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Bill· HRH.R. 7892 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2022
Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People's Republic of China Act This bill requires the President to prohibit nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, and agents associated with China's government from (1) purchasing agricultural (including ranching) real estate located in the United States, or (2) participating in Department of Agriculture programs that are unrelated to food and safety regulatory requirements.
Report· HearingS.Hrg.117-868published
United States · United States Senate · 25 May 2022
Bill· HRH.R. 7865 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2022
Flood Insurance for Farmers Act of 2022 This bill revises the National Flood Insurance Program to allow exemptions of certain agricultural structures from flood-proofing or elevation standards while receiving coverage under the program. The bill also provides for optional umbrella coverage for commercial, residential (including multifamily rental units), and agricultural property to be made available to all applicants with multiple structures on the same property.
Bill· SS. 4261 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2022
Fixing Our Regulatory Mayhem Upsetting Little Americans Act or the FORMULA Act This bill provides duty-free treatment to infant formula imported from certain countries. Specifically, the bill provides, for 180 days beginning on this bill's enactment, duty-free treatment to infant formula if the formula (1) is imported from specified countries (e.g., Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom), and (2) was approved by the government of that country regulating such formula. The bill temporarily waives certain Food and Drug Administration regulations and requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for formula imported under this bill. A person who manufactures or imports formula must notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if the person has knowledge that such formula may not provide required nutrients or may be unsafe for infant consumption. If HHS determines the formula is unsafe for infant consumption, then the manufacturer or importer must immediately recall shipments from all wholesale and retail establishments. The bill makes formula imported under this bill eligible for purchase using benefits received under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Department of Agriculture must maintain and publicize a list of imported formula approved for use and marketing within the country of origin and the recommended measurements for mixing or otherwise preparing the formula.
Bill· SS. 4262 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 2022
Formula Act of 2022 This bill temporarily provides duty-free treatment to infant formula imported from countries meeting certain standards. The bill also makes formula imported under this bill eligible for purchase using benefits received under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Department of Agriculture may modify or waive certain qualified administrative requirements related to infant formula.
Bill· HRH.R. 7827 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 20 22 This bill places a moratorium on certain acquisitions between large agricultural and retail-related businesses and establishes the Food and Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission. The commission shall report to Congress and the President on (1) the nature and consequences of market concentration in the U.S. food and agricultural economy, and (2) recommended legal and regulatory changes to address such market concentration.
Bill· HRH.R. 7813 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Cacao Tree Health Initiative Act of 2022 This bill establishes a research and extension grant program for a cacao tree health initiative. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide competitive grants for developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests that affect cacao trees; establishing an integrated pest management programs for cacao trees in areas affected by or at risk of being affected by such pests; surveying and collecting data on cacao tree production, health, and markets; investigating cacao tree biology, ecology, genomics, and production systems; conducting research on factors that may contribute to, or be associated with, resilient cacao production systems; and conducting research on factors that may contribute to, or be associated with, serious threats to cacao trees, including the sublethal effects of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on beneficial insects and cacao tree growth.
Bill· HRH.R. 7812 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health Initiative Act of 2022 This bill establishes a research and extension grant program for a floriculture and nursery plant health initiative. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide competitive grants for developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and pathogens that impact floriculture and nursery crops; establishing area-wide integrated pest management programs in areas affected by, or areas at risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or pathogens; surveying and collecting data on the production of, health of, and markets for floriculture and nursery crops; investigating the biology, genomics, and production systems of floriculture and nursery crops; and conducting research on various factors that may contribute to (or be associated with) resilient floriculture and nursery crop systems, and combatting other serious threats to floriculture and nursery crops.
Bill· SS. 4257 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the United States) affecting participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). For example, the bill directs USDA to require each infant formula cost containment contract to include remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to WIC participants in the state.
