barren, or fractional;
``(B) are located in an area where green space is
lacking;
``(C) provide ecological benefits, including storm
water management, heat reduction, and wildlife habitat;
and
``(D) are geographically, economically, and
ecologically diverse.
``(i) Waiver of Cost Share Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Any non-Federal cost-share requirement
otherwise applicable to projects carried out under this section
may be waived at the discretion of the Secretary.
``(2) Priority.--In providing waivers under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall give priority to a project carried out by a
nonprofit organization or an Indian Tribe (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) that benefits an underserved
community.''; and
(8) by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated, out of
amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 to carry out this section, to
remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $80,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
(b) Availability of Funds.--Nothing in the amendments made by
subsection (a) affects the availability of funds made available for the
program under section 9(c) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105(c)) before the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Definition of Microforest.--Section 13(d) of the Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109(d)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
paragraphs (3), (1), and (4), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(2) Microforest.--The term `microforest' means a dense
planting of diverse, native trees and related shrubs and
vegetative ground covering that--
``(A) is no greater than 1 acre;
``(B) is suitable for local conditions; and
``(C) provides ecological benefits.''.
SEC. 8502. NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION ACT.
(a) Matching Funds.--Section 405(b) of the National Forest
Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j-3(b)) is amended by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2029''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 410(b) of the
National Forest Foundation Act (16 U.S.C. 583j-8(b)) is amended by
striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8503. CONVEYANCE OF FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE SITES.
Section 503 of the Forest Service Facility Realignment and
Enhancement Act of 2005 (16 U.S.C. 580d note; Public Law 109-54) is
amended by striking subsection (f).
SEC. 8504. RURAL REVITALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES.
Section 2371(d)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6601(d)(2)) is amended by striking ``2023''
and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8505. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7125) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``2023'' each place
it appears and inserting ``2029'';
(2) in subsection (d)(6)(C), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(3) in subsection (g)(5), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 8506. RAPID OHIA DEATH.
(a) Definition of Rapid Ohia Death.--In this section, the term
``Rapid Ohia Death'' means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen
known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species
Metrosideros polymorphia.
(b) Collaboration.--The Secretary shall collaborate with the
Secretary of the Interior and the Governors of affected States and
territories to address Rapid Ohia Death.
(c) Transmission.--The Chief of the Forest Service, acting through
the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and in
collaboration with the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall continue to
conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.
(d) Ungulate Management.--The Chief of the Forest Service, acting
through the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, shall
continue to collaborate with the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Governors of affected States and territories, and local
stakeholders to manage ungulates in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on--
(1) Federal, State, and territorial land; and
(2) private land with the consent of private landowners.
(e) Restoration and Research.--The Secretary, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service, shall continue to provide--
(1) financial assistance, including through agreements with
the Secretary of the Interior--
(A) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and
(B) to restore the native forests of affected
States and territories; and
(2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the
Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct
research on Rapid Ohia Death.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to
carry out this section, including for activities carried out by the
Secretary, the Chief of the Forest Service, or the Secretary of the
Interior.
SEC. 8507. CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS.
Public Law 91-378 (16 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``TITLE III--CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS
``SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Civilian conservation center.--The term `Civilian
Conservation Center' means any residential workforce
development or training facility for underserved youth operated
by the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the
Interior.
``(2) Covered graduate.--The term `covered graduate' means
an individual who successfully completed a training program at
a Civilian Conservation Center.
``(3) Covered student.--The term `covered student' means an
individual who is enrolled in a training program at a Civilian
Conservation Center.
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
``SEC. 302. CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS WILDFIRE AND CONSERVATION
TRAINING PROGRAM.
``(a) Specialized Training Programs.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall offer at Civilian
Conservation Centers specialized training programs focused on--
``(1) forestry and rangeland management;
``(2) wildland firefighting; or
``(3) any other topic relating to the mission of the Forest
Service or the public interest.
``(b) Prioritization.--The Secretary shall prioritize offering
specialized training programs under subsection (a) at facilities
described in section 147(d) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3197(d)).
``SEC. 303. WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PILOT.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Experiment, research, or demonstration pilots.--The
Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, may
carry out experimental, research, or demonstration pilots to
provide career and technical curricula and course offerings to
advance the missions of the Department of Agriculture at
Civilian Conservation Centers operated by the Department of
Agriculture under section 147(d) of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3197(d)).
``(2) Curricula and courses.--Curricula and courses
described in paragraph (1) include--
``(A) incident management and emergency response
logistics;
``(B) disaster response;
``(C) forest products measurement;
``(D) timber sale administration and preparation;
``(E) heavy equipment operation;
``(F) equipment and mechanical services;
``(G) industrial electrical systems;
``(H) machining;
``(I) mill operations;
``(J) forest restoration;
``(K) habitat and water quality monitoring;
``(L) watershed and habitat enhancement;
``(M) range management;
``(N) recreation access improvement;
``(O) volunteer and visitor enhancement; and
``(P) historic preservation.
``(b) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
shall--
``(1) identify, after consulting with State governments and
agencies, Federal emergency management and land management
agencies, local communities, institutions of higher education,
and Indian Tribes, workforce needs in--
``(A) land management agencies;
``(B) forest, conservation, and recreation
industries; and
``(C) rural communities;
``(2) develop marketing, recruitment, and retention
materials for the curricula and courses offered under
subsection (a); and
``(3) to the extent practicable, provide specialized staff
necessary to teach curricula and courses offered under
subsection (a).
``SEC. 304. WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT.
``(a) Recruitment Goals and Investments.--
``(1) Recruitment goal.--The Secretary--
``(A) shall set goals of--
``(i) hiring 300 covered graduates annually
to contribute to wildland firefighting or other
critical workforce needs within the Department
of Agriculture;
``(ii) a certain percentage of covered
graduates annually attaining employment in
wildland firefighting, natural resources,
forestry, or a related field; and
``(iii) a certain percentage of covered
graduates annually attaining employment; and
``(B) may make investments to support the
recruitment, training, hiring, and retention of covered
graduates.
``(2) Signing bonus.--The Secretary may provide for a
signing bonus to enable the successful employment and
transition of covered graduates, including for the purpose of
securing housing in rural and remote communities.
``(b) Direct Hire Authority.--For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Secretary may appoint, without regard to the
provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States
Code, other than sections 3303 and 3328 of that title, a covered
graduate directly to a position for which the covered graduate meets
Office of Personnel Management qualification standards.
``(c) Pathways to Employment.--The Secretary shall ensure that
appropriate career pathways are developed for covered graduates of
Civilian Conservation Center training programs.
``(d) Underserved Youth Employment.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary may employ covered students at regular
rates of pay for necessary hours of work.
``(e) Use of Covered Students for Contracts, Agreements, and
Grants.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall
encourage the use of covered students to fulfill obligations under
contracts, agreements, and grants relevant to the training provided at
a Civilian Conservation Center.
``SEC. 305. WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot program to
employ covered students to improve and expand the housing stock owned
by the Federal Government for the purpose of housing wildland
firefighters, volunteers, partner crewmembers, interns, and other
Federal agency employees.
``(b) Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) identify properties currently owned by the Federal
Government that would be appropriate housing for wildland
firefighters, volunteers, partner crewmembers, interns, and
other Federal agency employees;
``(2) identify areas where the construction of new housing
described in paragraph (1) would be appropriate and
sustainable; and
``(3) submit to Congress a prioritized list of projects for
renovation with a plan for how the Secretary will employ
covered students to repair, renovate, and remediate the
properties identified under paragraph (1).
``SEC. 306. REPORT.
``Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this title,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives a report--
``(1) describing underutilized capacity at Civilian
Conservation Centers, based on an assessment conducted by the
Secretary; and
``(2) identifying the investments, improvements, and
efficiencies necessary to utilize the full capacity of Civilian
Conservation Centers.
``SEC. 307. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such
sums as are necessary to carry out this title for each fiscal year.''.
SEC. 8508. SPECIAL USE AUTHORIZATION RENTAL FEE WAIVERS.
Section 504(g) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1764(g)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(g) The holder'' and inserting the
following:
``(g) Rental Payments.--
``(1) In general.--The holder''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Waiver.--The rental fee and other fees related to a
special use authorization for the use and occupancy of National
Forest System land shall be waived by the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service,
when equitable and in the public interest, in any of the
following circumstances:
``(A) The holder of the special use authorization
is a State or local government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof, excluding municipal utilities
and cooperatives whose principal source of revenue from
the authorized use is customer charges.
``(B) The holder of the special use authorization--
``(i) is a nonprofit association or
nonprofit corporation that--
``(I) is not controlled or owned by
a profitmaking corporation or business
enterprise; and
``(II) is engaged in public or
semi-public activity to further public
health, safety, or welfare; and
``(ii) does not use funds derived through
the special use authorization--
``(I) to increase the value of the
authorized improvements owned by the
holder; or
``(II) to support other activities
of the holder.
``(C) The holder of the special use authorization
is an amateur station, is an amateur operator, or
provides amateur radio services (as those terms are
defined in section 97.3 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations)).
``(D) Such other circumstances as the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, may establish by regulation.''.
SEC. 8509. SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Forest botanical product.--
(A) In general.--The term ``forest botanical
product'' means any naturally occurring mushroom,
fungus, flower, seed, root, bark, leaf, berry, bough,
bryophyte, bulb, burl, cone, epiphyte, fern, forb,
grass, moss, nut, pine straw, sedge, shrub, transplant,
tree sap, or other vegetation (or portion thereof) that
grows on National Forest System land.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``forest botanical
product'' does not include trees, or portions of trees,
except as provided in regulations issued under section
339 of the Department of the Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 528 note;
Public Law 106-113), by the Secretary before the date
of enactment of this Act.
(2) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
(16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(b) Recovery of Fair Market Value for Products.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of
the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out a program to
charge and collect fees under subsection (c) for forest
botanical products harvested on National Forest System land.
(2) Appraisal methods; bidding procedures.--The Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish
a fee system based on fair market value for forest botanical
products harvested on National Forest System land.
(c) Fees.--
(1) Imposition and collection.--The Secretary shall charge
and collect fees from persons who harvest forest botanical
products on National Forest System land.
(2) Amount of fee.--The fees collected under paragraph (1)
shall be based on the fair market value of the harvested forest
botanical products described in that paragraph and the costs
incurred by the Secretary associated with the administration of
the program under this section, including the costs of
granting, modifying, monitoring, and other environmental or
other analyses.
(3) Security.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of
the Forest Service, may require a person assessed a fee under
this subsection to provide security to ensure that the
Secretary receives the fees imposed under this subsection from
the person.
(d) Sustainable Harvest Levels for Forest Botanical Products.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of
the Forest Service, shall--
(A) conduct appropriate analyses to determine
whether and how the harvest of forest botanical
products on National Forest System land can be
conducted on a sustainable basis; and
(B) establish procedures and timeframes to monitor
and revise the harvest levels established for forest
botanical products.
(2) Prohibition on harvest in excess of sustainable
levels.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, may not permit under the program under this section
the harvest of forest botanical products on National Forest
System land at levels in excess of the sustained yield of the
several products and services (as defined in section 4 of the
Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 531)).
(e) Waiver Authority.--
(1) Personal use.--The Secretary, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service, shall establish a personal use harvest
level for each forest botanical product, and the harvest of a
forest botanical product below that level by a person for
personal use shall not be subject to charges and fees under
subsections (b) and (c).
(2) Other exceptions.--The Secretary, acting through the
Chief of the Forest Service, may also waive the application of
subsection (b) or (c) pursuant to such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe.
(f) Deposit and Use of Funds.--
(1) Deposit.--Funds collected under the program in
accordance with subsections (b) and (c) shall be deposited into
a special account in the United States Treasury.
(2) Funds available.--Funds deposited into the special
account in accordance with paragraph (1) shall remain available
until expended without further appropriation.
(3) Authorized uses.--The funds made available under
paragraph (2) shall be expended at units of the National Forest
System in proportion to the charges and fees collected at that
unit under the program under this section to pay for--
(A) the costs of conducting inventories of forest
botanical products, determining sustainable levels of
harvest, monitoring and assessing the impacts of
harvest levels and methods, and for restoration
activities, including any necessary revegetation; and
(B) the costs described in subsection (c)(2).
(4) Treatment of fees.--Funds collected under the program
in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) shall not be taken
into account for the purposes of the following laws:
(A) The sixth paragraph under the heading ``forest
service'' in the Act of May 23, 1908 (35 Stat. 260,
chapter 192; 16 U.S.C. 500), and section 13 of the Act
of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the ``Weeks Act'')
(36 Stat. 963, chapter 186; 16 U.S.C. 500).
(B) The fourteenth paragraph under the heading
``forest service'' in the Act of March 4, 1913 (37
Stat. 843, chapter 145; 16 U.S.C. 501).
(C) Section 33 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant
Act (7 U.S.C. 1012).
(D) The Act of August 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 874,
chapter 876; 43 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), and the Act of
May 24, 1939 (53 Stat. 753, chapter 144; 43 U.S.C. 2621
et seq.).
(E) Section 6 of the Act of June 14, 1926 (commonly
known as the Recreation and Public Purposes Act) (44
Stat. 741, chapter 578; 73 Stat. 111; 43 U.S.C. 869-4).
(F) Chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code.
(G) Section 401 of the Act of June 15, 1935 (49
Stat. 383, chapter 261;16 U.S.C. 715s).
(H) Section 100904 of title 54, United States Code.
(I) Any other provision of law relating to revenue
allocation.
(g) Reporting Requirements.--As soon as practicable after the end
of each fiscal year in which the Secretary collects charges and fees
under the program in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) or expends
funds from the special account under subsection (f), the Secretary,
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall submit to
Congress a report summarizing the activities of the Secretary under the
program under this section, including--
(1) the funds collected under the program in accordance
with subsections (a) and (b);
(2) the expenses incurred to carry out the program under
this section; and
(3) the expenditures made from the special account during
that fiscal year.
SEC. 8510. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
Section 7(l) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2103c(l)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``of Vermont'' each place it appears; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(B)(i)(II), by adding ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end.
TITLE IX--ENERGY
SEC. 9001. DEFINITIONS.
Section 9001 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8101) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (13) through (17) as
paragraphs (14) through (18), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
``(13) Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.--The term
`lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions' means the aggregate
quantity of greenhouse gas related to the full fuel lifecycle,
as determined under the most recent Greenhouse gases, Regulated
Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation model (commonly
referred to as the `GREET model') developed by Argonne National
Laboratory.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(19) Ultra-low-carbon bioethanol.--The term `ultra-low-
carbon bioethanol' means ethanol that--
``(A) has a carbon intensity of 30 kilograms of
carbon dioxide equivalent per MMBtu or less; and
``(B) to reduce the carbon intensity of the ethanol
produced, uses 1 or more of--
``(i) carbon capture, utilization, or
sequestration;
``(ii) renewable electricity;
``(iii) biomass energy;
``(iv) renewable natural gas thermal
energy;
``(v) low-carbon farming practices;
``(vi) cover crops; or
``(vii) any other practice recognized under
the model described in paragraph (13) to reduce
the carbon intensity of ethanol production.
``(20) Zero-carbon bioethanol.--The term `zero-carbon
bioethanol' means ethanol that--
``(A) has a carbon intensity of 0 kilograms or less
of carbon dioxide equivalent per MMBtu; and
``(B) to reduce the carbon intensity of the ethanol
produced, uses 1 or more of the practices described in
clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (19)(B).''.
SEC. 9002. BIOBASED MARKETS PROGRAM.
Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8102) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)(i)--
(I) in subclause (II)(bb), by
striking ``and'' at the end;
(II) in subclause (III), by
striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(IV) on an annual basis, update
the procurement requirement described
in subclause (III) by increasing the
number of biobased-only contracts or
the volume purchased under those
contracts by not less than 5 percent
above the requirement applicable for
the previous year.'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
clause (iii) and inserting the following:
``(iii) are available only at prices that
exceed the price preferences established under
paragraph (3)(B)(viii) for those items.''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Guidance.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, shall
issue guidance to procuring agencies to consider
product lifespan, savings, and efficacy when making
procurement decisions under this subsection.'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (vii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(II) by redesignating clause (viii)
as clause (ix); and
(III) by inserting after clause
(vii) the following:
``(viii) establish price preferences for
different types of biobased products; and'';
and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Minimum biobased content levels.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
determine whether to increase the minimum
biobased content for each designated product
category by up to 5 percent by the end of the
5-year period following the date of enactment
of this subparagraph and every 5 years
thereafter.
``(ii) Notice and comment rulemaking.--The
Secretary shall issue regulations in accordance
with section 553 of title 5, United States
Code, to carry out clause (i) and implement any
increase in the minimum biobased content for a
designated product category pursuant to a
determination made under clause (i).'';
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking clause (ii); and
(II) by redesignating clauses (iii)
and (iv) as clauses (ii) and (iii),
respectively;
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subclause (I)--
(aa) by inserting ``and the
Secretary'' after ``Policy'';
and
(bb) by striking
``information concerning--''
and inserting ``a report that
describes, for the year covered
by the report--'';
(II) in subclause (I), by inserting
``, including the actions taken by the
procuring agency to establish and
implement the biobased procurement
program of the procuring agency under
that paragraph'' before the semicolon;
(III) in subclause (IV), by
striking ``and'' at the end;
(IV) in subclause (V), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(V) by adding at the end the
following:
``(VI)(aa) the specific categories
of biobased products that are
unavailable to meet the procurement
needs of the procuring agency; and
``(bb) the desired performance
standards and other relevant
specifications for those products; and
``(VII) if applicable, the
procurement requirement or updated
procurement requirement established
under paragraph (2)(A)(i) that the
procuring agency failed to meet and
reasons for the failure; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Verification.--The Office of Federal
Procurement Policy, in consultation with the Secretary,
shall annually--
``(i) collect the information required to
be reported under subparagraph (B) and make the
information publicly available; and
``(ii) verify, using the information
collected under clause (i), that each procuring
agency under paragraph (2)(A)(i), as
applicable, has established a procurement
program in accordance with subclause (I) of
that paragraph.
``(E) Training.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of this
subparagraph, each procuring agency shall have
completed training on biobased product
purchasing for the appropriate staff of the
procuring agency, including contracting
officers, purchase card managers, and purchase
card holders.
``(ii) Materials.--The Office of Federal
Procurement Policy, in cooperation with the
Secretary, shall provide training materials for
procuring agencies conducting training pursuant
to clause (i).
``(F) Federal catalog updates.--Not later than 2
years after the date of the enactment of this
subparagraph, the Administrator for Federal Procurement
Policy, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall--
``(i) direct the Administrator of General
Services to update the Federal Procurement Data
System described in section 1122(a)(4) of title
41, United States Code, or any successor
system, to include biobased product
designations;
``(ii) direct that the System for Award
Management collect biobased product purchasing
data;
``(iii) direct that Federal online
procurement systems, including GSA Advantage!
and FedMall, include designations for products
that meet the guidelines under paragraph (3);
``(iv) require, to the maximum extent
practicable, that Federal online procurement
systems, including GSA Advantage! and FedMall,
use North American Industry Classification
System codes, North American Product
Classification System-based product codes, and
other product codes, as determined in
consultation with the Secretary, when
identifying products that meet the guidelines
under paragraph (3); and
``(v) require agencies with online Federal
sales platforms to include reporting of those
purchases in their reporting on products that
meet the guidelines under paragraph (3).'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) Review and regulations.--
``(i) Review.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Secretary shall conduct a review of the use of
the terms `bio-attributed plastic', `bio-
attributed product', `biobased plastic',
`biobased product', `renewable chemical', and
any other similar terms, to determine--
``(I) how those terms are used on
products with the label described in
paragraph (1) and products without that
label; and
``(II) the extent to which there is
public confusion regarding the use of
those terms.
``(ii) Regulations.--The Secretary shall
promulgate such regulations as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate to ensure the
integrity of the label described in paragraph
(1), including regulations to define additional
terms necessary to avoid or reduce public
confusion relating to the label.''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Public marketing and education.--The Secretary may
conduct outreach to educate the public on, and promote the use
of, biobased products, including by--
``(A) conducting outreach to small businesses
producing biobased products that seek a label under
this subsection;
``(B) providing information about biobased product
procurement preferences to State procurement agencies;
and
``(C) establishing public-private partnerships to
further increase awareness and use of biobased
products.
``(6) Acceptance and use of contributions.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may establish an
account to accept contributions of non-Federal funds to
carry out public marketing and education under
paragraph (5).
``(B) Deposit and use of contributions.--
Contributions of non-Federal funds received to carry
out the activities under paragraph (5) shall--
``(i) be deposited into the account
established under this paragraph for those
activities;
``(ii) be available to, and subject to the
control of, the Secretary, without further
appropriation and until expended, to carry out
those activities; and
``(iii) supplement any funding made
available under subsection (k) and allocated by
the Secretary for those activities.
``(7) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly
available on the website of the Department of Agriculture and
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report that includes--
``(A) a list of the biobased products that were
authorized to use the label described in paragraph (1)
during the preceding fiscal year;
``(B) a description of the audit and compliance
activities conducted under paragraph (3)(B) during the
preceding fiscal year, including any findings of
noncompliance and any actions taken by the Secretary to
address the noncompliance;
``(C)(i) a description of the public marketing and
education conducted by the Secretary under paragraph
(5); and
``(ii) a plan for conducting public marketing and
education under that paragraph for the following 2
fiscal years that is designed to increase the use of
the label described in paragraph (1) and the purchase
of biobased products; and
``(D) the total amount of contributions of non-
Federal funds accepted into the account established
under paragraph (6).'';
(3) in subsection (f)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``The Secretary and the Secretary
of Commerce shall jointly'' and inserting ``The Secretary of
Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary, shall'';
(4) in subsection (j)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (v), by striking ``; and''
and inserting ``, including greenhouse gas
emissions reduced and avoided;'';
(ii) in clause (vi), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) identifying available industry
methodologies to establish a lifecycle
greenhouse gas emissions assessment methodology
for biobased products.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``this
subparagraph'' and inserting ``the Rural Prosperity and
Food Security Act of 2024 and every 5 years
thereafter'';
(5) in subsection (k)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$3,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024'' and inserting
``$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2019 through
2023'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029''; and
(6) in subsection (l)--
(A) by striking ``In this section'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--In this section''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Standard.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use the most
recent version of the ASTM International Standard D6866
to determine the contents of biobased products.
``(B) Alternative standards.--In addition to the
standard described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary
may, by notice and comment rulemaking under section 553
of title 5, United States Code, establish alternative
standards to determine the contents of biobased
products.''.
SEC. 9003. BIOREFINERY, RENEWABLE CHEMICAL, AND BIOBASED PRODUCT
MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE.
Section 9003 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8103) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``to assist'' and inserting ``to develop
advanced biofuels (which, for purposes of this section, shall
include ultra-low-carbon bioethanol and zero-carbon
bioethanol), renewable chemicals, and biobased product
manufacturing and assist'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``technologically new'';
and
(ii) by striking ``end-user products'' and
inserting ``end-user products, renewable
chemicals, and biobased products''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by indenting the margins of
clauses (i) through (iii)
appropriately;
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``or'' at the end;
(III) in clause (iii), by striking
``and'' at the end and inserting
``or''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) sustainable aviation fuel; and'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by indenting the margins of
clauses (i) through (iii)
appropriately;
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``or'' at the end;
(III) in clause (iii), by striking
the period at the end and inserting ``;
or''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) sustainable aviation fuel.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary shall make
available to eligible entities guarantees'' and
inserting the following: ``Subject to the availability
of funding, the Secretary shall make available to
eligible entities--
``(1) on a year-round basis, guarantees'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``, in
accordance with subsection (d); and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) grants, on a competitive basis, to develop and
construct demonstration-scale biorefineries to demonstrate the
commercial viability of 1 or more processes for converting
renewable biomass to 1 or more of the products described in
clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (b)(3)(A), in accordance
with subsection (e).'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (C);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and
(D) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(iii) in subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated)--
(I) by striking ``In approving a
loan guarantee application'' and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--In approving an
application for a loan guarantee under
subsection (c)(1)''; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following:
``(ii) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
feasibility study under clause (i) for proven
or otherwise commercially available
technologies.''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``loan guarantee
applications'' and inserting ``applications for
loan guarantees under subsection (c)(1)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``$250,000,000'' and inserting
``$400,000,000''; and
(ii) by striking ``subsection (c)'' each
place it appears and inserting ``subsection
(c)(1)'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (k) and
moving the subsection so as to appear after subsection (j);
(6) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Grants.--
``(1) Selection criteria.--
``(A) In general.--In approving applications for
grants under subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall
establish a priority scoring system that assigns
priority scores to each application and only approve
applications that exceed a specified minimum score, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Feasibility.--
``(i) In general.--In approving an
application for a grant under subsection
(c)(2), the Secretary shall determine the
technical and economic feasibility of the
project based on a feasibility study of the
project described in the application conducted
by an independent third party.
``(ii) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the
feasibility study under clause (i) for proven
or otherwise commercially available
technologies.
``(C) Scoring system.--The priority scoring system
established under subparagraph (A) shall consider, with
respect to a project proposed in an application for a
grant under subsection (c)(2)--
``(i) the potential market for the advanced
biofuel and the byproducts produced;
``(ii) the level of financial participation
by the eligible entity, including support from
non-Federal and private sources;
``(iii) whether the eligible entity is
proposing to use--
``(I) a feedstock not previously
used in the production of advanced
biofuels or sustainable aviation fuels;
or
``(II) a feedstock, process, or
technology not widely used in the
production of renewable chemicals or
biobased products;
``(iv) whether the eligible entity is
proposing to work with producer associations or
cooperatives;
``(v) whether the eligible entity has
established that the adoption of the process
proposed in the application will have a
positive impact on resource conservation,
public health, and the environment;
``(vi) the potential for rural economic
development;
``(vii) whether the project can be
replicated; and
``(viii) scalability for commercial use.
``(2) Cost sharing.--
``(A) Limits.--The amount of a grant awarded under
subsection (c)(2) shall not exceed an amount that is 30
percent of the cost of the project carried out using
the grant.
``(B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of
the cost of a project may be provided in the form of
cash or material, subject to the condition that the
material provided does not exceed 15 percent of the
non-Federal share.'';
(7) in subsection (g)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by inserting ``and grants'' after
``loan guarantees'';
(II) in clause (iii), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(III) in clause (iv), by striking
the period at the end and inserting ``;
and''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(v) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``Of
the total'' and all that follows through
``subparagraph (A)'' and inserting ``Of the
total amount of funds made available for fiscal
year 2025 under subparagraph (A)''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2014 through
2023'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029'';
(8) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``subsections (a)
through (e), and (g)'' and inserting ``subsections (a) through
(e), (g), and (k)'';
(9) in subsection (i)(1), by striking ``subsections (a)
through (e) and subsection (g)'' and inserting ``subsections
(a) through (e), (g), and (k)''; and
(10) in subsection (j)(1), by striking ``subsections (a)
through (e) and (g)'' and inserting ``subsections (a) through
(e), (g), and (k)''.
SEC. 9004. BIOENERGY PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED BIOFUELS.
Section 9005(g)(2) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8105(g)(2)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023''
and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 9005. BIODIESEL FUEL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 9006(d) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8106(d)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023''
and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 9006. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural
Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Energy
Audits and Renewable Energy'' and inserting
``Project'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``provide
assistance'' and inserting the following:
``provide--
``(A) assistance'';
(iii) in subparagraph (A)(ii) (as so
redesignated), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) technical assistance to agricultural
producers and rural small businesses to apply for
financial assistance under subsection (c).'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (F); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D)
the following:
``(E) an agricultural producer cooperative; and'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``audits and'' and inserting ``audits, relevant
technical assistance, and'';
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (F) as clauses (i) through (vi),
respectively, and indenting appropriately; and
(iii) by striking the paragraph designation
and heading and all that follows through ``In
reviewing applications'' in the matter
preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated) and
inserting the following:
``(3) Application and selection criteria.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use a single
application for grants under this subsection for 1 or
more of the activities described in paragraph (4).
``(B) Selection criteria.--In reviewing
applications''; and
(E) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by redesignating
clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and
(II), respectively, and indenting
appropriately;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(iii) in the matter preceding clause (i)
(as so redesignated), by striking ``funds to
assist'' and inserting the following: ``funds--
``(A) to assist'';
(iv) in subparagraph (A)(ii) (as so
redesignated)--
(I) in subclause (I) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(II) in subclause (II) (as so
redesignated), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(III) to apply for assistance
under subsection (c); and''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) to provide training for individuals to
perform the activities described in subparagraph
(A).'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(II), by inserting ``that
result in a significant reduction in lifecycle
greenhouse gas emissions'' after ``improvements'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``25''
and inserting ``50'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``$25,000,000'' and inserting ``$50,000,000'';
and
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``subsection (f)'' and inserting ``subsection
(g)''; and
(C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following:
``(4) Application process.--
``(A) In general.--For projects carried out using
assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall
establish an application, evaluation, and oversight
process that is--
``(i) the most simplified for projects for
which the cost of the activity funded under
this subsection is less than $50,000; and
``(ii) more comprehensive for projects for
which the cost of the activity funded under
this subsection is more than $50,000.
``(B) Single application.--The Secretary shall use
a single application for assistance under this
subsection for agricultural producers seeking
assistance under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph
(1)(A).'';
(3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as
subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Regional Demonstration Projects.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out regional
demonstration projects that incentivize agricultural producers
to reduce their carbon footprint or overall carbon equivalent
emissions to the maximum extent practicable through the use of
energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.
``(2) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct, and make
publicly available on the website of the Department of
Agriculture a report describing the results of, a study on the
results of the regional demonstration projects carried out
under paragraph (1).'';
(5) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking ``conducted at the'' and inserting
the following: ``conducted--
``(1) at the'';
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) toward limited resource producers.'';
(6) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``20'' and inserting
``25''; and
(ii) by striking ``subsection (f) to
provide grants of $20,000'' and inserting
``subsection (g) to provide grants of
$50,000'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection
(f)'' and inserting ``subsection (g)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Rebate pilot project.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Covered rebate.--The term `covered
rebate' means a rebate provided by the
Secretary to an eligible entity for the
purchase of certain energy efficient equipment
described in subsection (c)(1)(A), to be
determined by the Secretary, that was made by
an eligible entity--
``(I) as part of a project
completed not more than 12 months
before the provision of the rebate; and
``(II) to meet the immediate needs
of the eligible entity, which were not
anticipated while the application
period for assistance under subsection
(c) was open but would otherwise meet
the requirements for projects eligible
for assistance under that subsection.
``(ii) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible
entity' means any entity eligible to receive
financial assistance under subsection (c).
``(iii) Pilot project.--The term `pilot
project' means the pilot project established
under subparagraph (B).
``(B) Establishment.--Using not more than 2 percent
of the funds made available to carry out subsection (c)
for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the Secretary
shall carry out a pilot project under which the
Secretary shall--
``(i) award covered rebates to eligible
entities; and
``(ii) test and evaluate a simplified
application process for eligible entities to
apply for those covered rebates.
``(C) Notification prior to commencement.--Not
later than 30 days before the commencement of the pilot
project, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a notification containing --
``(i) the commencement date of the pilot
project;
``(ii) a detailed description of the pilot
project;
``(iii) a copy of the simplified
application to be used under the pilot project;
and
``(iv) a list of the equipment for which
covered rebates will be provided under the
pilot project.
``(D) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2027, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and
make publicly available, a report on the pilot project,
which shall include--
``(i) the total number of each type of
equipment for which an application for a
covered rebate was submitted, and the total
number of each type of equipment for which a
covered rebate was provided; and
``(ii) the extent to which applications for
covered rebates exceeded the availability of
funding, if applicable.
``(E) Procedures.--The administration of this
paragraph shall be--
``(i) made without regard to chapter 35 of
title 44, United States Code; and
``(ii) carried out by the Secretary using
the authority provided under section 808 of
title 5, United States Code.''; and
(7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``fiscal year 2014 and each fiscal year
thereafter.'' and inserting ``each of fiscal
years 2014 through 2024; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``paragraph
(1), 4 percent'' and inserting ``this subsection, 5
percent'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2019 through
2023'' and inserting ``2025 through 2029''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available to
carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary may
reserve--
``(A) not more than 10 percent for awarding grants
under subsection (c) that support the adoption of
underutilized but proven commercial technologies;
``(B) not more than 5 percent to carry out
subsection (d); and
``(C) not more than 5 percent for administrative
costs.''.
(b) Rescission.--The amounts made available by section 22002 of
Public Law 117-169 (136 Stat. 2019) that are unobligated or unawarded
as of the date of enactment of this Act are rescinded.
SEC. 9007. FEEDSTOCK FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM FOR BIOENERGY PRODUCERS.
Section 9010(b) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110(b)) is amended, in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A), by
striking ``2024'' each place it appears and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 9008. BIOMASS CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 9011(f)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8111(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``2019 through 2023''
and inserting ``2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 9009. CARBON UTILIZATION AND BIOGAS EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Section 9014(c) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 8115(c)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2019 through 2023'' and inserting ``2025 through
2029''.
SEC. 9010. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM PROJECTS.
Title IX of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7
U.S.C. 8101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 9015. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEM PROJECTS.
``(a) Definition of Agrivoltaic System.--In this section, the term
`agrivoltaic system' means a system under which solar energy production
and agricultural production, including crop or animal production,
occurs in an integrated manner on the same piece of land for the
duration of the production of solar energy.
``(b) Outreach.--The Secretary shall ensure that outreach and
education relating to agrivoltaic systems is conducted at the State and
local levels for--
``(1) programs that provide financial assistance under
section 9007; and
``(2) applicable programs administered by the Rural
Utilities Service and the Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
``(c) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and each December
31 of the 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly
available a report that describes--
``(1) each project that incorporates an agrivoltaic system
carried out by recipients of a program described in paragraph
(1) or (2) of subsection (b) during the preceding fiscal year;
and
``(2) the total amount of funding expended on those
projects during the preceding fiscal year.
``(d) Coordination.--Not later than December 31, 2027, the
Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Energy to issue
guidance on best practices for agrivoltaic systems, which shall
incorporate lessons learned from the projects described in subsection
(c)(1).''.
SEC. 9011. INDUSTRIAL HEAT PUMP PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program--
(1) to raise awareness of the use of industrial heat pumps;
(2) to create materials for, and provide technical support
to, farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses relating to--
(A) the use of industrial heat pumps; and
(B) the availability of Federal programs to assist
in the adoption of industrial heat pumps;
(3) to support an improved technical understanding of the
opportunities for, and applications of, industrial heat pumps
in the agricultural experiment station network at land-grant
colleges and universities for the purpose of providing training
and assistance to State-level programs serving farmers,
ranchers, and rural small businesses;
(4) to increase knowledge of industrial heat pump
applications and benefits for rural utilities to support
applications of industrial heat pumps for farmers, ranchers,
and rural small businesses; and
(5) to support education on, and awareness of, industrial
heat pump opportunities, applications, and benefits among
extension specialists and extension agents.
(b) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary--
(1) shall coordinate with the Administrator of the Rural
Utilities Service; and
(2) may coordinate with the Secretary of Energy.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as are necessary for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
TITLE X--HORTICULTURE
SEC. 10001. SPECIALTY CROPS MARKET NEWS ALLOCATION.
Section 10107(b) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 1622b(b)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 10002. FOOD LOSS AND WASTE PROCESS VERIFICATION.
Section 203(h) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C.
1622(h)) is amended--
(1) by striking the subsection designation and all that
follows through ``To inspect'' in paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(h) To inspect'';
(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (2), by striking
``subsection.'' and inserting the following: ``subsection, and
subject to the following:
``(1) Scope of authority.--In interpreting the authority of
the Secretary of Agriculture under this subsection, the class,
quality, quantity, and condition of agricultural products that
the Secretary may inspect, certify, and identify shall be
interpreted to include process-related claims related to
avoided food loss and food waste achieved through the
production of such agricultural products.'';
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking the paragraph designation and all
that follows through ``Any'' in subparagraph (A) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Fees.--
``(A) In general.--Any''; and
(B) by striking ``services.'' in subparagraph (A)
and all that follows through ``Such'' in subparagraph
(B) and inserting the following: ``services.
``(B) Investment.--Such'';
(4) in paragraph (3), by striking the paragraph designation
and all that follows through ``Any'' and inserting the
following:
``(3) Requirement.--Any'';
(5) in paragraph (4), by striking the paragraph designation
and all that follows through ``Whoever'' and inserting the
following:
``(4) Penalties.--Whoever''; and
(6) in paragraph (5), by striking the paragraph designation
and all that follows through ``Shell'' and inserting the
following:
``(5) Shell eggs.--Shell''.
SEC. 10003. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM.
Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C.
