Agriculture

Feeding Rural Families Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 8 August 2023

Feeding Rural Families Act of 2023 This bill provides for separate food cost calculations for urban and rural parts of Hawaii for the purposes of determining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum monthly benefit allotments. Specifically, the bill requires separate food cost adjustments in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for urban and rural parts of Hawaii. SNAP maximum monthly benefit allotments are tied to the cost of purchasing a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet, as measured by the Department of Agriculture-created and -calculated TFP. Maximum allotments are set at the monthly cost of the TFP for a four-person family, adjusted for family size. Under current law, maximum allotments are higher (to reflect the cost of food) in Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as in urban and rural parts of Alaska.

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to reduce the eligibility requirement for direct farm real estate loans, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 8 August 2023

Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023

Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 competitive education grants to Alaska Native-serving institutions of higher education (IHEs) and Native Hawaiian-serving IHEs. Additionally, the bill extends the grant period to three years.  

STORE Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023

Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023

Fighting Their Fraud Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 2023

Fighting Their Fraud Act of 2023 This bill increases the criminal penalty for fraudulent activity related to child nutrition programs (e.g., the National School Lunch Program and the Summer Food Service Program). Specifically, the bill increases the maximum fine from $25,000 to $50,000 for embezzling, willfully misapplying, stealing, or obtaining by fraud any child nutrition program grant or assistance funds, assets, or property (that is valued at $100 or more); or knowingly receiving, concealing, or retaining such funds, assets, or property for personal use or gain.

Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2023 This bill allows a state agency to hire a contractor to perform Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) certification or other state functions for SNAP under certain conditions. Specifically, a state agency may hire a contractor when the state experiences an increase in SNAP applications or an inability to timely process such applications from causes that include (1) pandemics and other health emergencies, (2) seasonal workforce cycles, (3) temporary staffing shortages, and (4) weather or other natural disasters. The bill includes specific parameters for a state agency that hires a contractor based on temporary staffing shortages. The bill requires that a contractor be part of a blended workforce (i.e., combines government employees and the employees of a for-profit or private nonprofit employer).  Further, a state agency must notify the Department of Agriculture (USDA) of the intent to hire a contractor and provide any information or data supporting state agency increases in SNAP applications or the inability to timely process applications. USDA must make the notification and accompanying information publicly available on the USDA website. Finally, USDA must submit an annual report to Congress that includes specific information and recommendations, including information on the measures taken by USDA to address increases in SNAP applications.  

Agricultural Commodities Price Enhancement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

Agricultural Commodities Price Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill increases the reference prices for certain commodities under the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Specifically, the bill increases the reference prices for wheat, corn, soybeans, peanuts, and seed cotton. The ARC and PLC programs, administered by the Farm Service Agency, offer financial assistance to eligible agricultural producers, and the reference prices are used to calculate benefits under the programs. The ARC program is an income support program that provides payments to producers when actual crop revenue declines below a specified guarantee level. The PLC program provides income support payments when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its effective reference price. 

Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act This bill expands the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) producer indemnity and compensation program to include compensation for all poultry growers and layers located in an APHIS-determined control area.  Currently, APHIS provides indemnity and compensation to producers to remove animals classified as affected, suspect, or exposed to diseases of concern, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). An APHIS-determined  control area consists of both an infected zone and a buffer zone.  Under the bill, APHIS must compensate all owners of poultry growing or laying facilities for flocks of birds that the facility owner was prohibited from growing or laying due to the location of the facility within a control area. This may include facilities that are located in the buffer zones and have non-infected poultry. Further, the bill establishes a new compensation payment formula that requires payments to be based on the owner’s average income from the five most recent flocks. Under the bill, APHIS's compensation determination is final and not subject to judicial or administrative review (other than by the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee).

Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a dairy nutrition incentive program to develop and test methods to increase the purchase and consumption of dairy under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Specifically, the program must provide an incentive to SNAP benefit recipients for the purchase of naturally nutrient-rich dairy, which the bill defines to include fluid milk, yogurt, and cheese made from cow's milk. To carry out the program, USDA must enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide competitive grants to, state or local governments and nonprofit organizations for projects. The bill provides funding for the program for each fiscal year. USDA must provide for an independent evaluation of each project that measures, to the maximum extent practicable, the effect of incentives on purchases of naturally nutrient-rich dairy by SNAP recipients. Projects currently carried out by the USDA Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) program must be transitioned to the new dairy nutrition incentive program; the bill repeals the HFMI program one year after USDA certifies that the transition is complete.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to publish criteria for the review of requests by certain meat or poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates, to review and respond to such requests, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish food safety criteria, and review requests, for meat and poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates. (Under the bill,  alternate inspection rates are any rates in excess of the maximum rates permissible under regulations implementing the post-mortem inspection requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.) The bill requires USDA to approve or deny a request to operate at alternate inspection rates within 90 days of submission. If USDA fails to respond within 90 days, the establishment’s request shall be deemed approved by USDA. Once USDA approves a request, an establishment may continue to operate pursuant to the terms of the request (i.e., the approval does not expire). The bill establishes written notice requirements and a timeline for USDA to revoke an establishment's authority to operate at alternate inspection rates. As part of the revocation timeline, USDA must consult with the establishment to minimize the negative impacts of adjusting the inspection rates. Further, USDA must authorize establishments currently operating under alternate inspection rates (e.g., under a USDA pilot program) to continue operating at such rates (1) so long as the establishment maintains effective process control, or (2) until USDA approves or denies a submitted request to operate at alternate inspection rates.

Expressing support for the designation of July 2023 as "American Grown Flower and Foliage Month".

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

This resolution supports the designation of American Grown Flower and Foliage Month and recognizes that purchasing flowers and foliage grown in the United States supports the farmers, small businesses, jobs, and economy of the United States.

Rural Economic-development Assistance and Consultation to Help Our Tribes Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 2023

Rural Economic-development Assistance and Consultation to Help Our Tribes Act or the REACH Our Tribes Act This bill requires certain actions, particularly by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), for tribal consultation, data reporting, and interagency collaboration for economic development. Specifically, the bill requires USDA to establish a formal process for consultation with tribal governments on (1) annual budget requests; and (2) bills proposing the reauthorization of certain USDA programs over a period of multiple years with budgetary impacts, including bills providing for the reauthorization of USDA programs (commonly known as farm bills). USDA must report to Congress on this consultation process. Additionally, the bill requires USDA to establish a plan for analyzing and publicly reporting to tribal entities on funding provided through USDA programs for which tribal entities are eligible to apply. The bill also requires USDA, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, to establish an interagency task force on economic development programs. This task force must (1) review guidance and application requirements for economic development programs administered by USDA, and (2) develop interagency agreements to reduce administrative and planning burdens for applicants to such programs and the federal agencies administering such programs. The Department of Commerce must establish a working group to develop and regularly update a comprehensive and public repository of federal economic development programs that are available to tribal entities.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to publish criteria for the review of requests by certain meat or poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates, to review and respond to such requests, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to publish food safety criteria, and review requests, for meat and poultry establishments to operate at alternate inspection rates. (Under the bill,  alternate inspection rates are any rates in excess of the maximum rates permissible under regulations implementing the post-mortem inspection requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.) The bill requires USDA to approve or deny a request to operate at alternate inspection rates within 90 days of submission. If USDA fails to respond within 90 days, the establishment’s request shall be deemed approved by USDA. Once USDA approves a request, an establishment may continue to operate pursuant to the terms of the request (i.e., the approval does not expire). The bill establishes written notice requirements and a timeline for USDA to revoke an establishment's authority to operate at alternate inspection rates. As part of the revocation timeline, USDA must consult with the establishment to minimize the negative impacts of adjusting the inspection rates. Further, USDA must authorize establishments currently operating under alternate inspection rates (e.g., under a USDA pilot program) to continue operating at such rates (1) so long as the establishment maintains effective process control, or (2) until USDA approves or denies a submitted request to operate at alternate inspection rates.

COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

COLAs Don't Count Act of 2023 This bill revises requirements for determining eligibility and benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to exclude income received from certain (1) cost-of-living adjustments under the Social Security Act and to railroad retirement and veterans' benefits, and (2) supplementary payments under the Social Security Act.

Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

Fairness in Vineyard Data Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

Fairness in Vineyard Data Act This bill requires the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to conduct a survey, within one year of the bill's enactment, on grape production in each state and publish the data on the NASS website. In the following four years, NASS must make publicly available on the website data from the five states with the highest grape production in the preceding year.   

Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023 This bill modifies and ratifies a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community (i.e., the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes). The bill requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for the benefit of the community and its allottees. The community must enact a tribal water code to regulate its water rights. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (as applicable) to enter negotiations with Montana to exchange certain state lands for federal lands to be held in trust for the benefit of the community. The bill also establishes the Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill, establishes the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Settlement Implementation Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill, and provides funding for specified accounts established by the bill.

FARMLAND Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

Foreign Agricultural Restrictions to Maintain Local Agriculture and National Defense Act of 2023 or the FARMLAND Act of 2023 This bill expands federal authority and oversight over foreign investments in the U.S. agricultural industry. The bill expands the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to include the review of land transactions (involving foreign entities) that exceed $5 million or 320 acres of land over the preceding three years. This applies to land that is primarily used for agriculture, the extraction of energy sources, or the extraction of critical precursor materials for biological technology industries, information technology components, or national defense technologies. Further, the bill adds the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to CFIUS membership. (CFIUS is an interagency committee that oversees the national security risks of certain foreign direct investment in the U.S. economy, including by reviewing certain real estate transactions.) Further, the bill expands enforcement of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA). The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must appoint a Chief of Operations of Investigative Actions to (1) monitor AFIDA compliance, and (2) conduct investigations on efforts to steal agricultural knowledge and technology and to disrupt the U.S. agricultural base. The bill prohibits foreign persons who own or operate land from participating in Farm Service Agency programs and establishes penalties for violators. The bill also requires USDA and the Department of Homeland Security to jointly develop a database of agricultural land owned by foreign persons.

SEAS Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2023

Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act or the SEAS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase support for aquaculture grants and assistance. (Aquaculture is the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and sea vegetables.) Specifically, the bill directs USDA to give aquaculture producers the same consideration as animal agriculture producers in awarding grants or other assistance. Further, USDA must ensure adequate and fair funding levels for aquaculture producers under USDA programs. USDA must also provide its staff with specific education and trainings on aquaculture.  USDA must submit to Congress (1) an annual report that includes information on USDA seafood and aquaculture purchases and grants, and (2) a report on USDA's role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood industry. USDA must make competitive grants (e.g., to regional aquaculture centers or nonprofit organizations) to develop next generation technology to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. Further, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program grants must address methods of increasing the survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification. In addition, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) must research and develop a policy to insure aquaculture products and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (the agency that finances FCIP operations) must establish a policy to insure aquaculture products.    

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Food and Nutrition Service relating to "Application of Bostock v. Clayton County to Program Discrimination Complaint Processing-Policy Update".

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

This joint resolution nullifies the policy update issued by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on May 5, 2022, related to discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) deemed the policy update a rule on June 5, 2023, and therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) requirement that a rule must be submitted to Congress and the GAO before it can take effect. The CRA also permits Congress to review and disapprove rules using specified procedures. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the prohibition on sex discrimination in employment includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The FNS determined that the Bostock analysis also applies to certain FNS-enforced requirements under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 because the requirements are sufficiently similar to those in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The FNS rule concludes that the prohibitions against sex discrimination in the FNS-enforced statutes prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. The rule also directs state agencies and program operators to handle complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation as complaints of prohibited sex discrimination.

Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Specialty Crop Domestic Market Promotion and Development Program Act of 2023 This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service to establish a grant program to encourage the development, maintenance, and expansion of the commercial domestic market for domestically produced specialty crop commodities (e.g., for advertising or other demand-oriented, generic domestic promotion activities). Organizations eligible for the grant program include those that promote U.S. produced and grown specialty crop sales and are (1) U.S. agricultural trade organizations or regional state-related organizations that do not profit directly from U.S. specialty crop sales, (2) cooperative organizations or state agencies, or (3) certain private organizations. Specialty crop organizations operating under federal marketing orders are also eligible for the grant program.

REAP Modernization Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Rural Outdoor Investment Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Rural Outdoor Investment Act This bill establishes programs that support outdoor recreation and economic development in rural communities. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Commerce to make grants for outdoor recreation projects to spur economic development, with a focus on rural communities. Economic development districts, Indian tribes, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, or nonprofits may apply for the grants. Commerce, in consultation with the Small Business Administration and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), must develop a partnership agreement to provide for the development of, among other things, basic training for small businesses and rural communities relating to existing funding opportunities for outdoor recreation. Additionally, USDA's Rural Development must partner with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest Service to carry out a grant program for developing action plans under the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program.

To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which the Secretary will award grants to specialty crop producers to acquire certain equipment and provide training with respect to the use of such equipment.

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service to establish a grant program for commercial specialty crop producers to acquire equipment and provide related training. Funds must be used for mechanized or automated systems and tools that increase the efficiency of a task or reduce human labor for a specific activity (e.g., low-dust harvesting tools and equipment, sorting machines, and crop monitoring and analytics equipment and tools). The bill includes a minimum 50% cost-sharing requirement.

Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2023 This bill modifies the Environmental Quality Incentives Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide permanent incentive payments to producers to adopt practices designed to increase organic carbon levels in soil. USDA must conduct a study regarding changes in soil health and soil organic carbon levels as a result of the adopted practices; develop ranking and scoring criteria under the program that prioritize soil health practices that score highest in soil carbon sequestration on eligible land; create a soil organic carbon conservation activity plan under the program to measure and monitor sequestration and mitigation improvement levels from the practices; provide for streamlined and coordinated procedures for the program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, including for contracting, conservation planning, conservation practices, and related administrative procedures; and establish a program to provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science and to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at its agricultural research stations.

To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

This bill allows a state to receive cash funds under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to directly purchase agricultural commodities through the private commercial marketplace. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. Specifically, the bill allows an eligible state agency to elect to receive as cash the dollar amount used by USDA to purchase the commodities to distribute to the state.

Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an Emergency Relief Program to provide payments each crop year to producers that experience a qualified loss as a result of a disaster that occurred during the crop year. (Under current law, USDA provides payments under a temporary Emergency Relief Program for losses that occurred following disasters in 2020, 2021, or 2022.) The bill defines a qualified loss as a loss incurred by a producer in a crop, trees, bushes, or vines as a consequence of a disaster (i.e., a drought, wildfire, hurricane, flood, derecho, excessive heat, excessive moisture, a winter storm, and a freeze event, including a polar vortex). Further, a qualified loss includes a loss incurred as a result of being prevented from planting a crop due to a disaster and a loss in the quality of a crop, trees, bushes, or vines due to a disaster or smoke exposure from a wildfire. As a condition of receiving a payment under this program, a producer must purchase (for the next two years) Federal Crop Insurance or, if Federal Crop Insurance is not available, coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. An eligible producer under the program is an individual or entity that is eligible to receive assistance under a Farm Service Agency administered disaster assistance program. The bill specifies that a producer does not include a joint venture or a general partnership.