Bill· SS. 4256 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Protecting Infants from Formula Shortages Act of 2022 This bill imposes requirements on manufacturers of infant formula and medical foods for individuals with inborn errors of metabolism. A manufacturer of such a food must notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of any circumstance that is likely to lead to a meaningful disruption of the U.S. supply of the food, including a discontinuance or interruption of manufacturing. The manufacturer must submit the notification at least six months prior to the cause of the disruption or, if that is not possible, as soon as practicable. The FDA must provide the Department of Agriculture and appropriate organizations information about the cause of the disruption. The FDA must inform a person (an individual or entity) of their failure to comply with these notification requirements. If the failure continues for a certain time period, the person shall be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both. During a public health emergency, the FDA may impose additional conditions for such notifications and designate additional categories of food that are subject to the notification requirements. The bill also requires each manufacturer of such a food to develop and maintain a redundancy risk management plan that identifies and evaluates risks for each manufacturing establishment for the food.
Bill· SS. 4245 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 2022
Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act of 20 22 This bill places a moratorium on certain acquisitions between large agricultural and retail-related businesses and establishes the Food and Agriculture Concentration and Market Power Review Commission. The commission shall report to Congress and the President on (1) the nature and consequences of market concentration in the U.S. food and agricultural economy, and (2) recommended legal and regulatory changes to address such market concentration.
Record· NominationPN2129 (117th)open
United States · United States Senate · 17 May 2022
Record· NominationPN2130 (117th)open
United States · United States Senate · 17 May 2022
Bill· SS. 4231 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Support To Rehydrate the Environment, Agriculture, and Municipalities Act or the STREAM Act This bill generally establishes and expands infrastructure projects to address water supply issues in western states, including by establishing a competitive grant program for nonfederal storage projects.
Law· HRH.R. 7791 (117th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the United States) affecting participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The bill directs USDA to require each infant formula cost containment contract to include remedies in the event of an infant formula recall, including how an infant formula manufacturer would protect against disruption to WIC participants in the state. USDA must, within 30 days, ensure there is a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services that includes procedures for coordination and information sharing regarding any supply chain disruption, including a supplemental food recall. The bill also authorizes USDA to waive or modify any WIC qualified administrative requirement during emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions. Specifically, USDA may waive or modify such a requirement for one or more state agencies if (1) the requirement cannot be met by state agencies during the emergency, disaster, or disruption; and (2) the modification or waiver is necessary to provide assistance to WIC participants and does not substantially weaken the nutritional quality of supplemental foods. For example, USDA may waive the maximum monthly allowance for infant formula. The bill establishes notification requirements for USDA and state agencies related to supply chain disruptions.
Bill· HRH.R. 7790 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 This bill provides $28 million in emergency supplemental appropriations to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to (1) address the current shortage of FDA-regulated infant formula and certain medical foods in the United States; and (2) prevent future shortages, including by taking the steps that are necessary to prevent fraudulent products from entering the U.S. market.
Bill· HRH.R. 7808 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2022
Fixing Our Regulatory Mayhem Upsetting Little Americans Act or the FORMULA Act This bill provides duty-free treatment to infant formula imported from certain countries. Specifically, the bill provides, for 180 days beginning on this bill's enactment, duty-free treatment to infant formula if the formula (1) is imported from specified countries (e.g., Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom), and (2) was approved by the government of that country regulating such formula. The bill temporarily waives certain Food and Drug Administration regulations and requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for formula imported under this bill. A person who manufactures or imports formula must notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) if the person has knowledge that such formula may not provide required nutrients or may be unsafe for infant consumption. If HHS determines the formula is unsafe for infant consumption, then the manufacturer or importer must immediately recall shipments from all wholesale and retail establishments. The bill makes formula imported under this bill eligible for purchase using benefits received under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The Department of Agriculture must maintain and publicize a list of imported formula approved for use and marketing within the country of origin and the recommended measurements for mixing or otherwise preparing the formula.
Bill· HRH.R. 7763 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2022
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to support and incentivize domestic activities to address fertilizer shortages and deficiencies, diversify fertilizer sources, and reduce dependency on foreign sources for fertilizer, including by increasing the availability of innovative fertilizer and fertilizer alternatives.