1627c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (13) as
paragraphs (6) through (14), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4), the
following:
``(5) Food hub.--The term `food hub' means a business or
organization that actively manages the aggregation,
distribution, and marketing of source-identified food products
to multiple buyers from multiple producers, who are primarily
local and regional producers, to strengthen the ability of
those producers to satisfy local and regional wholesale,
retail, and institutional demands.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``collaboration'' and
inserting ``collaboration, regional food chain coordination,'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029'';
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (E);
and
(C) in paragraph (6)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by redesignating clauses (vii)
and (viii) as clauses (viii) and (ix),
respectively; and
(II) by inserting after clause (vi)
the following:
``(vii) a food hub;'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking
``or'' at the end;
(II) by redesignating clause (ii)
as clause (iii); and
(III) by inserting after clause (i)
the following:
``(ii) provide geographic balance, among
States and within each State, relative to the
benefits of the Program; or'';
(iii) by striking subparagraph (E);
(iv) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as
subparagraph (E);
(v) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the
following:
``(D) Simplified applications.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish a simplified application form for
eligible entities described in subparagraph (B)
that--
``(I) request less than $100,000;
and
``(II) choose from the project
categories described in clause (ii),
which shall include a specific, limited
set of key activities with predefined
requirements established by the
Secretary.
``(ii) Project categories.--The Secretary
shall establish a simplified application form
for the following project categories, but may
include additional project categories as
necessary:
``(I) Direct-to-consumer
projects.--In the case of a direct-to-
consumer project, an application form
described in clause (i) may be
available for the following categories
of projects:
``(aa) An outreach and
promotion project.
``(bb) A project to provide
funding for farmers market
manager staff time.
``(cc) A project to provide
vendor training.
``(dd) A planning and
design project.
``(ee) A data collection
and evaluation project.
``(II) Local and regional food
market and enterprise projects.--In the
case of a local or regional food market
or enterprise project, an application
form described in clause (i) may be
available for the following categories
of projects:
``(aa) A food hub
feasibility study project.
``(bb) A project to provide
funding for regional food chain
coordination staff time.
``(cc) A project to provide
technical assistance.
``(dd) A data collection
and evaluation project.
``(ee) A project to support
the purchase of special purpose
equipment.''; and
(vi) in subparagraph (E) (as so
redesignated)--
(I) by striking clause (ii); and
(II) by striking the subparagraph
designation and heading and all that
follows through ``Except as provided in
clause (ii), an'' in clause (i) and
inserting the following:
``(E) Limitation on use of funds.--An'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (x) and (xi)
as clauses (xi) and (xii), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after clause (ix) the
following:
``(x) a food hub;'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``determine the''
and inserting the following:
``determine--
``(i) the geographical''; and
(II) in clause (i) (as so
designated), by striking ``, including
goals'' and inserting the following:
``; and
``(ii) goals'';
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C)
through (H) as subparagraphs (B) through (G),
respectively;
(6) in subsection (f)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``$50,000''
and inserting ``$100,000''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Stakeholder input.--In developing the simplified
application and reporting process under this subsection, the
Secretary shall engage with stakeholders to receive input on
how the simplified application and reporting process can be
streamlined for eligible entities without affecting program
integrity.'';
(7) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``this section'' and
inserting ``the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024''; and
(8) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$50,000,000 for
fiscal year 2019'' and inserting ``$75,000,000 for
fiscal year 2025'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$20,000,000 for
fiscal year 2019'' and inserting ``$30,000,000 for
fiscal year 2025''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(i) by striking ``Of the funds'' and
inserting the following:
``(i) In general.--Of the funds''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) Simplified applications.--Of the
funds made available for grants under
subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year, not more
than 50 percent shall be used to provide grants
to eligible entities that submit an application
in accordance with subsection (d)(6)(D).''.
SEC. 10004. LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 210B. LOCAL FOOD PURCHASE ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Cooperating partner.--The term `cooperating partner'
means any of the following entities partnering with an eligible
entity:
``(A) A State agency.
``(B) A Tribal government agency, Tribal
organization, or Native Hawaiian organization.
``(C) A nonprofit organization engaged in food
distribution.
``(D) Any other entity that, in the determination
of the Secretary, is capable of ensuring that the
requirements of this section are met.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a State agency that has demonstrated
partnerships with farmers and target audiences within
the State; and
``(B) a Tribal government agency that has
demonstrated partnerships with farmers and target
audiences within the area under the jurisdiction of the
applicable Tribal government.
``(3) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(4) Native Hawaiian organization.--The term `Native
Hawaiian organization' has the meaning given the term in
section 6207 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act (20 U.S.C.
7517).
``(5) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(6) State.--The term `State' means--
``(A) a State;
``(B) the District of Columbia;
``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
``(D) any other territory or possession of the
United States.
``(7) Target audience.--The term `target audience' means--
``(A) members of food insecure communities,
including, as determined by the Secretary--
``(i) rural, remote, and underserved
communities; and
``(ii) communities not normally served
through traditional food distribution networks;
``(B) representatives of food insecure communities;
``(C) nonprofit organizations engaged in food
distribution to members of food insecure communities;
and
``(D) any other appropriate individuals or
entities, as determined by the Secretary.
``(8) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government'
means the governing body of an Indian Tribe, including--
``(A) any applicable Tribal organization; and
``(B) any agency of the governing body of an Indian
Tribe.
``(9) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(b) Availability and Purpose of Cooperative Agreements.--The
Secretary shall enter into cooperative agreements with eligible
entities--
``(1) for the purposes of--
``(A) providing an opportunity for States and
Tribal governments to build capacity to support their
local and regional food systems;
``(B) building and expanding economic opportunities
for small producers, local and regional producers, and
historically underserved producers;
``(C) establishing and broadening partnerships with
farmers, producers, the food distribution community,
and local food networks, including nonprofit
organizations, to ensure distribution of fresh and
nutritious foods to target audiences;
``(D) strengthening local and regional food supply
chains; and
``(E) increasing the use of Federal funds to
procure local and regional food, including fresh fruits
and vegetables; and
``(2) pursuant to which the Secretary shall make awards, in
accordance with subsection (f), for the purposes described in
paragraph (1).
``(c) Cooperative Agreements.--
``(1) Duties of eligible entities.--An eligible entity
entering into a cooperative agreement under subsection (b)
shall--
``(A) procure locally and regionally produced food,
as defined by the Secretary; and
``(B) distribute food procured under this section
to members of food insecure communities, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(2) Limitation.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may be a party
to--
``(i) not more than 1 cooperative agreement
under this section per State at any 1 time; and
``(ii) not more than 1 cooperative
agreement under this section per Indian Tribe
at any 1 time.
``(B) Coordination.--If more than 1 eligible entity
of the same State or Indian Tribe desires to enter into
a cooperative agreement under this section for a fiscal
year, the eligible entities shall coordinate, with 1
eligible entity serving as the lead agency and each
other eligible entity participating as a cooperating
partner.
``(C) Clarification.--A cooperative agreement
entered into with an eligible entity described in
subsection (a)(2)(B) shall not be considered to be a
cooperative agreement in or relating to a State for
purposes of subparagraph (A)(i).
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring to enter
into a cooperative agreement under this section shall submit to
the Secretary an application at such time, in such a manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including--
``(A) a plan to purchase and distribute locally and
regionally produced food as required under subsection
(c)(1);
``(B) an assurance that the eligible entity will
comply with the requirements of the plan; and
``(C) an assurance that Federal funds received
under this section shall supplement, and not supplant,
the expenditure of State or Tribal funds in support of
local and regional food production in the applicable
State or the area under the jurisdiction of the
applicable Tribal government.
``(2) Plan requirements.--A plan submitted by an eligible
entity under paragraph (1)(A) shall--
``(A) identify the lead agency charged with the
responsibility of carrying out the plan; and
``(B) indicate how funds provided pursuant to a
cooperative agreement under this section will be used
to carry out the purposes described in subsection
(b)(1).
``(3) Priority for certain applications.--
``(A) In general.--In entering into cooperative
agreements under this section, the Secretary shall
prioritize applications for cooperative agreements that
prioritize--
``(i) establishing food purchasing
contracts with producers and distributors
that--
``(I) grow, process, or distribute
local and regional food, as defined by
the Secretary; and
``(II) are, or source from--
``(aa) beginning farmers or
ranchers (as defined in section
2501(a) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C.
2279(a)));
``(bb) small or mid-sized
farms; or
``(cc) historically
underserved farmers, as defined
by the Secretary; and
``(ii) targeting distributions of food
purchased pursuant to those contracts to
underserved communities, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(B) Consideration.--In determining whether an
application prioritizes targeting distributions of food
to underserved communities under subparagraph (A)(ii),
the Secretary may consider socioeconomic metrics
maintained by the Federal Government, including the
social vulnerability index and area deprivation index
maintained by the Department of Health and Human
Services.
``(4) Noncompetitive process.--The Secretary shall
establish a simplified, noncompetitive process for the
submission and selection of applications for establishing
cooperative agreements under this section.
``(e) Distribution of Purchased Food.--An eligible entity may
distribute food procured pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered
into under this section to members of food insecure communities--
``(1) directly; or
``(2) through cooperative agreements, subcontracts, or
subawards with 1 or more cooperating partners.
``(f) Awards and Distribution of Funds.--
``(1) Awards to state agencies.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
noncompetitive process for determining the amount to be
awarded, from the amounts made available under
subsection (h) for a fiscal year, to eligible entities
described in subsection (a)(2)(A) with which the
Secretary has entered or plans to enter into a
cooperative agreement under this section.
``(B) Requirements.--
``(i) Correspondence to nutrition
assistance needs.--To ensure that the
distribution of awards under this section
corresponds to the nutrition assistance needs
in each State, the noncompetitive process
established under subparagraph (A) shall take
into consideration--
``(I) the poverty rate and
unemployment levels in each State; and
``(II) other socioeconomic metrics
maintained by the Federal Government,
including the social vulnerability
index and area deprivation index
maintained by the Department of Health
and Human Services.
``(ii) Consideration.--The Secretary shall
take into consideration the funding formula of
the emergency food assistance program
established under the Emergency Food Assistance
Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) in ensuring
that the noncompetitive process established
under subparagraph (A) complies with the
requirement described in clause (i).
``(2) Awards to tribal governments.--
``(A) In general.--Before applying the process
established under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reserve 15 percent of the total amount
made available to carry out this section for that
fiscal year for making awards to eligible entities
described in subsection (a)(2)(B) with which the
Secretary has entered or plans to enter into a
cooperative agreement under this section.
``(B) Requirement.--The Secretary shall make awards
to eligible entities described in subsection
(a)(2)(B)--
``(i) through a noncompetitive process; and
``(ii) at a prorated amount based on the
proposals submitted by eligible entities
described in that subsection.
``(3) Timing of distributions for initial agreements.--The
Secretary shall distribute funds awarded in accordance with
paragraphs (1) and (2) incrementally in order to ensure that
all interested eligible entities have an opportunity to be
selected for entering into a cooperative agreement and
receiving an award under this section.
``(4) Adjustments and distribution of remaining funds.--
``(A) Adjustment of award amounts.--The total
amount of an award made or proposed to be made to an
eligible entity under this subsection may be amended or
adjusted, or additional amounts may be separately
awarded to that eligible entity, depending on--
``(i) demand for cooperative agreements, as
determined by the Secretary based on the number
of applications submitted or other factors; and
``(ii) the availability of funds.
``(B) Post-application adjustments.--The Secretary
may adjust the amount of an award made or proposed to
be made under this section after the application period
has closed.
``(g) Term of Agreement; Completion of Projects.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2)--
``(A) a cooperative agreement under this section
shall be for a term of not more than 2 years; and
``(B) any projects carried out pursuant to that
cooperative agreement shall be completed by the end of
that term.
``(2) Extension.--The Secretary may, as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate, extend the term of a cooperative
agreement entered into under this section for not more than 2
additional years.
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any
other amounts available to the Secretary, there is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available
until expended.
``(2) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal
year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available
until expended.''.
SEC. 10005. ORGANIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANT.
Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621
et seq.) (as amended by section 10004) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 210C. ORGANIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANT.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Certified organic product.--The term `certified
organic product' means an agricultural product (as defined in
section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 6502)) that is organically produced (as defined in that
section).
``(2) Eligible entity.--
``(A) In general.--The term `eligible entity' means
an entity described in subparagraph (B) that--
``(i) is owned and operated within--
``(I) a State;
``(II) the District of Columbia;
``(III) the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico;
``(IV) the United States Virgin
Islands;
``(V) Guam;
``(VI) American Samoa;
``(VII) the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands; or
``(VIII) the jurisdiction of an
Indian Tribe; and
``(ii)(I) is certified in accordance with
subpart E of part 205 of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);
or
``(II) is in transition to certification,
as defined by the Secretary.
``(B) Entities described.--An entity referred to in
subparagraph (A) is--
``(i) a producer, producer cooperative, or
other commercial entity that produces or
handles certified organic products;
``(ii) a nonprofit corporation;
``(iii) a trade association;
``(iv) a public benefit corporation;
``(v) a philanthropic organization;
``(vi) a unit of Tribal, State,
territorial, or local government; or
``(vii) such other entity as the Secretary
may designate.
``(C) Exclusion.--The term `eligible entity' does
not include an entity described in subparagraph (B) the
operations of which are suspended or revoked under
section 205.662 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations
(or a successor regulation).
``(3) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meanings given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(5) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government'
means the governing body of an Indian Tribe.
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary shall establish a
program, to be known as the `Organic Market Development Grant Program',
that--
``(1) increases the capacity of the domestic organic
product supply chain for producers, handlers, suppliers, and
processors of certified organic products;
``(2) modernizes manufacturing, tracking, storage, and
information technology systems specific to the purposes
described in this subsection, such as process control or
organic product ingredient tracking systems;
``(3) improves the capacity of eligible entities to comply
with applicable regulatory requirements or quality standards
required to access markets, such as requirements and standards
relating to food safety and organic product certification;
``(4) expands capacity for storage, processing,
aggregation, and distribution of certified organic products to
create more and better markets for producers of certified
organic products;
``(5) facilitates market development for domestically
produced certified organic products;
``(6) provides for the conduct of feasibility studies and
market viability assessments to inform organic transition
strategies and opportunities;
``(7) ameliorates barriers to entry to organic product
certification for historically underserved entities;
``(8) supports market and promotional activities that help
build commercial markets for certified organic products in the
United States;
``(9) provides technical assistance and outreach to program
stakeholders and participants; and
``(10) addresses additional barriers and bottlenecks in the
domestic organic product supply chain for producers, handlers,
suppliers, and processors of certified organic products, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(c) Grants.--For each fiscal year for which amounts are made
available to carry out this section under subsection (k), the Secretary
shall provide grants to support eligible entities in conducting
activities in accordance with the purposes of the program described in
subsection (b).
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Simplified process.--The Secretary shall implement a
simplified application and award process under this section for
use by any eligible entity seeking to carry out an equipment-
only project.
``(3) Benefits.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), an application submitted under this
subsection shall include a description of the direct or
indirect producer or food business benefits intended by
the eligible entity to result from the proposed project
within a reasonable period of time after the receipt of
a grant under this section.
``(B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply
to any feasibility study or market viability assessment
conducted pursuant to this section.
``(4) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish such
criteria for the evaluation and funding of proposed projects
under this section as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(5) Competitive process.--The Secretary--
``(A) shall conduct a competitive process to select
applications submitted under this subsection;
``(B) may assess and rank applications with similar
purposes as a group; and
``(C) before accepting any application under this
subsection, shall make publicly available the criteria
to be used in evaluating the applications.
``(e) Project Types.--An eligible entity may use amounts received
under this section to carry out, in accordance with such goals and
deadlines for completion as the Secretary may establish, the following
types of projects:
``(1) Market development and promotion of certified organic
products.
``(2) Certified organic product storage (including cold
storage), aggregation, processing, and distribution capacity
expansion.
``(3) Equipment-only.
``(f) Term.--Unless otherwise determined by the Secretary, a grant
provided under this section shall have a term of not longer than 3
years.
``(g) Maximum Amount.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of a grant provided under
this section for a project described in paragraph (1) or (2) of
subsection (e) shall be not more than $3,000,000.
``(2) Simplified equipment-only projects.--The amount of a
grant provided under this section for a project described in
subsection (e)(3) shall be not more than $100,000.
``(h) Matching Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under this section to carry out a project described in
paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (e) shall provide a non-
Federal share equal to not less than 50 percent of the cost of
the project.
``(2) Simplified equipment-only projects.--An eligible
entity that receives a grant under this section to carry out a
project described in subsection (e)(3) shall not be required to
contribute a non-Federal share to the cost of the project.
``(3) Rule for certain applications.--The Secretary may
waive or lower the non-Federal share required under this
subsection for small and underserved eligible entities applying
for a grant under this section.
``(i) Awards to Multiple Entities.--The Secretary may provide a
grant under this section to more than 1 eligible entity, as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(j) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to eligible
entities technical assistance under this section, directly or through 1
or more cooperative agreements.
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts
otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until expended.''.
SEC. 10006. ORGANIC PRODUCTION AND MARKET DATA INITIATIVES.
Section 7407(d) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 5925c(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years
2025 through 2029.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 10007. NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM.
(a) Technical Assistance.--Section 2107 of the Organic Foods
Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6506) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as
subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--As part of the national organic program
established under this title, the Secretary may provide
technical assistance, education, and outreach to--
``(A) farmers on certified organic farms; and
``(B) farmers who are transitioning to organic (as
determined by the Secretary).
``(2) Activities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary may--
``(A) coordinate with the heads of agencies within
the Department of Agriculture, including the
Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, the Chief of
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the
Administrator of the Risk Management Agency, and the
Director of the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture; and
``(B) enter into cooperative agreements with, or
provide grants to, nonprofit organizations, State
cooperative extension services, or other qualified
entities with expertise in working with organic
stakeholders to provide regionally-specific training,
education, and outreach.''.
(b) Improvement of Organic Standards.--Section 2122 of the Organic
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6521) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Improvement of Organic Standards.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a
request for information soliciting public input on which regulations
promulgated pursuant to this Act should be prioritized for revision.'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and
indenting appropriately;
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (A) (as so
redesignated) the following:
``(1) Investigations and compliance report.--''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Board recommendations report.--Not later than January
1, 2026, and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year
2029, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and
make publicly available on the website of the Department of
Agriculture, a report--
``(A) listing all recommendations received by the
Secretary, acting through the Deputy Administrator of
the national organic program, under section 2119(k);
``(B) describing all regulatory and administrative
actions taken to implement those recommendations,
including the status of each recommendation at the time
of the report; and
``(C) any relevant justifications from the
Secretary, acting through the Deputy Administrator of
the national organic program or the Administrator of
the Agricultural Marketing Service, for the
implementation status of those recommendations,
particularly for recommendations not yet acted on by
the Secretary, acting through the Deputy Administrator
of the national organic program.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Government Accountability Office Report on Organic
Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall--
``(1) conduct a study on the efforts of the Secretary,
acting through the Deputy Administrator of the national organic
program, to improve organic standards, including--
``(A) the recommendations received from the
National Organic Standards Board that were implemented
through rulemaking, the issuance of guidance, or other
administrative actions;
``(B) any instances in which the Secretary, acting
through the Deputy Administrator of the national
organic program, formally declined to take action on
any recommendations received from the National Organic
Standards Board;
``(C) for the 20-year period ending on that date of
enactment, the average length of time between--
``(i) the receipt by the Secretary, acting
through the Deputy Administrator of the
national organic program, of a recommendation
from the National Organic Standards Board; and
``(ii) as applicable--
``(I) the initiation of the
rulemaking requested by the
recommendation;
``(II) the issuance of guidance or
the taking of other administrative
actions based on the recommendation; or
``(III) formally declining to act
on the recommendation; and
``(D) for all matters identified under subparagraph
(B), any justifications of the Secretary, acting
through the Deputy Administrator of the national
organic program, for declining to take action on the
applicable recommendation; and
``(2) based on the results of the study conducted under
paragraph (1), provide recommendations on how the Secretary,
acting through the Deputy Administrator of the national organic
program, in consultation with the National Organic Standards
Board, can ensure that national organic program standards
evolve in a timely manner--
``(A) to assure consumers that organically produced
products meet a consistent standard; and
``(B) to benefit organic producers.''.
(c) Funding.--Section 2123 of the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6522) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) National Organic Program.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, in order to carry out activities under the national
organic program established under this title, there are
authorized to be appropriated--
``(A) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
``(B) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
``(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
``(D) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
``(E) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.
``(2) Technical assistance.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, in order to carry out activities under
section 2107(c), there is authorized to be appropriated
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(4), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019
and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2024'' and inserting
``$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $1,000,000 for fiscal year
2024, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025''.
SEC. 10008. ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY.
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 2120 the following:
``SEC. 2120A. ASSESSMENT OF FRAUDULENT ORGANIC CERTIFICATES.
``(a) Assessment.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall complete--
``(A) an assessment of all fraudulent organic
certificates issued for a dietary supplement (as
defined in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321)); and
``(B) an assessment of any fraudulent labels,
complaints, and other data considered as part of
drafting the assessment under subparagraph (A).
``(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall assess--
``(A) the number of complaints received by the
Secretary, a State organic certification program, or a
certifying agent pertaining to--
``(i) suspected fraudulent use of a label
or other market information described in
section 2106(a)(2); or
``(ii) suspected fraudulent representations
claiming that products meet organic standards
established under the national organic program
despite those products falling outside of the
enforcement authority of the national organic
program;
``(B) staffing and resource needs within the
national organic program if the enforcement
responsibilities of the national organic program were
broadened to include the products identified under
paragraph (1); and
``(C) any potential effects of broadening the
enforcement authority of the national organic program
on domestic organic farmers, handlers, and consumers.
``(b) Report.--Not later than 45 days after the date on which the
assessment under subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress and make publicly available on the website of the
Department of Agriculture a report that--
``(1) describes in detail the results of the assessment
required by subsection (a); and
``(2) makes recommendations to Congress based on that
assessment.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $1,000,000 for
the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until
expended.''.
SEC. 10009. NATIONAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST-SHARE PROGRAM.
Section 10606 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 6523) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$750'' and
inserting $1,500; and
(2) in subsection (d)(1), by striking subparagraphs (A)
through (C) and inserting the following:
``(A) $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2024; and
``(B) such sums as are necessary for the Secretary
to carry out this section for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''.
SEC. 10010. FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION INITIATIVES.
Section 10105(c) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
(7 U.S.C. 7655a(c)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 10011. SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANTS.
Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7
U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 108-465) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029'';
(2) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``in accordance with
paragraph (2)''; and
(ii) by inserting ``, by adding such
unobligated or unexpended amounts to the
allocation funding pool for the current or
following fiscal year, as determined by the
Secretary'' after ``determined by the
Secretary'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``funds described in
paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``such funds'';
and
(ii) by striking ``The Secretary'' and
inserting ``If funds described in paragraph (1)
are distributed in the current fiscal year, the
Secretary''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``this
subsection'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)'';
(3) in subsection (k)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the
following--
``(3) Consultations.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
encourage State departments of agriculture to consult annually
with specialty crop producers and producer groups in
establishing programmatic and funding priorities for the fiscal
year.''; and
(4) in subsection (l)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the
end; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the
following:
``(E) $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018
through 2024; and
``(F) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each
fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until
expended by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 10012. MULTIPLE CROP AND PESTICIDE USE SURVEY.
Section 10109(c)(1) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4907; 137 Stat. 118) is amended by
striking ``2019 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2024'' and inserting
``2019, $100,000 for fiscal year 2024, and $500,000 for fiscal year
2025''.
SEC. 10013. DEFINING PLANT BIOSTIMULANTS.
Section 2 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (7 U.S.C. 136) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (v) and inserting the following:
``(v) Plant Regulator.--
``(1) In general.--The term `plant regulator' means any
substance or mixture of substances intended, through
physiological action, for accelerating or retarding the rate of
growth or rate of maturation, or for otherwise altering the
behavior, of plants or the produce thereof.
``(2) Exclusions.--The term `plant regulator' does not
include--
``(A) substances to the extent that they are
intended as plant nutrients, trace elements,
nutritional chemicals, plant inoculants, soil
amendments, or vitamin hormone products; or
``(B) plant biostimulants that--
``(i) have a low-hazard profile in relation
to humans and other microorganisms, as
determined by the Administrator; and
``(ii)(I) are of biological origin; or
``(II) include chemical compounds that are
synthetically derived but are structurally
similar and functionally identical to
substances of biological origin.'';
(2) in subsection (hh)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``substances.'' and inserting
``substances'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``, or'' after
``volatilization''; and
(II) by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by inserting before the undesignated matter
following paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) a plant biostimulant; or
``(5) a nutritional chemical.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(pp) Plant Biostimulant.--The term `plant biostimulant' means any
substance or mixture of substances that, when applied to seeds, plants,
the rhizosphere, or soil or other growth media, acts to support the
natural nutrition processes of a plant independently of the nutrient
content of that substance or mixture of substances, and that thereby
improves--
``(1) nutrient availability, uptake, or use efficiency;
``(2) tolerance to abiotic stress; or
``(3) consequent growth, development, quality, or yield.
``(qq) Nutritional Chemical.--The term `nutritional chemical' means
any substance or mixture of substances that interacts with plant
nutrients in a manner that improves nutrient availability or aids the
plant in acquiring or utilizing plant nutrients.
``(rr) Vitamin Hormone Product.--The term `vitamin hormone product'
means a product that--
``(1) consists of a mixture of plant hormones, plant
nutrients, plant inoculants, soil amendments, trace elements,
nutritional chemicals, plant biostimulants, or vitamins that is
intended for the improvement, maintenance, survival, health,
and propagation of plants;
``(2) is nontoxic and nonpoisonous in the undiluted
packaged concentrations of the product; and
``(3) is not intended for use on food crop sites and is
labeled accordingly.''.
SEC. 10014. SOIL HEALTH STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to assess the types
of, and practices using, plant biostimulants (as defined in section 2
of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C.
136)) that best achieve the following:
(1) Increasing organic matter content.
(2) Reducing atmospheric volatilization.
(3) Promotion of nutrient management practices.
(4) Limiting or eliminating runoff or leaching of soil or
nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, into groundwater or
other water sources.
(5) Restoring beneficial bioactivity or healthy nutrients
to the soil.
(6) Aiding in carbon sequestration, nutrient use
efficiency, and other climate-related benefits.
(7) Supporting innovative approaches to improving
agricultural sustainability, including the adoption of
performance-based outcome standards and criteria.
(b) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date on which funds
are first made available for the study under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall make publicly available and submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that
describes the results of the study.
SEC. 10015. REPORT ON PLANT-INCORPORATED PROTECTANTS.
(a) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, 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 that identifies any potential regulatory, non-
regulatory, and legislative recommendations, including the
appropriateness of any definitions for plant-incorporated
protectants, to ensure the efficient and appropriate review,
approval, and availability of plant-incorporated protectants
for use in agricultural and horticultural production.
(2) Inclusions.--In compiling the report required under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include an assessment of the
potential impacts of plant-incorporated protectants on--
(A) the environment, including nearby ecosystems
that may be affected by the production of plants that
contain plant-incorporated protectants;
(B) wildlife, including pollinator species; and
(C) human health, including potential impacts on
human health through food tolerances or residues of
plant-incorporated protectants introduced into the food
supply or other commercial products through processing.
(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall prepare the report required
by subsection (a) in consultation with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, the several States, industry
stakeholders, and such other public interest stakeholders as the
Secretary determines necessary.
(c) Plant-Incorporated Protectant.--For the purposes of the report
under subsection (a), the Secretary--
(1) shall consider ``plant-incorporated protectant'' to be
a pesticidal substance that is intended to be produced and used
in a living plant, or in the produce of a living plant, and the
genetic material necessary for production of such a pesticidal
substance, including any inert ingredient contained in the
applicable plant or produce; and
(2) may modify the description of plant-incorporated
protectant, as appropriate.
SEC. 10016. HEMP PRODUCTION.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--Section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639o) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``delta-9'' and inserting
``total'';
(ii) by striking ``concentration'' and
inserting ``concentration (including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)'';
(iii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and'';
(iv) by striking ``means the plant'' and
inserting the following: ``means--
``(A) the plant''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) industrial hemp.'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as
paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Industrial hemp.--The term `industrial hemp' means
the plant Cannabis sativa L. if the harvested material--
``(A) is only--
``(i) the stalks of that plant, fiber
produced from those stalks, or any other
manufactured product, derivative, mixture, or
preparation of those stalks (except cannabinoid
resin extracted from those stalks);
``(ii) whole grain, oil, cake, nut, hull,
or any other compound, manufactured product,
derivative, mixture, or preparation of the
seeds of that plant (except cannabinoid resin
extracted from the seeds of that plant); or
``(iii) viable seeds of that plant produced
solely for production or manufacture of any
material described in clause (i) or (ii); and
``(B) will not be used in the manufacturing or
synthesis of natural or synthetic cannabinoid
products.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 297B of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639p) is amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii)--
(I) by striking ``delta-9'' and
inserting ``total''; and
(II) by striking ``concentration''
and inserting ``concentration
(including tetrahydrocannabinolic
acid)''; and
(ii) in subsection (e)(2)(A)(iii)--
(I) by striking ``delta-9'' and
inserting ``total''; and
(II) by striking ``concentration''
and inserting ``concentration
(including tetrahydrocannabinolic
acid)''.
(B) Section 297C(a)(2)(B) of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639q(a)(2)(B)) is
amended--
(i) by striking ``delta-9'' and inserting
``total''; and
(ii) by striking ``concentration'' and
inserting ``concentration (including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)''.
(b) Industrial Hemp.--
(1) State and tribal plans.--Section 297B of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639p) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) paragraph (2)(A)--
(I) by redesignating clauses (ii)
through (vii) as clauses (iii) through
(viii), respectively;
(II) by inserting after clause (i)
the following:
``(ii) a procedure by which a hemp producer
may be licensed to produce--
``(I) only industrial hemp, in
which case the industrial hemp producer
shall not be required to undergo a
background check to apply for the
license; or
``(II) hemp for any purpose;'';
(III) in clause (iii) (as so
redesignated)--
(aa) by inserting ``,
excluding industrial hemp,''
after ``hemp'';
(bb) by adding ``and''
after the semicolon at the end;
(cc) by striking ``(iii) a
procedure'' and inserting
``(iii)(I) a procedure''; and
(dd) by adding at the end
the following:
``(II) in the case of a producer licensed
to produce only industrial hemp under clause
(ii)(I), a procedure for testing compliance
with the definition of industrial hemp in
section 297A using relaxed regulatory
requirements, which may include--
``(aa) visual inspections;
``(bb) performance-based sampling
methodologies;
``(cc) certified seed, if the
applicable State or Indian tribe is
participating in the pilot program
established under paragraph (4); or
``(dd) any other similar procedure,
as approved by the Secretary, when
developing sampling plans for any
producer that elects to be designated
as a producer of only industrial hemp
under clause (ii)(I);''; and
(IV) in clause (viii) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``(vi)'' and
inserting ``(vii)''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Certified seed pilot program.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may, in up to 5
States or Indian tribes, establish a pilot program
under which the State department of agriculture of a
selected State, or the equivalent Tribal government
agency, may certify genetic purity (within the meaning
of the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C. 1551 et seq.)) and
identity as to variety (as defined in section 101 of
that Act (7 U.S.C. 1561)) of varieties of seeds that
have been bred to produce plants with a total
tetrahydrocannabinol concentration (including
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) of not more than 0.3
percent on a dry weight basis.
``(B) Exemption.--
``(i) In general.--A hemp producer that
produces hemp using a variety of seed certified
under subparagraph (A) in the State or on the
land of the Indian tribe by which the variety
of seed is certified may submit to the
applicable State department of agriculture, or
equivalent Tribal government agency, an
application for an exemption from the testing
requirements under paragraph (2)(A)(iii)(I).
``(ii) Expiration.--An exemption approved
under clause (i) shall expire on the date that
is 3 years after the date of the approval.
``(iii) Reapplication.--A hemp producer may
reapply under clause (i) to be exempt under
that clause after the expiration of the
exemption under clause (ii).
``(C) Approval.--If the State department of
agriculture approves an application submitted under
subparagraph (B)(i), the applicable hemp producer shall
not be subject to the testing requirements under
paragraph (2)(A)(iii)(I).
``(D) Regulation of vendors.--Each State or Indian
tribe selected to participate in the pilot program
under this paragraph shall regulate vendors of seed
certified under subparagraph (A) operating in that
State or on the land of that Indian tribe.''; and
(B) in subsection (e)(3)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (B);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Production inconsistent with industrial hemp
designation.--Any person licensed to produce only
industrial hemp as described in subsection
(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I) who, with a culpable mental state
greater than negligence, produces a crop of hemp that
is inconsistent with that license shall be ineligible
to participate in the program established under this
section for a period of 5 years beginning on the date
of the violation, as determined by the Secretary.''.
(2) Department of agriculture plan.--Section 297C(a)(2) of
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1639q(a)(2))
is amended--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F)
as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively;
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the
following:
``(B) a procedure by which a hemp producer may be
licensed to produce--
``(i) only industrial hemp, in which case
the industrial hemp producer shall not be
required to undergo a background check to apply
for the license; or
``(ii) hemp for any purpose;''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by inserting ``, excluding industrial
hemp,'' after ``hemp'';
(ii) by adding ``and'' after the semicolon
at the end;
(iii) by striking ``(C) a procedure'' and
inserting ``(C)(i) a procedure''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) in the case of a producer licensed to
produce only industrial hemp under subparagraph (B)(i),
a procedure for testing compliance with the definition
of industrial hemp in section 297A using relaxed
regulatory requirements, which may include--
``(I) visual inspections;
``(II) performance-based sampling
methodologies;
``(III) certified seed, if the applicable
State or Indian tribe is participating in the
pilot program established under section
297B(a)(4); or
``(IV) any other similar procedure, as
approved by the Secretary, when developing
sampling plans for any producer that elects to
be designated as a producer of only industrial
hemp under subparagraph (B)(i);''.
(3) Regulations and guidelines; effect on other law.--
Section 297D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1639r) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Effect on State or Tribal Law.--Except as provided in section
297B, nothing in this subtitle preempts or limits any law of a State or
Indian tribe that regulates any activity involving hemp or hemp
products, including with respect to the production, manufacture, or
sale of hemp or hemp products.''.
SEC. 10017. FIFRA INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
Section 3(c)(11)(D)(iv) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136a(c)(11)(D)(iv)) is amended, in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by striking ``Not later than'' and all that
follows through ``beginning on that date'' and inserting ``Not less
frequently than annually for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.
SEC. 10018. INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED
STATES.
Section 433(c)(1) of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7753(c)(1))
is amended by inserting ``or interstate movement from areas outside of
the continental United States,'' after ``United States,''.
SEC. 10019. PLANT PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER PREVENTION.
Section 420(f) of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7721(f)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7);
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through
2024; and''; and
(4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by striking
``$75,000,000 for fiscal year 2018'' and inserting
``$90,000,000 for fiscal year 2025''.
SEC. 10020. AGRICULTURE QUARANTINE AND INSPECTION PROGRAM RESERVE FEE.
Section 2509(a)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (21 U.S.C. 136a(a)(1)) is amended by striking
subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
``(C) to maintain a reasonable balance in the
Department of Agriculture accounts described in
paragraph (6).''.
TITLE XI--CROP INSURANCE
Subtitle A--Producer Affordability
SEC. 11101. ENHANCING SUBSIDIES FOR BEGINNING AND VETERAN FARMERS AND
RANCHERS.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) Beginning farmer or rancher.--
(A) In general.--Section 502(b)(3) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)(3)) is amended by
striking ``5'' and inserting ``10''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--Section 522(c)(7) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c)(7)) is
amended by striking subparagraph (F).
(2) Veteran farmer or rancher.--Section 502(b)(14)(B) of
the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)(14)(B)) is
amended--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``5 years'' and
inserting ``10 years''; and
(B) in clause (iii), by striking ``5-year'' and
inserting ``10-year''.
(b) Increase in Assistance.--Section 508(e)(8) of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(8)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding'';
(2) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking
``is 10 percentage points greater than'' and inserting ``is the
number of percentage points specified in subparagraph (B)
greater than''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Percentage points adjustments.--The
percentage points referred to in subparagraph (A) are
the following:
``(i) For each of the first and second
reinsurance years that a beginning farmer or
rancher or veteran farmer or rancher
participates as a beginning farmer or rancher
or veteran farmer or rancher, respectively, in
the applicable policy or plan of insurance, 15
percentage points.
``(ii) For the third reinsurance year that
a beginning farmer or rancher or veteran farmer
or rancher participates as a beginning farmer
or rancher or veteran farmer or rancher,
respectively, in the applicable policy or plan
of insurance, 13 percentage points.
``(iii) For the fourth reinsurance year
that a beginning farmer or rancher or veteran
farmer or rancher participates as a beginning
farmer or rancher or veteran farmer or rancher,
respectively, in the applicable policy or plan
of insurance, 11 percentage points.
``(iv) For each of the fifth through tenth
reinsurance years that a beginning farmer or
rancher or veteran farmer or rancher
participates as a beginning farmer or rancher
or veteran farmer or rancher, respectively, in
the applicable policy or plan of insurance, 10
percentage points.''.
SEC. 11102. HIGHER AREA-BASED PREMIUM SUBSIDY OPTION.