Thrifty Food Plan Accountability Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Thrifty Food Plan Accountability Act of 2023 This bill requires that, when the Department of Agriculture (USDA) reevaluates the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), the results of the reevaluation (1) be budget-neutral; and (2) only adjust the cost of the diet based on current standards (i.e., food price inflation, household size, and the cost of food in specific states).   USDA created the TFP (the cost of purchasing a nutritionally adequate low-cost diet),  which is used to determine maximum monthly benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA calculates the cost of the TFP each year to account for food price inflation. Under a provision of the 2018 farm bill, USDA must reevaluate the contents of the TFP (i.e., the market basket of goods) every five years based on current food prices, food composition data, consumption patterns, and dietary guidance. USDA last re-evaluated the TFP in 2021. 

Ending the Cycle of Dependency Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Farmer-Informed WOTUS Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an advisory committee that is representative of the U.S. farming and ranching sectors to make recommendations on the impact of waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulations on U.S. agriculture and environmental protection. (The Clean Water Act [CWA] protects navigable waters , which the statute defines as WOTUS. Because the CWA does not further define this term, the agencies that implement the CWA have defined WOTUS in regulations.) Specifically, USDA must establish an advisory committee to study and develop recommendations to address matters such as the impact of the prior-converted farmland exemption on agricultural operations, the impact of WOTUS regulations on secure food supply chains and rural infrastructure, and how to develop safe harbor conditions for farmers who observe certain conservation practices. Federal agencies must provide to the committee any information requested by the committee chair. The advisory committee terminates 90 days after completing reporting requirements.

Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Ensuring Accountability for Equity at USDA Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Ensuring Accountability for Equity at USDA Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve the equitable availability and distribution of USDA services and program benefits through specific actions.  Under the bill, USDA must include within the performance evaluations for USDA senior leadership a review of an individual's direct efforts to improve equity in USDA programs and services; issue uniform, department-wide guidance on collecting and responding to feedback and using that feedback to improve efforts to provide more equitable and consistent services; and build frontline USDA customer service staff capacity to make eligible services or benefits available to customers. USDA must also notify Congress when it has identified an opportunity to improve equity in a particular program or service, but lacks the authority to make the necessary changes. Further, the bill requires additional information to be included in USDA's annual data report (which is meant to assess and hold USDA accountable for the nondiscriminatory participation of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in USDA programs). The report must also describe trends in the data and include a discussion of efforts to implement necessary improvements to equity. In addition, USDA must use collected data to examine and assess USDA programs and policies to identify and understand communities, organizations, groups, and individuals in need of USDA services or benefits. 

Healthy Babies Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Healthy Babies Act of 2023 This bill requires that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) include infant food combinations and dinners as part of the program. (The WIC food packages provide supplemental foods designed to address the specific nutritional needs of income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum individuals, infants, and children up to five years of age who are at nutritional risk.) Specifically, the Department of Agriculture must update the regulations that prescribe the supplemental foods that must be made available in the program. Currently, infant food combinations (e.g., meat and vegetables) and dinners (e.g., spaghetti and meatballs) are not allowed. 

PLANT Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2023 This bill modifies the Environmental Quality Incentives Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide permanent incentive payments to producers to adopt practices designed to increase organic carbon levels in soil. USDA must conduct a study regarding changes in soil health and soil organic carbon levels as a result of the adopted practices; develop ranking and scoring criteria under the program that prioritize soil health practices that score highest in soil carbon sequestration on eligible land; create a soil organic carbon conservation activity plan under the program to measure and monitor sequestration and mitigation improvement levels from the practices; provide for streamlined and coordinated procedures for the program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, including for contracting, conservation planning, conservation practices, and related administrative procedures; and establish a program to provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science and to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at its agricultural research stations. 

Farmland for Farmers Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Keep Kupuna Fed Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Keep Kupuna Fed Act This bill amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to exempt certain Social Security benefits (e.g., retirement and disability benefits) from household income for the purposes of determining program eligibility.

A bill to amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

This bill allows a state to receive cash funds under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to directly purchase agricultural commodities through the private commercial marketplace. TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. Specifically, the bill allows an eligible state agency to elect to receive as cash the dollar amount used by USDA to purchase the commodities to distribute to the state. 