Bill· HRH.R. 7768 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2022
Farm Credit Administration Independent Authority Act This bill prohibits the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from issuing, implementing, or continuing any policy or guidance issued after January 1, 2021, that affects the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), Farm Credit System, or FCA Board.
Bill· HRH.R. 7765 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2022
American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act of 2022 This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service to enter into cooperative agreements with entities (such as states, colleges, and nonprofit organizations) to establish at least six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers to support small-sized and medium-sized agricultural businesses and producers of agricultural products.
Bill· HRH.R. 7764 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 2022
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional payments to producers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for implementation of a nutrient management practice. USDA must provide the payments through FY2023 and may use up to 5% of the funding to provide technical assistance.
Bill· HRH.R. 7752 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 2022
Plant Biostimulant Act of 2022 This bill excludes plant biostimulants (i.e., a substance, micro-organism, or mixture thereof that supports a plant's natural processes independently of the biostimulant's nutrient content) from regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to study the types of plant biostimulants and practices of plant biostimulant use that best achieve certain results, such as increasing organic matter content.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1103 (117th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2022
This resolution elects Representative Marcy Kaptur to the House Agriculture Committee and elects Representative Sylvia Garcia to the House Armed Services Committee.
Bill· SS. 4189 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2022
Agriculture Innovation Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to identify, collect, link, and analyze certain data regarding the impact of conservation practices and other production practices on farm, ranch, and other working land profitability, including the effect on enhancing crop yields, soil health, ecosystem services, and other risk-reducing factors.
Report· HearingS.Hrg.117published
United States · United States Senate · 10 May 2022
Law· HRH.R. 7691 (117th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2022
Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 This bill provides $40.1 billion in FY2022 emergency supplemental appropriations for activities to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Treasury. Among other things, the bill provides appropriations for defense equipment, migration and refugee assistance, regulatory and technical support regarding nuclear power issues, emergency food assistance, economic assistance, and seizures of property related to the invasion.
Bill· HRH.R. 7675 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2022
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish within USDA an Agricultural and Food System Supply Chain Resilience and Crisis Response Task Force. Among other responsibilities, the task force must (1) help promote the leadership of the United States with respect to the stability of the agriculture and food system supply chain; (2) monitor the resilience, diversity, security, and strength of the supply chain; and (3) support the creation of jobs with competitive wages in the U.S. agricultural and food system sector. The head of the task force must be the Special Advisor on Supply Chain Resilience and Crisis Response who must conduct an evaluation of the stability and reliability of the agriculture and food system supply chain and report to Congress on the evaluation.
Bill· HRH.R. 7665 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 2022
Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Recreation Enhancement and Conservation Act of 2022 or the REC Act of 2022 This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the conservation of and recreational access to the Mount Hood National Forest and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. Specifically, the bill establishes within Mount Hood National Forest one or more Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones to protect and enhance treaty resources, protect reservations from wildfires, and enable a co-management strategy between the Forest Service and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The bill expands the Mount Hood National Recreation Area. The bill also requires the publication of a comprehensive sustainable recreation management plan for the recreation area and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It also establishes Centers for Recreation Excellence to support the management and enhancement of outdoor recreation in these areas. Additionally, the bill provides for a wildfire assessment that covers Mount Hood National Forest, federal land within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and any adjacent private, state, or tribal land; designates specified river segments in Oregon as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and specified areas in Oregon as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System; establishes committees to develop strategies for sustainable access to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mount Hood National Forest; and requires the Department of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with certain entities to provide search and rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services.
Bill· HRH.R. 7663 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2022
Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Great Lakes basin initiative for agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention. Nonpoint source pollution comes from diffuse sources and is caused by precipitation moving over or through the ground and carrying pollution. In implementing the initiative, USDA must provide grants to Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin) for education and outreach, technical assistance, and voluntary verification programs regarding nonpoint source pollution from agricultural activities; establish a funding priority within the Great Lakes basin for payments to producers that participate in the initiative to achieve verification through a state verification program; and use existing data where it is available. In carrying out the initiative, states may collaborate with entities that have agricultural or environmental expertise, including academic or nonprofit organizations.