Section 508 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(4)(C)--
(A) in clause (ii), by striking ``14'' and
inserting ``12'';
(B) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ``86'' and
inserting ``88'';
(C) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and
(D) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
``(v) Priorities for expansion of
coverage.--The Corporation shall prioritize
expansion of coverage under this section or
similar coverage options to crops for which,
and regions of the United States in which--
``(I) insurance options are
limited; and
``(II) average buy-up levels on
individual insurance policies are less
than 75 percent.''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(2)(H)(i), by striking ``65'' and
inserting ``80''.
SEC. 11103. EXPANSION OF PERFORMANCE-BASED DISCOUNT.
Section 508(d)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(d)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Corporation'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Corporation''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Risk-reducing practice discount.--
``(i) In general.--Beginning with the 2026
reinsurance year, the Corporation may offer
discounts under subparagraph (A) for practices
that can be demonstrated to reduce risk,
relative to other practices.
``(ii) Review.--In determining practices
for which to offer discounts under clause (i),
the Corporation shall--
``(I) for the 2026 reinsurance
year, consider precision irrigation or
fertilization, crop rotations, cover
crops, and any other practices
determined to be appropriate by the
Corporation; and
``(II) on an annual basis, seek
expert opinions and consider additional
practices based on new evidence.''.
SEC. 11104. HIGHER PREMIUM SUBSIDY RATES.
(a) In General.--Section 508(e)(2) of the Federal Crop Insurance
Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(e)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``67'' and
inserting ``80'';
(2) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``64'' and
inserting ``70'';
(3) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``59'' and
inserting ``62'';
(4) in subparagraph (E)(i), by striking ``55'' and
inserting ``58'';
(5) in subparagraph (F)(i), by striking ``48'' and
inserting ``50''; and
(6) in subparagraph (G)(i), by striking ``38'' and
inserting ``40''.
(b) Effective Date.--The higher premium subsidy rates specified in
the amendments made by subsection (a) shall be implemented by the
Secretary beginning with the 2024 reinsurance year.
Subtitle B--Producer Accessibility and Representation
SEC. 11201. COMPOSITION OF FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION BOARD.
Section 505 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1505) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``One
additional Under Secretary of Agriculture (as
designated by the Secretary)'' and inserting ``The
Under Secretary of Agriculture responsible for
marketing and regulatory programs'';
(B) in each of subparagraphs (E) and (F), by
striking ``One'' and inserting ``1''; and
(C) in subparagraph (G)--
(i) by striking ``Four'' and inserting
``5''; and
(ii) by striking ``including at least one
specialty crop producer.'' and inserting the
following: ``including at least--
``(i) 1 specialty crop producer;
``(ii) 1 producer that actively engages in
both livestock production and crop production
of agricultural commodities; and
``(iii) 1 underserved producer.'';
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Vacancies.--
``(1) In general.--Vacancies in the Board shall not impair
the power of the Board to execute the functions of the
Corporation, subject to the condition that there are at least 6
members in office.
``(2) Quorum.--6 of the members in office shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Board.'';
(3) in subsection (c), by striking ``(c) The Directors''
and inserting the following:
``(c) Compensation for Directors.--The Directors'';
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ``(d) The manager'' and
inserting the following:
``(d) Manager of Corporation.--The manager''; and
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``The Board'' and inserting
the following:
``(A) In general.--The Board''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Subject matter expertise.--To the maximum
extent practicable, the Board shall seek to include at
least 1 expert reviewer with subject matter expertise
on the policy, plan of insurance, or related material
being reviewed.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``five'' and inserting ``5'';
(ii) by striking ``one'' each place it
appears and inserting ``1'';
(iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) at least 1 person shall be a licensed
actuary.''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
(i) in clause (i)--
(I) by striking ``one'' and
inserting ``1''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' at the
end; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) at least 1 person shall be a
licensed actuary; and''.
SEC. 11202. ENSURING ACCESS FOR PRODUCERS.
Section 520 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1520) is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``Except as'' and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--Except as''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Access for Producers.--
``(1) In general.--An approved insurance provider shall--
``(A) offer and market all plans of insurance for
all agricultural commodities in any State in which
actuarial documents are available and in which the
approved insurance provider writes an eligible crop
insurance or livestock price insurance contract; and
``(B) shall accept and approve applications from
all eligible producers.
``(2) Cancellation.--An approved insurance provider may not
cancel an eligible crop insurance or livestock price insurance
contract held by a policyholder so long as the policyholder
remains an eligible producer and the approved insurance
provider continues to write eligible crop insurance or
livestock price insurance contracts within the State, except--
``(A) as authorized by the Corporation; or
``(B) as required by law.
``(3) Offering of plans.--The approved insurance provider
is not required to offer such plans of insurance as may be
approved by the Corporation under the authority of section
508(h), except that if the approved insurance provider chooses
to offer any such plan, the approved insurance provider shall--
``(A) offer the plan in all approved States in
which the approved insurance provider writes an
eligible crop insurance or livestock price insurance
contract where such plan is made available; and
``(B) comply with all provisions of this subsection
as to such plan.
``(4) Compliance.--
``(A) Sanctions.--The procedural requirements and
sanctions prescribed in section 515(h) shall apply to
the prosecution of a violation of this subsection.
``(B) Material breach.--Beginning with reinsurance
year 2026, failure of an approved insurance provider to
comply with this subsection may be considered a
material breach under the Standard Reinsurance
Agreement and the Livestock Price Reinsurance
Agreement, as determined by the Corporation.''.
SEC. 11203. IMPROVEMENTS TO WHOLE FARM AND MICRO FARM INSURANCE PLANS.
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) increase participation by producers marketing
products direct-to-consumer in local and regional
markets or using farm identity-preserved marketing,
including by undertaking producer education on how to
use direct market prices.'';
(2) in paragraph (7) (as amended by section
11101(a)(1)(B))--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``plan, with a
liability limitation of $1,500,000,'' and inserting
``plan'';
(B) in subparagraph (C), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``may'' and inserting
``shall'';
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``may'' and
inserting ``shall'';
(D) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) in clause (i), in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by striking ``18 months after
the date of enactment of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018'' and inserting ``1
year after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024'';
(ii) in clause (ii), in the matter
preceding subclause (I), by striking
``subclause'' and inserting ``clause''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Additional review.--Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, and
annually thereafter, the Corporation shall--
``(I) review any limitations on
insurable revenue (including the
overall limitation and limitations
specific to animals, animal products,
greenhouse and nursery, and
aquaculture) to ensure the limitations
are adequate to cover the financial
risks associated with the production of
high-value agricultural products; and
``(II) submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
the Senate a report that includes a
summary of the most recent review
conducted under subclause (I) and any
expected changes to the policy for the
following reinsurance year.
``(iv) Public report.--Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Board shall make publicly available a report
describing the decisions made by the Board with
respect to each factor described in clause
(ii).''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Modifications to improve effectiveness for
specialty crops and diversified farms.--Not later than
180 days after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Corporation shall implement the following modifications
to the plans developed under subparagraph (A) and
paragraph (18):
``(i) Establish that appropriate income
reported on Internal Revenue Service Tax Form
Schedule F, or successor forms, shall be
sufficient for the establishment of historical
adjusted revenue, subject to the condition that
insurance providers may request additional
verifiable records in cases where there is
documented evidence, made clear to the
applicant, that farm tax records are
incomplete.
``(ii) Require that the adjustment of the
revenue guarantee by an approved insurance
provider, after the approved insurance provider
accepts the revised farm operation report, is
contingent on approval from the Risk Management
Agency, and allow the insured an opportunity to
appeal decisions to the National Appeals
Division.
``(iii) Presume that declines in local
market price are due to unavoidable natural
causes, unless the Corporation can prove the
extent to which the decline in local market
price is the direct result of an uninsured
manmade event.
``(iv) With respect to whole farm revenue
protection policies, raise the limit on growth
expansion for all producers to the lower of--
``(I) 100 percent of historic
revenue; and
``(II) $500,000.
``(v)(I) Require approved insurance
providers to accept or reject applications, by
written decision, within 75 days of receipt of
the application, with failure to do so
resulting in a reduction by 15 percent of the
amount of the administrative and operating
subsidy that the approved insurance provider
receives from the Corporation for that policy.
``(II) A rejection of an application shall
include a written rationale with sufficient
detail for the producer to understand any
deficiencies in the application and how to cure
those deficiencies.
``(vi) Require the Risk Management Agency
and approved insurance providers to treat
different cultivation cycles of a single crop,
such as peppers, as separate crops to recognize
the difference in perils at different periods
of the year for purposes of calculating the
diversification premium discount.
``(vii) Provide additional educational and
training opportunities to approved insurance
providers and insurance agents, which may
include entering into agreements with 1 or more
entities--
``(I) to provide technical
assistance to producers interested in a
whole farm revenue protection policy
similar to the plan described in this
paragraph;
``(II) to conduct education and
outreach to agents and insurance
providers for a whole farm revenue
protection policy similar to the plan
described in this paragraph; and
``(III) to develop best practices
for underwriting.
``(viii)(I) Conduct a pilot program to
create a pricing library for agents and
insurance providers using data from--
``(aa) the Agricultural Marketing
Service;
``(bb) the noninsured crop disaster
assistance program established by
section 196 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7
U.S.C. 7333);
``(cc) approved policies of the
Board;
``(dd) land-grant colleges or
universities and other institutions of
higher education;
``(ee) grower boards or
commissions; or
``(ff) other relevant sources, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(II) The Risk Management Agency may, as
determined by the Secretary, offer the pricing
library described in subclause (I) to agents
and insurance providers in connection with
policies other than policies developed under
subparagraph (A) or paragraph (18).
``(ix) Allow prices and yields used to
establish coverage in other Federal crop
insurance policies to be used as prices and
yields for whole farm revenue protection
policies.
``(x) Establish a process for records and
acreage reports submitted by producers for the
noninsured crop assistance program under
section 196 of the Federal Agriculture
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C.
7333) to be accepted as documentation for the
requisite actual production history for whole
farm revenue protection policies.
``(xi) Create a web-accessible tool for
producers to locate agents experienced in
selling a whole farm revenue protection policy.
``(G) Disaster years.--The Corporation shall
moderate the impact of disaster years, as determined by
the Secretary, on historic revenue by considering--
``(i) using an average of the historic and
projected revenue;
``(ii) counting indemnities as historic
revenue for loss years;
``(iii) counting payments under section 196
of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333) as historic
revenue for loss years; and
``(iv) using an assigned yield floor
similar to the limitation described in section
508(g)(6)(A)(i), as determined by the
Secretary.
``(H) Revenue guarantees.--
``(i) In general.--The Corporation shall
carry out research and development, or offer to
enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more
qualified persons to carry out research and
development, regarding the use of alternative
records for establishing a revenue guarantee of
a producer, including--
``(I) any farm loan records,
including business plans or other
materials, to establish expected
revenue and cash flow used for a Farm
Service Agency direct or guaranteed
loan; and
``(II) any business plans developed
in consultation with an acceptable
source, as determined by the Secretary,
such as an extension service, a farm
business management service, a Farm
Credit System institution, a community
development financial institution, or a
private lender.
``(ii) Report.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity
and Food Security Act of 2024, the Corporation
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 that describes--
``(I) the results of the research
and development carried out under
clause (i);
``(II) any changes being
implemented by the Corporation, either
permanently or on a pilot basis; and
``(III) any recommendations to
Congress with respect to those
results.''; and
(3) in paragraph (18), by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Continuation of plan.--The Administrator of
the Risk Management Agency shall continue to offer the
micro farm insurance plan offered pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(ii) in all States and counties of the
United States.
``(E) Review of modification to improve
effectiveness of micro farm plan.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Administrator of the Risk Management Agency
shall--
``(I) conduct stakeholder meetings
to solicit producer and agent feedback
on the performance of, challenges in
purchasing and servicing, and
opportunities for improving, the micro
farm insurance plan offered pursuant to
subparagraph (A)(ii); and
``(II) review procedure and
paperwork requirements for agents and
producers and make modifications, as
appropriate, to decrease burdens and
increase flexibility and effectiveness
of that plan.
``(ii) Report.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Corporation 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 that
describes--
``(I) any feedback received under
clause (i)(I);
``(II) the results of the review
carried out under clause (i)(II); and
``(III) any recommendations with
respect to that feedback or those
results.
``(F) Modifications to improve effectiveness for
micro farm.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Corporation shall implement the following
modifications to the micro farm insurance plan
offered pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii):
``(I) Allow vertically integrated
operations to access coverage under a
micro farm policy.
``(II) Allow producers with a micro
farm policy to also purchase crop-
specific Federal crop insurance
policies for crops insured under the
micro farm policy.
``(ii) Less paperwork.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, under
the micro farm insurance plan offered pursuant
to subparagraph (A)(ii), the Corporation shall
implement an option for producers with not more
than $1,000,000 in gross revenue that requires
significantly less paperwork and
recordkeeping.''.
SEC. 11204. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CROPS AND COVERAGES.
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(20) Walnuts.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development--
``(i) regarding improvements to 1 or more
policies to insure walnuts, including--
``(I) coverage for shelled walnuts;
and
``(II) quality issues, including
revenue losses, caused by heat and
other factors for both in-shell and
shelled walnuts; and
``(ii) to assess, by county, the difference
in the rate, average yield, and coverage level
of walnut policies compared to policies for
other nuts in that county.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(21) Wine grapes.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure wine grapes (including wine grapes produced
in the States of California, Oregon, and Washington)
against losses due to wildfire smoke exposure.
``(B) Availability of policy.--Notwithstanding the
second sentence of section 508(a)(1) and section
508(a)(2), not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act
of 2024, the Corporation shall make available a policy
described in subparagraph (A) if the requirements of
section 508(h) are met with respect to that policy.
``(C) Report.--If the Corporation does not offer a
policy described in subparagraph (A) by the date that
is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Corporation shall publish a report that includes the
results of the research and development carried out
under that subparagraph.
``(22) Cut flowers.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure cut flowers.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(23) Mushrooms.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure the production of mushrooms or revenue
derived from the production of mushrooms.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a report
that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(24) Double cropping of certain oilseed crops.--
``(A) Definition of covered oilseed crops.--In this
paragraph, the term `covered oilseed crops' means
rapeseed, canola, carinata, camelina, and other oilseed
crops, as determined by the Corporation.
``(B) Research and development.--The Corporation
shall carry out research and development, or offer to
enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more qualified
persons to carry out research and development,
regarding the inclusion of covered oilseed crops under
double cropping practices.
``(C) Requirements.--The research under
subparagraph (B) shall be carried out in consultation
with stakeholders to evaluate--
``(i) the economic and environmental
benefits of incorporating covered oilseed crops
into double cropping practices; and
``(ii) the potential risks associated with
incorporating covered oilseed crops into double
cropping practices, specifically with respect
to winter-planted covered oilseed crops,
including risks to soil health, biodiversity,
and the profitability of farming operations.
``(D) Priority.--In awarding contracts under
subparagraph (B), the Corporation may give priority to
persons and institutions that--
``(i) have previous research experience
with covered oilseed crops; and
``(ii) have access to a facility with the
capacity to do the applicable research.
``(E) Report.--Not later than 13 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (B);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(25) Alfalfa revenue insurance.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a revenue
crop insurance policy for alfalfa.
``(B) Contents.--The research and development
carried out under subparagraph (A) shall include
research relating to--
``(i) individual-based yield coverage; and
``(ii) coverage against fluctuations in the
price of alfalfa relative to the price expected
at the beginning of the crop year using a
regional alfalfa price index.
``(C) Index.--The alfalfa price index for purposes
of the research and development under this paragraph
shall use--
``(i) a combination of commodities traded
on the futures market that provides an
indication of feed market value; or
``(ii) other alternatives that provide a
similar indication, as determined by the
Corporation.
``(D) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any decisions made in connection
with those results.
``(26) Aquaculture products.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure aquaculture products with a market.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any decisions made in connection
with those results.
``(27) Traditional foods.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure traditional foods.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any decisions made in connection
with those results.
``(28) Multiperil index.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding an index
insurance policy to insure crops, including specialty
crops, against losses due to--
``(i) abnormal quantities of rainfall;
``(ii) extreme heat;
``(iii) wildfire;
``(iv) hail;
``(v) drought; and
``(vi) any other severe weather or growing
condition, as determined by the Secretary.
``(B) Research and development.--The research and
development under subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) evaluate the feasibility of
developing a single index policy to insure
against multiple hazards, such as drought and
excessive moisture;
``(ii) consider the ability to insure
commodities for which--
``(I) a policy or plan of insurance
does not exist; or
``(II) an existing policy or plan
of insurance does not cover all
counties;
``(iii) study and evaluate potentially
relevant data sources, such as the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or other
federally or State-certified weather sources,
public and private satellite data, and weather
and climate data and models; and
``(iv) consider consultation with licensed
actuaries with experience in developing index
policies insuring agricultural production.
``(C) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results, including--
``(I) any challenges to developing
the policy described in subparagraph
(A); and
``(II) options to address those
challenges.
``(29) Frost, freeze, or cold weather insurance.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding an index-
based policy to insure crops during the growing season
and prior to harvest (such as apples, blueberries,
cherries, citrus, melons, peaches, peppers,
strawberries, sugarcane, and tomatoes) against losses
due to a frost, freeze, or cold weather event.
``(B) Research and development.--The research and
development under subparagraph (A) shall--
``(i) evaluate the effectiveness of risk
management tools, such as the use of an index,
with respect to low-frequency and catastrophic
loss weather events; and
``(ii) if the requirements of section
508(h) are met, make available a policy
described in subparagraph (A) that provides
protection for at least 1 of the following:
``(I) Production loss.
``(II) Revenue loss.
``(C) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(30) Cover crops.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
to insure crops on fields that regularly use cover
crops.
``(B) Requirements.--The research and development
under subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) a review of prevented planting
coverage factors and an evaluation of whether
to include cover crop seed costs and costs
relating to grazing in the calculation of a
factor;
``(ii) the extent to which cover crops
reduce the risk of subsequent prevented
planting;
``(iii) the extent to which cover crops
make crops more resilient to, or otherwise
reduce the risk of, loss resulting from natural
disasters such as drought;
``(iv) the extent to which consistent use
of cover crops, type of cover crop, cover crop
management, or interactions with other
practices, such as tillage or rotation, affects
risk reduction;
``(v) whether rotational, adaptive, or
other prescribed grazing of cover crops can
maintain or improve risk reduction; and
``(vi) the best method to account for any
reduced risk associated with using cover crops,
and to provide a benefit to producers using
cover crops, through practice-based rating.
``(C) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall make
available on the website of the Corporation, and submit
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report that
describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.
``(31) Organic crop insurance.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding--
``(i) ways to increase participation of
organic producers in Federal crop insurance;
and
``(ii) impediments that organic producers
face in participating in Federal crop
insurance.
``(B) Contents.--The research and development under
subparagraph (A) shall include research relating to,
with respect to organic crops--
``(i) production history;
``(ii) contract price addendums;
``(iii) pesticide drift;
``(iv) revenue history;
``(v) crop termination dates, as compared
with summer fallow eligibility;
``(vi) the compatibility of Federal crop
insurance requirements with organic standards;
and
``(vii) other factors, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(C) Regulations.--Notwithstanding the second
sentence of section 508(a)(1) and section 508(a)(2),
the Secretary shall revise applicable regulations based
on the findings of the research and development carried
out under subparagraph (A) if the results of that
research and development are viable.
``(D) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any decisions made in connection
with those results
``(32) Large counties.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding the
feasibility of dividing large counties into smaller
administrative units for purposes of plans of insurance
that trigger indemnities based on an area-wide loss.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the Corporation shall publish a
report that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (A);
and
``(ii) any decisions made in connection
with those results.
``(33) Climate-smart commodities and other ecosystem
services.--
``(A) In general.--The Corporation shall carry out
research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or
more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to
carry out research and development, regarding a policy
or endorsement to insure the additional value of
climate-smart commodities and other commodities with
ecosystem markets or other value-added opportunities,
including consideration of 1 or more of the following
factors:
``(i) Inability to complete climate-smart
practices, such as tillage to control weeds,
due to factors outside the control of a
producer.
``(ii) Weather-related factors affecting
conservation rotation, use of a cover crop, or
use of split nitrogen fertilization.
``(iii) Other factors, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(B) Availability of policy.--Notwithstanding the
second sentence of section 508(a)(1) and section
508(a)(2), not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act
of 2024, the Corporation shall make available 1 or more
policies or endorsements described in subparagraph (A)
if the requirements of section 508(h) are met with
respect to that policy.
``(C) Report.--If the Corporation does not offer a
policy described in subparagraph (A) by the date that
is 2 years after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Corporation shall publish a report that includes the
results of the research and development carried out
under that subparagraph.''.
SEC. 11205. RISK MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
(a) Continuing Education for Loss Adjusters.--Section 515(k)(2)(C)
of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1515(k)(2)(C)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``including conservation'' and inserting
the following: ``including--
``(i) conservation'';
(2) in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) policies and plans of insurance for
specialty crop producers (including whole farm
revenue protection policies developed under
section 522(c)(7) and individual plans of
insurance); and
``(iii) language translation services, as
appropriate.''.
(b) Partnerships for Risk Management Development and
Implementation.--Section 522 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1522) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``The Corporation
may'' and inserting the following: ``The Corporation--
``(A) shall enter into 1 or more partnerships with
appropriate public and private entities with
demonstrated capabilities--
``(i) in developing and implementing risk
management and marketing opportunities for
underserved agricultural producers; and
``(ii) in training and credentialing crop
insurance agents and adjusters within
underserved agricultural communities; and
``(B) may''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (H) as clauses (i) through (viii),
respectively, and indenting appropriately; and
(ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as
so redesignated), by striking ``The Corporation
may enter into a partnership under paragraph
(2)--'' and inserting the following: ``The
Corporation--
``(A) shall enter into 1 or more partnerships under
paragraph (2)(A)--
``(i) to provide strategic outreach and
engage underserved agricultural populations
about crop insurance;
``(ii) to increase adoption of risk
management tools in underserved agricultural
communities; and
``(iii) to increase the representation of
underserved insurance agents and loss adjusters
providing service to underserved communities;
and
``(B) may enter into 1 or more partnerships under
paragraph (2)(B)--''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(2)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``fiscal year 2019
and each fiscal year thereafter.'' and inserting ``for
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter.''.
(c) Education Assistance.--Section 524(a) of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``for the purpose of
educating agricultural producers and providing technical
assistance to agricultural producers'' and inserting ``for the
purpose of educating and providing technical assistance to
agricultural producers, including language translation
services, as appropriate,'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``and outreach'' and inserting ``outreach, and
language translation services, as appropriate,'';
(B) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in clause (ii), by adding ``and'' at
the end; and
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(D) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) specialty crop farmers; and
``(H) approved insurance providers and agents, for
the purpose of facilitating the selling and servicing
of whole farm revenue protection policies developed
under section 522(c)(7).''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Report.--The Secretary shall make publicly available
an annual report that contains, with respect to the year
covered by the report--
``(A) a description of the grants and funding
provided under this subsection; and
``(B) an overview and analysis of the educational
activities conducted under this subsection.''.
SEC. 11206. UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS REPORT.
Section 508(a)(7) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(a)(7)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``Using'' and
inserting ``On an annual basis, using''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``the review under
subparagraph (B), and not less frequently than once every 3
years thereafter'' and inserting ``an annual review under
subparagraph (B)''.
SEC. 11207. VOLUNTARY GOOD FARMING PRACTICES.
Section 508(a)(3)(A)(iii) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``including scientifically'' and inserting
the following: ``including--
``(I) scientifically'';
(2) in subclause (I) (as so designated), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(II) conservation practices and
enhancements that are approved by--
``(aa) the Natural
Resources Conservation Service;
or
``(bb) an agricultural
expert, as determined by the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 11208. STATE COVER CROP AND SOIL HEALTH MATCHING PAYMENTS.
The Federal Crop Insurance Act is amended by inserting after
section 508D (7 U.S.C. 1508d) the following:
``SEC. 508E. STATE COVER CROP AND SOIL HEALTH MATCHING PAYMENTS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered insurance program.--The term `covered
insurance program' means a policy or plan of insurance offered
by the Corporation.
``(2) Qualifying cover crop.--The term `qualifying cover
crop' means a crop that--
``(A) is cereal or another grass, legumes,
brassica, nonlegume broadleaf, or any combination of
those crops;
``(B) is planted for conservation purposes in
accordance with--
``(i) guidance of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service; or
``(ii) any other expert guidance, as
determined by the Secretary; and
``(C) is not an insured crop.
``(3) Soil health conservation practice.--The term `soil
health conservation practice' means any in-field conservation
practice that improves soil health and is expected to improve
the long-term viability of a producer through risk reduction,
improved yields, reduced costs, or increased revenue through
ecosystem markets.
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--Beginning with crop year 2026, the
Secretary shall provide additional premium subsidies to
producers for each acre--
``(A) in a covered insurance program, including
through a whole farm revenue protection policy
developed under section 522(c)(7), on which--
``(i) a qualifying cover crop was planted--
``(I) after June 15 of the
preceding calendar year; or
``(II) during the current crop
year; or
``(ii) a similar in-field soil health
conservation practice is implemented; and
``(B) that was enrolled in a qualifying cover crop
or similar in-field soil health conservation practice
program administered by a State to provide premium
subsidies under an agreement or memorandum of
understanding with the Risk Management Agency pursuant
to section 508(c)(8).
``(2) Report.--A producer that receives an additional
premium subsidy under paragraph (1) for a crop year shall
submit to the Secretary a report of acreage form for each acre
described in paragraph (1) with respect to that crop year.
``(c) Premium Subsidy Amount.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an
additional premium subsidy provided to a producer under
subsection (b)(1) shall be--
``(A) calculated on a common land unit basis or an
equivalent or more-precise basis; and
``(B) in an amount equal to the product obtained by
multiplying--
``(i) the number of acres of the producer
for which the additional premium subsidy is
provided; and
``(ii) the amount of the premium subsidy
provided by the State program per acre, up to
$5 per acre.
``(2) Limitation.--An additional premium subsidy provided
to a producer under subsection (b)(1) for an acre described in
that subsection shall not exceed the amount of the premium owed
by the producer with respect to that acre.
``(3) Producer-shares.--The amount of an additional premium
subsidy provided to a producer under subsection (b)(1) shall be
modified to reflect the individual producer-share of the acres
covered by the subsidy.
``(4) Inclusion.--Participation by a producer in a State
program that provides premium subsidies for conservation
practices, including cover crops, shall not disqualify a
producer from receiving assistance under this section.
``(d) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Corporation,
the Secretary shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.
``(2) Technical assistance, outreach, and program
support.--Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for
a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not more than $5,000,000
to provide technical assistance, outreach, and program support
with respect to this section.''.
SEC. 11209. ENTERPRISE UNITS FOR FALLOW AND CONTINUOUS PRACTICES.
Section 508(e)(5) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(e)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Enterprise units for fallow and continuous
rotations.--Beginning with the 2026 crop year, the
Corporation may allow a producer to establish separate
enterprise units for fallow and continuous practices of
crops.''.
SEC. 11210. ELIGIBILITY FOR PREVENTED PLANTING INSURANCE UNDER CERTAIN
DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
Section 508A(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Waiver for certain drought conditions.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Covered county.--The term `covered
county' means a county that experienced, in
each of 3 consecutive years, in any area of the
county, extreme drought (D3 or worse
intensity), as measured by, and indicated in a
report of, the United States Drought Monitor,
that may impact the ability of a producer to
plant during the normal planting period, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(ii) Covered rule.--The term `covered
rule' means the eligibility requirement for
prevented planting insurance, as described in
section 17(f)(8) of the most recent version of
the Common Crop Insurance Policy Basic
Provisions, under which planting of a crop must
have occurred once in the 4 most recent crop
years preceding the current crop year (commonly
referred to as the `1-in-4 rule').
``(B) Waiver.--The covered rule may be waived in a
covered county in response to extraordinary
circumstances, as determined by the Secretary.''.
Subtitle C--Agent Incentives and Options
SEC. 11301. OPTION FOR CORPORATION TO UNDERWRITE POLICIES.
Section 508(a)(7) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(a)(7)) (as amended by section 11206) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(D) Pilot program for corporation to underwrite
policies.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding
subsections (b)(4), (c)(1), and (c)(2), not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act
of 2024, the Corporation shall establish a
pilot program under which the Corporation may
underwrite whole farm revenue protection, micro
farm, and other policies, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(ii) Priorities.--In carrying out the
pilot program under clause (i), the Corporation
shall give priority to underserved producers,
commodities, and geographic areas, including
underserved producers, commodities, and
geographic areas identified in the most recent
report submitted under subparagraph (C)(i).
``(iii) Inapplicability of sra or lpra.--A
policy underwritten pursuant to the pilot
program under clause (i) shall not be subject
to the terms of the Standard Reinsurance
Agreement or the Livestock Price Reinsurance
Agreement.
``(iv) A&O subsidy.--The Corporation may
pay agents that sell a policy underwritten
pursuant to the pilot program under clause (i)
up to the total amount of the administrative
and operating subsidy that the Corporation
would have paid an approved insurance provider
if the policy were subject to the Standard
Reinsurance Agreement or the Livestock Price
Reinsurance Agreement.''.
SEC. 11302. UPDATES TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATING SUBSIDIES.
(a) Minimum Paid to Agency or Agents.--Section 508(a)(10) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(10)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(F) Minimum administrative and operating subsidy
paid to agency or agents.--An approved insurance
provider shall pay to the agency or agent, as
determined by the Corporation, that sells a Federal
crop insurance policy not less than 80 percent but not
more than 100 percent of the administrative and
operating subsidy that the approved insurance provider
receives from the Corporation for that policy.''.
(b) Area-Based Plans.--Section 508(k)(4)(F) of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)(4)(F)) is amended by striking ``through
(E)'' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
the following: ``through (E)--
``(i) for each of the 2009 through 2025
reinsurance years, the reimbursement rate for
area policies and plans of insurance widely
available as of the date of enactment of the
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 8701 et seq.) or authorized under
subsection (c)(4)(C) or section 508B shall be
12 percent of the premium used to define loss
ratio for that reinsurance year; and
``(ii) for the 2026 reinsurance year, and
each reinsurance year thereafter, the
reimbursement rate for area policies and plans
of insurance widely available as of the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024 or authorized under
subsection (c)(4)(C) or section 508B shall be
17 percent of the premium used to define loss
ratio for that reinsurance year.''.
(c) Whole Farm Revenue Protection, Micro Farm, and Producers Not
Adequately Served.--Section 508(k)(4) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act
(7 U.S.C. 1508(k)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Whole farm revenue protection and micro farm
agent incentives.--Beginning with the 2026 reinsurance
year, in the case of an agent that sells a whole farm
revenue or micro farm policy (or a successor policy),
the Corporation shall provide to the approved insurance
provider, to pay entirely to the agent, an additional
amount, determined in accordance with the following:
``(i) If the maximum compensation of the
agent authorized under the Standard Reinsurance
Agreement, the Livestock Price Reinsurance
Agreement, or a successor agreement for the
policy is less than $1,000, the additional
amount of agent compensation shall be equal to
the difference between--
``(I) $1,000; and
``(II) the maximum amount
authorized under the Standard
Reinsurance Agreement, the Livestock
Price Reinsurance Agreement, or a
successor agreement for the policy, as
applicable.
``(ii) If the producer, or any entity in
which the producer has an insurable interest,
has never previously obtained coverage under a
whole farm revenue or micro farm policy (or a
successor policy), the additional amount of
agent compensation shall be $300 for each whole
farm revenue or micro farm policy (or successor
policy), in addition to any amount authorized
under clause (i).
``(H) Additional agent incentives.--
``(i) Definition of covered agent.--In this
subparagraph, the term `covered agent' means an
agent that sells a policy to--
``(I) an underserved producer; or
``(II) a producer of an
agricultural commodity in a State
identified as not adequately served in
the most recent review required under
subsection (a)(7)(B).
``(ii) Additional incentive.--Beginning
with the 2026 reinsurance year, if the maximum
compensation of a covered agent authorized
under the Standard Reinsurance Agreement, the
Livestock Price Reinsurance Agreement, or a
successor agreement for a policy described in
clause (i) is less than $500, the Corporation
shall provide to the approved insurance
provider, to pay entirely to the covered agent,
an additional amount equal to the difference
between--
``(I) $500; and
``(II) the maximum amount
authorized under the Standard
Reinsurance Agreement, the Livestock
Price Reinsurance Agreement, or a
successor agreement for the policy, as
applicable.''.
(d) Reimbursement for Administrative and Operating Expenses With
Respect to Specialty Crops Contracts.--Section 508(k) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(10) Specialty crops.--
``(A) Minimum reimbursement.--Beginning with the
2025 reinsurance year and for each reinsurance year
thereafter, the rate of reimbursement to approved
insurance providers for administrative and operating
expenses with respect to crop insurance contracts
covering agricultural commodities described in section
101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004
(7 U.S.C. 1621 note; Public Law 108-465) shall be equal
to or greater than the percent that is the greater of--
``(i) 17 percent of the premium used to
define loss ratio; and
``(ii) the percent of the premium used to
define loss ratio that is otherwise applicable
for the reinsurance year under the terms of the
Standard Reinsurance Agreement in effect for
that reinsurance year.
``(B) Other contracts.--In carrying out
subparagraph (A), the Corporation shall not reduce,
with respect to any reinsurance year, the amount or the
rate of reimbursement to approved insurance providers
under the Standard Reinsurance Agreement described in
clause (ii) of that subparagraph for administrative and
operating expenses with respect to contracts covering
agricultural commodities that are not subject to that
subparagraph.
``(C) Administration.--No adjustment made pursuant
to this paragraph shall be considered a renegotiation
under paragraph (8)(A).''.
(e) Compensation Data Collection.--Section 508(k) of the Federal
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(k)) (as amended by subsection (d)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(11) Compensation data collection.--
``(A) Data from corporation.--The Corporation shall
submit to the Secretary, on an annual basis, such data
as are required by the Secretary relating to the
subsidies for administrative and operating expenses
paid during the relevant year by the Corporation on
behalf of a policyholder to the applicable approved
insurance provider for eligible crop insurance
contracts for additional coverage levels, in accordance
with paragraph (4).
``(B) Data from approved insurance providers.--An
approved insurance provider shall submit to the
Secretary, on an annual basis, such data relating to
agent compensation as are required by the Secretary.''.
(f) Inflation Adjustment.--Section 516 of the Federal Crop
Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(d) Limitation on Administrative and Operating Costs and
Expenses.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the combined
total amount of reimbursements for administrative and operating
costs provided by the Corporation under section 508(k)(4),
administrative and operating expenses of the Corporation
described in subsection (a)(2)(A), and administrative and
operating expenses of an approved insurance provider described
in subsection (a)(2)(B) shall not exceed--
``(A) for reinsurance year 2026, $1,900,000,000;
and
``(B) for each reinsurance year thereafter, an
amount equal to 101.5 percent of the maximum allowable
amount for the preceding reinsurance year.
``(2) Exclusions from calculation.--A payment made pursuant
to subparagraph (G) or (H) of section 508(k)(4) shall not be
included in calculating the combined total amount of
reimbursements for a reinsurance year under paragraph (1).''.
Subtitle D--Specialty Crops
SEC. 11401. SPECIALTY CROP INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Section 507 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1507) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``the Classification Act
of 1923, as amended'' each place it appears and inserting
``chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code'';
(2) in subsection (g), by indenting paragraphs (2) and (3)
appropriately; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Specialty Crop Insurance Advisory Committee.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Corporation shall establish a
committee, to be known as the `Specialty Crop Insurance
Advisory Committee' (referred to in this subsection as the
`Committee').
``(2) Composition.--The Committee shall consist of not more
than 10 members who represent the interests of a wide range of
specialty crop insurance stakeholders in different geographical
areas of the United States, including with respect to--
``(A) different types and sizes of agricultural
operations; and
``(B) a variety of specialty crops.
``(3) Appointment.--The members of the Committee--
``(A) shall be appointed by the Secretary;
``(B) shall be appointed to staggered 4-year terms,
as determined by the Secretary; and
``(C) may serve not more than 2 consecutive terms.
``(4) Compensation.--A member of the Committee shall serve
without compensation.
``(5) Engagement with other specialty crop positions.--The
Committee shall regularly engage with the Specialty Crops
Coordinator and Specialty Crop Liaisons under subsection (g)--
``(A) to discuss the crop insurance needs of
specialty crop producers; and
``(B) to explore opportunities for the Department
to better serve specialty crop producers.
``(6) Recommendations to board.--The Committee may submit
to the Board recommendations regarding consideration by the
Board of new specialty crop policies, or the expansion of
available specialty crop policies, on a broad range of issues
relating to specialty crops, including--
``(A) the selection of expert reviewers for
proposals to develop new specialty crop policies; and
``(B) the percentage of advance payment approved to
be paid to the developer of a specialty crop policy.''.
SEC. 11402. ADDITION AND EXPANSION OF SPECIALTY CROP POLICIES.
Section 508(a)(6) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(a)(6)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``1 of each'' and inserting ``2 of each'';
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``report to Congress
on'' and inserting ``publish a report with respect to'';
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) Consultation with specialty crop insurance
advisory committee.--To the maximum extent practicable,
the Corporation shall consult with the Specialty Crop
Insurance Advisory Committee established under section
507(h)(1) regarding--
``(i) the expansion of existing policies or
plans of insurance for specialty crops; and
``(ii) research and development of new
policies or plans of insurance for specialty
crops.''.