Poultry Grower Fairness Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), increases funding for the program, and provides additional delivery options for geographically isolated states (i.e., Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam). TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of commodities and makes those food products (e.g., canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, and whole-grain and enriched grain products) available to state distributing agencies. The bill increases funding for purchasing commodities under the program. Further, the bill directs USDA to coordinate with geographically isolated states to (1) establish alternative delivery options for allocated commodities, and (2) allow for the states to order commodities through the USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.  USDA may also provide geographically isolated states the ability to directly purchase domestically grown food in lieu of receiving a portion of the commodities. Under this option, USDA may distribute as cash to the state up to 20% of the cash value of the commodities that are allocated to the state under TEFAP.  Further, USDA may consider additional factors beyond lowest price in determining winning bids for contracts for fresh produce packages (including product variety and transportation distance). 

Strengthening the Office of Tribal Relations Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Strengthening the Office of Tribal Relations Act of 2023 This bill establishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Tribal Relations within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). This position may be responsible for (1) overseeing USDA's Office of Tribal Relations; (2) planning, coordinating, and implementing USDA's policies and programs serving Indian tribes and tribal organizations; (3) coordinating tribal programs and activities in all of USDA's offices and agencies; and (4) participating in negotiated rulemakings associated with USDA's tribal programs.

Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Sustainable Farms, Fibers, and Forests Act of 2023 This bill includes support for sustainable fibers and agroforestry in the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). This Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) program supports the development, coordination, and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and enterprises, and value-added agricultural products. Specifically, the bill includes sustainable fibers in the definition of food, allowing producers of sustainable fibers to access LAMP food and food system programs. Under the bill,  sustainable fibers are fibers produced by farming operations that use sustainable cropping or grazing systems, including textile products from plant-based fibers, animal-based fibers and products, and natural dye products. Further, the AMS grant selection process for regional food partnerships must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, diversity among the types of agricultural products, including sustainable fibers. In addition, LAMP grants may be used for agroforestry, including demonstration infrastructure for farmer or landowner learning.

Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act This bill modifies provisions relating to qualified small issue bonds for manufacturing purposes by expanding the definition of manufacturing facility to include a facility that (1) is used in the creation or production of intangible property; or (2) is functionally related, subordinate to, and located on the same site as a facility used in the manufacturing or production of tangible or intangible personal property. The bill also increases from $10 million to $30 million the maximum bond size limitation. The bill modifies requirements for private activity bond financing for first-time farmers. The modified provisions (1) increase from $450,000 to $1 million (adjusted annually for inflation) the amount of bond proceeds that may be used by a first-time farmer to acquire land for farming purposes, (2) repeal the separate dollar limitation on the use of bond proceeds for used farm equipment, and (3) revise the definition of substantial farmland to determine farm size by reference to the average (instead of median) size of a farm in the county in which the farm is located.

Voice for Farm Workers Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Voice for Farm Workers Act of 2023 This bill reauthorizes and expands the duties of the Farmworker Coordinator at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Part of the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, the coordinator identifies challenges faced by farmworkers and coordinates with USDA programs and other federal agencies to address the community’s needs.) Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the position of Farmworker Coordinator through FY2029. Under the bill, the coordinator must assess the effectiveness of USDA farmworker outreach programs, develop and implement a plan to coordinate USDA farmworker outreach activities and services, collaborate with USDA's agencies and offices on farmworker-related programmatic and policy decisions, communicate to employers of farmworkers information about federal programs for employees, identify research priorities to inform USDA farmworker-related research activities, measure and analyze the outcomes of USDA farmworker programs and activities, and recommend new initiatives and programs to USDA.  Further, the bill expands the coordinator's existing duties to include (1) serving as a liaison to institutions of higher education and local educational agencies, and (2) consulting with community-based nonprofit organizations on areas such as technical skills and job training programs. The bill also directs the coordinator to hire such staff as necessary to carry out the coordinator's activities. 

Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Fair Credit for Farmers Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023

Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2023