Bill· HRH.R. 7639 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2022
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take various actions to address transparency in contract terms and pricing in the cattle industry. Among these requirements, USDA must maintain a publicly available library or catalog of contracts entered into between meat packers and livestock producers for the purchase of cattle, including any schedules of premiums or discounts associated with the contracts and other specific details. USDA must make this information available to producers and other interested parties in a monthly report. The bill further requires USDA to establish five to seven regions encompassing the entire continental United States that reasonably reflect similar fed cattle purchase practices for processing plants and establish mandatory minimums for each region (i.e., the minimum percentage of cattle purchases that are required to be made through approved pricing mechanisms from producers that are not packers). Under the bill, approved pricing mechanisms are generally purchases of fed cattle made through a negotiated purchase, through a negotiated grid purchase, at a stockyard, or through trading systems or platforms where multiple buyers and sellers can regularly make and accept bids and offers. The bill also establishes a maximum penalty for mandatory minimum violations by covered packers. Under the bill, a covered packer is a packer that has slaughtered an average of 5% or more of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1079 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2022
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Soil Health Day and calls upon this celebration and its related activities to improve the awareness of U.S. farmers and agribusiness toward the importance of the air and water quality environment for all U.S. citizens.
Report· HearingS.Hrg.117published
United States · United States Senate · 28 April 2022
Report· HearingS.Hrg.117-629published
United States · United States Senate · 28 April 2022
Bill· HRH.R. 7632 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2022
Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2022 This bill provides funding for and expands access to water resources for Native communities (i.e., Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian communities). First, the bill provides funding for the Indian Health Service to (1) provide essential sanitation facilities to community structures (e.g., schools, hospitals, and tribal offices) that were not previously considered eligible for such service; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) operate and maintain water facilities that serve Native communities. Next, the bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture to provide water and wastewater facility grants to eligible entities (e.g., Native communities) that have residents facing significant health risks due to inadequate water supply systems. The bill specifies that these funds shall not require any matching contribution. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2032 the Bureau of Reclamation's Rural Water Supply Program. Further, the bill provides funding for and establishes a grant program for tribal clean water access projects. It also provides funding for the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program.
Bill· SS. 4111 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2022
Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address chronic wasting disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations. Specifically, the bill directs USDA to establish a program to research and manage the disease. Under the program, USDA must offer to enter into agreements with state or tribal wildlife agencies and departments of agriculture, institutions of higher education, and research centers to support research on the transmission of, resistance to, and diagnosis of the disease. In addition, USDA must offer to enter into agreements with such agencies and departments to support state and tribal efforts to develop and implement management strategies that address the disease. USDA must also develop and maintain materials to inform the public on chronic wasting disease and techniques to help prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, USDA must solicit public feedback on potential updates and improvements to standards of the chronic wasting disease herd certification program.
Bill· SS. 4118 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2022
Neighborhood Tree Act of 2022 This bill provides for additional assistance to states, Indian tribes, units of local government, approved organizations, and local community tree volunteer groups to plant and maintain trees. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall establish a Neighborhood Tree Fund from which to provide assistance to such entities to increase and improve the overall health of the tree canopies in their communities. In providing the assistance, USDA must give priority to those entities with proposed projects that include and prioritize tree planting and tree maintenance in underserved communities and neighborhoods, including those that are low-income or have a lower tree canopy. The bill modifies the composition of the membership of the Forestry Advisory Council by (1) increasing the number of council members to 16, and (2) including as a member of the council one individual who is the resident of a low-income community.
Bill· HRH.R. 7606 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2022
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022 This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters. Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer. Additionally, the office must serve as a liaison to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector, consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector, and maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise.
Bill· HRH.R. 7603 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2022
WIC Healthy Beginnings Act of 202 2 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain a publicly available, searchable database that contains solicitations for infant formula bids under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Under current law, state agencies must control infant formula costs in the WIC program through competitive bidding for infant formula rebate contracts. The bill requires state WIC agencies to provide USDA with open solicitations for these competitive bids to populate the database.