SEC. 11403. PRIORITIES FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW POLICIES AND
EXPANSION OF EXISTING POLICIES.
Section 508(h)(3) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(h)(3)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``including
commodities for which there is no insurance;'' and inserting
the following: ``including--
``(I) commodities for which there
is no insurance; and
``(II) specialty crops;''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``approval, the
Board'' in the matter preceding clause (i) and all that follows
through the period at the end of clause (iv) and inserting the
following: ``approval, the Board shall prioritize the
development, improvement, expansion, and approval of coverage
for--
``(i) specialty crop producers to ensure
that coverage for at least 1 new specialty crop
and 1 new State is available to producers each
year; and
``(ii) cost-of-production risk to ensure
that such coverage options are available to
additional producers.''.
SEC. 11404. ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR SPECIALTY CROP INSURANCE POLICIES IN
DEVELOPMENT.
Section 522(b)(2)(E)(ii) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1522(b)(2)(E)(ii)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ``(I) the intended'' and
inserting ``(I)(aa) the intended'';
(2) in subclause (II)--
(A) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; or''; and
(B) by striking ``(II) the submitter'' and
inserting the following:
``(bb) the submitter''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(II) the Specialty Crop Insurance
Advisory Committee established under
section 507(h)(1) has recommended the
policy or plan of insurance for
development.''.
SEC. 11405. PRIORITIES FOR INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT OF NEW POLICIES AND
EXPANSION OF EXISTING POLICIES.
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(c))
is amended by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
``(6) Priorities.--The Corporation shall generally
prioritize the development and expansion of policies that
increase participation by underserved producers and producers
of underserved agricultural commodities (such as sweet sorghum,
biomass sorghum, rice, peanuts, sugarcane, alfalfa, pennycress,
dedicated energy crops, and specialty crops), including, with
respect to specialty crops--
``(A) expansion of the production revenue history
policy or similar policies to additional specialty
crops and States to ensure that coverage is available
to producers for at least 1 new specialty crop and 1
new State each year; and
``(B) increasing participation in whole-farm
revenue protection policies by addressing barriers to
producers from purchasing whole-farm revenue protection
and micro farm policies, including barriers between
agents and approved insurance providers in marketing
and servicing those policies.''.
Subtitle E--Program Integrity
SEC. 11501. ACTUARIAL SOUNDNESS OF FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 506(n) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act
(7 U.S.C. 1506(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) New policies or materials.--The Corporation shall--
``(A) not less frequently than once each year,
review for actuarial soundness any policies or plans of
insurance developed pursuant to section 508(h) that had
more than $500,000,000 in liability annually;
``(B) take necessary actions to align those
policies or plans of insurance with the applicable
standard for actuarial soundness, if needed; and
``(C) make publicly available a report that
describes--
``(i) the results of the review conducted
under subparagraph (A);
``(ii) the performance of the policies or
plans of insurance described in that
subparagraph; and
``(iii) any actions carried out under
subparagraph (B).''.
(b) Specialized Experts.--Section 507 of the Federal Crop Insurance
Act (7 U.S.C. 1507) (as amended by section 11401(3)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(i) Specialized Experts.--The annual rate of basic pay for up to
3 specialized experts, such as actuaries, as determined by the
Administrator of the Risk Management Agency, may be established and
adjusted by the Administrator of the Risk Management Agency without
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code.''.
(c) Submission of Policies and Materials to Board.--Section 508(h)
of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) in clause (i)(I), by striking ``clause (ii)''
and inserting ``clauses (ii) and (iii)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Waiver for certain policies for
specialty crops producers.--The Corporation may
waive the viability and marketability
requirement under clause (i)(I) in the case of
a policy or pilot program for which an urgent
need has been identified, or recommendation has
been provided, by a majority of members of the
Specialty Crop Insurance Advisory Committee
established under section 507(h).'';
(2) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii)(I), by inserting ``, as
determined in accordance with paragraph (4)(F)'' before the
semicolon at the end; and
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by adding at the end the
following:
``(iv) Marketability deadline.--
``(I) In general.--Except as
provided in subclause (II), any policy,
plan of insurance, or material approved
and finalized fewer than 120 days prior
to the applicable sales closing date--
``(aa) shall be implemented
for the next reinsurance year;
but
``(bb) shall not be
implemented for the current
reinsurance year.
``(II) Exception.--The Secretary
may allow a policy, plan of insurance,
or material described in subclause (I)
to be implemented during the current
reinsurance year if the Secretary finds
that the policy, plan of insurance, or
material will address an urgent need of
producers.
``(III) Finalization.--The
finalization of a policy, plan of
insurance, or material under subclause
(I) shall include making available
handbooks, training materials, and
other resources required for the
effective sale of approved policies,
plans of insurance, or materials.'';
and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Marketability assessment.--For purposes of
determining marketability under paragraph
(3)(A)(ii)(I), if a policy or plan of insurance
submitted to the Board under this subsection includes a
favorable marketability assessment from an approved
insurance provider, not earlier than 30 days before the
Board takes final action on that policy or plan of
insurance, that approved insurance provider shall have
an opportunity to provide to the Board an updated
marketability assessment.''.
SEC. 11502. RATING METHODOLOGY AND DATA REPORTING UPDATES.
Section 508(i) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(i))
is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), and (4);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(1) Review of rating methodologies.--
``(A) In general.--To maximize participation in the
Federal crop insurance program and to ensure equity for
producers, the Corporation shall review the
methodologies employed for rating plans of insurance
under this Act in accordance with section 507(c)(2)--
``(i) not later than December 31, 2025; and
``(ii) not less frequently than once every
9 years thereafter.
``(B) Factors for consideration.--In conducting a
review under subparagraph (A), the Corporation shall
ensure that the rating methodology used by the
Corporation--
``(i) achieves regionally consistent
outcomes in insurance participation and
reinsurance;
``(ii) appropriately models and weighs
changes in risk from--
``(I) crop genetics;
``(II) increasing frequency of
extreme weather events and climatic
impacts; and
``(III) other factors known to be
changing farm risks; and
``(iii) engenders premium rates regionally
and on a national basis in accordance with
subsection (d)(1).
``(C) Expert review.--The Corporation shall make
the rating methodology used by the Corporation, and any
changes to that methodology, available for review and
comment by at least 3 outside experts before
implementing a change.'';
(4) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by inserting
``and coverage level'' before the period at the end; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Rate review and adjustment.--
``(A) Review.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than January
1, 2026, and not less frequently than once
every 3 years thereafter, subject to clause
(ii), the Administrator of the Risk Management
Agency (referred to in this paragraph as the
`Administrator') shall review the premium rates
for all crops and policies and plans of
insurance, by county.
``(ii) More frequent reviews.--The
Administrator shall conduct a review under
clause (i) more frequently for any policy, plan
of insurance, or region of the United States
that meets 1 or more of the following criteria:
``(I) Policies or plans of
insurance with more than $500,000,000
in liability annually.
``(II) Policies, plans of
insurance, or regions with consistently
high or low loss ratios, as determined
by the Administrator.
``(III) Policies, plans of
insurance, or regions that, as
determined by the Administrator, have
been consistently placed in the
assigned risk pool.
``(IV) Such other criteria as the
Administrator determines to be
appropriate.
``(B) Rate adjustments.--In conducting rate reviews
under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall--
``(i) take necessary actions to align the
reviewed policies or plans of insurance with
standards for actuarial soundness, if needed,
including by modifying rates by the percentage
indicated by the rating model of the Risk
Management Agency, subject to the conditions
that--
``(I) if the rating model of the
Risk Management Agency indicates that
rates must increase, the Administrator
shall increase the rates by not more
than 20 percent, as compared to the
comparable rate of the preceding crop
year; and
``(II) if the rating model of the
Risk Management Agency indicates that
rates must decrease, the Administrator
shall decrease the rates by the full
amount indicated; and
``(ii) make publicly available a report
that describes--
``(I) each review under
subparagraph (A);
``(II) the performance of the
policies and plans of insurance subject
to the review; and
``(III) any actions carried out
pursuant to clause (i).''.
SEC. 11503. DATA ANALYTICS AND IMPROVEMENT.
Section 515 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1515) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (j)(2)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``technologies'' and inserting ``technologies; data
analytics and improvement'';
(B) by striking ``shall use'' and inserting the
following: ``shall--
``(A) use'';
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) support advancing and improving the
development and application of remote sensing, machine
learning, and computational modeling to continually
improve the administration and enforcement of this
subtitle.''; and
(2) in subsection (l)(2)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``and
data analytics innovation and improvement'' after
``mining'';
(B) by striking ``$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2009''
and inserting ``$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025''; and
(C) by inserting ``, of which not less than
$4,000,000 shall be used in each fiscal year to carry
out subparagraph (B) of that subsection'' before the
period at the end.
SEC. 11504. REIMBURSEMENT OF PRIVATELY DEVELOPED PLANS.
Section 522(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1522(b))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)--
(A) in clause (ii)--
(i) in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by striking ``costs of the applicant shall be
considered reasonable costs if the costs are
based on'' and inserting ``reasonable costs may
include''; and
(ii) in subclause (I)--
(I) by striking ``wage rates equal
to not more than'' and inserting
``actual wage rates up to''; and
(II) by striking ``incurred,'' and
all that follows through ``2016'' and
inserting ``incurred''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Supporting documents.--On the
request of the Board, applicants shall provide
third-party documents, such as tax documents
and receipts, as support for a request for
reimbursement of actual costs.'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (K);
(3) in paragraph (4) adding at the end the following:
``(E) Maintenance by corporation.--The Corporation
may assume responsibility for maintenance of the policy
if the Corporation determines that the applicant has
failed to maintain the policy, or to make adjustments
to improve actuarial soundness, after appropriate
notice and due process.''; and
(4) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``based on the complexity'' and
inserting the following: ``based on--
``(A) the complexity'';
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) the quantity of work required to maintain the
policy;
``(C) whether the policy has had consistent,
unexplainable, and high loss ratios; and
``(D) whether the developer has demonstrated a
pattern or practice of noncompliance with requests from
the Board or the Department.''.
SEC. 11505. STANDARD REINSURANCE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATION.
Section 508(k)(8) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C.
1508(k)(8)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Engagement with crop insurance agents.--The
Corporation shall engage with entities representing
crop insurance agents during any renegotiation under
subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 11506. PROTECTION AGAINST RETALIATION.
Section 515 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1515) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Protection Against Retaliation.--
``(1) Prohibition.--
``(A) In general.--No person may take any action,
including an action described in subparagraph (B)--
``(i) to impede an individual, including an
agent, a loss adjuster, or a producer, from
reporting to the Secretary, the Corporation, or
the Risk Management Agency--
``(I) a possible violation of this
subtitle or the regulations promulgated
thereunder; or
``(II) fraud, waste, or abuse
relating to the Federal crop insurance
program; or
``(ii) to penalize or discriminate against
an individual for reporting under clause (i).
``(B) Actions.--An action referred to in
subparagraph (A) includes--
``(i) any action relating to the terms and
conditions of employment of an individual
described in clause (i) of that subparagraph;
``(ii) any action relating to the obtaining
of any policy or plan of insurance by such an
individual; and
``(iii) any changes to the compensation of
such an individual for the sale or service of a
policy or plan of insurance.
``(2) Enforcement.--
``(A) Cause of action.--
``(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), an individual who alleges that a
person has taken an action in violation of
paragraph (1) may bring an action under this
subsection against that person in the
appropriate district court of the United States
for the relief provided in paragraph (3).
``(ii) Federal employee.--If the individual
who is alleging that a person has taken an
action in violation of paragraph (1) is an
employee of the Federal Government, the
individual may only bring an action under
section 1221 of title 5, United States Code.
``(B) Subpoenas.--A subpoena requiring the
attendance of a witness at a trial or hearing conducted
pursuant to this subsection may be served at any place
in the United States.
``(C) Statute of limitations.--An action under this
subsection may not be brought more than 2 years after
the date on which the alleged violation of paragraph
(1) is committed.
``(3) Relief.--Relief for an individual prevailing in an
action brought under paragraph (2) shall include--
``(A) reinstatement with the same seniority status
that the individual would have had but for the
discrimination;
``(B) the amount of back pay or compensation
otherwise owed to the individual, with interest; and
``(C) compensation for any special damages
sustained as a result of prohibited action, including
litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable
attorney's fees.
``(4) Confidentiality.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the Secretary, the Corporation, and
the Risk Management Agency shall not disclose any
information that may reasonably be expected to reveal
the identity of an individual who reports a possible
violation or fraud, waste, or abuse described in
subclauses (I) and (II) of paragraph (1)(A)(i),
respectively, including information provided by that
individual.
``(B) Exceptions.--
``(i) Records maintained on individuals.--
The Secretary, the Corporation, and the Risk
Management Agency shall only disclose
information described in subparagraph (A) in
accordance with section 552a of title 5, United
States Code.
``(ii) Public proceeding.--The Secretary,
the Corporation, and the Risk Management Agency
shall disclose information described in
subparagraph (A) if that information is
required to be disclosed to a defendant or
respondent in connection with a public
proceeding instituted by the Commission or any
entity described in items (aa) through (dd) of
clause (iii)(I).
``(iii) Availability to government
agencies.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary,
the Corporation, and the Risk
Management Agency may, if determined by
the Secretary to be necessary or
appropriate to accomplish the purposes
of this subtitle, make the information
described in subparagraph (A) available
to--
``(aa) the Department of
Justice;
``(bb) an appropriate
department or agency of the
Federal Government;
``(cc) a State attorney
general in connection with any
criminal investigation; and
``(dd) an appropriate
department or agency of any
State.
``(II) Confidential status.--The
provision of information under
subclause (I) to the entities described
in that subclause shall not affect the
status of the information as
confidential.
``(III) Maintenance of
information.--Each entity described in
items (aa) through (dd) of subclause
(I) shall maintain the information
provided under that subclause as
confidential in the same manner as the
information is maintained by the
Secretary, the Corporation, and the
Risk Management Agency under
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
paragraph limits the ability of the Attorney General to
present evidence containing information described in
subparagraph (A) to a grand jury or share such evidence
with potential witnesses or defendants in the course of
an ongoing criminal investigation.
``(D) Applicability.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A), this section shall be considered a statute
described in section 552(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United
States Code.
``(5) Rights retained.--Nothing in this subsection shall
diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any
whistleblower under any Federal or State law or any collective
bargaining agreement.
``(6) Nonenforceability of certain provisions waiving
rights and remedies or requiring arbitration of disputes.--
``(A) Waiver of rights and remedies.--The rights
and remedies provided for in this subsection may not be
waived by any agreement, policy form, or condition of
employment, including a predispute arbitration
agreement.
``(B) Predispute arbitration agreements.--A
predispute arbitration agreement shall not be valid or
enforceable if the predispute arbitration agreement
requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this
subsection.''.
Subtitle F--Other Matters
SEC. 11601. NATIVE SOD.
Section 508(o) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(o))
is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) Native sod conversion certification.--
``(A) Certification.--As a condition on the receipt
of benefits under this subtitle, a producer that has
tilled native sod acreage for the production of an
insurable crop as described in paragraph (2)(A) shall
certify to the Secretary that acreage using--
``(i) an acreage report form of the Farm
Service Agency (FSA-578 or any successor form);
and
``(ii) 1 or more maps.
``(B) Corrections.--Beginning on the date on which
a producer submits a certification under subparagraph
(A), as soon as practicable after the producer
discovers a change in tilled native sod acreage
described in that subparagraph, the producer shall
submit to the Secretary any appropriate corrections to
a form or map described in clause (i) or (ii) of that
subparagraph.
``(C) Annual reports.--Not later than January 1,
2026, and each January 1 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 that describes the tilled native sod acreage
that has been certified under subparagraph (A) in each
county and State as of the date of submission of the
report.''.
SEC. 11602. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) Section 508 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2)(A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``subparagraph (B)--'' and all
that follows through ``catastrophic'' in clause (ii)
and inserting ``subparagraph (B), for each crop year,
catastrophic'';
(B) by striking paragraph (8); and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10) as
paragraphs (8) and (9), respectively;
(2) in subsection (d)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``than--'' and all that follows
through the period at the end and inserting ``than 1.0.''; and
(3) in subsection (k)(4)(A), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``exceed--'' and all that follows through
``24.5'' in clause (ii) and inserting ``exceed, for each
insurance year, 24.5''.
(b) Subsection (a) of section 520 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act
(7 U.S.C. 1520) (as designated by section 11202(1)) is amended, in
paragraph (2), by inserting ``not less than'' before ``18''.
(c) Section 523 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1523)
is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (e) and (f); and
(2) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as
subsections (e) through (g), respectively.
TITLE XII--MISCELLANEOUS
Subtitle A--Livestock
SEC. 12101. ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT.
Section 10409A(d) of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C.
8308a(d)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in the heading, by striking
``Subsequent fiscal years'' and inserting
``Fiscal years 2023 and 2024''; and
(ii) by striking ``fiscal year 2023 and
each fiscal year thereafter'' and inserting
``each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Subsequent fiscal years.--Of the funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall make
available to carry out this section $60,000,000 for
fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, of
which not less than $18,000,000 shall be made available
for each of those fiscal years to carry out subsection
(b).''; and
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``2023'' each place it
appears and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12102. SHEEP PRODUCTION AND MARKETING GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 209(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C.
1627a(c)) is amended by striking ``and $400,000 for fiscal year 2024''
and inserting ``$400,000 for fiscal year 2024, and $3,000,0000 for
fiscal year 2025''.
SEC. 12103. RESOURCES AND GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM POULTRY
AND MEAT ESTABLISHMENTS.
(a) HACCP Guidance.--
(1) Poultry establishments.--The Poultry Products
Inspection Act is amended by inserting after section 14 (21
U.S.C. 463) the following:
``SEC. 14A. SMALL AND MEDIUM ESTABLISHMENT GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Medium establishment.--The term `medium
establishment' means an official establishment that has fewer
than 500 employees but more than 50 employees.
``(2) Small establishment.--The term `small establishment'
means an official establishment that has fewer than 50
employees.
``(b) Database of Studies; Model Plans.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) establish a free, searchable database of approved
peer-reviewed validation studies accessible to small
establishments and medium establishments subject to inspection
under this Act for use in developing a Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points plan; and
``(2) publish online scale-appropriate model Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points plans for small
establishments and medium establishments, including model plans
for--
``(A) slaughter-only establishments;
``(B) processing-only establishments; and
``(C) slaughter and processing establishments.
``(c) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this section, the Secretary shall publish a guidance document, after
notice and an opportunity for public comment, providing information on
the requirements that need to be met for small establishments and
medium establishments to receive approval for a Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points plan pursuant to this Act.
``(d) Data Confidentiality.--In carrying out subsections (b) and
(c), the Secretary shall not publish confidential business information,
including a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan of an
establishment, unless the establishment provides express written
consent to publish the applicable information, which shall be published
in a manner that does not identify the applicable establishment.''.
(2) Meat establishments.--The Federal Meat Inspection Act
is amended by inserting after section 25 (21 U.S.C. 625) the
following:
``SEC. 26. SMALL AND MEDIUM ESTABLISHMENT GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Medium establishment.--The term `medium
establishment' means a slaughtering or meat processing
establishment that has fewer than 500 employees but more than
50 employees.
``(2) Small establishment.--The term `small establishment'
means a slaughtering or meat processing establishment that has
fewer than 50 employees.
``(b) Database of Studies; Model Plans.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) establish a free, searchable database of approved
peer-reviewed validation studies accessible to small
establishments and medium establishments subject to inspection
under this Act for use in developing a Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points plan; and
``(2) publish online scale-appropriate model Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points plans for small
establishments and medium establishments, including model plans
for--
``(A) slaughter-only establishments;
``(B) processing-only establishments; and
``(C) slaughter and processing establishments.
``(c) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this section, the Secretary shall publish a guidance document, after
notice and an opportunity for public comment, providing information on
the requirements that need to be met for small establishments and
medium establishments to receive approval for a Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points plan pursuant to this Act.
``(d) Data Confidentiality.--In carrying out subsections (b) and
(c), the Secretary shall not publish confidential business information,
including a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan of an
establishment, unless the establishment provides express written
consent to publish the applicable information, which shall be published
in a manner that does not identify the applicable establishment.''.
(b) Increasing Maximum Federal Share for Expenses of State
Inspection.--
(1) Poultry products.--Section 5(a)(3) of the Poultry
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454(a)(3)) is amended in the
second sentence by striking ``50 per centum'' and inserting
``55 percent''.
(2) Meat and meat food products.--Section 301(a)(3) of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661(a)(3)) is amended in
the second sentence by striking ``50 per centum'' and inserting
``55 percent''.
(c) Cooperative Interstate Shipment of Poultry and Meat.--
(1) Poultry products.--Section 31 of the Poultry Products
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 472) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``25
employees'' each place it appears and inserting
``50 employees''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in the paragraph heading, by
striking ``25'' and inserting ``50'';
(II) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``25'' and inserting ``50'';
and
(III) in subparagraph (B)--
(aa) in clause (i), by
striking ``more than 25
employees but less than 35
employees'' and inserting
``more than 50 employees but
less than 70 employees''; and
(bb) in clause (ii), by
striking ``subsection (i)'' and
inserting ``subsection (j)'';
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ``60 percent''
and inserting ``80 percent'';
(C) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``subsection
(i)'' and inserting ``subsection (j)'';
(D) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as
subsections (g) through (j), respectively; and
(E) by inserting after subsection (e) the
following:
``(f) Federal Outreach.--
``(1) In general.--In each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, for the purpose of State participation in the Cooperative
Interstate Shipment program, the Secretary shall conduct
outreach to, and, as appropriate, subsequent negotiation with,
not fewer than 25 percent of the States that--
``(A) have a State poultry product inspection
program pursuant to section 5; but
``(B) do not have a selected establishment.
``(2) Report.--At the conclusion of each of fiscal years
2025 through 2029, the Secretary shall submit a report
detailing the activities and results of the outreach conducted
during that fiscal year under paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives;
``(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate;
``(C) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives; and
``(D) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate.''.
(2) Meat and meat food products.--Section 501 of the
Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 683) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ``25
employees'' each place it appears and inserting
``50 employees''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in the paragraph heading, by
striking ``25'' and inserting ``50'';
(II) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``25'' and inserting ``50'';
and
(III) in subparagraph (B)(i), by
striking ``more than 25 employees but
fewer than 35 employees'' and inserting
``more than 50 employees but fewer than
70 employees'';
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ``60 percent''
and inserting ``80 percent''; and
(C) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the
following:
``(3) Federal outreach.--
``(A) In general.--In each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029, for the purpose of State participation in
the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, the
Secretary shall conduct outreach to, and, as
appropriate, subsequent negotiation with, not fewer
than 25 percent of the States that--
``(i) have a State meat inspection program
pursuant to section 301; but
``(ii) do not have a selected
establishment.
``(B) Report.--At the conclusion of each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029, the Secretary shall submit a
report detailing the activities and results of the
outreach conducted during that fiscal year under
paragraph (1) to--
``(i) the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives;
``(ii) the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
``(iii) the Subcommittee on Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
``(iv) the Subcommittee on Agriculture,
Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies of the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.''.
(d) Processing Resilience Grant Program.--Subtitle A of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) (as amended
by section 10005) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 210D. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Business enterprise owned and controlled by socially
and economically disadvantaged individuals.--The term `business
enterprise owned and controlled by socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals' has the meaning given the term in
section 3002 of the State Small Business Credit Initiative Act
of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5701).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a slaughtering or processing establishment
with fewer than 500 employees;
``(B) a slaughtering or processing establishment
subject to--
``(i) a State meat inspection program
pursuant to section 301 of the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661); or
``(ii) a State poultry product inspection
program pursuant to section 5 of the Poultry
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454);
``(C) a person engaging in custom operations that
is exempt from inspection under--
``(i) section 23 of the Federal Meat
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 623); or
``(ii) section 15 of the Poultry Products
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 464); and
``(D) a person seeking--
``(i) to establish and operate an
establishment described in subparagraph (A) or
(B); or
``(ii) to engage in custom operations
described in subparagraph (C).
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(b) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall award
competitive grants to eligible entities for activities to
increase resiliency and diversification of the meat processing
system, including activities that--
``(A) support the health and safety of meat and
poultry plant employees, suppliers, and customers;
``(B) support increased processing capacity; and
``(C) otherwise support the resilience of the small
meat and poultry processing sector.
``(2) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a grant
awarded under this section shall not exceed $500,000.
``(3) Duration.--The term of a grant awarded under this
section shall not exceed 3 years.
``(c) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant
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.
``(2) Applications for small grants.--The Secretary shall
establish a separate, simplified application process for
eligible entities applying for a grant under this section of
not more than $100,000.
``(3) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that any
application for a grant under this section is--
``(A) simple and practicable;
``(B) accessible online; and
``(C) available through local staff of the
Department of Agriculture.
``(4) Notice.--Not later than 14 days before the date on
which the Secretary begins to accept applications under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish a notice of funding
opportunity with respect to the grants available under this
section.
``(5) Reapplication.--If an application of an eligible
entity under this subsection is denied by the Secretary, the
eligible entity may submit a revised application.
``(6) Priority.--In reviewing applications submitted under
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to proposals
that will--
``(A) increase farmer and rancher access to animal
slaughter options within a 200-mile radius of the
location of the farmer or rancher;
``(B) support an eligible entity described in
subsection (a)(2)(A); or
``(C) support an eligible entity that is a business
enterprise owned and controlled by socially and
economically disadvantaged individuals.
``(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities in
support of the purposes described in subsection (b)(1), including
through--
``(1) the development and issuance of a Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points plan for the eligible entity, which may
be developed by a consultant;
``(2) the purchase or establishment, as applicable, of
facilities, equipment, processes, and operations necessary for
the eligible entity to comply with applicable requirements
under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.);
``(3) the purchase of cold storage, equipment, or
transportation services;
``(4) the purchase of temperature screening supplies,
testing for communicable diseases, disinfectant, sanitation
systems, hand washing stations, and other sanitizing supplies;
``(5) the purchase and decontamination of personal
protective equipment;
``(6) the construction or purchase of humane handling
infrastructure, including holding space for livestock prior to
slaughter, shade structures, and knock box structures;
``(7)(A) the purchase of software and computer equipment
for record keeping, production data, Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points record review, and facilitation of
marketing and sales of products in a manner consistent with the
social distancing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention; and
``(B) the provision of guidelines and training relating to
that software and computer equipment;
``(8) the provision of staff time and training for
implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures;
``(9) the development of a feasibility study or business
plan for, or the carrying out of any other activity associated
with, establishing or expanding a small meat or poultry
processing facility;
``(10) the purchase of equipment that enables the further
use or value-added sale of coproducts or byproducts, such as
organs, hides, and other relevant products; and
``(11) other activities associated with expanding or
establishing an eligible entity described in subsection
(a)(2)(A), as determined by the Secretary.
``(e) Outreach.--During the period beginning on the date on which
the Secretary publishes the notice under subsection (c)(4) and ending
on the date on which the Secretary begins to accept applications under
subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall perform outreach to States and
eligible entities relating to grants under this section.
``(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the activities carried
out using a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed--
``(1) 90 percent in the case of a grant in the amount of
$100,000 or less; or
``(2) 75 percent in the case of a grant in an amount
greater than $100,000.
``(g) Administration.--The promulgation of regulations under, and
administration of, this section shall be made without regard to--
``(1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of
title 5, United States Code; and
``(2) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly
known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act').
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--There is appropriated, out of
amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the
Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this section $25,000,000
for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain
available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out
this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.''.
SEC. 12104. EXEMPTION FOR MEAT PROCESSORS OF LIVESTOCK MARKET OWNERSHIP
UNDER THE PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ACT, 1921.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall revise section 201.67 of title 9, Code
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this
Act), to exempt the packers described in subsection (b) from the
prohibition described in that section.
(b) Packers Described.--A packer referred to in subsection (a) is a
packer that--
(1) purchases live animals per year for a total amount that
is less than $50,000,000; or
(2) owns less than 10 percent of a packer that purchases
live animals per year for a total amount that is not less than
$50,000,000.
SEC. 12105. PROMPT PAYMENT.
Section 409 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C.
228b), is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 409. PROMPT PAYMENT FOR PURCHASE OF LIVESTOCK.
``(a) Definition of Covered Payer.--In this section, the term
`covered payer' means--
``(1) a packer;
``(2) a market agency; and
``(3) a dealer.
``(b) Prompt Payment for Livestock.--Except as provided in
subsection (c), each covered payer that purchases livestock shall
promptly deliver to the seller or their duly authorized representative
the full amount owed for that livestock by the close of--
``(1) the next business day following price determination
and transfer of possession of the livestock, if payment for the
full amount owed is made by--
``(A) presenting a check or cash to the seller;
``(B) placing a check in the United States mail (or
equivalent mail service) properly addressed to the
seller; or
``(C) transferring the full amount by any other
expeditious method determined appropriate by the
Secretary; or
``(2) the third business day following price determination
and transfer of possession of the livestock, if payment for the
full amount owed is made by--
``(A) Automated Clearing House; or
``(B) wire transfer.
``(c) Waiver of Prompt Payment.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to such terms and conditions as
the Secretary may require, a covered payer and seller may
expressly agree in writing, before a purchase or sale of
livestock, to effect payment in a manner other than a manner
required under subsection (b).
``(2) Disclosure.--Any agreement under paragraph (1) shall
be disclosed in the records of the covered payer and the
seller, including any documents issued by the covered payer
relating to the transaction.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--A payment made by a covered payer
pursuant to subsection (b) shall be considered--
``(1) a cash sale for purposes of this Act; and
``(2) to be made in contemporaneous exchange for new value
for other relevant purposes.
``(e) Unfair Practice.--
``(1) Delay in payment or attempt to delay.--Any delay in
making, or attempt to delay making, full payment for livestock
by a covered payer in accordance with this section, including
any such delay or attempt to delay for the purpose of, or that
results in, extending the required period of payment under this
section, shall be considered an unfair practice in violation of
this Act.
``(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section limits
the meaning of the term `unfair practice' as used in this
Act.''.
SEC. 12106. ANIMAL DISEASE REGIONAL EXPORT BAN AGREEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 10405 of the Animal Health Protection Act
(7 U.S.C. 8304) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Engagement With Key Export Markets.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
and the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign
Agricultural Affairs, in coordination with the Administrator of
the Food Safety and Inspection Service, may preemptively
negotiate, to the extent practicable, regionalization
agreements regarding outbreaks of known animal disease threats
with the governments of countries with key export markets for
any animal, article, or associated means of conveyance from the
United States.
``(2) Research.--A negotiation carried out under paragraph
(1) is encouraged to take into account accepted global research
advances.''.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section or the
amendments made by this section--
(1) limits the ability of the Secretary to negotiate trade
agreements; or
(2) requires the Secretary to condition other trade
agreements on the inclusion of language relating to
regionalization as described in subsection (d)(1) of section
10405 of the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 3804).
SEC. 12107. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.
The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended
by inserting after section 216 (7 U.S.C. 6916) the following:
``SEC. 217. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department an
office, to be known as the `Office of the Special Investigator for
Competition Matters' (referred to in this section as the `Office').
``(b) Special Investigator for Competition Matters.--The Office
shall be headed by the Special Investigator for Competition Matters
(referred to in this section as the `Special Investigator'), who shall
be a senior career employee appointed by the Secretary.
``(c) Duties.--The Special Investigator shall--
``(1) use all available tools, including subpoenas, to
investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and
Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), by packers and
live poultry dealers with respect to competition and trade
practices in the food and agriculture sector;
``(2) serve as a Department liaison to, and act in
consultation with, the Department of Justice and the Federal
Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade
practices in the food and agricultural sector;
``(3) act in consultation with the Department of Homeland
Security with respect to national security and critical
infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector;
``(4) maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals
with appropriate expertise; and
``(5) in carrying out paragraphs (1) through (4),
coordinate with the Office of the General Counsel and the
Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing
Service.
``(d) Prosecutorial Authority.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding title 28, United States
Code, the Special Investigator shall have the authority to
bring any civil or administrative action authorized under the
Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.),
against a packer or a live poultry dealer.
``(2) Notification.--With respect to any action brought
under this section in Federal district court, the Special
Investigator shall notify the Attorney General.
``(3) Effect.--Nothing in this section alters the authority
of the Secretary to issue a subpoena pursuant to the Packers
and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).
``(e) Limitation on Scope.--The Special Investigator may not bring
an action under this section with respect to an entity that is not
regulated under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et
seq.).''.
SEC. 12108. PRODUCT OF USA LABEL.
The final rule of the Food Safety and Inspection Service entitled
``Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin
Claims'' (89 Fed. Reg. 19470 (March 18, 2024)) shall have the force and
effect of law.
SEC. 12109. CATTLE CONTRACTS LIBRARY.
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 223 (7 U.S.C. 1635f) as
section 224; and
(2) by inserting after section 222 (7 U.S.C. 1635e) the
following:
``SEC. 223. CATTLE CONTRACTS LIBRARY.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Secretary shall establish and maintain, through the Livestock Mandatory
Price Reporting program, a library or catalog (referred to in this
section as the `library'), of each type of covered contract entered
into between packers and producers for the purchase of fed cattle
(including cattle that are purchased or committed for delivery),
including any schedules of premiums or discounts associated with the
covered contract.
``(b) Information Collection.--
``(1) In general.--To maintain the library, the Secretary
shall obtain information from each packer on each type of
existing covered contract of the packer by requiring a filing
or other form of information submission from each packer.
``(2) Contract information.--Information submitted to the
Secretary by a packer under paragraph (1) shall include, with
respect to each existing covered contract of a packer--
``(A) the type of contract;
``(B) the duration of the contract;
``(C) a summary of the contract terms;
``(D) provisions in the contract that may affect
the price of cattle covered by the contract, including
schedules, premiums and discounts, financing and risk-
sharing arrangements, and transportation arrangements;
``(E) the total number of cattle covered by the
contract solely committed to the packer each week
within the 6-month and 12-month periods following the
date of the contract and the percentage of cattle each
week that may vary for delivery or nondelivery at the
discretion of the packer, organized by reporting region
or in such other manner as the Secretary may determine;
``(F) in the case of a contract in which a specific
number of cattle are not solely committed to the
packer--
``(i) an indication that the contract is an
open commitment; and
``(ii) any weekly, monthly, annual, or
other limitations or requirements on the number
of cattle that may be delivered to the packer
under the contract, including the percentage of
cattle that may vary for delivery or
nondelivery in a given time period at the
discretion of the packer; and
``(G) a description of the provisions in the
contract that provide for expansion in the numbers of
fed cattle to be delivered under the contract for the
6-month and 12-month periods following the date of the
contract.
``(c) Availability of Information.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make publicly
available to producers and other interested persons information
(including the information described in subsection (b)(2)), in
a user-friendly format, on the types of covered contracts in
the library, including notice (on a real-time basis, if
practicable) of the types of covered contracts that are entered
into between packers and producers for the purchase of fed
cattle.
``(2) Monthly report.--
``(A) In general.--Beginning 30 days after the
library is established, the Secretary shall make the
information obtained each month in the library
available in a monthly report to producers and other
interested persons.
``(B) Contents.--The monthly report described in
subparagraph (A) shall include--
``(i) based on the information collected
under subsection (b)(2)(E), an estimate by the
Secretary of the total number of fed cattle
committed under covered contracts for delivery
to packers within the 6-month and 12-month
periods following the date of the report,
organized by reporting region and type of
contract;
``(ii) based on the information collected
under subsection (b)(2)(F), the number of
covered contracts with an open commitment and
any weekly, monthly, annual, or other
limitations or requirements on the number of
cattle that may be delivered under such
contracts, including the percentage of cattle
that may vary for delivery or nondelivery in a
given time period at the discretion of the
packer; and
``(iii) based on the information collected
under subsection (b)(2)(G), an estimate by the
Secretary of the total maximum number of fed
cattle that may be delivered within the 6-month
and 12-month periods following the date of the
report, organized by reporting region and type
of contract.
``(d) Maintenance of Library.--Information in the library about
types of contracts that are no longer offered or in use shall be
removed from the library.
``(e) Confidentiality.--The reporting requirements for packers
under this section shall be subject to the confidentiality protections
provided under section 251.
``(f) Violations.--It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Act
for any packer to willfully fail or refuse--
``(1) to provide to the Secretary accurate information
required under this section; or
``(2) to comply with any other requirement of this section.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.''.
SEC. 12110. LIVESTOCK CONSOLIDATION RESEARCH.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which each
latest Census of Agriculture is made publicly available, the
Administrator of the Economic Research Service shall publish a report
on consolidation and concentration in the livestock industry,
including--
(1) changes in the size and location of ranches, farms,
processing facilities, and packers throughout the United
States; and
(2) the impact of the changes described in paragraph (1) on
farmers, ranchers, and downstream consumers, including--
(A) financial impacts;
(B) market entry impacts; and
(C) access to resources and inputs, including
processing facilities.