Bill· SS. 4081 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2022
Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act or the Healthy H2O Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a clean drinking water program to provide grants for water quality testing and for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of use and point-of-entry water filtration systems that remove or significantly reduce contaminants in drinking water. Grants may be given to end users (such as homeowners), nonprofit organizations, and government entities.
Bill· SS. 4080 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2022
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act This bill modifies the boundary of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include the Walker Ridge (Molok Luyuk) Addition, which is approximately 3,925 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Lake County, California. The Department of the Interior shall administer the addition as part of the monument. Interior and the Department of Agriculture shall jointly develop a comprehensive management plan for the monument in accordance with, and in a manner that fulfills the purposes specified in, Presidential Proclamation 9298 of July 10, 2015, relating to the establishment of the monument. The BLM or the Forest Service shall enter into agreements, contracts, and other similarly cooperative and collaborative partnerships if requested by an affected federally recognized Indian tribe regarding management of the monument pursuant to the relevant federal authority.
Bill· HRH.R. 7509 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2022
Wild Rogue Conservation and Recreation Enhancement Act This bill designates specified Bureau of Land Management land in Oregon as the Rogue Canyon National Recreation Area and adds approximately 59,512 acres of federal land to the Wild Rogue Wilderness. The Department of the Interior, for public land, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), for National Forest System land, must conduct a wildfire risk assessment that covers the recreation area, the Wild Rogue Wilderness, and any adjacent federal land. Interior and USDA must develop plans to mitigate wildfire risk to communities located near the land. No new permanent or temporary roads shall be constructed within the recreation areas except as necessary for public safety or to implement the wildfire mitigation plan. Interior or USDA, as appropriate, may take measures within such wilderness additions as are necessary to control fire, insects, and disease. All federal surface and subsurface land within the recreation area or the wilderness additions is withdrawn from entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials.
Bill· HRH.R. 7498 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2022
Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies or the TEMP Act This bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct or enter into contracts to carry out research and development regarding a temperature-based index policy to insure crops on a nationally-available basis against losses due to a frost or cold weather event, including research to evaluate the effectiveness of risk management tools with respect to low frequency and catastrophic loss weather events.
Bill· SS. 4030 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take various actions to address transparency in contract terms and pricing in the cattle industry. Among these requirements, USDA must maintain a publicly available library or catalog of contracts entered into between meat packers and livestock producers for the purchase of cattle, including any schedules of premiums or discounts associated with the contracts and other specific details. USDA must make this information available to producers and other interested parties in a monthly report. The bill further requires USDA to establish five to seven regions encompassing the entire continental United States that reasonably reflect similar fed cattle purchase practices for processing plants and establish mandatory minimums for each region (i.e., the minimum percentage of cattle purchases that are required to be made through approved pricing mechanisms from producers that are not packers). Under the bill, approved pricing mechanisms are generally purchases of fed cattle made through a negotiated purchase, through a negotiated grid purchase, at a stockyard, or through trading systems or platforms where multiple buyers and sellers can regularly make and accept bids and offers. The bill also establishes a maximum penalty for mandatory minimum violations by covered packers. Under the bill, a covered packer is a packer that has slaughtered an average of 5% or more of the number of fed cattle slaughtered nationally during the immediately preceding five calendar years.
Bill· HRH.R. 7437 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
No Timber From Tyrants Act This bill prohibits the importation of wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. It also directs the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to replace these prohibited imports with timber production on certain lands. Specifically, the bill directs the President to prohibit the importation of all wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. The President may terminate this prohibition upon certification to Congress that certain conditions have been met, including that Russia or Belarus (or both, as applicable) reached an agreement to withdraw forces in Ukraine. Additionally, the bill directs Interior and USDA to authorize timber harvest in an amount sufficient to equal the volume, with respect to calendar year 2021, of imports of wood and related articles from Russia and Belarus. Interior may authorize timber harvest only on public lands and USDA may authorize timber harvest only on National Forest System lands. The bill generally prohibits Interior and USDA from approving a plan that reduces the allowable sale quantity of timber.