(b) Sources of Information.--In preparing a report under subsection
(a), the Administrator of the Economic Research Service shall draw on
data available to the Secretary of Agriculture, including the Census of
Agriculture, inspection records of the Food Safety and Inspection
Service, and the packing plant data of the Packers and Stockyards
Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
(c) Report Organization.--The report under subsection (a) shall
separate information on beef cattle by cow-calf and fed cattle
operations.
(d) Confidentiality.--A report published under subsection (a) shall
not contain any confidential business information.
(e) Definition of Livestock.--In this section, the term
``livestock'' includes beef, dairy, pork, lamb, and poultry production
(including broilers, eggs, and turkeys).
Subtitle B--Historically Underserved Producers
SEC. 12201. FARMING OPPORTUNITIES TRAINING AND OUTREACH.
(a) In General.--Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary of
Agriculture'' and inserting ``Secretary, acting
through the Director of the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture,''; and
(ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``,
including those efforts to resolve ownership
and succession on farmland that has multiple
owners'' after ``programs''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting
``, including by providing interpretation and
translation services when appropriate'' before
``; and'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``services,'' and inserting
``services (including interpretation and
translation services),'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``,
including strategies to resolve ownership and
succession on land that has multiple owners''
after ``strategies''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (D)--
(I) by striking ``ranchers
acquire'' and inserting the following:
``ranchers--
``(i) acquire'';
(II) in clause (i) (as so
designated), by adding ``and'' after
the semicolon; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(ii) with other land access issues;'';
and
(3) in subsection (l)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``fiscal year 2023'' and inserting the
following: ``each of fiscal years 2023 and
2024; and
``(E) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2025''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 226B(d) of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(d)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively.
(2) Section 201(a)(3)(D) of division HH of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (7 U.S.C. 6712(a)(3)(D)), is amended--
(A) by striking ``2501'' and inserting ``2501(a)'';
and
(B) by striking ``2279)).'' and inserting
``2279(a))).''.
(3) Section 1235(f)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3835(f)(1)) is amended, in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A)--
(A) by striking ``2501(e)'' and inserting
``2501(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``2279(e))),'' and inserting
``2279(a))),''.
(4) Section 1240B(d)(4)(A) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(d)(4)(A)) is amended, in the matter
preceding clause (i)--
(A) by striking ``2501(e)'' and inserting
``2501(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``2279(e))),'' and inserting
``2279(a))),''.
(5) Section 1241(h)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3841(h)(4)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``2501(e)'' and inserting
``2501(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``2279(e)))'' and inserting
``2279(a)))''.
(6) Section 1244(a)(2)(E) of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3844(a)(2)(E)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``2501(e)'' and inserting
``2501(a)''; and
(B) by striking ``2279(e))).'' and inserting
``2279(a))).''.
SEC. 12202. STRENGTHENING THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT.
Section 2501A(c)(4) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279-1(c)(4)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Accessibility.--Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the
Secretary shall, in coordination with the Office of
Customer Experience and the Office of Digital Service,
ensure that the design of the report described in
paragraph (3) is user-friendly, such that the data in
the report is easy for users to use and analyze.
``(C) Submission to congress.--The Secretary shall
annually submit to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate--
``(i) the report described in paragraph
(3); or
``(ii) the web address of the website
described in subparagraph (A).''.
SEC. 12203. USDA OMBUDSPERSON.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``SEC. 224B. USDA OMBUDSPERSON.
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the position of USDA Ombudsperson (referred to in
this section as the `Ombudsperson'), which shall be a career
reserved position (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5,
United States Code) in the Senior Executive Service.
``(2) Independent position.--The Secretary shall take
appropriate actions to ensure the independence of the
Ombudsperson within the Department, including ensuring that the
Ombudsperson shall be independent of other Department agencies
and offices.
``(b) Qualifications.--The Ombudsperson shall have--
``(1) a background in civil rights and agriculture; and
``(2) comprehensive knowledge of or experience working with
the Department.
``(c) Functions.--The functions of the Ombudsperson shall be--
``(1) to assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners
with navigating agencies and offices within the Department,
including--
``(A) the civil rights offices within the farm
production and conservation mission area and the Forest
Service; and
``(B) the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights;
``(2) to work with the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights to review progress of complaints referred by
the Ombudsperson;
``(3) to track the response of the Department to, and the
progress of the Department with respect to implementing,
recommendations made by Department advisory committees,
including--
``(A) the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers;
``(B) the Tribal Advisory Committee; and
``(C) the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers
and Ranchers; and
``(4) to ensure that the functions performed by the
Ombudsperson are complementary to existing functions within the
Department.
``(d) Referrals.--
``(1) Office of the inspector general.--The Ombudsperson
shall refer to the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department systemic issues that may affect the program delivery
by the Department to members of protected classes.
``(2) Office of civil rights.--The Ombudsperson shall refer
individual complaints of discrimination to the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights for processing.
``(e) Annual Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than January 31, 2025, and
annually thereafter, the Ombudsperson shall submit to the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate
and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives, without prior comment or amendment from the
Secretary or any other officer or employee of the Department,
or any officer or employee of the Office of Management and
Budget, a report that describes the activities of the
Ombudsperson during the preceding fiscal year, including--
``(A) the number of program complaints received by
the Ombudsperson;
``(B) the number of program complaints referred to
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
by the Ombudsperson; and
``(C) the final determinations of the complaints
described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(2) Public availability.--The annual report described in
paragraph (1) shall be made publicly available on the website
of the Department.
``(f) Funding.--
``(1) In general.--There is appropriated, out of amounts in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $10,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out this
section, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise made available, there is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until
expended.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by redesignating
section 225 (7 U.S.C. 6925) (relating to the Food Access Liaison) as
section 224A.
SEC. 12204. FARMLAND OWNERSHIP.
Section 12607(c) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 2204i(c)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``of'' before ``fiscal''; and
(2) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12205. CIVIL RIGHTS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR USDA EMPLOYEES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Corrective action.--The term ``corrective action''
means any action taken to respond to any covered action,
violation, or misconduct that--
(A) would enhance civil rights at the Department of
Agriculture, including any policy or programmatic
changes to prevent similar misconduct from occurring in
the future; and
(B) may include disciplinary actions, including--
(i) removal from Federal service;
(ii) suspension without pay;
(iii) any reduction in grade or pay; and
(iv) a letter of reprimand.
(2) Covered action, violation, or misconduct.--The term
``covered action, violation, or misconduct'' means a
discriminatory action, a retaliatory action, harassment, a
civil rights violation, or related misconduct, including the
following:
(A) Failure to provide a receipt for service in
accordance with section 2501A(e) of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. 2279-1(e)) to any current or prospective
applicant for, or participant in, a Department of
Agriculture program.
(B) Providing an inaccurate receipt for service
under such section 2501A(e) to any such current or
prospective applicant or participant.
(C) Failure to provide appropriate information
regarding relevant programs and services at the
Department of Agriculture, when requested by any such
current or prospective applicant or participant.
(D) Failure to timely process applications or
otherwise delaying program services to any such current
or prospective applicant or participant.
(b) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that appropriate
corrective action is taken with respect to any official or employee of
the Department of Agriculture who has been found to have engaged in any
covered action, violation, or misconduct while in the course of the
employment of such official or employee or in administering a
Department of Agriculture program or service--
(1) in any administrative finding by the Department of
Agriculture, including any final agency decision issued by the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and any civil rights
compliance review or misconduct investigation conducted by the
Department of Agriculture;
(2) in any Federal administrative or judicial proceeding;
(3) in any settlement with respect to civil rights;
(4) in any audit or investigation conducted by the Office
of the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture; or
(5) in any investigation conducted by the Office of the
Special Counsel.
SEC. 12206. EQUITABLE RELIEF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
(a) Equitable Relief From Ineligibility for Loans, Payments, or
Other Benefits.--Section 1613 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7996) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as
subsections (g), (h), and (k), respectively;
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Equitable Relief Recommendations by the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
(or a designee of the Secretary in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, if no Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights is appointed and confirmed in accordance with section
218(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6918(b))) may recommend that the Secretary grant
relief in accordance with subsections (b) through (d) to a
participant who files a civil rights program complaint.
``(2) Decisions.--The Secretary shall provide a written
explanation describing in detail why equitable relief was not
granted to a participant who filed a civil rights program
complaint if the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (or the
designee of the Secretary) makes a recommendation to the
Secretary to grant relief to that participant in accordance
with paragraph (1) and such relief was not granted.
``(3) Other authority.--The authority provided to the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (or the designee of the
Secretary) under this subsection is in addition to any other
applicable authority and does not limit other authority
provided to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights by law or
by the Secretary.''; and
(3) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and (e)'' and
all that follows through the semicolon and inserting
``and (e), the number of recommendations for equitable
relief under subsection (f), and the dispositions of
those requests and those recommendations;''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``for equitable
relief'' and all that follows through the period at the
end and inserting ``and recommendations for equitable
relief under section 366 of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008a) and the
disposition of those requests and those
recommendations.''.
(b) Equitable Relief for Actions Taken in Good Faith.--Section 366
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008a) is
amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Limitation.--The Secretary may only provide relief to a
farmer or rancher under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that
the farmer or rancher--
``(1) acted in good faith and relied on an action of, or
the advice of, the Secretary (including any authorized
representative of the Secretary) to the detriment of the
farming or ranching operation of the farmer or rancher; or
``(2)(A) failed to comply fully with the requirements to
receive a loan described in subsection (a)(1), but made a good
faith effort to comply with the requirements; and
``(B) is otherwise in compliance with the eligibility
requirements for a direct farm ownership loan under subtitle A,
a direct operating loan under subtitle B, or an emergency loan
under subtitle C.'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Equitable Relief Recommendations by the Assistant Secretary
for Civil Rights.--
``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
(or a designee of the Secretary in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, if no Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights is appointed and confirmed in accordance with section
218(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6918(b))) may recommend that the Secretary grant
relief in accordance with subsections (a) through (d) to an
individual who files a complaint with respect to civil rights
regarding a direct farm ownership, operating, or emergency loan
under this title.
``(2) Decisions.--The Secretary shall provide a written
explanation describing in detail why equitable relief was not
granted to an individual who filed a complaint described in
paragraph (1) if the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (or
the designee of the Secretary) makes a recommendation to the
Secretary to grant relief to the individual in accordance with
paragraph (1) and such relief was not granted.
``(3) Other authority.--The authority provided to the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (or the designee of the
Secretary) under this subsection is in addition to any other
applicable authority and does not limit other authority
provided to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights by law or
by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 12207. ADVISORY COMMITTEE IMPROVEMENTS AND TRANSPARENCY.
(a) Minority Farmer Advisory Committee.--Section 14008 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2279 note; Public Law
110-246) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``, and make recommendations to the Secretary
with respect to'' after ``Secretary on'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) ways to eliminate systemic issues and barriers that
contribute to limited participation among minority farmers and
ranchers in such programs; and
``(5) engagement with community-based organizations, civil
rights organizations, institutions of higher education, and
faith-based organizations to improve outreach and technical
assistance to minority farmers and ranchers.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each year,
the Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report that
describes--
``(A) the advice provided and recommendations made
to the Secretary under subsection (b) during the
previous year;
``(B) the activities of the Committee during the
previous year; and
``(C) recommendations for legislative or
administrative action for the following year.
``(2) Response from the secretary.--Not later than 90 days
after the date on which the Secretary receives a report under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a written response to
that report to the Committee.
``(3) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make the
report under paragraph (1) and the written responses under
paragraph (2) publicly available on the website of the
Department of Agriculture.''.
(b) Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.--Section
5(b) of the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992 (7 U.S.C. 1929
note; Public Law 102-554) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``(referred to in this subsection as the
`Advisory Committee')'' after ``Ranchers'''; and
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) through (E) and
inserting the following:
``(A) improvements to--
``(i) the program of coordinated assistance
to qualified beginning farmers and ranchers
under section 309(i) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1929(i));
``(ii) the Beginning Farmer and Rancher
Development Grant Program under section 2501(d)
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(d));
``(iii) direct operating loans under
subtitle B of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941 et seq.)
provided to qualified beginning farmers and
ranchers (as defined in section 343(a) of that
Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)));
``(iv) the Local Agriculture Market Program
under section 210A of the Agricultural
Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c); and
``(v) other programs administered by the
Department of Agriculture with the potential to
serve primarily beginning farmers and ranchers,
as identified by the Advisory Committee;
``(B) methods of maximizing the number of new
farming and ranching opportunities created through the
programs described in subparagraph (A); and
``(C) other methods of creating new farming or
ranching opportunities.'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``Farmers Home
Administration'' and inserting ``Farm Service Agency''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Reports.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once
each year, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the
Secretary a report that describes--
``(i) the advice provided to the Secretary
under paragraph (1) during the previous year;
``(ii) the activities of the Advisory
Committee during the previous year; and
``(iii) recommendations for legislative or
administrative action for the following year.
``(B) Response from the secretary.--Not later than
90 days after the date on which the Secretary receives
a report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
submit a written response to that report to the
Advisory Committee.
``(C) Public availability.--The Secretary shall
make the report under subparagraph (A) and the written
responses under subparagraph (B) publicly available on
the website of the Department of Agriculture.''.
SEC. 12208. OFFICE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION.
(a) Office.--Section 222(a) of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as
subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively;
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the
following:
``(F) providing guidance on barriers to business
establishment and operation;'';
(C) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``and'' at the end;
(D) in subparagraph (H) (as so redesignated), by
striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and'';
and
(E) by adding the following at the end:
``(I) promoting conservation
techniques unique to urban agriculture
and urban environmental impacts.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Cooperative agreements.--
``(A) Definition of eligible entity.--In this
paragraph, the term `eligible entity' means any of the
following:
``(i) A nonprofit organization.
``(ii) An agricultural cooperative.
``(iii) A unit of local government.
``(iv) An Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization (as those terms are defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(v) Any other Tribal entity (as
determined by the Secretary).
``(vi) A Native Hawaiian organization (as
defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7517)).
``(vii) An agricultural producer group,
farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-
controlled producer-based business venture (as
determined by the Secretary).
``(viii) Any school that serves any of
grades kindergarten through grade 12.
``(B) Requirement.--
``(i) Cooperative agreements.--The Director
shall enter into cooperative agreements with
eligible entities to support the implementation
of 1 or more responsibilities described in
paragraph (4) through outreach, education,
technical assistance, or other activities that
support the expansion and success of urban
agriculture and innovative production
operations.
``(ii) Streamlining.--To the maximum extent
practicable, the Director shall utilize any
existing cooperative agreements or
collaborations with eligible entities to
fulfill the responsibilities described in
paragraph (4) effectively and efficiently.
``(C) Priority.--In entering into cooperative
agreements under subparagraph (B), the Director shall
give priority to cooperative agreements with an
eligible entity that--
``(i) serves geographic areas with high
concentrations of urban or suburban farms;
``(ii) has established relationships with,
or a history of serving, historically
underserved populations;
``(iii) has experience working with
individuals with limited English proficiency;
or
``(iv) demonstrates experience providing
urban agriculture technical assistance in their
geographic region.
``(D) Microgrants.--
``(i) In general.--An eligible entity may
use funds from a cooperative agreement
established under this paragraph to provide
microgrants to urban and innovative producers
for purchases of farm and production equipment,
water infrastructure, or other investments to
support the growth of the farm or farm business
of the urban or innovative producer.
``(ii) Limitation on use of funds.--An
urban or innovative producer receiving a
microgrant under clause (i) may not use the
grant for the purchase or construction of--
``(I) a building;
``(II) general purpose equipment;
or
``(III) a nonagricultural
structure.''.
(b) Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory
Committee.--Section 222(b) of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``1 year after the
date on which the Committee is established, and every 2 years
through 2023'' and inserting ``2 years after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, and every 2 years thereafter through 2029''; and
(2) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ``the date that'' and
all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
``September 30, 2029.''.
(c) Grants.--Section 222 of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923) is amended by striking
subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Grants.--
``(1) Authorization.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall award
competitive grants to support the development of urban
agriculture and innovative production, such as
community gardens, urban farms, rooftop farms, indoor
farms, controlled-environment agriculture, urban
agroforestry, and vertical production.
``(B) Priority.--In awarding competitive grants
under this subsection, the Director shall prioritize
projects that improve access to local foods in areas
where access to fresh, healthy food is limited.
``(2) Eligible entities.--An entity eligible to receive a
grant under paragraph (1)(A) is any of the following:
``(A) A nonprofit organization.
``(B) A unit of local government.
``(C) An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as
those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304)).
``(D) Any other Tribal entity (as determined by the
Secretary).
``(E) A Native Hawaiian organization (as defined in
section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
``(F) An agricultural producer group, farmer or
rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-
based business venture (as determined by the
Secretary).
``(G) Any school that serves any of grades
kindergarten through grade 12.''.
(d) Urban and Suburban Committees.--Section 222(d) of the
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923(d))
is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Pilot
Projects'' and inserting ``Projects''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) Urban and suburban committees.--
``(A) Definition of urban and suburban committee.--
In this paragraph, the term `urban and suburban
committee' means a county committee in an urban or
suburban area established under--
``(i) this subparagraph (as in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of the
Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024)
before that date of enactment; or
``(ii) subparagraph (B)(ii) on or after
that date of enactment.
``(B) Maintenance and establishment of urban and
suburban committees.--
``(i) Maintenance of existing urban and
suburban committees.--The Secretary shall
maintain--
``(I) each urban and suburban
committee existing as of the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and
Food Security Act of 2024; and
``(II) each urban and suburban
committee established under clause
(ii).
``(ii) Establishment of new urban and
suburban committees.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, and
annually thereafter, as appropriate, the
Secretary shall establish new urban and
suburban committees in accordance with
subparagraph (C).
``(iii) Physical office locations for urban
and suburban committees.--The Secretary shall
ensure that each urban and suburban committee
has a physical office location to service the
needs of urban, suburban, or innovative
agricultural producers.
``(C) Requirements for maintenance and
establishment of urban and suburban committees.--
``(i) In general.--The maintenance and
establishment of urban and suburban committees
under subparagraph (B) shall be carried out in
accordance with section 8(b)(5)(B) of the Soil
Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (16
U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)(B)).
``(ii) Stakeholder input.--In determining
where to establish a new urban and suburban
committee under subparagraph (B)(ii), the
Secretary shall consider feedback from local
stakeholders on the need for a new urban and
suburban committee in the applicable area.
``(D) Purpose of urban and suburban committees.--
The purpose of an urban and suburban committee shall
be--
``(i) to operate in an urban or suburban
area with a high concentration of urban,
suburban, or innovative farms;
``(ii) to carry out the responsibilities
described in subparagraph (G); and
``(iii) to operate with a committee
membership that is fairly representative of the
producers in the applicable urban or suburban
area.
``(E) Offices of urban and suburban committees.--
``(i) Structure.--The office of an urban
and suburban committee shall be structured--
``(I) as a non-regional office that
serves--
``(aa) a single county;
``(bb) a group of
contiguous counties; or
``(cc) a contiguous area
that includes portions of 2 or
more counties; or
``(II) as a regional office that
serves a group of noncontiguous urban
or suburban areas that cover a region.
``(ii) Minimum staff allocations in non-
regional offices of urban and suburban
committees.--
``(I) In general.--The staff in the
physical office of an urban and
suburban committee structured as
described in clause (i)(I) shall
include, at a minimum--
``(aa) urban and suburban
committee members based on
whether the office serves a
single county or multiple
counties;
``(bb) an Executive
Director;
``(cc) at least 1 employee
of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service;
``(dd) subject to subclause
(II), a farm loan officer; and
``(ee) such additional
staff equal to the national
average number of additional
staff of county offices.
``(II) Farm loan officer.--In lieu
of having a farm loan officer on staff
under subclause (I)(dd), the office of
an urban and suburban committee may
provide dedicated weekly, publicly
advertised, office hours by a farm loan
officer that is not on the staff of the
urban and suburban committee.
``(iii) Minimum staff allocations in
regional offices of urban and suburban
committees.--The staff in the physical office
of an urban and suburban committee structured
as described in clause (i)(II) shall include,
at a minimum--
``(I) urban and suburban committee
members, the number of which shall be
based on standards established by the
Secretary for combined county offices;
``(II) an Executive Director of the
office established in an area served by
the urban and suburban committee;
``(III) at least 2 employees of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service;
``(IV) a farm loan officer; and
``(V) such additional staff as are
necessary to equal the national average
number of staff present in combined
offices nationwide.
``(iv) Dedicated space for duty stations.--
``(I) In general.--The office of an
urban and suburban committee shall
maintain at least 1 dedicated, publicly
accessible space in the area served by
the urban and suburban committee--
``(aa) to act as the duty
station for the staff of the
office; and
``(bb) at which the staff
of the office may meet with and
serve customers of the office.
``(II) Acceptable forms.--A
dedicated space described in subclause
(I) may be--
``(aa) a space colocated
with the offices of--
``(AA) a State,
local, or Tribal
government; or
``(BB) a nonprofit
organization; or
``(bb) a space, including a
shared space, at which a staff
member of the office is present
at least 1 day each week
pursuant to a rotational
schedule type of arrangement.
``(F) State offices.--
``(i) States with multiple offices of urban
and suburban committees.--
``(I) District directors.--The
Secretary shall ensure that an urban
district director is stationed at each
Farm Service Agency State office that
serves a State in which more than 1
office described in subparagraph (E) is
established.
``(II) FSA state specialists.--In
order to provide specialized support
for outreach and technical assistance
to urban and suburban committees and
offices established under this
subsection, the Secretary may station a
State specialist in the Farm Service
Agency State office of a State
described in subclause (I).
``(III) Service of multiple
states.--Subject to subclause (II), a
State specialist stationed at a Farm
Service Agency State office described
in that subclause may serve 1 or more
States described in clause (ii)(I) in
addition to the State described in that
subclause.
``(ii) NRCS state specialists.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary
may station an urban agriculture and
innovative production State specialist
in a State office of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service that
serves a State in which only 1 office
described in subparagraph (E) is
established.
``(II) Service of multiple
states.--The Secretary may require a
State specialist described in subclause
(I) stationed at a State office
described in that subclause to serve 1
or more States described in that
subclause.
``(G) Responsibilities of urban and suburban
committees.--Each urban and suburban committee shall--
``(i) assist the Department in improving
the delivery and performance of programs
administered by the Secretary for urban,
suburban, and innovative producers by
identifying local, urban, and suburban
agriculture and innovative production needs;
``(ii) conduct, in coordination with the
Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, outreach to local
stakeholders to provide education on and
promote Department programs and services, with
an emphasis on field level Farm Service Agency
and Natural Resources Conservation Service
programs in urban and suburban areas;
``(iii) advise the staff of the office of
the urban and suburban committee;
``(iv) select an Executive Director, who
shall--
``(I) execute the policies
established by the urban and suburban
committee; and
``(II) be responsible for the day-
to-day operations of the office of the
urban and suburban committee;
``(v) recommend and review local
administrative area boundaries based on the
structure of the office of the urban and
suburban committee, as described in
subparagraph (E)(i);
``(vi) facilitate general session meetings
at least once per quarter;
``(vii) make recommendations on producer
applications, as appropriate;
``(viii) provide committee data to other
government agencies, on request;
``(ix) inform State committees and others
in the Farm Service Agency and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service about
suggestions made by agricultural producers
relating to Department programs; and
``(x) conduct hearings as directed by the
applicable Farm Service Agency State
committees.
``(H) Urban and suburban committee elections.--
``(i) Elections.--The election of members
to an urban and suburban committee shall be
administered according to section
8(b)(5)(B)(iii) of the Soil Conservation and
Domestic Allotment Act (16 U.S.C.
590h(b)(5)(B)(iii)).
``(ii) Eligibility.--To be eligible for
nomination and election to an urban and
suburban committee, an agricultural producer--
``(I) shall--
``(aa) be located within
the area under the jurisdiction
of the urban and suburban
committee;
``(bb) participate in
programs administered within
that area;
``(cc) produce, sell, or
distribute goods using urban,
indoor, or other innovative and
emerging agricultural
practices, as determined by the
Secretary; and
``(II) shall not participate in any
other county committee established by
the Farm Service Agency.
``(iii) Temporary appointment.--In
establishing a new urban and suburban committee
under subparagraph (B)(ii), the Secretary may
appoint initial members of that urban and
suburban committee for an initial term of
office not to exceed 1 year, until such time as
the members of the urban and suburban committee
are elected in accordance with clauses (i) and
(ii).
``(I) Effect.--
``(i) In general.--Nothing in this
paragraph requires or precludes the
establishment of a Farm Service Agency or
Natural Resources Conservation Service office
in a county in which an urban and suburban
committee is established.
``(ii) Colocation.--In cases in which the
office of an urban and suburban committee is
colocated with a county committee that is not
an urban and suburban committee, farm loan
staff of the Farm Service Agency shall provide
assistance to the urban, suburban, and
innovative producers in the service area of
that urban and suburban committee.
``(J) Report.--For fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal
year thereafter through fiscal year 2029, 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 describing--
``(i) the status of the urban and suburban
committees;
``(ii) any meetings and other activities of
the urban and suburban committees; and
``(iii) the types and volume of assistance
and services provided to farmers in counties in
which urban and suburban committees are
established.
``(K) Limitation on closure.--The office of an
urban and suburban committee referred to in
subparagraph (E) shall not be closed unless an Act
making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture
or another Act of Congress specifically authorizes such
closure.''.
(e) Increasing Community Compost and Reducing Food Waste.--Section
222(d) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7
U.S.C. 6923(d)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following--
``(2) Increasing community compost and reducing food
waste.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through
the Director, shall offer to enter into cooperative
agreements with eligible entities described in
subparagraph (C)(i) in not fewer than 10 States to
develop and test strategies for--
``(i) planning and implementing municipal
compost plans and food waste reduction plans;
and
``(ii) the construction of at-scale
composting or anaerobic digestion food waste-
to-energy facilities.
``(B) Limitation.--An entity that receives
assistance under this paragraph shall not use that
assistance for an anaerobic digester that uses manure
as the majority of its undigested biomass.
``(C) Eligible entities and purposes of projects.--
``(i) Eligible entities.--An entity
eligible to enter into a cooperative agreement
under subparagraph (A) is--
``(I) a State, local, or municipal
government;
``(II) a special district
government (including a soil and water
conservation district);
``(III) an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization (as those terms are
defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(IV) any other Tribal entity (as
determined by the Secretary); or
``(V) a Native Hawaiian
organization (as defined in section
6207 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7517)).
``(ii) Purposes of projects.--Under a
cooperative agreement entered into under this
paragraph, the Secretary shall provide
assistance to eligible entities described in
clause (i), as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate, to carry out planning and
implementing activities that will--
``(I) generate compost;
``(II) increase access to compost
for agricultural producers;
``(III) reduce reliance on, and
limit the use of, fertilizer;
``(IV) improve soil quality;
``(V) encourage waste management
and permaculture business development;
``(VI) develop food waste-to-energy
operations;
``(VII) increase rainwater
absorption;
``(VIII) reduce municipal food
waste; and
``(IX) divert food waste from
landfills.
``(D) Evaluation and ranking of applications.--
``(i) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024, the
Secretary shall establish criteria for the
selection of projects under this paragraph.
``(ii) Consideration.--In selecting,
undertaking, or funding projects under this
paragraph, the Secretary shall consider any
commonly known significant impact on existing
food waste recovery and disposal by commercial,
marketing, or business relationships.
``(iii) Priority.--In selecting a project
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give
priority to an application for a project that--
``(I) anticipates or demonstrates
economic benefits;
``(II) incorporates plans to make
compost easily accessible to
agricultural producers, including
community gardeners;
``(III) integrates other food waste
strategies, including food recovery
efforts; and
``(IV) provides for collaboration
with multiple partners.
``(iv) Limitation.--Each fiscal year, not
more than 40 percent of the amounts awarded by
the Secretary under this paragraph for that
fiscal year may be awarded to State
governments.
``(E) Matching requirement.--The recipient of
assistance for a project under this paragraph shall
provide funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination
of both from sources other than funds provided through
the grant in an amount equal to not less than 25
percent of the amount of the grant.
``(F) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct an
evaluation of the projects funded under this paragraph
to assess different solutions for increasing access to
compost and reducing municipal food waste, including an
evaluation of--
``(i) the amount of Federal funds used for
each project; and
``(ii) a measurement of the outcomes of
each project.''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 222 of the Department
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6923) is amended by
striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d)(2)
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter, to remain available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any
other amounts available to the Secretary, there is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out the provisions referred to in
paragraph (1) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029, to remain available until expended.
``(3) Effect.--For purposes of any appropriations and
provisos thereto regarding the salaries and expenses of the
Farm Service Agency, an office of an urban and suburban
committee referred to in subsection (d)(1)(E) shall be deemed
to be a county office unless that provision differentiates
between a county office and an office of an urban and suburban
committee.''.
SEC. 12209. OFFICE OF SMALL FARMS.
(a) Establishment.--Subtitle D of title VII of the Farm Security
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after section
7404 (7 U.S.C. 6934a) the following:
``SEC. 7404A. OFFICE OF SMALL FARMS.
``(a) Definitions.--
``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of
the Office of Small Farms established under subsection
(b)(2)(A).
``(2) State office.--The term `State office' means--
``(A) a State office of--
``(i) the Farm Service Agency;
``(ii) the Natural Resources Conservation
Service; or
``(iii) the rural development mission area;
or
``(B) a regional office of the Risk Management
Agency.
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the Office of Small Farms.
``(2) Director.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Office of Small Farms the position of Director, who shall be
appointed by the Secretary.
``(3) National small farms coordinators.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall designate in
each agency, office, and mission area described in
subparagraph (B) a National Small Farms Coordinator.
``(B) Agencies, offices, and mission areas
described.--The agencies, offices, and mission areas
referred to in subparagraph (A) are--
``(i) the Farm Service Agency;
``(ii) the Natural Resources Conservation
Service;
``(iii) the Rural Business-Cooperative
Service;
``(iv) the Rural Utilities Service;
``(v) the Forest Service;
``(vi) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
and
``(vii) any other agency, office, or
mission area of the Department that the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(c) Duties of the Director.--The Director--
``(1) shall, not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this section, coordinate with the relevant
agencies, offices, and mission areas of the Department--
``(A) to examine and update the definitions of
`small farm', `small-sized farm', `small agricultural
operation', `small-scale farmer', `small farmer', and
other similar terms, such that the definitions include
a limited resource farmer, rancher, or forest landowner
or a farm, a ranch, or forest land owned or operated by
a limited resource farmer, rancher, or forest
landowner;
``(B) to examine, update, and streamline the
definition of `limited resource farmer or rancher',
such that the definition includes--
``(i) farmers, ranchers, or forest
landowners receiving assistance under--
``(I) the Food and Nutrition Act of
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
``(II) title XIX of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
``(III) the low-income home energy
assistance program established under
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.);
or
``(IV) any other need-based Federal
or State assistance programs; and
``(ii) other economically distressed
farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, as
determined by the Secretary; and
``(C) to create a list of Department programs with
set-asides, targeted funding, or priorities for small
farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;
``(2) shall advise the Secretary and coordinate activities
of the Department regarding programs, policies, and issues
relating to small farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;
``(3) shall track application and participation rates of
small farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, including a
breakdown of limited resource farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners, for the programs identified under paragraph (1)(C);
``(4) shall determine whether to approve a plan submitted
by a State small farms coordinator under subsection
(f)(3)(A)(ii);
``(5) shall facilitate interagency and interdepartmental
collaboration on issues relating to small farmers, ranchers,
and forest landowners at the national level;
``(6) shall--
``(A) regularly review Department programs and
policies and identify statutes, regulations, policies,
and guidance that disadvantage small farm, ranch, or
forest operation participation;
``(B) recommend changes to ensure that those
programs and policies adequately serve small farms,
ranches, and forest operations; and
``(C) regularly review and update the list created
under paragraph (1)(C), in coordination with the
relevant agencies, offices, and mission areas of the
Department;
``(7) shall regularly review Department research agendas
and proposed research agendas on topics that are of special
interest to small farms, ranches, and forest operations;
``(8) shall establish a program to provide grants of not
more than $25,000, through the authority under subsection (e),
a State small farms coordinator designated under subsection
(f)(1)(A), or both, to operators of small farms, ranches, and
forest operations for equipment and infrastructure repairs and
upgrades, uninsured losses, business planning and market
development assistance, conservation practice adoption, down
payments for land acquisition, and such other purposes as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
``(9) shall, not later than December 31, 2025, and every 2
years thereafter, submit to the Secretary a report that
contains a summary of the reviews and recommendations described
in paragraphs (6) and (7) and the total amount of grants
awarded under paragraph (8) to small farms, ranches, and forest
operations by State, which the Secretary shall make publicly
available on the website of the Department; and
``(10) shall carry out other duties to improve access to,
and participation in, programs of the Department by small
farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.
``(d) Duties of the National Small Farms Coordinators.--Each
National Small Farms Coordinator shall--
``(1) coordinate with the Office of Small Farms and the
other National Small Farms Coordinators to develop and
implement new strategies for outreach to and education of small
farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;
``(2) coordinate within the agency, office, or mission area
of the National Small Farms Coordinator on issues and outreach
relating to small farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners; and
``(3) assist the Director in tracking application and
participation rates pursuant to subsection (c)(3) within the
agency, office, or mission area of the National Small Farms
Coordinator.
``(e) Contracts and Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out the
duties under subsections (c) and (d), the Director may enter into a
contract or cooperative agreement with an institution of higher
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), cooperative extension services (as defined in
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), or a nonprofit
organization--
``(1) to develop educational materials;
``(2) to conduct workshops, courses, training, or certified
vocational training;
``(3) to conduct mentoring activities; or
``(4) to provide grants under subsection (c)(8).
``(f) State Small Farms Coordinators.--
``(1) In general.--
``(A) Designation.--
``(i) In general.--The Director, in
consultation with State food and agriculture
councils and directors of State offices, shall
designate in each State a State small farms
coordinator from among the employees of State
offices.
``(ii) Employees.--The employee of a State
office designated to be a State small farms
coordinator may be the same employee designated
to be the State beginning farmer and rancher
coordinator under section 7404(c).
``(B) Requirements.--To be designated as a State
small farms coordinator, an employee shall--
``(i) be familiar with issues relating to
small farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;
and
``(ii) have the ability to coordinate with
other Federal departments and agencies.
``(2) Training.--The Secretary shall develop a training
plan to provide to each State small farms coordinator knowledge
of programs and services available from the Department for
small farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, taking into
consideration the needs of all types of production methods.
``(3) Duties.--
``(A) In general.--A State small farms
coordinator--
``(i) shall coordinate technical assistance
at the State level to assist small farmers,
ranchers, and forest landowners in accessing
programs of the Department;
``(ii) shall develop and submit to the
Director for approval a State plan to improve
the coordination, delivery, and efficacy of
programs of the Department to small farmers,
ranchers, and forest landowners, taking into
consideration the needs of all types of
production methods, at each county and area
office in the State;
``(iii) shall oversee implementation of an
approved State plan described in clause (ii);
``(iv) may facilitate interagency and
interdepartmental collaboration on issues
relating to small farmers, ranchers, and forest
landowners at the State or regional level;
``(v) shall work with outreach coordinators
in the State offices to ensure appropriate
information about technical assistance is
available at outreach events and activities;
``(vi) shall coordinate partnerships and
joint outreach efforts with other organizations
and government agencies serving small farmers,
ranchers, and forest landowners; and
``(vii) may provide grants under subsection
(c)(8), in accordance with criteria established
by the Director.
``(B) Individual duties.--Not less than 50 percent
of the duties of an employee designated to be a State
small farms coordinator shall be the duties described
in subparagraph (A) or other duties relating to small
farms, ranches, and forest operations.
``(g) Funding for Grants.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the
Secretary for grants under subsection (c)(8) $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain
available until expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary for grants under subsection
(c)(8) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029,
to remain available until expended.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 226B(e)(2) of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6934(e)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as
subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively.
SEC. 12210. STRENGTHENING THE FARM AND FOOD SYSTEM WORKFORCE.
(a) Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator.--Section 226B of
the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6934) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)(2)(B) (as redesignated by section
12201(b)(1)(B)), by striking ``Farmworker Coordinator'' and
inserting ``Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator''; and
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Farmworker'' and inserting ``Farm and Food System
Workforce'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Farmworker
Coordinator'' and inserting ``Farm and Food System
Workforce Coordinator'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``organizations'' and inserting
``organizations, institutions of higher
education, and local educational agencies'';
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``institutions on research, program
improvements, or agricultural education
opportunities'' and inserting ``institutions or
community-based nonprofit organizations on
research, program improvements, agricultural
education opportunities, or technical skills
and job training programs''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Developing and implementing a plan to
coordinate outreach activities and services provided by
the Department with respect to farmworkers and food
system workers.
``(H) Collaborating with and providing input to the
agencies and offices of the Department on programmatic
and policy decisions relating to farmworkers and food
system workers.
``(I) Communicating information to employers of
farmworkers and food system workers about Federal
programs for which the employees of those employers may
be eligible.
``(J) Collaborating with the agencies and offices
of the Department, as appropriate, to inform research
priorities and activities of the Department relating to
farmworkers and food system workers.
``(K) Measuring and analyzing outcomes of the
programs and activities, including outreach programs
and activities, of the Department on farmworkers and
food system workers.
``(L) Recommending new initiatives and programs to
the Secretary.
``(M) Carrying out any other related duties that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.''; and
(D) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the
following:
``(3) Report.--
``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once
each year, the Coordinator shall submit to the
Secretary a report (in English, Spanish, and any other
languages that the Coordinator determines to be
appropriate) that describes--
``(i) the activities of the Coordinator
during the previous year;
``(ii) any identified barriers that
farmworkers or food system workers face in
accessing Department programs;
``(iii) recommendations for legislative or
administrative action for the following year
that will improve the work and livelihoods of
farmworkers or food system workers; and
``(iv) any other appropriate information,
as determined by the Coordinator.
``(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall
make each report under subparagraph (A) publicly
available on the website of the Department of
Agriculture.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
(b) Farmworker and Food System Worker Advisory Committee.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an
advisory committee, to be known as the ``Farmworker and Food
System Worker Advisory Committee'' (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Advisory Committee'').
(2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide to the
Secretary advice on--
(A) integrating farmworker and food system worker
perspectives, concerns, and interests into the ongoing
programs of the Department; and
(B) improving--
(i) farmworker and food system worker
safety;
(ii) research programs relating to
farmworkers and food system workers;
(iii) agricultural education and technical
skills opportunities for farmworkers and food
system workers; and
(iv) job training programs that assist
farmworkers and food system workers.
(3) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed
of not more than 20 members, who shall be appointed by the
Secretary from among individuals nominated by the public, and
shall include--
(A) not fewer than 5 farmworkers or food system
workers;
(B) not fewer than 2 civil rights representatives
with a history of working on issues relating to
farmworkers or food system workers;
(C) not fewer than 4 representatives of nonprofit
organizations with a history of working on issues faced
by farmworkers or food system workers, of whom 2 shall
have focused expertise on issues faced by women
farmworkers or food system workers;
(D) not fewer than 2 representatives of labor
unions with a history of representing farmworkers or
food system workers;
(E) not fewer than 2 representatives of
institutions of higher education with demonstrated
experience working with farmworkers or food system
workers; and
(F) such other individuals as the Secretary
considers to be appropriate.
(4) Limitation.--No member of the Advisory Committee shall
be an officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(5) Period of appointment.--
(A) In general.--Each member of the Advisory
Committee--
(i) subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph
(B), shall be appointed to a 3-year term; and
(ii) may be reappointed to not more than 3
consecutive terms.
(B) Initial staggering.--The first 6 appointments
by the Secretary under paragraph (3) shall be for a 2-
year term.
(C) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Advisory
Committee shall be filled--
(i) in the same manner as the original
appointment was made; and
(ii) not more than 90 days after the date
on which the position becomes vacant.
(6) Meetings.--
(A) In-person meetings.--To the extent practicable,
not less than twice each year, the Advisory Committee
shall meet in person.
(B) Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator.--
The Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator shall be
present in a nonvoting capacity at each meeting of the
Advisory Committee.
(C) Language access.--Each meeting of the Advisory
Committee shall include simultaneous interpretation and
translation of the meeting, and the provision of a copy
of any agenda of the meeting, in such languages as are
requested by--
(i) any member of the Advisory Committee;
or
(ii) any member of the public observing the
meeting.
(7) Reports.--
(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once each
year, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the
Secretary, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that
describes--
(i) the activities of the Advisory
Committee during the previous year; and
(ii) recommendations for legislative or
administrative action for the following year.
(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make
the report under subparagraph (A) publicly available
(in English, Spanish, and any other languages that the
Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator determines
to be appropriate) on the website of the Department of
Agriculture.
(c) Farm and Food System Workforce Interagency Council.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within
the Department of Agriculture the Farm and Food System
Workforce Interagency Council (referred to in this subsection
as the ``Interagency Council'').
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Interagency Council is to
facilitate interagency, cabinet-level leadership in planning,
policymaking, coordination, and program development for
services available to farmworkers and food system workers.
(3) Membership.--The Interagency Council shall comprise--
(A) 1 representative from each of--
(i) the Department of Agriculture;
(ii) the Department of Health and Human
Services;
(iii) the Department of Housing and Urban
Development;
(iv) the Department of Labor;
(v) the Department of Education;
(vi) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(vii) the Department of Homeland Security;
(viii) the Department of Justice;
(ix) the Department of the Treasury;
(x) the Department of Commerce; and
(xi) the Department of State; and
(B) subject to paragraph (4)(B), the Farm and Food
System Workforce Coordinator.
(4) Meetings.--
(A) In-person meetings.--To the extent practicable,
not less than twice each year, the Interagency Council
shall meet in person.
(B) Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator.--
The Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator shall be
present in a nonvoting capacity at each meeting of the
Interagency Council.
(5) Reports.--
(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once each
year, the Interagency Council shall submit to the
Secretary, the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report that
describes recommendations for legislative or
administrative action to be taken during the following
year to increase accountability, coordination,
compliance, and culture changes at the Federal level to
address inequities faced by farmworkers and food system
workers.
(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make
the report under subparagraph (A) publicly available
(in English, Spanish, and any other languages that the
Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator determines
to be appropriate) on the website of the Department of
Agriculture.
(d) Farmworker and Food System Worker Liaisons.--
(1) In general.--The heads of each of the agencies and
offices of the Department of Agriculture described in paragraph
(2) shall designate a liaison within that agency or office on
matters relating to farmworkers and food system workers.
(2) Agencies and offices described.--The agencies and
offices referred to in paragraph (1) are--
(A) the Farm Service Agency;
(B) the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
(C) each agency under the rural development mission
area;
(D) the National Institute of Food and Agriculture;
(E) the Food and Nutrition Service;
(F) the Agricultural Marketing Service;
(G) the Forest Service;
(H) the National Agricultural Statistics Service;
and
(I) any other agency or office of the Department of
Agriculture, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Responsibility.--Each liaison designated under
paragraph (1) shall be responsible for coordinating with the
Farm and Food System Workforce Coordinator to increase
information, awareness, access, data, and accountability for
meeting the needs of farmworkers and food system workers
relating to the functions and beneficiaries of the agency or
office from which the liaison is designated.
(e) Funding.--
(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary
to carry out subsections (b) through (d) $10,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available
until expended.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise available, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out
subsections (b) through (d) for each of fiscal years 2025
through 2029.
SEC. 12211. GROCERY, FARM, AND FOOD WORKER STABILIZATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
``eligible entity'' means a membership organization, as determined by
the Secretary, or labor union representing farmworkers, meat processing
workers, or grocery workers.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall establish a grant program
to provide funding to eligible entities representing farmworkers, meat
processing workers, and grocery workers for stabilization payments in
the case of a natural disaster or other disaster, as determined by the
Secretary.
(c) Report.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, 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 describing the outcomes
and evaluating the impacts of the program established under subsection
(b).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts
otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $750,000,000, to remain available until expended.
SEC. 12212. TRIBAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE; TRIBAL SELF-DETERMINATION PILOT
PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Section 309 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform
and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6921) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The Secretary shall''
and inserting ``The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in
this section as the `Secretary') shall''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (C) as subparagraphs (C) through (E),
respectively; and
(ii) by inserting before subparagraph (C)
(as so redesignated) the following:
``(A) Activity of the department.--The term
`activity of the Department' means a program, function,
service, or activity of the Department.
``(B) Department.--The term `Department' means the
Department of Agriculture.'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``of
Agriculture (referred to in this subsection as the
`Department')'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (7) as
paragraphs (6) through (8), respectively;
(D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Recommendation of self-determination pilot
projects.--
``(A) In general.--In carrying out the duties of
the Committee under paragraph (4), the Committee
shall--
``(i) request input from Indian tribes and
Tribal organizations on the activities of the
Department that the Indian tribes and Tribal
organizations may be interested in assuming and
administering through a self-determination
agreement pilot project;
``(ii) consult with Indian tribes and
Tribal organizations that provide input under
clause (i) with respect to the input; and
``(iii) make publicly available and submit
in accordance with subparagraph (B) a
description of not more than 3 recommended
pilot projects to further opportunities for
Tribal assumption and administration of
activities of the Department, including--
``(I) an explanation of the
reasoning for identifying those
activities of the Department for each
recommended pilot project;
``(II) a description of the
structure and scope of each recommended
pilot project, including the specific 1
or more activities of the Department to
be assumed and administered by the
Indian tribe or Tribal organization
through a self-determination agreement;
and
``(III) with respect to input
provided under clause (i), a
description of--
``(aa) the number of
instances of input provided;
``(bb) the types of
assistance or support requested
through consultation under
clause (ii) for purposes of
assuming and administering the
applicable activities of the
Department;
``(cc) the means by which
Indian tribes propose to assume
and administer the applicable
activities of the Department;
and
``(dd) the regions from
which the input was received.
``(B) Timing.--The Committee shall make publicly
available and submit to the Secretary and the relevant
committees of Congress a description of recommended
pilot projects under subparagraph (A)(iii) not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 and every 3
years thereafter.
``(C) Department response.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days
after each submission of recommended pilot
projects under subparagraph (A)(iii), the
Secretary shall prepare a response that
explains, in detail, whether and how the
Department could, to the maximum extent
practicable, to establish and implement those
recommended pilot projects.
``(ii) Report requirements.--In preparing
each response under clause (i), the Secretary
shall--
``(I) build on prior and related
studies and pilot programs, including--
``(aa) the food
distribution program on Indian
reservations established under
section 4(b) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
2013(b));
``(bb) the good neighbor
authority established by
section 8206 of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (16
U.S.C. 2113a);
``(cc) demonstration
projects under section 8703 of
the Agriculture Improvement Act
of 2018 (25 U.S.C. 3115b); and
``(dd) any pilot projects
established under this
paragraph;
``(II) identify operational and
legal impediments to the implementation
of the recommended pilot projects;
``(III) identify any administrative
actions that may be taken to address
any operational and legal impediments
identified under subclause (II);
``(IV) identify the fiscal and
budgetary impacts of implementing the
recommended pilot projects;
``(V) include a description of
necessary administrative, operational,
and legislative changes needed to
implement the recommended pilot
projects;
``(VI) with respect to necessary
legislative changes identified under
subclause (V), identify the non-Tribal
stakeholders that would be affected by
potential waivers of or modifications
to existing provisions of law; and
``(VII) include any other matters
that may be determined by the Secretary
and developed through consultation with
the Committee.
``(iii) Public availability; submission.--
The Secretary shall--
``(I) make publicly available on
the website of the Department each
response prepared under clause (i); and
``(II) submit each response
prepared under clause (i) to--
``(aa) the Office of Tribal
Relations;
``(bb) the Committee; and
``(cc) the relevant
committees of Congress.'';
(E) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``Reports'' and inserting ``Committee
reports''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) Public availability.--The Secretary shall
make the reports submitted under subparagraph (A) and
the written responses submitted under subparagraph (B)
publicly available on the website of the Department.'';
and
(F) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.)'' and inserting ``Section 1013 of
title 5, United States Code,''.
(b) Self-determination Demonstration Projects for Tribal
Organizations.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Commodity supplemental food program.--The term
``commodity supplemental food program'' means the
commodity supplemental food program carried out under
section 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93-86).
(B) Food distribution program.--The term ``food
distribution program'' means the food distribution
program on Indian reservations under section 4(b) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)).
(C) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has
the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
(D) Reservation.--The term ``reservation'' has the
meaning given the term in section 3 of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012).
(E) Self-determination contract.--The term ``self-
determination contract'' means a self-determination
contract (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)), as implemented under the demonstration project
established under section 4003(b) of the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 2013 note; Public Law
115-334), subject to such modifications as may be
determined by the Secretary.
(F) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal
organization'' has the meaning given the term in
section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2012).
(2) Food distribution programs.--
(A) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under subparagraph (F), the Secretary
shall establish a demonstration project under which
tribal organizations may enter into self-determination
contracts to administer food distribution programs on
the reservations served by the tribal organizations.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible to participate in
the demonstration project under this paragraph, a
tribal organization shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(C) Eligibility.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall select
for participation in the demonstration project
under this paragraph tribal organizations
that--
(I) are successfully administering
the food distribution program on the
reservation served by the tribal
organization, as determined by the
Secretary under section 4(b)(2)(B) of
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2013(b)(2)(B)); and
(II) meet such other criteria as
the Secretary may establish, subject to
clause (ii).
(ii) Consultation.--The Secretary shall
consult with Indian Tribes to determine the
process and criteria under which tribal
organizations may participate in the
demonstration project under this paragraph.
(D) Requirements.--A food distribution program
administered by a tribal organization under the
demonstration project under this paragraph shall--
(i) have the same eligibility requirements
for participation as the food distribution
program administered by the Secretary; and
(ii) meet such other criteria as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(E) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date
on which funds are initially appropriated under
subparagraph (F), and annually 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 that includes, with respect to the preceding
year--
(i) a list of each tribal organization
participating in the demonstration project
under this paragraph; and
(ii) a description of the activities
carried out by each participating tribal
organization pursuant to the demonstration
project.
(F) Funding.--
(i) Authorization of appropriations.--There
is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this paragraph
$5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(ii) Appropriations in advance.--Only funds
made available pursuant to clause (i) in
advance specifically to carry out this
paragraph shall be available to carry out this
paragraph.
(3) Commodity supplemental food programs.--
(A) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under subparagraph (F), the Secretary
shall establish a demonstration project under which
tribal organizations may enter into self-determination
contracts to purchase agricultural commodities under
the commodity supplemental food program for the
reservations served by the tribal organizations.
(B) Applications.--To be eligible to participate in
the demonstration project under this paragraph, a
tribal organization shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(C) Eligibility.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall select
for participation in the demonstration project
under this paragraph tribal organizations
that--
(I) are successfully administering
the commodity supplemental food program
on the reservation served by the tribal
organization;
(II) have the capacity to purchase
agricultural commodities in accordance
with subparagraph (D) for the commodity
supplemental food program; and
(III) meet such other criteria as
the Secretary may establish, subject to
clause (ii).
(ii) Consultation.--The Secretary shall
consult with Indian Tribes to determine the
process and criteria under which tribal
organizations may participate in the
demonstration project under this paragraph.
(D) Procurement requirements.--Each agricultural
commodity purchased by a tribal organization pursuant
to the demonstration project under this paragraph
shall--
(i) be domestically produced;
(ii) supplant, and not supplement, the type
of agricultural commodities in existing food
packages for the tribal organization;
(iii) be of similar or higher nutritional
value as the type of agricultural commodities
in the existing food package for the tribal
organization that would be supplanted;
(iv) be nonperishable food appropriate for
distribution in monthly food packages; and
(v) meet such other criteria as the
Secretary may establish.
(E) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date
on which funds are initially appropriated under
subparagraph (F), and annually 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 that includes, with respect to the preceding
year--
(i) a list of each tribal organization
participating in the demonstration project
under this paragraph; and
(ii) a description of the activities
carried out by each participating tribal
organization pursuant to the demonstration
project.
(F) Funding.--
(i) Authorization of appropriations.--There
is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this paragraph
$5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(ii) Appropriations in advance.--Only funds
made available pursuant to clause (i) in
advance specifically to carry out this
paragraph shall be available to carry out this
paragraph.
(c) Mission-specific Self-determination Support.--In each
Department of Agriculture mission area that administers self-
determination contracts, the Secretary shall designate a senior
official within that mission area or an office within that mission area
to be responsible for--
(1) oversight of the administration of self-determination
contracts within the mission area; and
(2) coordination with a senior official in the Office of
the Secretary designated to advise the Secretary on
opportunities for self-determination enhancement.
SEC. 12213. TRIBAL PROMISE ZONES.
Section 12510 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (25 U.S.C.
4301 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``this Act'' and
inserting ``the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``2020'' and
inserting ``2026''.
Subtitle C--Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994
Amendments
SEC. 12301. COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES.
Section 212(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912(b)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Required for
Name Change.--'' and inserting ``Required.--'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking the period at the end and inserting
``; or'';
(B) by striking ``Except as provided in paragraph
(2), the Secretary shall conduct a cost-benefit
analysis before changing'' and inserting the following:
``The Secretary shall conduct a cost-benefit analysis
before--
``(A) except as provided in paragraph (2),
changing''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) relocating more than 50 percent of the
employees of any agency, office, division, or other
unit of the Department with 50 or more employees
outside of the commuting area of that agency, office,
division, or other unit to ensure that the benefits to
be derived from the relocation of the agency, office,
division, or other unit outweigh the costs of the
relocation, including--
``(i) costs associated with the attrition
of employees from the Department due to the
relocation;
``(ii) costs associated with the disruption
of the activities of the agency, office,
division, or other unit due to the relocation;
``(iii) the economic impact to the affected
local communities and regions;
``(iv) costs associated with any civil
rights impact due to the relocation; and
``(v) any other potential effects of the
relocation.'';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(1)'' and inserting
``(1)(A)''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Standard.--For a cost-benefit analysis conducted
under paragraph (1) with respect to a relocation described in
subparagraph (B) of that paragraph, the Secretary shall
identify and measure benefits and costs, including identifying
a baseline, evaluating alternatives, comparing return on
investment for alternatives, and documenting analyses.
``(4) Notification.--In the case of a relocation described
in paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall provide notice to each
affected employee not less than 365 days before the date of the
relocation of the employee, including the new duty station
location of the employee.
``(5) Publication.--To the extent allowable under Federal
law, the Secretary shall make publicly available a cost-benefit
analysis conducted under paragraph (1) not later than--
``(A) 90 days before a name change described in
paragraph (1)(A); and
``(B) 90 days before notifying employees of a
relocation under paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 12302. OFFICES OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND DIGITAL SERVICE.
(a) Office of Digital Service.--Subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 217 (as added by section 12107) the
following:
``SEC. 217A. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.
``(a) Authorization.--The Chief Information Officer designated by
the Secretary under section 3506(a)(2)(A) of title 44, United States
Code, shall be the Chief Information Officer of the Department.
``(b) Digital Service Functions.--
``(1) Definition of digital service.--In this subsection,
the term `digital service' means online information resources
or services, including the delivery of digital information and
transaction services across a variety of platforms, devices,
and delivery mechanisms, maintained or funded in whole or in
part by the Department.
``(2) Office of digital service.--
``(A) Establishment.--There is established in the
Office of the Chief Information Officer the Office of
Digital Service.
``(B) Executive director.--
``(i) In general.--The Office of Digital
Service shall be headed by an Executive
Director, who shall serve under the direction
of the Chief Information Officer.
``(ii) Functions.--The Executive Director
of the Office of Digital Service shall assist
the Chief Information Officer in carrying out
the functions under this subsection and in
coordinating the digital services functions of
the Department.
``(3) Services for departmental agencies and offices.--In
carrying out this subsection, the responsibilities of the Chief
Information Officer shall include--
``(A) coordinating the digital service needs and
activities of the Department;
``(B) providing support using innovative techniques
and technology for the delivery of digital services
across the agencies and offices of the Department in
accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and
executive orders relating to digital services;
``(C) coordinating with the Office of Customer
Experience to ensure that the delivery of digital
services incorporates a human-centered design process;
and
``(D) coordinating with the United States Digital
Service and the agencies and offices of the Department
to promote efficiency and prevent unnecessary
duplication in digital services activities.
``(4) USDA digital service fellows.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through
the Chief Information Officer, shall establish a
program for individuals who are highly skilled in the
technical planning, developing, designing, or delivery
of digital services to serve as fellows to improve the
Department's digital systems, information management,
data accessibility, and other digital or technological
functionalities.
``(B) Expedited hiring authority.--Notwithstanding
subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive or
excepted service, the Secretary may use noncompetitive
term appointments for qualified individuals to serve as
fellows in the program established under subparagraph
(A).
``(C) Terms.--Individuals participating in the
program established under subparagraph (A), including
individuals appointed under subparagraph (B)--
``(i) may not serve a term that exceeds 5
years in length; and
``(ii) may be compensated at a rate not to
exceed the rate provided for level II of the
Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title
5, United States Code, for positions that
require a high level of technical expertise
that is critical to the successful development
and delivery of digital services.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise made available, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as are necessary to
carry out this subsection for each fiscal year.''.
(b) Office of Customer Experience.--Subtitle A of the Department of
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 217A (as added by subsection (a))
the following:
``SEC. 217B. OFFICE OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Customer.--The term `customer' means any individual
or entity, including any for-profit or nonprofit entity, State,
local, or Tribal entity, and any other Federal entity, that
interacts with the Department or a Department program, either
directly or indirectly through a federally funded program
administered by a contractor, nonprofit entity, or State or
local entity.
``(2) Customer experience.--The term `customer experience'
means the public's perceptions of and overall satisfaction with
interactions with the Department or programs, products, or
services of the Department.
``(b) Authorization.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the Office of Customer Experience.
``(c) Chief Customer Experience Officer.--
``(1) In general.--The Office of Customer Experience shall
be headed by the Chief Customer Experience Officer.
``(2) Appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint a senior
official to serve as the Chief Customer Experience Officer.
``(3) Duties.--The Chief Customer Experience Officer
shall--
``(A) advise on policies of the Department relating
to the collection, processing, and analysis of customer
feedback that would enable the improvement and design
of the programs of the Department using a human-
centered design process;
``(B) partner with mission areas, offices, and
agencies of the Department to provide training and
support--
``(i) to identify, communicate, and
visualize customer feedback on the programs of
the Department; and
``(ii) to use the analysis of customer
feedback to improve and design the programs of
the Department using a human-centered design
process;
``(C) coordinate customer experience activities
across the mission areas, offices, and agencies of the
Department, including advising and coordinating on
program application streamlining efforts;
``(D) act as the primary liaison on behalf of the
Department with other Federal departments and agencies
in intergovernmental activities and initiatives
relating to customer experience; and
``(E) carry out other responsibilities relating to
customer experience, as determined by the Secretary.
``(4) Reporting.--The Chief Customer Experience Officer
shall report to the Deputy Secretary.
``(d) Liaisons.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish one or more
customer experience liaisons within each mission area, office,
and agency of the Department to coordinate with the Office of
Customer Experience to provide services to improve customer
experience for programs and services administered by that
mission area, office, or agency.
``(2) Qualifications.--An individual occupying the position
of a customer experience liaison established under paragraph
(1) shall have demonstrated skills or experience with
identifying, communicating, and visualizing customer needs
through a human-centered design process.
``(e) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2026, and each year
thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly available and submit to
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and
the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report
summarizing the activities of the Office of Customer Experience in the
prior fiscal year, including--
``(1) the activities of any customer experience liaisons
established under subsection (d)(1); and
``(2) a detailed description and the status of any program
application streamlining efforts at the Department.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts
otherwise made available, there are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for
each fiscal year.''.
(c) Funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary for costs relating
to services and projects provided by the Office of Digital Service
established by section 217A(b)(2) of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 and the Office of Customer Experience
established under section 217B(b) of that Act $20,000,000 for fiscal
year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until
expended.
SEC. 12303. FOOD LOSS AND WASTE.
(a) Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison.--Section 224 of the
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (a) through (d) and (e) as
subsections (b) through (e) and (h), respectively;
(2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Food.--The term `food' means any raw, cooked,
processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or ingredient
used or intended for use in whole or in part for human
consumption.
``(2) Food loss.--The term `food loss' means, with respect
to food, that the food does not reach a consumer as a result of
an issue in the production, storage, processing, or
distribution phase.
``(3) Food recovery.--The term `food recovery' means the
collection of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste
and the redistribution of that food to feed people.
``(4) Food waste.--The term `food waste' means, with
respect to food, that the food is intended for human
consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any reason at the
retail or consumption phase.
``(5) Upcycled food product.--The term `upcycled food
product' means a product that--
``(A) is created from surplus food, unmarketable
food, or edible or inedible food byproducts; and
``(B) is made with ingredients that--
``(i) otherwise would not have gone to
human consumption;
``(ii) are sourced and produced using
supply chains for which upstream data can be
verified and validated for accuracy; and
``(iii) have a positive impact on the
environment.'';
(3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated), by inserting
``(referred to in this section as the `Liaison')'' after ``Food
Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison'';
(4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``Reduction'' in
the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
``(c) Duties.--The'';
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) carry out the consumer education campaign under
subsection (g).'';
(5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (b)'' and
inserting ``subsection (c)'';
(6) in subsections (d) and (e) (as so redesignated), by
striking ``Food Loss and Waste Reduction'' each place it
appears;
(7) by inserting after subsection (e) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(f) Food Loss and Waste Regional Coordinators.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department regional coordinators.
``(2) Responsibilities.--The regional coordinators
established under paragraph (1) shall be responsible for--
``(A) partnering with food producers, food
processors, distributors, and food recovery
organizations and acting as regional points of contact
to facilitate real-time food recovery;
``(B) understanding and developing the capacity
needed for ongoing food recovery;
``(C) providing technical support to food recovery
organizations to improve the ability of the food
recovery organizations to pick up surplus food, process
that food, and deliver that food to populations or
communities; and
``(D) engaging with Department regional food
business centers to identify opportunities for synergy
and alignment with those centers.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to remain available
until expended.
``(g) Consumer Education Campaign.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Liaison, in consultation with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, shall initiate a national food
waste education and public awareness campaign (referred to in
this subsection as the `campaign').
``(2) Requirements.--The campaign shall, at a minimum--
``(A) illustrate how much food goes to waste in the
United States and households across the United States;
``(B) highlight methods for preserving and storing
foods;
``(C) provide consumers tips to identify whether
food is still safe and edible, regardless of any `BEST
If Used By' or the `USE By' date on the label or food
packaging indicating quality and freshness;
``(D) teach consumers the differences between food
freshness and food safety;
``(E) teach consumers how to compost food scraps;
``(F) develop educational materials usable by
several different channels, including for specific
industry sectors (including retail, food service, and
consumer packaged goods), local governments, schools,
community and faith-based organizations, and other
appropriate channels;
``(G) educate consumers on food products made with
food waste, including upcycled food products, or that
use innovative technology to prevent food loss and food
waste;
``(H) include interactive elements; and
``(I) inform about intersectional issues of food
loss and food waste, including public health, food
insecurity, and climate change.
``(3) Priorities.--In carrying out the campaign, the
Secretary shall prioritize--
``(A) evaluating existing scientific evidence, and,
if needed, conducting additional scientific research,
to determine what socioeconomic characteristics are
associated with food waste attitudes and behaviors;
``(B) identifying population segments to target;
``(C) understanding how to best target those
identified population segments; and
``(D) determining which strategies are most
effective in changing consumer behaviors.
``(4) Dual framework campaign.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out
the campaign through--
``(i) community engagement, which allows
information to be delivered through locally
trusted sources, with locally tailored
solutions and partners (such as for donation or
compost options); and
``(ii) national messaging appropriate for
raising awareness of--
``(I) nationally applicable issues
(such as the meaning of `best if used
by' date labels, tips for meal
planning, or businesses that
manufacture products using ingredients
that would otherwise go to waste,
including upcycled food products); and
``(II) such other issues as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(B) Pilot projects.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall--
``(I) for the purpose of testing
methods and materials for carrying out
the campaign through community
engagement under subparagraph (A)(i),
carry out pilot projects in communities
selected by the Secretary; and
``(II) assess the results of those
pilot projects, including through waste
audits or other quantitative
measurements.
``(ii) Requirements.--In carrying out pilot
projects under clause (i), the Secretary
shall--
``(I) ensure equity and diversity
of representation;
``(II) use science-based evidence,
including from behavioral science, in
designing and carrying out the campaign
to increase the effectiveness of the
campaign; and
``(III) in coordination with State,
local, Tribal, municipal, or
territorial governments, inform
consumers in a community of solutions,
food products, or initiatives that are
available to help prevent or reduce
food waste.
``(5) Waste audits.--The Secretary shall conduct audits to
gather data relating to the impact of the campaign in
communities targeted by the campaign for the purpose of
informing future efforts under the campaign, including by
comparing outcomes in communities targeted by the campaign to
outcomes in communities not targeted by the campaign.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''; and
(8) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``Food Loss and Waste'';
and
(ii) by striking ``subsection (d)'' and
inserting ``subsection (e)'';
(B) in paragraph (2), in the paragraph heading, by
striking ``Report'' and inserting ``Subsequent
report''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Reports on progress.--The Liaison shall submit to
Congress and make publicly available reports describing the
progress of the United States in advancing toward or achieving
the goal of reducing food loss and food waste by 50 percent,
compared to 2016 levels, by 2030.''.
(b) Interagency Collaboration on Food Loss and Waste.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator''
means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
(B) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means
the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
(C) Food.--The term ``food'' means any raw, cooked,
processed, or prepared substance, ice, beverage, or
ingredient used or intended for use in whole or in part
for human consumption.
(D) Food loss.--The term ``food loss'' means, with
respect to food, that the food does not reach a
consumer as a result of an issue in the production,
storage, processing, or distribution phase.
(E) Food recovery.--The term ``food recovery''
means the collection of wholesome food that would
otherwise go to waste and the redistribution of that
food to feed people.
(F) Food waste.--The term ``food waste'' means,
with respect to food, that the food is intended for
human consumption but is unconsumed by humans for any
reason at the retail or consumption phase.
(G) Liaison.--The term ``Liaison'' means the Food
Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison established under
section 224 of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924).
(2) Interagency collaboration.--The Secretary, in
collaboration with the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall collaborate to carry out the agreement
relative to cooperation and coordination on food loss and
waste, which took effect on May 15, 2024.
(3) Reports.--Every year, the Secretary, acting through the
Liaison, in consultation with the Administrator, the
Commissioner, and the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development, shall submit to Congress and
make publicly available a report describing the progress of the
Secretary in carrying out the agreement described in paragraph
(2).
(4) Interagency engagement.--Pursuant to paragraph (2), the
Secretary, the Administrator, the Commissioner, and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development shall engage with the heads of other Federal
departments and agencies, including the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Transportation,
the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator of
General Services, and such other Federal departments and
agencies as the Secretary, the Administrator, the Commissioner,
and the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development determine to be appropriate, to
expand work on food loss and food waste.
(5) Consultation.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall consult with,
and receive advice from, representatives described in
subparagraph (B) relating to--
(i) programming and policy issues relating
to understanding existing and future challenges
relating to food loss and food waste;
(ii) acquiring the latest data relating to
food loss and food waste;
(iii) the latest innovative solutions
relating to food loss and food waste from
leading experts; and
(iv) sharing and developing procurement
best practices that will assist the heads of
Federal departments and agencies described in
paragraph (4) in--
(I) preventing food loss and waste;
(II) reducing food loss and food
waste;
(III) leading by example in
addressing issues relating to food loss
and food waste; and
(IV) engaging contractors in
reducing food loss and food waste in
the operations of the contractors.
(B) Representatives.--The representatives referred
to in subparagraph (A) are representatives of--
(i) the private sector;
(ii) agricultural producers;
(iii) food industry members, such as food
safety trainers, food aggregators and
processors, food safety professionals,
retailers, and food service entities;
(iv) nonprofit organizations;
(v) food recovery organizations of varying
sizes; and
(vi) any other sector, as determined by the
Secretary.
(C) Representation of smaller producers and food
insecure communities.--In consulting and receiving
advice under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
ensure participation by smaller producers and
organizations from communities most impacted by food
and nutrition insecurity and food loss and food waste
issues.
(D) Forms of consultation.--The Secretary may
consult and receive advice under subparagraph (A)
through--
(i) a meeting through which input is
sought, such as a workshop, town hall meeting,
or listening session;
(ii) a meeting described in clause (i) with
an existing group formed by representatives
described in subparagraph (B); and
(iii) such other means as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(E) Interagency meetings.--The Secretary shall host
quarterly meetings with the Administrator, the
Commissioner, the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, and the heads of
other Federal agencies for the purpose of sharing
communications relating to consultation and advice
received under subparagraph (A) with those officials
regularly.
(F) FACA exemption.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United
States Code (commonly referred to as the ``Federal
Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply to any group
formed for purposes of consultation or providing advice
under this paragraph.
(6) Continuation of effect.--Nothing in the subsection
shall be affected by the expiration of the agreement described
in paragraph (2).
(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this
subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029.
SEC. 12304. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT LIAISON.
Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) (as amended by section 12203(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 224C. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT LIAISON.
``(a) Authorization.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish in the
Department the position of Housing and Urban Development Liaison.
``(b) Duties.--The Housing and Urban Development Liaison shall--
``(1) in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development, identify--
``(A) programs and activities of the Department
that impact urban communities, including urban
agriculture, urban forestry, and nutrition assistance
programs; and
``(B) programs and activities of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development that intersect with the
programs and activities identified under subparagraph
(A);
``(2) coordinate and improve communications relating to
rural housing programs and the programs and activities
identified under paragraph (1) between the Department and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development;
``(3) integrate across the Department strategic planning
and coordination relating to rural housing programs and the
programs and activities identified under paragraph (1); and
``(4) make recommendations with respect to how to better--
``(A) serve the customers and stakeholders of the
Department and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development through increased coordination; and
``(B) leverage existing Federal resources for rural
housing programs and the programs and activities
identified under paragraph (1).
``(c) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2025, and each December
31 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, and make publicly
available on the website of the Department, a report containing--
``(1) a description of the programs and activities
identified under subsection (b)(1);
``(2) a description of the activities of the Housing and
Urban Development Liaison in the most recent fiscal year; and
``(3) the recommendations made by the Housing and Urban
Development Liaison under subsection (b)(4).''.
SEC. 12305. HUBS FOR MITIGATION OF AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) (as amended by section 12304) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 224D. HUBS FOR MITIGATION OF AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Climate hub.--The term `Climate Hub' means an office
established under subsection (b)(1).
``(2) Climate hubs program.--The term `Climate Hubs
Program' means the Climate Hubs Program established under
subsection (b)(2).
``(3) Executive committee.--The term `Executive Committee'
means the Climate Hubs Executive Committee established under
subsection (d)(5).
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) Climate hubs.--The Secretary shall establish a
national network of offices, each of which shall have a
specific geographic focus, including one office focused on
international collaboration and one office based in the State
of Hawaii, to serve the Department in meeting the needs of
farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other agricultural
and natural resource managers in addressing the causes and
consequences of climate change.
``(2) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a Climate
Hubs Program for the administration of the Climate Hubs.
``(c) Mission.--The mission of the Climate Hubs Program is to
develop and deliver--
``(1) support to Department programs and activities at the
regional and local levels in integrating climate change into
planning and decision making;
``(2) science-based, region-specific, cost-effective, and
practical information and program support for science-informed
decision making in light of the increased costs, opportunities,
risks, and vulnerabilities associated with a changing climate;
``(3) tools, guidance on technologies, and risk management
practices to maintain and strengthen agricultural production,
forest and natural resource management, and rural economic
development to address the causes and consequences of climate
change; and
``(4) equitable access to information to implement the
activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) through
engagement opportunities, trainings, and outreach and
educational materials.
``(d) Administration.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) determine the number and location of the Climate
Hubs;
``(2) establish a national office to administer the Climate
Hubs Program, including a National Leader and staff sufficient
to carry out the responsibilities described in this section;
``(3) work through the National Leader established under
paragraph (2) to coordinate with comparable programs and
initiatives in other Federal departments and agencies,
including--
``(A) the Department of the Interior, including the
United States Geological Survey;
``(B) the Department of Commerce, including the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
``(C) the Environmental Protection Agency;
``(D) the Department of Energy;
``(E) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
``(F) the Department of State;
``(G) the United States Agency for International
Development; and
``(H) such other departments and agencies as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
``(4) identify opportunities to work with and support
university-based extension in carrying out the activities of
the Climate Hubs Program;
``(5) establish a Climate Hubs Executive Committee--
``(A) to guide and establish priorities for the
Climate Hubs Program; and
``(B) to conduct a review of the Climate Hubs
Program not less frequently than once every 5 years;
and
``(6) cooperate with partners and stakeholders, including--
``(A) Federal and regional applied science and
service organizations, including--
``(i) the United States Geological Survey
Climate Adaptation Science Centers;
``(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Climate Adaptation Partnerships;
and
``(iii) such other organizations as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
``(B) interagency coordination bodies, such as the
United States Global Change Research Program;
``(C) colleges and universities (as defined in
section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3103));
``(D) cooperative extension services (as defined in
that section);
``(E) State agricultural experiment stations (as
defined in that section);
``(F) State forestry experiment stations;
``(G) the private sector;
``(H) State, local, and regional governments;
``(I) Indian Tribes;
``(J) agriculture, forestry, and commodity
organizations;
``(K) nonprofit and community-based organizations;
and
``(L) other partners, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(e) Executive Committee Membership.--The Executive Committee
shall be composed of the heads of the following agencies, mission
areas, or offices:
``(1) The Agricultural Research Service.
``(2) The Forest Service.
``(3) The Natural Resources Conservation Service.
``(4) The National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
``(5) The Foreign Agricultural Service.
``(6) The Farm Service Agency.
``(7) The Economic Research Service.
``(8) The Risk Management Agency.
``(9) The rural development mission area.
``(10) The Office of Energy and Environmental Policy of the
Department.