Bill· HRH.R. 7438 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2022
Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act or the A-PLUS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to revise federal regulations related to market agencies owning, financing, or participating in the operation of a meat packing entity. Specifically, this bill allows market agencies to have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a packing entity if such packing entity has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than 2,000 animals per day or 700,000 animals per year.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1035 (117th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 2022
This resolution adjusts limitations on expenses for the 1st and 2nd sessions of the 117th Congress (including staff salaries) for the following House Committees: (1) Agriculture; (2) Armed Services; (3) the Budget; (4) Select Committee on the Climate Crisis; (5) Education and Labor; (6) Energy and Commerce; (7) Ethics; (8) Financial Services; (9) Foreign Affairs; (10) Homeland Security; (11) House Administration; (12) Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; (13) Judiciary; (14) Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; (15) Natural Resources; (16) Oversight and Reform; (17) Rules; (18) Science, Space, and Technology; (19) Small Business; (20) Transportation and Infrastructure; (21) Veterans' Affairs; and (22) Ways and Means.
Bill· SS. 3997 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act or the LBL Recreation and Heritage Act This bill addresses the administration of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. The bill decreases from 17 to 13 the number of members who compose the Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board. The bill permits members of the advisory board to serve multiple terms, but not serve consecutive terms. In addition to carrying out its current activities, the advisory board shall develop an annual work plan for recreation and environment education areas in the Recreation Area, including the heritage program, with the nonappropriated amounts in the Land Between the Lakes Management Fund; develop an annual forest management and harvest plan for the Recreation Area; and maintain the balance and status of the fund. The bill requires the advisory board to meet at least twice each year. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall charge (currently may charge) reasonable fees, as determined by the advisory board, for admission to and the use of the designated sites, or for activities, within the recreation area. The bill states that amounts in the fund shall be available to USDA to perform new work or deferred maintenance in the recreation area and shall not be available for the payment of salaries or other expenses. USDA, on request from a qualified resident or relative or a cemetery association, shall grant additional land for the expansion of existing cemeteries within the recreation area to allow for the burial of qualified residents or relatives.
Bill· HRH.R. 7399 (117th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
Land Between the Lakes Recreation and Heritage Act or the LBL Recreation and Heritage Act This bill addresses the administration of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. The bill decreases from 17 to 13 the number of members who compose the Land Between the Lakes Advisory Board. The bill permits members of the advisory board to serve multiple terms, but not serve consecutive terms. In addition to carrying out its current activities, the advisory board shall develop an annual work plan for recreation and environment education areas in the Recreation Area, including the heritage program, with the nonappropriated amounts in the Land Between the Lakes Management Fund; develop an annual forest management and harvest plan for the Recreation Area; and maintain the balance and status of the fund. The bill requires the advisory board to meet at least twice each year. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall charge (currently may charge) reasonable fees, as determined by the advisory board, for admission to and the use of the designated sites, or for activities, within the recreation area. The bill states that amounts in the fund shall be available to USDA to perform new work or deferred maintenance in the recreation area and shall not be available for the payment of salaries or other expenses. USDA, on request from a qualified resident or relative or a cemetery association, shall grant additional land for the expansion of existing cemeteries within the recreation area to allow for the burial of qualified residents or relatives.
Bill· SS. 4005 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2022
Protecting Horses from Soring Act of 2022 This bill revises requirements concerning the inspection of horse shows, exhibitions, sales, and actions for sored horses (e.g., horses suffering from pain when moving due to substances or devices placed on their limbs). Specifically, this bill replaces a requirement for the Department of Agriculture to prescribe regulations governing the appointment of inspectors with a requirement for the Horse Industry Organization, which is established by this bill, to appoint inspectors.
Bill· HRH.R. 7373 (117th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 2022
Securing Nutrition for American Communities and Kids Act of 2022 or the SNACK Act This bill extends the authority of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to waive certain requirements for the school meal programs and the Child and Adult Care Food Program to address COVID-19, including by extending authority through September 30, 2022, for USDA to grant waivers related to the summer food service program.