``(11) The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
``(12) Such other agencies, mission areas, or offices
within the Department as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(f) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available until
expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise made available, there is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 12306. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.
Section 228(g)(3) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6936(g)(3)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12307. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SCIENTIST.
Section 251(e) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(2) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``practicable--'' in
the matter preceding clause (i) and all that follows through
the period at the end of clause (ii) and inserting
``practicable, at no time shall the aggregate number of staff
for all Divisions exceed 50 full-time equivalent positions.''.
SEC. 12308. REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTERS.
Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) (as amended by section 12305) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 224E. REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTERS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall enter into cooperative
agreements, including subawards, with eligible entities, as determined
by the Secretary, for the purpose of establishing a national network of
not fewer than 12 regional food business centers that collectively
provide localized assistance to small and medium-sized farms and food
businesses throughout the United States to improve local and regional
supply chains, including distribution and processing, through--
``(1) interagency and other coordination;
``(2) business technical assistance;
``(3) capacity building activities; or
``(4) other activities that facilitate the development of a
resilient domestic food system, as determined by the Secretary.
``(b) Targeted Assistance.--
``(1) Tribal producers and businesses.--Not fewer than 1
regional food business center described in subsection (a) shall
provide assistance exclusively to all Tribal producers and
businesses nationally.
``(2) Islands, remote areas, and colonias.--Not fewer than
2 regional food business centers described in subsection (a)
shall provide assistance to producers and farm and food
businesses in the State of Hawaii, the State of Alaska, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, other territories or possessions
of the United States, colonias, other remote areas, and other,
similar locations in the United States, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(3) Underserved and limited resource producers.--Any
regional food business center described in subsection (a) shall
prioritize providing service to underserved and limited
resource producers and farm and food businesses.
``(c) Funding.--
``(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year
2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, to remain available until
expended.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
other funds and authorities available to the Secretary, in
order to carry out activities under this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $75,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, to remain available
until expended.''.
SEC. 12309. AQUACULTURE LIAISON.
Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq.) (as amended by section 12308) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 224F. AQUACULTURE LIAISON.
``(a) Definition of Aquaculture.--In this section, the term
`aquaculture' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2802).
``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Department the position of Aquaculture Liaison.
``(c) Duties.--The Aquaculture Liaison shall--
``(1) develop and advance aquaculture best practices, using
the best available science, in consultation with appropriate
offices in the Department, agricultural producers, and industry
partners;
``(2) provide technical assistance on best practices to
aquaculture farmers and businesses, including for shellfish,
algae, and land-based aquaculture systems, using the best
available science;
``(3) advise the Secretary with respect to aquaculture
practices and programs, including applying existing programs
for risk mitigation (including insurance and purchasing
programs), as applicable, to aquaculture;
``(4) coordinate with the agencies and officials of the
Department to update and ensure support for aquaculture in
relevant programs;
``(5) engage in stakeholder relations and develop external
partnerships relating to aquaculture practices and programs;
``(6) identify common State and municipal best practices
for navigating local policies relating to aquaculture
practices;
``(7) coordinate extension and outreach efforts to support
aquaculture producers and businesses;
``(8) collaborate and coordinate with other Federal
agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, with respect to aquaculture practices;
``(9) convene a working group with relevant officials of
the Department to coordinate programs and share knowledge;
``(10) represent the Department on the Subcommittee on
Aquaculture of the National Science and Technology Council;
``(11) gather and issue aquaculture production data, in
coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and other relevant Federal agencies; and
``(12) promote aquaculture practices that provide
environmental, economic, and social benefits.''.
SEC. 12310. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.
Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out the
amendments made to this title by the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024.''.
Subtitle D--Agriculture and Food Defense
SEC. 12401. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGRICULTURAL FOREIGN INVESTMENT
DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1978.
(a) Reporting Requirements.--
(1) In general.--Section 2(a) of the Agricultural Foreign
Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3501(a)) is
amended--
(A) in the first sentence of the matter preceding
paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``, or enters into a
leasing agreement the period of which is longer
than 5 years with respect to agricultural
land,'' after ``agricultural land''; and
(ii) by striking ``acquisition or
transfer'' and inserting ``acquisition,
transfer, or lease''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``acquired or
transferred'' and inserting ``acquired, transferred, or
leased''.
(2) Minimum ownership.--Section 2 of the Agricultural
Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3501) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Minimum Ownership.--In the case of agricultural land in which
more than 1 foreign person acquires or transfers any interest, other
than a security interest, the reporting requirements under this section
shall apply to each foreign person who holds at least a 1 percent
interest in that land--
``(1) directly through the first tier of ownership; or
``(2) in the aggregate through an interest in other
entities at various tiers.''.
(b) Civil Penalty.--
(1) In general.--Section 3 of the Agricultural Foreign
Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3502) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``(a) If the'' and all that
follows through ``Any such civil penalty'' in the third
sentence and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--A person shall be subject to a civil penalty
imposed by the Secretary if the Secretary determines that the person--
``(1) has failed to submit a report in accordance with the
provisions of section 2; or
``(2) has knowingly submitted a report under section 2
that--
``(A) does not contain all the information required
to be in such report; or
``(B) contains information that is misleading or
false.
``(d) Civil Action.--Any civil penalty imposed by the Secretary
under subsection (a)'';
(B) by moving subsection (d) (as so designated) so
as to appear after subsection (b);
(C) in subsection (b)--
(i) by striking the subsection designation
and all that follows through ``The amount'' and
inserting the following:
``(b) Amount of Penalty.--Except as provided in subsection (c), the
amount'';
(ii) by striking ``of this section''; and
(iii) by striking ``shall not exceed 25
percent'' and inserting ``shall be not less
than 5 percent, but not more than 25
percent,'';
(D) by inserting after subsection (b) the
following:
``(c) Penalty for Shell Corporations.--
``(1) Definition of shell corporation.--In this subsection,
the term `shell corporation' means a corporation, company,
association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company,
trust, estate, or any other legal entity that has no or nominal
operations.
``(2) Amount of penalty.--The amount of a civil penalty
under subsection (a) for a foreign-owned shell corporation, as
determined by the Secretary, shall be 100 percent of the fair
market value, on the date of the assessment of the penalty, of
the interest in agricultural land with respect to which the
violation occurred.
``(3) Notification of penalty.--A shell corporation shall
not be subject to a civil penalty under paragraph (2), but
shall be subject to a civil penalty under subsection (b), if
the shell corporation remedies a defective filing or failure to
file not later than 60 days after the Secretary provides notice
to the shell corporation of the defective filing or failure to
file.''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Availability of Funds From Civil Penalties.--A civil penalty
collected under subsection (a) shall be available to the Secretary
without appropriation and remain available until expended for the
purpose of enforcing this Act.''.
(2) Public disclosure of noncompliant persons.--Section 3
of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978
(7 U.S.C. 3502) (as amended by paragraph (1)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(f) Public Disclosure of Noncompliant Persons.--The Secretary
shall publicly disclose the name of each person who paid to the
Secretary a civil penalty imposed under subsection (a), including, if
applicable, after the completion of an appeal of a civil penalty.''.
(3) Publication of reporting requirements.--Section 3 of
the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7
U.S.C. 3502) (as amended by paragraph (2)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(g) Outreach.--Using existing resources and efforts to the
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall carry out a nationwide
outreach program directed primarily towards landlords, owners,
operators, persons, producers, and tenants (as those terms are defined
in section 718.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect
on the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act
of 2024)) of agricultural land and county property appraiser offices,
land appraisal companies, and real estate auction companies to increase
public awareness and provide education regarding the reporting
requirements under this section.''.
(c) Investigative Actions.--Section 4 of the Agricultural Foreign
Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3503) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 4. INVESTIGATIVE ACTIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Security.--The Secretary shall--
``(1) in coordination with the office within the Department
of Agriculture established under section 7318 of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (50 U.S.C.
3384), ensure the availability of classified storage, meeting,
and other spaces, as necessary, for personnel to carry out this
section; and
``(2) assist personnel responsible for carrying out this
section in obtaining security clearances.
``(c) Chief of Operations.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint an employee
in the Senior Executive Service (as described in section 3131
of title 5, United States Code) of the Department of
Agriculture to serve as Chief of Operations of Investigative
Actions (referred to in this section as the `Chief of
Operations'), who shall hire, appoint, and maintain additional
employees to monitor compliance with the provisions of this
Act.
``(2) Simultaneous service.--The Chief of Operations may
serve in such position simultaneously with a concurrent
position within the Department of Agriculture.
``(d) Duties.--The Chief of Operations shall--
``(1) be responsible for carrying out the authority
provided by subsection (a);
``(2) refer noncompliance with this Act to the Secretary,
the Farm Service Agency, and any other appropriate authority;
``(3) coordinate with the Department of Justice, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland
Security, the Department of the Treasury, the National Security
Council, and State and local law enforcement agencies, on
investigations into malign efforts--
``(A) to steal agricultural knowledge and
technology; and
``(B) to disrupt the United States agricultural
base;
``(4) conduct an annual compliance audit of not less than
10 percent of the reports submitted under section 2 for the
year covered by the audit to ensure the completeness and
accuracy of reports submitted under that section;
``(5) provide annual training to State and county-level
personnel relating to identifying agricultural land for which--
``(A) a report is required to be submitted under
section 2; but
``(B) no report has been submitted by the
applicable foreign person;
``(6) seek to enter into memoranda of agreement and
memoranda of understanding with the Federal agencies described
in paragraph (3)--
``(A) to ensure compliance with this Act; and
``(B) to prevent the malign efforts described in
that paragraph;
``(7) refer to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the
United States transactions that--
``(A) raise potential national security concerns;
and
``(B) result in agricultural land acquisition by a
foreign person that is a citizen of, or headquartered
in, as applicable, a foreign entity of concern;
``(8) coordinate and consult, as appropriate, with the
Department of Agriculture Office of Homeland Security and the
office within the Department of Agriculture established under
section 7318 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2024 (50 U.S.C. 3384); and
``(9) publish annual reports that summarize the information
contained in every report received by the Secretary under
section 2 during the period covered by the report.
``(e) Administration.--The Chief of Operations shall report to--
``(1) the Secretary; or
``(2) if delegated by the Secretary, to--
``(A) the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency;
or
``(B) the Director of the Department of Agriculture
Office of Homeland Security.
``(f) Actions by FPAC-BC.--As part of the actions taken under
subsection (a), the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center
shall--
``(1) take such actions as are necessary to validate the
data collected under section 2, including revising and
validating information throughout the data collection process;
``(2) take such actions as are necessary to ensure
compliance with section 2(g); and
``(3) in coordination with the Farm Service Agency, to the
maximum extent practicable, identify persons that have carried
out an activity subject to a civil penalty described in
paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3(a).''.
(d) Reports.--Section 6 of the Agricultural Foreign Investment
Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3505) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through ``Not later than'' and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 6. REPORTS.
``(a) Transmission of Reports to States.--Not later than''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Annual Report.--Annually, the Secretary shall prepare and
make publicly available a report describing holdings of agricultural
land by foreign persons, as determined by reports submitted under
section 2, including--
``(1) on a State-by-State and county-by-county basis; and
``(2) an analysis of the sectors and industries for which
the agricultural land holdings are used.
``(c) Research.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this subsection, and once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary
shall--
``(1) carry out research on--
``(A) the agricultural leasing activities in the
United States of foreign persons, including the impact
of those activities on family farms, rural communities,
and the domestic food supply;
``(B) trends relating to the purchase of
agricultural land in the United States by foreign-owned
shell corporations (as defined in section 3(c)(1));
``(C) foreign ownership of agricultural production
capacity and foreign participation in agricultural
economic activity in the United States; and
``(D) in consultation with the Director of the
United States Geological Survey, foreign ownership or
leasing of water rights and mineral deposits on a
State-by-State and county-by-county basis; and
``(2) submit to Congress a report describing the results of
the research carried out under paragraph (1).
``(d) Report of Tracking Covered Transactions by Foreign Entities
of Concern.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
subsection, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
feasibility of establishing a mechanism for quantifying the threats
posed by foreign entities of concern to United States food security,
biosecurity, food safety, environmental protection, and national
defense.''.
(e) Internet Database.--Section 7 of the Agricultural Foreign
Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3506) is amended--
(1) by striking the section designation and heading and all
that follows through ``Any report'' and inserting the
following:
``SEC. 7. PUBLIC INSPECTION.
``(a) In Person.--Any report''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Internet Database.--
``(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the
Secretary has established a streamlined process for electronic
submission and retention of disclosures made under this Act
required by section 773 of division A of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023 (7 U.S.C. 3501 note; 136 Stat. 4509),
the Secretary shall make publicly available an internet
database that contains disaggregated data from each disclosure
submitted under this Act as human-readable and machine-readable
data sets.
``(2) Included data.--The data sets established under
paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) a description of the purchase price paid for,
or any other consideration given for, each interest in
agricultural land for which a report is submitted under
section 2; and
``(B) in any case in which a foreign person is not
an individual or a government, the nature of the legal
entity holding the interest, the country in which the
foreign person is created or organized, and the
principal place of business of the foreign person.''.
(f) Definitions.--Section 9 of the Agricultural Foreign Investment
Disclosure Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 3508) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``For purposes of this Act--'' and inserting ``In this Act:'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, subject to the
condition that the Secretary may not exclude land from this
definition based on the acreage of the land'' before the
semicolon at the end;
(3) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)--
(A) by striking ``the term'' and inserting ``The
term''; and
(B) by inserting a paragraph heading, the text of
which comprises the term defined in that paragraph;
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as
paragraphs (3), (4), (6), (7), and (8), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) Foreign entity of concern.--The term `foreign entity
of concern' has the meaning given the term in section 9901 of
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).''; and
(6) by inserting after paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(5) Malign effort.--The term `malign effort' means any
hostile effort undertaken by, at the direction of, on behalf
of, or with the substantial support of the government of a
foreign entity of concern.''.
SEC. 12402. NATIONAL PLANT DIAGNOSTIC NETWORK.
Section 12203(c)(5) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 8914(c)(5)) is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12403. OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
Section 221 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 6922) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Agriculture and Food Defense Intraagency Coordination.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that there
are 1 or more career employees within the agencies and offices
of the Department, including each of the agencies and offices
described in paragraph (2), that are designated--
``(A) to coordinate on agriculture and food defense
with the Office of Homeland Security and the office at
the Department established under section 7318 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
(50 U.S.C. 3384); and
``(B) to receive information from the offices
described in subparagraph (A) on a need-to-know basis.
``(2) Agencies and offices described.--The agencies and
offices referred to in paragraph (1) are the Agricultural
Research Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Foreign
Agricultural Service, the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Forest
Service, the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency,
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Office of the
Chief Information Officer, the Office of the General Counsel,
the Office of the Chief Scientist, the Office of the Chief
Economist, and such other agencies and offices as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(3) Qualification of designated employees.--An employee
designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall possess the
appropriate security clearance.
``(4) Detailees.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law relating to the detailing and assignment of Federal
employees within the Department--
``(A) the Secretary shall increase intraagency
coordination on agriculture and food defense by
ensuring that there are not fewer than 2 employees from
agencies or offices of the Department (other than the
Office of Homeland Security) detailed to the Office of
Homeland Security each for a period of not more than 2
years; and
``(B) the Office of Homeland Security shall not be
required to fully or partially reimburse the employing
agency or office of an individual detailed under
subparagraph (A) for the period of the assignment.''.
SEC. 12404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 12205 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4950) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12405. RISK ASSESSMENT ON CYBERSECURITY-RELATED THREATS TO
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS.
Subtitle B of title XII of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(Public Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4944) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 12206. CYBERSECURITY-RELATED THREATS TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
SYSTEMS.
``(a) Risk Assessment.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the office at the
Department of Agriculture established under section 7318 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (50 U.S.C.
3384), the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, and the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, shall conduct an assessment, on a biennial
basis, of cybersecurity-related threats to and vulnerabilities in the
agriculture and food system, including--
``(1) the risk of cybersecurity attacks on the agriculture
and food system;
``(2) potential losses in the agriculture and food system
due to a cybersecurity attack;
``(3) the gaps, challenges, barriers, or opportunities for
improving defensive measures in the agriculture and food
system;
``(4) lessons learned from any crisis simulation exercises
involving cybersecurity attacks on the agriculture and food
system; and
``(5) any recommendations for Federal legislative or
administrative actions to address the risks, vulnerabilities,
and potential losses due to cybersecurity attacks on the
agriculture and food system.
``(b) Biennial Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report describing the most recently conducted
assessment under subsection (a).''.
Subtitle E--Other Miscellaneous Provisions
SEC. 12501. MAPLE RESEARCH AND MARKET PROMOTION PROGRAM.
Section 12306 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 1632c) is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``acer access and
development program'' and inserting ``maple research and market
promotion program'';
(2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``Secretary of Agriculture may make'' and
inserting ``Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as
the `Maple Research and Market Promotion Program', under which
the Secretary may make'';
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ``of Agriculture''; and
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12502. PROTECTING ANIMALS WITH SHELTER.
Section 12502(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (34
U.S.C. 20127) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``Office of the'' and
inserting ``Office on''; and
(2) in paragraph (8)(A), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12503. BEAGLE BRIGADE.
Subtitle C of the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7751 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 439. NATIONAL DETECTOR DOG TRAINING CENTER.
``(a) In General.--There is established a National Detector Dog
Training Center (referred to in this section as the `Center').
``(b) Duties.--The Center shall have the following duties:
``(1) Training dogs for the purpose of safeguarding
domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign and
invasive pests and diseases.
``(2) Training human handlers to successfully select and
train dogs for the purpose described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Collaborating with relevant Federal agencies,
including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to safeguard
domestic agricultural and natural resources.
``(4) Collaborating with external stakeholders, including
State departments of agriculture, local and county agricultural
officials, private sector entities, and other relevant non-
Federal partners.
``(5) Ensuring the health and welfare of all dogs under the
care of the Center, including by ensuring access to necessary
veterinary care, adequate shelter, and proper nutrition.
``(6) Providing opportunities for private adoption of
retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not complete
training.
``(7) Any other duties necessary to safeguard domestic
agricultural and natural resources from foreign and invasive
pests and diseases, as determined by the Secretary, acting
through the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, shall submit to Congress a
report that contains--
``(1) a description of current and emerging threats to
domestic agricultural and natural resources from foreign pests
and diseases within the purview of the operations of the
Center;
``(2) an examination of the role that the Center plays in
the protection against foreign pests and diseases;
``(3) a description of improvements needed in Federal
programs to minimize threats from foreign pests and diseases
within the purview of the operations of the Center, including
strengthened coordination among the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and
other relevant Federal agencies;
``(4) recommendations to strengthen the capabilities of the
Center in protecting against foreign pests and diseases; and
``(5) recommendations to improve--
``(A) the dog procurement procedures of the Center;
and
``(B) private adoption opportunities for
retirement-age trained dogs and dogs that do not
complete training.''.
SEC. 12504. IMPORTATION OF DOGS INTO THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--The Animal Health Protection Act is amended by
inserting after section 10404 (7 U.S.C. 8303) the following:
``SEC. 10404A. IMPORTATION OF DOGS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Compensation.--The term `compensation' means any act,
consideration, or thing of value received by a person directly,
including cash or noncash benefits, cost-avoidance, obtaining
positive or avoiding negative publicity, an exchange of
services, or maintaining a license issued under any local,
State, or Federal Government authority.
``(2) Import transporter.--The term `import transporter'
means any person or entity who--
``(A) receives an imported dog from any importer,
dealer, research facility, exhibitor, operator of an
auction sale, or department, agency, or instrumentality
of the United States or of any State or local
government; and
``(B) receives compensation for moving that
imported dog in commerce.
``(3) Importer.--The term `importer' means any person who
transports or causes the transportation of a dog into the
United States from a foreign country.
``(4) Transfer.--The term `transfer' means a change of
ownership or control of an imported dog to another person,
including by sale, adoption, exchange, or donation.
``(b) Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no
person shall import a dog into the United States unless, prior
to transport to the United States, the Secretary receives
electronic documentation demonstrating, as determined by the
Secretary, that the dog--
``(A) is in good health;
``(B) has received all necessary vaccinations and
internal and external parasite treatment and
demonstrated negative test results, as required by the
Secretary and evidenced by a certificate that--
``(i) is issued by a licensed veterinarian
accredited by a competent veterinary authority
recognized by the Secretary; and
``(ii) is endorsed by that authority in a
manner representing that the veterinarian
issuing the certificate was authorized to do
so;
``(C) is officially identified by a permanent
method approved by the Secretary; and
``(D) if intended for transfer--
``(i) is at least 6 months old; and
``(ii) is accompanied by an import permit
issued by the Secretary under this Act.
``(2) Exceptions.--The Secretary, by regulation, shall
provide an exception to any requirement under this Act in any
case in which a dog is imported--
``(A) as a personal pet of United States origin
returning to the United States; or
``(B) for purposes of transfer for--
``(i) research purposes;
``(ii) veterinary treatment, paid for by
the importer, subject to the condition that the
dog--
``(I) is taken directly to a
veterinary facility for treatment with
appropriate quarantine until the dog
meets the criteria described in
paragraph (1); and
``(II) is then exported to its
country of origin; or
``(iii) in the case of a dog that is less
than 6 months old, lawful importation into the
State of Hawaii from the British Isles,
Australia, Guam, or New Zealand, in compliance
with the regulations of the State of Hawaii and
the other requirements of this section, if the
dog is not transported out of the State of
Hawaii for transfer at less than 6 months of
age.
``(c) Implementation and Regulations.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security
Act of 2024, the Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the
Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate such regulations as the
Secretaries determine to be necessary to implement and enforce this
section, including regulations that--
``(1) facilitate electronic submission and interagency
sharing of all documentation required under subsection (b)(1)
prior to the arrival of a dog into the United States;
``(2) establish any necessary postarrival verification
processes for imported dogs;
``(3) ensure the denial of entry into the United States of
any dog that fails to meet the requirements of subsection
(b)(1);
``(4) require the Secretary to share with a State
veterinarian, on request of the State veterinarian, the
certificate described in subsection (b)(1)(B) for the
applicable imported dog; and
``(5) determine and establish such fees for the
verification of documentation and issuance of permits with
respect to dog importation as are necessary to fund the
implementation and enforcement of this section.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (c)(5) limits
the availability of funding made available under section 10417 to carry
out this section.
``(e) Enforcement.--
``(1) Authority.--The Secretary shall have the authority
granted under section 10414 to enforce this section.
``(2) Penalties.--An importer or import transporter that
fails to comply with this section shall--
``(A) be subject to penalties under section 10414;
and
``(B) if the importer is a dealer, provide, as the
Secretary may determine, at the expense of the
importer, for--
``(i) the care (including appropriate
veterinary care), forfeiture, quarantine, and
removal from the United States of each
applicable dog; and
``(ii) the return of each applicable dog to
its place of export, with due care for the
welfare of each applicable dog.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act (7
U.S.C. 2148) is repealed.
(c) Transition Period.--Until the date on which final regulations
are issued under section 10404A(c) of the Animal Health Protection Act
(as added by subsection (a)), the importation of live dogs shall be
regulated in accordance with the regulations promulgated under section
18 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2148) (as in effect on the day before the date
of enactment of this Act), but only to the extent that those
regulations are not in conflict with section 10404A of that Act.
SEC. 12505. VETERINARY MEDICINE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM AND VETERINARY
SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to
review the veterinary medicine loan repayment program
established under section 1415A of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3151a) (referred to in this subsection as the ``program'')--
(A) to determine if the program is achieving its
purpose of ensuring that an adequate supply of trained
food animal veterinarians are placed in identified
veterinarian shortage situations (as determined under
subsection (b) of that section (7 U.S.C. 3151a(b)));
and
(B) to identify recommendations for improvements to
the program, including improvements that may be
implemented administratively or that require statutory
authorization.
(2) Contents.--The study under paragraph (1) shall
include--
(A) retention and compensation data of awardees;
(B) data on the student loan debt of applicants and
awardees;
(C) an examination of the seasonality of practice
type for food animal practitioners; and
(D) an estimate of the benefits of increasing the
maximum annual payment amount towards qualified
educational loans.
(3) Community input.--In carrying out the study under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek input from stakeholders
on--
(A) whether the program is meeting its short-term
objective of matching specific area needs with the
knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, goals, and
aspirations of applicants;
(B) whether the program is meeting its long-term
objective of providing educational loan repayment
support to veterinarians to sustain clinical private
and public practice in veterinary shortage situations
described in paragraph (1)(A);
(C) identifying concerns and problems with program
implementation;
(D) providing solutions for problems identified in
subparagraph (C), to include in recommendations under
paragraph (1)(B); and
(E) any other issues that the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(4) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a
report that describes the results of the study conducted under
paragraph (1), including--
(A) the recommendations described in paragraph
(1)(B) and any other recommendations that the Secretary
determines appropriate; and
(B) any data and information gaps identified for
applicants and awardees of the program.
(b) Veterinary Services Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to
review the veterinary services grant program established under
section 1415B of the National Agricultural Research, Extension,
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3151b) (referred to
in this subsection as the ``program'')--
(A) to determine if the program is achieving its
purpose of relieving veterinarian shortage situations
(as defined in subsection (a) of that section (7 U.S.C.
3151b(a)) and supporting veterinary services; and
(B) to identify recommendations for improvements to
the program, including improvements that may be
implemented administratively or that require statutory
authorization.
(2) Community input.--In carrying out the study under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall seek input from stakeholders
on--
(A) whether the education, extension, and training
grants are achieving their purpose of developing,
implementing, and sustaining veterinary services
through education, training, recruitment, placement,
and retention of veterinarians, veterinary technicians,
and students of veterinary medicine and veterinary
technology;
(B) whether the rural practice enhancement grants
are achieving their purpose of establishing or
expanding veterinary practices in rural areas;
(C) identifying concerns and problems with program
implementation;
(D) providing solutions for problems identified
under subparagraph (C), to include in recommendations
under paragraph (1)(B); and
(E) any other issues that the Secretary determines
appropriate.
(3) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a
report that describes the results of the study conducted under
paragraph (1), including the recommendations described in
paragraph (1)(B) and any other recommendations that the
Secretary determines appropriate.
SEC. 12506. REPORT ON ANIMAL DEPOPULATION.
(a) Definition of Mass Depopulation.--In this section, the term
``mass depopulation'' means the method by which large numbers of
animals are destroyed quickly and efficiently to contain, control, and
eradicate disease.
(b) Report.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the
Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shall
submit to the Secretary a report that describes the mass depopulation
activities carried out or facilitated by the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service during the previous fiscal year, including the
following information with regard to each mass depopulation:
(1) The dates of the mass depopulation.
(2) The general geographic region in which the mass
depopulation occurred.
(3) Reasons for the mass depopulation.
(4) The total number, species, and breed of the depopulated
animals.
(5) The depopulation and disposal methods that were used.
(6) Any monitoring, testing, or sampling protocol used to
monitor releases of environmental contaminants from the
disposal location.
(7) The total cost associated with the mass depopulation
and disposal.
(c) Publicly Searchable Database.--The Secretary shall develop and
make publicly available an electronically searchable and sortable
database that contains the information reported under subsection (b).
SEC. 12507. RETIREMENT OF RESEARCH ANIMALS.
(a) In General.--Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.
2144) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 14. STANDARDS FOR FEDERAL FACILITIES.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Animal rescue organization.--The term `animal rescue
organization' means a nonprofit organization the purpose of
which is to rescue covered animals and find permanent adoptive
homes for those animals.
``(2) Animal shelter.--The term `animal shelter' means a
facility that--
``(A) accepts or seizes covered animals--
``(i) to care for the animals;
``(ii) to place those animals in a
permanent adoptive home; or
``(iii) for purposes of law enforcement;
and
``(B) does not--
``(i) engage in commercial trade of covered
animals;
``(ii) breed covered animals;
``(iii) allow the use of a covered animal
for performance or exhibition purposes; or
``(iv) conduct or permit research on a
covered animal other than noninvasive
behavioral research.
``(3) Covered animal.--The term `covered animal' means a
dog or a cat that is unwanted, abandoned, or otherwise in need
of placement in a home.
``(4) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit
organization' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.
``(5) Suitable for retirement.--The term `suitable for
retirement' means, with respect to an animal, that the animal
has been evaluated by a licensed veterinarian and is determined
to be mentally and physically healthy.
``(b) Laboratory Animal Facilities and Exhibitors.--Any department,
agency, or instrumentality of the United States that operates
laboratory animal facilities or exhibits animals shall comply with the
standards and other requirements promulgated by the Secretary under
subsections (a), (g), (h), and (i) of section 13.
``(c) Retirement.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United
States operating a Federal research facility shall, after
public notice and comment, promulgate regulations that, with
respect to any covered animal of the facility that is no longer
needed for research and is determined to be suitable for
retirement--
``(A) facilitate and encourage the adoption of the
covered animal by, or placement of the covered animal
with, an animal rescue organization, an animal shelter,
or an individual who intends to keep the covered animal
as a pet; and
``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, seek
collaboration with appropriate nonprofit organizations
to carry out subparagraph (A).
``(2) National placement.--The regulations promulgated to
carry out paragraph (1)(A) shall include consideration of
placing covered animals with the entities described in that
subparagraph that are located beyond the immediate geographic
vicinity of the Federal research facility at which the covered
animal being retired is located.
``(d) Effect on Other Laws.--Nothing in this section, including
regulations promulgated under subsection (c)(1), shall--
``(1) preempt any State or local law relating to the
adoption or placement of animals used in research that is more
stringent than the requirements of this section; or
``(2) prevent a State or unit of local government from
adopting or enforcing an animal welfare law that is more
stringent than this section.''.
(b) Technical Amendments.--Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act (7
U.S.C. 2143) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (g) and (h) as subsections
(h) and (i), respectively; and
(2) by redesignating the second subsection (f) (relating to
the certification requirement for the delivery of any animal)
as subsection (g).
SEC. 12508. STRENGTHENING ENFORCEMENT OF ANIMAL WELFARE ACT.
(a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.
2132) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``of the United States
or his representative who shall be an employee of the United
States'' and inserting ``or a representative of the Secretary
of Agriculture, who shall be an employee of the'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by adding ``or'' at the end after
the semicolon; and
(3) in each of subsections (a) through (o)--
(A) by inserting a subsection heading, the text of
which comprises the term defined in the subsection;
(B) by reordering the subsections so as to appear
in alphabetical order based on the subsection headings
(as so added); and
(C) by redesignating the subsections (as so
reordered) appropriately.
(b) Sale or Transportation Without License.--Section 4 of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2134) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 4. SALE OR TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT LICENSE.
``No dealer or exhibitor shall do any of the following in commerce:
exhibit, purchase, offer to purchase, sell, offer to sell, transport,
or offer for transportation any animal, unless the dealer or exhibitor
has a valid license from the Secretary that has not been suspended.''.
(c) Investigations and Inspections.--Section 16(c) of the Animal
Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2146(c)) is amended in the fourth sentence by
striking ``enforce, and to prevent and restrain violations of this
Act,'' and inserting ``enforce, prevent, and restrain violations of
this Act, or any rule, standard, or regulation promulgated pursuant to
this Act,''.
(d) Civil Penalty.--Section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.
2149) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), in the first sentence, by inserting
``, or any rule, standard, or regulation promulgated
thereunder,'' before ``shall''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Rewards and Certain Incidental Expenses.--With respect to the
sums received by the Secretary or the Attorney General as penalties or
fines for any violation of this Act or any rule, standard, or
regulation promulgated thereunder, the Secretary or the Attorney
General, as applicable, shall use those sums to pay the reasonable and
necessary costs incurred by any person in providing temporary care for
any animal pending the disposition of any civil or criminal proceeding
alleging a violation of this Act with respect to that animal.''.
(e) Enforcement by Attorney General.--The Animal Welfare Act is
amended by inserting after section 19 (7 U.S.C. 2149) the following:
``SEC. 20. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.
``(a) In General.--The Attorney General may bring a civil action in
the appropriate district court of the United States for appropriate
relief, including a temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction (including for removal or relocation of animals),
license revocation, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for each
violation for each day during which the violation continues, against
any person who violates any provision of this Act or any rule,
standard, or regulation promulgated thereunder.
``(b) Seizure and Forfeiture of Animals.--
``(1) In general.--Any animal that is subjected to conduct
that constitutes a violation of this Act, or any rule,
standard, or regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be
subject to seizure and forfeiture to the United States in
accordance with chapter 46 of title 18, United States Code.
``(2) Costs.--Any person whose act or omission is the basis
for a seizure authorized by subparagraph (1) may be charged a
reasonable fee for expenses to the United States relating to
the transfer and care of the seized animal.
``(c) Warrants.--The judges of the district courts of the United
States and United States magistrate judges may, within their respective
jurisdictions, on proper oath or affirmation showing probable cause,
issue such warrants or other processes as may be required for
enforcement of this Act and any rule, standard, or regulation
promulgated thereunder.
``(d) Savings Clause.--
``(1) Attorney general.--No action taken by the Attorney
General pursuant to this section shall affect or limit the
authority of the Secretary to enforce any provision of this Act
or any rule, standard, or regulation thereunder.
``(2) Secretary.--No action taken by the Secretary shall
affect or limit the authority of the Attorney General under
this Act.''.
(f) Authority To Apply for Injunctions.--Section 29(b) of the
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2159(b)) is amended by striking the second
sentence.
(g) Severability.--The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 30. SEVERABILITY.
``If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof, is held
invalid, the validity of the remainder of this Act and the application
of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be
affected.''.
(h) Memorandum of Understanding.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the Attorney General to carry out the
authorities granted by the amendments made by this section, including
an agreement to provide the Attorney General with timely information
about violators who have multiple citations that seriously or adversely
affect the health or well-being of an animal.
(i) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) section 16(c) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C.
2146(c)) establishes the jurisdiction of Federal courts to
address violations of, and cases arising from violations of,
that Act and provides the Attorney General with the authority
to bring such cases in Federal court; and
(2) the enforcement jurisdiction of the Federal courts, and
the corresponding enforcement authority of the Attorney
General, include violations of the rules, standards, and
regulations promulgated under that Act.
SEC. 12509. DAIRY BUSINESS INNOVATION INITIATIVES.
Section 12513(i) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 1632d(i)) is amended by striking ``$20,000,000'' and inserting
``$36,000,000''.
SEC. 12510. MARKETING ORDERS.
Section 8e(a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608e-
1(a)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ``dates, filberts''
and inserting ``dates (including dates for processing),
filberts'';
(2) by striking ``, other than dates for processing,'' each
place it appears; and
(3) by striking ``he'' each place it appears and inserting
``the Secretary of Agriculture''.
SEC. 12511. FARMER SEED LIAISON.
Subtitle I of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of
1994 (7 U.S.C. 7005) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 286. FARMER SEED LIAISON.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary shall establish in the
Agricultural Marketing Service the position of Farmer Seed Liaison.
``(b) Duties.--The Farmer Seed Liaison shall--
``(1) elevate the voices of farmers, small- and mid-sized
seed companies, and independent plant breeders for the purpose
of strengthening competition and choice in the seed
marketplace;
``(2) serve as a point of contact within the Department for
stakeholders regarding all matters relating to seeds;
``(3) liaise with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office and other relevant Federal and State agencies and
international bodies regarding seed issues;
``(4) engage with farmers, seed companies, plant breeders,
and the public regarding transparency and competition in seed
markets, including with respect to the Federal Seed Act (7
U.S.C. 1551 et seq.);
``(5) promote innovation by working with relevant research
agencies of the Department--
``(A) to identify priorities for public plant
breeding research and development; and
``(B) to promote research access to seed germplasm;
``(6) review, and advise the Secretary regarding, farmer
and plant breeder rights and protections under relevant laws
(including the effectiveness of compliance with, and
enforcement of, those laws), including the monitoring of--
``(A) any online materials that advertise seeds
regulated under the Federal Seed Act (7 U.S.C. 1551 et
seq.);
``(B) contracting and data usage practices that
implicate farmer and plant breeder privacy, use rights,
or competition; and
``(C) licensing or marketing arrangements between
seed companies and farmers or plant breeders;
``(7) establish and periodically update the website
described in subsection (d); and
``(8) in carrying out the duties described in paragraphs
(1) through (7), consult with and provide technical assistance
to any Federal department or agency.
``(c) Support.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary may authorize staff in other agencies and offices of the
Department, including the Plant Variety Protection Office in the
Agricultural Marketing Service, to support the duties of the Farmer
Seed Liaison under this section.
``(d) Website Required.--The website referred to in subsection
(b)(7) shall include--
``(1) resources, either within the Department or within
other Federal departments or agencies, that promote innovation
and competition within the seed marketplace; and
``(2) opportunities for stakeholder engagement and
feedback.
``(e) Consultation Required.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholder organizations,
including those that serve farmers, small- and mid-sized seed
companies, and independent plant breeders.
``(f) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit a report on the activities of the Farmer
Seed Liaison in the prior fiscal year to--
``(A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate.
``(2) Publicly available.--The Secretary shall make the
report described in paragraph (1) publicly available on the
website of the Department.
``(g) Funding.--In addition to any amounts otherwise available,
there is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 for each fiscal year
to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 12512. PROCUREMENT STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to examine barriers
to and opportunities for commodity food purchases by the Department of
Agriculture (including under programs funded by the Department of
Agriculture), including--
(1) the barriers to and opportunities for commodity food
purchases by the Department of Agriculture (including under
programs funded by the Department of Agriculture) with respect
to--
(A) food produced by--
(i) beginning, veteran, limited resource,
and underserved farmers and ranchers;
(ii) small to mid-sized farm operations;
(iii) agricultural cooperatives; and
(iv) independent small and mid-sized meat
and poultry processors;
(B) food produced pursuant to certifications
relating to--
(i) organic production;
(ii) animal welfare;
(iii) climate-smart practices;
(iv) using fair labor practices, such as a
fair trade certification; or
(v) other process-related or product
attribute certifications determined appropriate
by the Secretary; and
(C) food produced by or supplied by providers of
Kosher, Halal, Tribal, or other culturally relevant
agricultural products; and
(2) the extent to which existing procurement channels,
including the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative
Agreement Program, have addressed barriers to and opportunities
for commodity food purchases by the Department of Agriculture
(including under programs funded by the Department of
Agriculture) for each of the barriers identified in paragraph
(1).
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall publish and make publicly available on
the website of the Department of Agriculture a report describing in
detail the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
SEC. 12513. PROMOTION OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL WORKPLACE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Required Representations and Certifications.--Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) require any entity that enters into a contract with the
Department of Agriculture to represent, on an annual basis and
to the best of the knowledge of the entity, whether, within the
preceding 3-year period, any final administrative merits
determination, arbitral award or decision, or civil judgment,
as defined in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, has
been issued against the entity for any violation of section 12
of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 212),
relating to child labor;
(2) require that an offeror with respect to a contract with
the Department of Agriculture--
(A) certify, to the best of the knowledge of the
entity, whether, within the preceding 3-year period,
any final administrative merits determination, arbitral
award or decision, or civil judgment, as defined by the
Secretary in coordination with the Secretary of Labor,
for a violation described in paragraph (1) has been
issued against the entity; and
(B) require such a certification from each of the
subcontractors or service providers to be used in
performing, or that were considered for the performance
of, the contract for which the offeror is submitting an
offer and provide such certifications with the
certification by the offeror under subparagraph (A);
(3) prohibit the Department of Agriculture from awarding a
contract to--
(A) an entity that provides an affirmative response
to a representation under paragraph (1) and has failed
to implement any corrective measure negotiated under
subsection (b); or
(B) an offeror that--
(i) provides an affirmative response to a
certification under paragraph (2) and has
failed to implement any corrective measure
negotiated under subsection (b); or
(ii) intends to use a subcontractor or
service provider in the performance of the
contract that was identified as having
violations in such an affirmative response and
has failed to implement any corrective measure
negotiated under such subsection;
(4) require the name and address of each entity that
provides an affirmative response to a representation under
paragraph (1), and the name and address of each offeror,
subcontractor, or service provider identified as having
violations in an affirmative response to a certification under
paragraph (2), to be referred to the Secretary of Labor for
purposes of negotiating with that entity, offeror,
subcontractor, or service provider on corrective measures under
subsection (b) and preparing the list and conducting suspension
and debarment proceedings under subsection (c); and
(5) coordinate with the Secretary of Labor to provide
procedures for consultation with the Secretary of Labor by an
offeror described in paragraph (2) to assist the offeror in
evaluating the information on compliance with section 12 of the
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 212), relating to
child labor, submitted to the offeror by a subcontractor or
service provider pursuant to such paragraph.
(b) Corrective Measures.--An entity that makes an affirmative
response to a representation under subsection (a)(1) or offeror,
subcontractor, or service provider that makes an affirmative response
in a certification under subsection (a)(2)--
(1) shall update the representation or certification,
respectively, based on any steps taken by the entity, offeror,
subcontractor, or service provider to correct violations of or
improve compliance with section 12 of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 212), relating to child labor, including
any agreements entered into with the Secretary of Labor; and
(2) may negotiate with the Secretary of Labor regarding
corrective measures that the entity, offeror, subcontractor, or
service provider may take in order to avoid being placed on the
list under subsection (c) and referred for suspension and
debarment proceedings under such subsection, in the case the
entity, offeror, subcontractor, or service provider meets the
criteria for such list and proceedings under such subsection.
(c) List of Ineligible Entities.--
(1) In general.--For each calendar year beginning with the
first calendar year that begins after the date that is 2 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Labor, in coordination with the Secretary as necessary, shall
prepare a list and conduct suspension and debarment proceedings
for--
(A) each entity that provided an affirmative
response to a representation under subsection (a)(1)
and has failed to implement any corrective measure
negotiated under subsection (b) for the year of the
list; and
(B) each offeror, subcontractor, or service
provider that was identified as having violations in an
affirmative response to a certification under
subsection (a)(2) and has failed to implement any
corrective measure negotiated under subsection (b) for
the year of the list.
(2) Ineligibility.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall not, during
the period of time described in subparagraph (B),
solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent to
subcontracts with any entity, offeror, subcontractor,
or service provider that is listed--
(i) under paragraph (1); and
(ii) as an active exclusion in the System
for Award Management.
(B) Period of time.--The period of time described
in this subparagraph is a period of time determined by
the suspension and debarment official that is not less
than 4 years from the date on which the entity,
offeror, subcontractor, or service provider is listed
as an exclusion in the System for Award Management.
(3) Additional considerations.--In determining the entities
to consider for suspension and debarment proceedings under
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Labor shall ensure procedures
for such determination are consistent with the procedures set
forth in subpart 9.4 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation for
the suspension and debarment of Federal contractors.
(d) Penalties for Failure To Report.--
(1) Offense.--It shall be unlawful for a person to
knowingly fail to make a representation or certification
required under paragraph (1) or (2), respectively, of
subsection (a).
(2) Penalty.--
(A) In general.--A violation of paragraph (1) shall
be referred by the Secretary for suspension and
debarment proceedings, to be conducted by the
suspension and debarment official of the Department of
Labor.
(B) Loss to government.--A violation of paragraph
(1) shall be subject to the penalties under sections
3729 through 3733 of title 31, United States Code
(commonly known as the ``False Claims Act'').
(e) Public Availability.--For each calendar year beginning with the
first calendar year that begins after the date that is 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with
the Secretary of Labor, shall make publicly available on a public
website a report that includes--
(1) the number of entities, offerors, subcontractors, or
service providers on the list under subsection (c) for the year
of the report;
(2) the number of entities, offerors, subcontractors, or
service providers that agreed to take corrective measures under
subsection (b) for such year;
(3) the amount of the applicable contracts with the
Department of Agriculture for the entities, offerors,
subcontractors, or service providers described in paragraph (1)
or (2); and
(4) an assessment of the effectiveness of the
implementation of this section for such year.
(f) Gao Study.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
(1) conduct a study on the prevalence of violations of
section 12 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C.
212), relating to child labor, among entities that have entered
into contracts with the Department of Agriculture; and
(2) submit a report containing the findings of the study
conducted under paragraph (1) to--
(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability
of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 12514. RELIEF FOR FARMERS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agricultural land.--
(A) In general.--The term ``agricultural land''
means any land that is used, or capable of use without
substantial modification, for production of farm
products.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``agricultural land''
includes irrigation water, livestock water, surface
water, groundwater, and agricultural inputs on or
associated with land described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Commercial farm.--The term ``commercial farm'' means a
farm on which a person produces any farm product with the
intent that the farm product be sold or otherwise disposed of
to generate income.
(3) Eligible government.--The term ``eligible government''
means--
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) a territory of the United States; and
(D) an Indian Tribe.
(4) Farm product.--
(A) In general.--The term ``farm product'' means
any plant or animal that is useful to humans.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``farm product''
includes--
(i) forages;
(ii) sod crops;
(iii) grains;
(iv) food crops;
(v) dairy products;
(vi) poultry and poultry products;
(vii) bees;
(viii) livestock and livestock products;
(ix) products of aquaculture;
(x) fruits;
(xi) berries;
(xii) vegetables;
(xiii) flowers;
(xiv) seeds;
(xv) grasses;
(xvi) Christmas trees; and
(xvii) other similar products, as
determined by the Secretary.
(5) Perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance; pfas.--The
term ``perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance'' or
``PFAS'' means a chemical that--
(A) contains at least one of--
(i) R-(CF2)-CF(R')R'', where both the CF2
and CF moieties are saturated carbons, and none
of the R groups can be hydrogen;
(ii) R-CF2OCF2-R', where both the CF2
moieties are saturated carbons, and none of the
R groups can be hydrogen; or
(iii) CF3C(CF3)RR', where all the carbons
are saturated, and none of the R groups can be
hydrogen; or
(B) is covered by the most recent working
definition of PFAS issued by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
(6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program
established under subsection (b).
(7) Septage.--The term ``septage'' means waste, refuse,
effluent, sludge, and any other materials from septic tanks,
cesspools, or any other similar facilities.
(8) Sludge.--The term ``sludge'' means--
(A) solid, semisolid, or liquid waste generated
from a municipal, commercial, or industrial--
(i) wastewater treatment plant;
(ii) water supply treatment plant; or
(iii) wet process air pollution control
facility; and
(B) any other waste having similar characteristics
and effect.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program under
which the Secretary shall provide grants to eligible governments for
the purposes described in subsection (f).
(c) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
the program, the territory of an eligible government shall
contain--
(A) agricultural land that contains any soil with
levels of PFAS that have been determined to be unsafe
pursuant to criteria established by the Secretary; or
(B) water used for the production of farm products
with levels of PFAS that have been determined to be
unsafe pursuant to criteria established by the
Secretary.
(2) Consideration.--In determining the eligibility of an
eligible government for a grant under the program, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, shall consider State standards
and limitations relating to soil and water.
(d) Applications.--
(1) In general.--To receive a grant under the program, the
department of agriculture or similar agency of an eligible
government shall submit to the Secretary an application at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require.
(2) Spend plan.--An application submitted under paragraph
(1) shall contain a plan describing how the eligible government
will administer the funding received under the program,
including funding priorities and oversight.
(e) Set-Aside.--Each year, the Secretary shall provide not less
than 30 percent of the total funding provided under the program to 1 or
more eligible governments with a population of less than 3,000,000.
(f) Purposes and Use of Grant Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible government may use a grant
received under the program to provide funding for any of the
following purposes:
(A) Monitoring (including through blood serum
testing) the PFAS-related health complications of a
person, and members of the household of that person, if
agricultural land the person lives or works on is found
to be contaminated by PFAS.
(B) Buying, selling, or providing compensation for
agricultural land or farm products found, through test
results provided to the eligible government, to be
contaminated by PFAS, including costs associated with
the depopulation or disposal of farm products,
premortem or postmortem.
(C) Investing in agricultural equipment,
facilities, and infrastructure to ensure that
agricultural land that, or a commercial farm any
agricultural land of which, is found to be contaminated
by PFAS maintains profitability while the producers on
the agricultural land, in response to the PFAS
contamination--
(i) transition to an alternative production
system; or
(ii) implement remediation strategies
(including disposal), technological
adaptations, or other modifications to the
operations of the agricultural land or
commercial farm.
(D) Assisting the producers on agricultural land
that, or a commercial farm any agricultural land of
which, is found to be contaminated by PFAS in
developing an enterprise budget for--
(i) alternative production systems;
(ii) remediation strategies;
(iii) technological adaptations;
(iv) transitioning to an alternative
revenue stream; or
(v) relocating a farming operation to new
agricultural land.
(E) Providing financial assistance to a person the
commercial farm of which is found to be contaminated by
PFAS, including income replacement.
(F) Evaluating and expanding the capacity of PFAS
testing and data management in the territory of the
eligible government.
(G) Conducting research that--
(i) supports short-term farm management
decisions with respect to agricultural land
that has been contaminated by PFAS; and
(ii) assesses future options for viable
uses of agricultural land and water used for
agricultural production that has been
contaminated by PFAS.
(H) Conducting research that quantifies the impact
of PFAS on commercial farms and agricultural
communities in the territory of the eligible
government.
(I) Conducting research on--
(i) soil and water remediation systems;
(ii) the viability of those systems for
PFAS-contaminated commercial farms;
(iii) the composting or disposal of PFAS-
contaminated crops or livestock;
(iv) implementing alternative production
systems in response to PFAS contamination;
(v) the PFAS uptake of various farm
products; and
(vi) food safety relating to PFAS
contamination.
(J) Developing and implementing educational
programs for owners of agricultural land, including
determining best practices for--
(i) informing residents about the potential
of being near or on a site on which sludge or
septage application was licensed or permitted
by the eligible government or the Federal
Government; and
(ii) providing information and guidance on
buying or selling agricultural land on which
sludge or septage was applied.
(K) Long-term monitoring of agricultural land
contaminated by PFAS and establishing a corresponding
centralized data repository.
(L) Assisting owners and operators of commercial
farms not directly affected by PFAS contamination with
marketing efforts whose branding and marketing may be
affected by the public perception of PFAS contamination
in the territory of the eligible government.
(M) Voluntary testing of farm products,
agricultural land, or other locations that are
suspected to be contaminated with PFAS.
(2) Priority.--
(A) In general.--In using funding received under
the program, an eligible government shall prioritize
purposes that directly assist producers who are
experiencing financial losses due to agricultural PFAS
contamination.
(B) Department of agriculture priority.--In
providing grants under the program, the Secretary shall
prioritize the provision of grants to eligible
governments that will use the grant funds for the
purposes described in subparagraphs (C) through (E) of
paragraph (1).
(g) Reports.--Each year of the period of a grant received under the
program, the department of agriculture or similar agency of an eligible
government shall submit to the Secretary and Congress a report
describing--
(1) the uses of the grant during the previous year,
including--
(A) the purposes described in subsection (f)(1) for
which the grant was used;
(B) the amount of the grant allocated to each
purpose described in subsection (f)(1); and
(C) the extent to which the funding received under
the program, including funding priorities and
oversight, was administered in accordance with the plan
described in subsection (d)(2);
(2) any additional needs identified by agricultural
producers in the territory of the eligible government; and
(3) any additional information the Secretary determines to
be appropriate.
(h) Funding.--
(1) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary
to carry out this section $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, to
remain available until expended.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to
amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$500,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
SEC. 12515. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES DROUGHT MONITOR.
Section 12512 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C.
5856) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024'';
(2) in subsection (d)(2), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Drought Monitor Interagency Working Group.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of
2024, the Secretary shall establish an interagency working
group (referred to in this subsection as the `working group')
to improve the availability of consistent, accurate, and
reliable data for use in producing the United States Drought
Monitor in accordance with this section.
``(2) Membership.--The working group shall consist of not
fewer than--
``(A) 4 representatives from the Department of
Agriculture, including 1 representative from each of--
``(i) the Office of the Chief Economist,
who shall serve as the Chair of the working
group;
``(ii) the Forest Service;
``(iii) the Farm Production and
Conservation mission area; and
``(iv) the Office of the Chief Scientist;
``(B) 4 representatives from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, including 1
representative from each of--
``(i) the Climate Prediction Center;
``(ii) the National Centers for
Environmental Information;
``(iii) the National Integrated Drought
Information System; and
``(iv) the National Mesonet Program;
``(C) 1 representative from the National Drought
Mitigation Center;
``(D) 1 representative from the Department of the
Interior; and
``(E) 3 representatives from mesonet programs in
regions--
``(i) that have experienced severe drought,
as determined by the United States Drought
Monitor, in not less than 5 calendar years
during the period of calendar years 2012
through 2021; and
``(ii) more than 50 percent of the land
area of which is designated by the Economic
Research Service as a Level 1 frontier and
remote area.
``(3) Duties.--The working group shall--
``(A) develop a means for the inclusion of
additional in-situ data into the process of developing
the United States Drought Monitor, including--
``(i) determining minimum requirements for
data to be included in the United States
Drought Monitor;
``(ii) identifying data available from
other government agencies, including through
portals managed by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
``(iii) identifying gaps in coverage and
determining solutions to address those gaps;
``(B) identify and address potential barriers to
the use of existing data, including--
``(i) identifying Federal datasets that
would be of immediate use in developing the
United States Drought Monitor where access is
restricted to some or all authors of the United
States Drought Monitor; and
``(ii) developing proposed accommodations,
modifications to contractual agreements, or
updates to interagency memoranda of
understanding to allow for incorporation of
datasets identified under clause (i);
``(C) develop an open and transparent methodology
for vetting data products developed using remote
sensing or modeling;
``(D) if determined appropriate by the working
group, develop a methodology for inclusion of data that
may otherwise be excluded from the United States
Drought Monitor due to shorter periods of record; and
``(E) identify and address any other issues
relating to data availability and quality, as
determined appropriate by the Chair of the working
group.
``(4) Report.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of the Rural Prosperity and Food
Security Act of 2024, the working group shall submit to
the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary
of the Interior, and the relevant committees of
Congress a report containing recommendations for
changes in policies, regulations, guidance documents,
or existing law to meet the objectives described in
paragraph (3).
``(B) Definition of relevant committees of
congress.--In this paragraph, the term `relevant
committees of Congress' means--
``(i) the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
``(ii) the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate;
``(iii) the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives; and
``(iv) the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives.
``(5) Action by the secretary.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of submission of the report under paragraph (4),
the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce
and the Secretary of the Interior, shall incorporate, to the
extent practicable, the recommendations of the working group to
improve the United States Drought Monitor in accordance with
this section.
``(6) Termination.--The working group shall terminate on
the date that is 90 days after the date on which the report is
submitted under paragraph (4).''.
SEC. 12516. PROGRAM DATA PROTECTION AND ACCESS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Data asset.--The term ``data asset'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code.
(2) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Agriculture.
(3) Designated statistical agency.--The term ``designated
statistical agency'' means the statistical agency or unit
designated by the Secretary under subsection (c)(3).
(4) Evaluation.--The term ``evaluation'' has the meaning
given the term in section 311 of title 5, United States Code.
(5) Evidence.--The term ``evidence'' has the meaning given
the term in section 3561 of title 44, United States Code.
(6) Restricted use data asset.--The term ``restricted use
data asset'' means a data asset in the comprehensive data
inventory developed by the Secretary under section 3511(a) of
title 44, United States Code, that has been determined by the
Secretary to meet the criteria described in paragraph
(2)(A)(iii)(I)(dd) of that section.
(7) Technical assistance.--The term ``technical
assistance'' means information developed to implement or
administer a Department program, including information provided
to program participants, State, regional, or field office
staff, and external partners involved in implementing or
administering the program.
(b) Identification of Data Assets and Priority Areas.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
officers and entities described in paragraph (2), shall
identify data assets (including restricted use data assets)
that individuals or entities with proposals meeting the
requirements under the process described in subsection (d) may
use to build evidence to support policymaking, including
assessment of program outcomes and developing technical
assistance, as required under section 312 of title 5, United
States Code, in the priority areas described in paragraph (3).
(2) Consultation.--The officers and entities with which the
Secretary shall consult under paragraph (1) are--
(A) the Under Secretary for Farm Production and
Conservation;
(B) the Under Secretary for Rural Development;
(C) the Under Secretary for Research, Education,
and Economics;
(D) the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs;
(E) the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and
Environment;
(F) the designated Chief Data Officer of the
Department;
(G) the designated Evaluation Officer of the
Department;
(H) the heads of other agencies or offices of the
Department, as determined by the Secretary; and
(I) stakeholders outside of the Department.
(3) Priority areas.--The priority areas referred to in
paragraph (1) are the following:
(A) Farm profitability.
(B) Farm solvency.
(C) Conservation practice outcomes.
(D) Yield and income variability and risk.
(E) Climate resilience.
(F) Rural well-being.
(G) Any other areas identified by the Secretary.
(4) Inclusions.--The data assets identified under paragraph
(1) shall include information relating to--
(A) crop yields;
(B) production practices;
(C) conservation practices;
(D) rural development investments;
(E) Department program participation, election, and
enrollment, including demographic data such as race,
ethnicity, and gender of program participants;
(F) Department program eligibility; and
(G) other information, as determined by the
Secretary.
(c) Data Asset Transfer and Linking.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
(A) transfer data assets identified under
subsection (b)(1) to the designated statistical agency;
and
(B) to the maximum extent practicable, develop
common approaches for linking data assets identified
under subsection (b)(1).
(2) Frequency.--The Secretary shall--
(A) take the actions described in paragraph (1) not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024; and
(B) establish a regular process to identify,
transfer, link, and update additional data assets
(including restricted use data assets) necessary to
develop evidence to support policymaking.
(3) Designation of statistical agency.--The Secretary shall
designate the statistical agency or unit (as defined in section
3561 of title 44, United States Code) responsible for carrying
out this section.
(d) Standard Application Process.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the head of
the designated statistical agency, shall make data assets
identified under subsection (b)(1) available for research
proposals through the standard application process established
under section 3583 of title 44, United States Code.
(2) Agency terms.--For purposes of this subsection, the
Secretary may incorporate any terms developed by the agencies
and offices within the Department responsible for the
collection of data in the data asset.
(3) Criteria.--For purposes of section 3583(a)(3) of title
44, United States Code, the criteria established by the
Secretary shall include measures to ensure that a research
proposal described in paragraph (1)--
(A) would have statistical results that pose no
risk of unauthorized disclosure of protected data;
(B) is feasible given the features of the data
asset; and
(C) would be consistent with the purposes for which
the data were collected, including for developing
evidence that can be used for technical assistance and
assessment of program outcomes.
(e) Secure Data Access and Disclosure Review.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish--
(A) a method to provide secure access to data
assets to researchers with approved research proposals;
and
(B) a method to provide disclosure review of
research resulting from each proposal for which access
is provided under subparagraph (A) prior to public
release to ensure that no information that is otherwise
protected from disclosure by law is disclosed.
(2) Means of secure access.--The Secretary may provide
secure access to data assets under paragraph (1) through the
use of a secure data center, data enclave, or another
arrangement that complies with all applicable data privacy
laws.
(3) Funding.--
(A) Mandatory funding.--Out of amounts in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is
appropriated to the Secretary to establish and maintain
the methods described in paragraph (1)--
(i) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2025 and 2026, to remain available until
expended; and
(ii) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and
each fiscal year thereafter, to remain
available until expended.
(B) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition
to amounts otherwise available to carry out this
section, there are authorized to be appropriated to
establish and maintain the methods described in
paragraph (1)--
(i) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2025 and 2026; and
(ii) $2,500,000 for each fiscal year
thereafter.
(C) Access fee.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary may charge
individuals and entities a fee for each
approved research proposal for secure access to
data assets under this subsection.
(ii) Limitation.--The amount of a fee
charged under clause (i) shall not exceed the
cost of providing the secure access to the
applicable individual or entity for the
approved research proposal.
(iii) Use of fees.--The fees collected
under clause (i) shall remain available to the
Secretary, without further appropriation, until
expended to establish and maintain the methods
described in paragraph (1).
(f) Research Review and Process.--For each proposal approved for
research under subsection (d), the Secretary shall--
(1) provide public access to primary research results
through journal open access fees or other methods; and
(2) retain archived methods, code, documentation, and data
to allow for research replication and review for a period of at
least 10 years.
(g) Effect on Other Laws.--
(1) Program evaluation.--Nothing in this section shall
affect or modify the authority of the Secretary to conduct
program evaluation studies under section 1471 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3317) through means not authorized by this
section.
(2) Existing authorization.--Nothing in this section shall
affect or modify the authority of the Secretary to make
authorized disclosures under section 1619(b)(3) of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 8791(b)(3)).
SEC. 12517. MEASUREMENT, MONITORING, REPORTING, AND VERIFICATION OF
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION.
(a) Standard Soil Carbon Measurement Methodology.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a
standardized methodology to directly measure soil carbon for
research and conservation purposes.
(2) Review.--In developing the methodology under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall conduct a review of widely used
existing methodologies for direct soil carbon measurement.
(3) Consultation.--In developing the methodology under
paragraph (1) and conducting the review under paragraph (2),
the Secretary shall consult with--
(A) agricultural producers and forest landowners,
including historically underserved farmers, ranchers,
and foresters;
(B) soil carbon experts;
(C) nonprofit organizations;
(D) academic researchers; and
(E) other stakeholders who reflect the operational,
geographic, and socioeconomic diversity of United
States agricultural operations.
(4) Considerations.--In developing the methodology under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider factors such as--
(A) usability at any location at which soil carbon
can be directly measured;
(B) calibration differences in soil analysis
between testing facilities; and
(C) differences in uncertainty between different
measurement tools.
(5) Updates.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall update the
methodology developed under paragraph (1) as needed to
reflect the best-available data science.
(B) Interoperability.--In making any updates under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that data
remains interoperable with previously collected
measurements.
(6) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection $10,000,000.
(B) Set-aside.--Of the amount appropriated under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use not less than
30 percent to provide culturally appropriate technical
assistance and guidance to historically underserved
farmers, ranchers, and foresters.
(b) Soil Carbon Inventory and Analysis Network.--Chapter 5 of
subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 is amended by
inserting after section 1240M (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) the following:
``SEC. 1240N. SOIL CARBON INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS NETWORK.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Conservation activities.--The term `conservation
activities' has the meaning given the term in section 1240I.
``(2) Eligible land.--The term `eligible land' means public
and private cropland, rangeland, pastureland, forestland, and
wetlands in the United States.
``(3) Program.--The term `program' means the program
established under subsection (b)(1).
``(4) Regional resource area.--The term `regional resource
area' means a contiguous area of eligible land that has similar
resource characteristics.
``(5) Resource characteristics.--The term `resource
characteristics' means--
``(A) geographic, climate, natural resource, and
soil type characteristics; and
``(B) any other characteristics that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate for the purpose of
carrying out the program.
``(6) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary,
acting jointly through the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the Administrator of the Agricultural
Research Service, and the Chief of the Forest Service.
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
to inventory, monitor, and analyze soil carbon changes on
eligible land in the United States.
``(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are--
``(A) to analyze soil properties, including soil
organic carbon, across space, time, and depth; and
``(B) to analyze the impacts of land management
strategies, including conservation activities, on soil
carbon sequestration.
``(3) Consultation.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall consult with the Director of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Chief of the Forest
Service, the Chief Data Officer, the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and
the head of any other department or agency that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(c) Sampling.--
``(1) Sample sites.--The Secretary shall select sample
sites under the program by taking into consideration--
``(A) the accessibility of sites;
``(B) the ease of collecting reported measurements
over time; and
``(C) such other factors as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
``(2) Preference.--In selecting sample sites under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to sites
that have been used for soil testing previously.
``(3) Number of sample sites.--The Secretary shall select
sufficient sample sites under paragraph (1) to analyze changes
in soil carbon across regional resource areas, as determined by
the Secretary, over time, taking into account the geographical
size and heterogeneity of each regional resource area.
``(d) Inventory.--
``(1) In general.--Every 5 years, the Secretary shall
prepare an inventory of soil carbon stocks on eligible land,
under which the Secretary shall collect measurements at each
sample site selected under subsection (c).
``(2) Methodology.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
methodology developed under section 12517(a) of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 is used for purposes
of conducting measurements at each sample site under the
program.
``(3) Minimum number of samples.--The Secretary shall
measure a sufficient number of samples to analyze changes in
soil carbon at each sample site selected under subsection (c)
for each inventory under paragraph (1).
``(4) Characteristics.--In preparing each inventory under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall document the following
characteristics for each sample site selected under subsection
(c):
``(A) Soil type and texture.
``(B) Land use history, including conservation
activities.
``(C) Environmental characteristics, such as
temperature and precipitation.
``(D) Land management practices implemented on
eligible land, including conservation activities.
``(E) Other characteristics, as determined by the
Secretary.
``(e) Reports.--On completion of each inventory under subsection
(d)(1), the Secretary shall prepare, publish, and make available to the
public a report that--
``(1) contains a description of soil carbon trends,
including by incorporating measurements conducted under
subsection (d) during the 5 years covered by the report;
``(2) contains an analysis of the impact of different land
management practices, including implementing 1 or more
conservation activities, on soil carbon levels;
``(3) contains an analysis of the effect of weather and
climate variability on the observed trends;
``(4) contains an analysis of how land management
practices, including conservation activities, that influence
soil carbon sequestration may affect the rate of emissions of
other greenhouse gases in the agricultural sector, including
methane and nitrous oxide; and
``(5) establishes a benchmark for the baseline soil carbon
absent additional conservation activities.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000.''.
(c) Predictive Models.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the head of any other Federal agency
that the Secretary determines to be appropriate, shall partner
with nongovernmental experts and researchers to develop and
maintain a modeling tool (or combination of tools), as
determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, that shall
predict the impacts of different land management practices,
including implementing conservation activities, on greenhouse
gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration across the United
States.
(2) Requirements.--The tool described in paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) be anchored in direct measurements of land,
including soil sampling;
(B) account for differences that could impact land
management outcomes, including--
(i) soil type;
(ii) type of land use;
(iii) type of crop;
(iv) species, maturity, and diversity of
tree stands;
(v) geography and local climate;
(vi) geographic size of the land-use
operation;
(vii) ongoing or existing conservation
activities; and
(viii) such other items as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate;
(C) allow a user of the tool to estimate the
changes in greenhouse gas emissions or soil carbon
sequestration, and the uncertainty of those estimated
changes, that occur as a result of implementing 1 or
more conservation activities; and
(D) be user-friendly and accessible--
(i) to producers and researchers; and
(ii) in multiple languages.
SEC. 12518. REPORT ON PERSONNEL.
Section 12506 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 4989) is amended by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12519. CONVERSION AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may, notwithstanding subchapter I of
chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in
the competitive or excepted service, noncompetitively convert to an
appointment in the competitive service, in an agency or office within
the Department of Agriculture, an individual who is--
(1) a recent graduate or student who has successfully
completed the requirements of a program of the Department of
Agriculture through which that individual has completed 480
hours of work, not less than 240 hours of which shall be under
the supervision of the Department of Agriculture;
(2) a participant of the research associate post-doctoral
scientists program described in the notice of the Office of
Personnel Management entitled ``Excepted Service; Consolidated
Listing of Schedules A, B, and C Exceptions'' (77 Fed. Reg.
19366 (March 30, 2012)) under Schedule B, Department of
Agriculture (Sch. B, 213.3213(b)(1));
(3) a participant in an internship program administered by
an eligible third party (as determined by the Secretary) or a
Federal agency, through which that individual has completed 480
hours of work, not less than 240 hours of which shall be under
the supervision of the Department of Agriculture; or
(4) a worker referenced in the notice of the Office of
Personnel Management entitled ``Excepted Service; Consolidated
Listing of Schedules A, B, and C Exceptions'' (77 Fed. Reg.
19366 (March 30, 2012)) under Schedule A, Department of
Agriculture (Sch. A, 213.3113(a)(5)).
(b) Requirements.--An individual may be converted under subsection
(a) only if the individual is a United States citizen, meets the
requirements for that conversion, and meets Office of Personnel
Management qualification standards, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Limitations.--
(1) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (a) requires the
Secretary to convert an individual under that subsection.
(2) Deadline.--The Secretary shall not convert an
individual under subsection (a) more than 2 years after the
date of completion of the event that makes the individual
eligible for the conversion.
SEC. 12520. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
AUTHORITIES.
(a) Recruitment and Retention Authorities for Veterinarians.--
(1) Student loan repayments.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary may repay a student
loan for employees in positions in the veterinary
medical science 0701 occupational series at the
Department of Agriculture pursuant to section 5379(b)
of title 5, United States Code, except that paragraph
(2) of that section shall not apply to such repayment.
(B) Terms and conditions.--Repayment of a student
loan under subparagraph (A) shall be made subject to
such terms, limitations, or conditions as are mutually
agreed to by the Secretary and the employee concerned.
(C) Maximum amount.--The Secretary may not repay a
student loan under subparagraph (A) in an amount that
exceeds--
(i) $30,000 for any employee in any
calendar year; or
(ii) a total of $150,000 for any employee.
(2) Special pay authority.--The Secretary may establish a
rate for special pay for positions in the veterinary medical
science 0701 occupational series at the Department of
Agriculture pursuant to section 5305(a)(1) of title 5, United
States Code, except that, in that section--
(A) ``50 percent'' shall be substituted for ``30
percent''; and
(B) ``level II of the Executive Schedule'' shall be
substituted for ``level IV of the Executive Schedule''.
(b) Special Pay Authority for FSA Loan Officers.--The Secretary may
establish a rate for special pay for positions in the 1101 and 1165
occupational series relating to lending at the Farm Service Agency
pursuant to section 5305(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, except
that, in that section, ``50 percent'' shall be substituted for ``30
percent''.
(c) Special Pay Authority for Certain NRCS Positions.--The
Secretary may establish a rate for special pay for positions in the
civil engineering 0810 occupational series, the engineering technical
0802 occupational series, the soil conservation 0457 occupational
series, and the soil conservation technician 0458 occupational series
at the Natural Resources Conservation Service pursuant to section
5305(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, except that, in that
section, ``50 percent'' shall be substituted for ``30 percent''.
(d) Termination.--The authorities under subsections (a) through (c)
shall terminate on September 30, 2029.
SEC. 12521. AUTHORIZATION OF PROTECTION OPERATIONS FOR THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE AND OTHERS.
Section 12520(d) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 2279k(d)) is amended by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12522. COMMISSION ON FARM TRANSITIONS.
Section 12609 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-334; 132 Stat. 5009) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and
Recommendations'' after ``Study'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``, and make recommendations relating to,''
after ``study on'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and
timely'' after ``affordable''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``programs'' and inserting ``programs, business
training, and technical assistance'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``Federal tax policies'' and
inserting ``State and Federal policies,
including tax policies''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or
impede'' after ``facilitate'';
(E) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(F) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the
end and inserting a semicolon; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) any unique barriers faced by historically underserved
farmers and ranchers in the ability to transfer, inherit, or
purchase agricultural assets, including land;
``(7) leasing and ownership trends, including leasing and
ownership trends by foreign persons or entities; and
``(8) consolidation of farm and ranch operations.'';
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ``Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``Not
later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Rural
Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024''; and
(3) in subsection (m), by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12523. NOTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS FROM USDA.
(a) Commodity Credit Corporation Notification.--The Secretary shall
notify the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the
Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives
in writing at least 15 days prior to--
(1) any announcement on--
(A) the use of funds from the Commodity Credit
Corporation; or
(B) the commitment of any emergency funds from the
Commodity Credit Corporation; or
(2) the obligation or commitment of any emergency funds
from the Commodity Credit Corporation, including, if that
obligation or commitment exceeds $100,000,000--
(A) a detailed spend plan describing anticipated
uses of those funds; and
(B) an expected timeline for program execution.
(b) USDA Notifications and Reports in Annual Appropriations Acts.--
With respect to each report or notification required by an annual
appropriations Act to be submitted to both the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives, the Secretary shall submit that report or
notification to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives at the same time the Secretary submits that report or
notification to the Committees on Appropriations.
SEC. 12524. STANDARDS FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE.
(a) Interconnectivity Standards for Precision Agriculture.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
shall--
(A) develop voluntary, consensus-based, private
sector-led interconnectivity standards, guidelines, and
best practices for precision agriculture that will
promote economies of scale and ease the burden of the
adoption of precision agriculture; and
(B) in carrying out subparagraph (A)--
(i) coordinate with relevant public and
trusted private sector stakeholders and other
relevant industry organizations, including
voluntary consensus standards development
organizations; and
(ii) consult with sector-specific agencies,
other appropriate agencies, and State and local
governments.
(2) Considerations.--The Secretary, in carrying out
paragraph (1), shall, in consultation with the Federal
Communications Commission and the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, consider--
(A) the evolving demands of precision agriculture;
(B) the connectivity needs of precision agriculture
equipment;
(C) the cybersecurity challenges facing precision
agriculture, including cybersecurity threats for
agriculture producers and agriculture supply chains;
(D) the impact of advanced wireless communications
technology on precision agriculture; and
(E) the impact of artificial intelligence on
precision agriculture.
(b) GAO Assessment of Precision Agriculture Standards.--
(1) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the Secretary
develops standards under subsection (a), and every 2 years
thereafter for the following 8 years, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall conduct a study that assesses those
standards, including the extent to which those standards, as
applicable--
(A) are voluntary;
(B) were developed in coordination with relevant
industry organizations, including voluntary consensus
standards development organizations; and
(C) have successfully encouraged the adoption of
precision agriculture.
(2) Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of
Representatives a report that summarizes the findings of each
study conducted under paragraph (1).
SEC. 12525. PIMA AGRICULTURE COTTON TRUST FUND.
Section 12314 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 2101 note;
Public Law 113-79) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2029''; and
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12526. AGRICULTURE WOOL APPAREL MANUFACTURERS TRUST FUND.
Section 12315 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 7101 note;
Public Law 113-79) is amended by striking ``2024'' each place it
appears and inserting ``2029''.
SEC. 12527. WOOL RESEARCH AND PROMOTION.
Section 12316(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 7101
note; Public Law 113-79) is amended by striking ``2024'' and inserting
``2029''.
SEC. 12528. EMERGENCY CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST
FUND.
Section 12605(d) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7
U.S.C. 7632 note; Public Law 115-334) is amended by striking ``2024''
and inserting ``2029''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line