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Bill· HRH.R. 9034 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
Research to Reduce Agricultural Methane Act This bill revises the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to include agricultural climate adaptation and mitigation as a priority research area under the initiative, including for methods to reduce methane emissions from livestock production and new technologies to measure and verify environmentally beneficial outcomes of emission mitigation efforts.
Bill· SS. 5066 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2020
Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2020 This bill authorizes grants and other forms of assistance for smaller and very small meat and poultry processing establishments, including competitive grants for training programs and activities related to COVID-19 response and recovery.
Bill· HRH.R. 9004 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Removing Barriers to SNAP Act This bill repeals provisions relating to the denial of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to individuals with certain drug-related convictions.
Bill· SS. 5056 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Ocean Climate Emergency Action Now Act of 2020 or the OCEAN Act of 2020 This bill addresses climate change and establishes programs and incentives concerning efforts to protect oceans, coastal ecosystems, and wildlife; support fisheries; support certain seaweed and shellfish farming; help coastal communities adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change and sea level rise; and reduce or halt greenhouse gas emissions.
Bill· SS. 5046 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Rural Investment Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to enter into an interagency agreement with the Small Business Administration to carry out the day-to-day management and operation of the Rural Business Investment Program. It also provides funding for the program.
Bill· SS. 5050 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2020
Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a grant program for deploying renewable fuel infrastructure.
Bill· SS. 5038 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 2020
Supportive Living Food Access Protection Act of 2020 This bill modifies the definitions of food and household under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make eligible for SNAP benefits individuals (including their spouses) who reside in certain residential care facilities and who are 60 years of age or over or receive Supplemental Security Income or other needs-based Social Security payments for the aged, blind, and disabled.
Bill· SS. 5017 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2020
Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan Act of 2020 or the HEMP Act of 2020 This bill modifies the definition of hemp to raise the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) limit from 0.3% to 1%, and requires hemp shipments to contain a copy of a seed certification showing such hemp was grown from not more than 1% THC seed.
Bill· SS. 5015 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2020
Outdoor Restoration Force Act of 2020 This bill establishes an Outdoor Restoration Fund to carry out restoration and resilience projects. The bill establishes the Restoration Fund Advisory Council. The council shall (1) disburse amounts for the restoration and resilience project grant program established by this bill; and (2) gather public input and provide recommendations to the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of the fund for the restoration and resilience partnership established by this bill. The council shall coordinate with at least one existing regional entity, or a regional entity established by the council, in a specific geographic region to assist with the grant program. Amounts in the fund shall be made available to Interior, USDA, and the EPA to supplement their existing budgets for efforts that (1) enhance forest and watershed health through fuel reduction, forest restoration, fire mitigation, and road and trail maintenance; (2) support state, private, and Tribal forestry; (3) remediate or reclaim abandoned oil and gas wells, coal mines, and hardrock mines; (4) mitigate, or eradicate, invasive species on public, private, and Tribal land; or (5) enhance carbon sequestration, water resources, and improve wildlife habitats. Until FY2026, the council shall annually perform outreach efforts and solicit public comments on the use of the fund by Interior, USDA, and the EPA for the restoration and resilience partnership.
Bill· SS. 4985 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2020
Trillion Trees and Natural Carbon Storage Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish (1) objectives for increased net carbon stock for the forest, grassland, wetland, and coastal blue carbon habitat ecosystems of the United States that are owned or managed by the federal government; and (2) objectives that shall be developed collaboratively between one or more nonfederal entities and one or more federal partners for increased net carbon stock for the forest, grassland, wetland, and coastal blue carbon habitat ecosystems of the United States that are owned or managed by a state or local government, an Indian Tribe, or a private person. USDA shall establish a program, to be known as the Rural Forest Market Investment Program, to guarantee an environmental impact bond, loan, or other investment vehicle issued for the sole purpose of financing eligible projects developed to facilitate the sale of credits in the voluntary carbon market or other recognized environmental market to enable rural private forest landowners to participate in an innovative market for forest carbon or other products. USDA may enter into an agreement, or expand on existing partnerships, with a nonprofit organization to establish an International Forest Foundation to, among other things, support forest landscape restoration, end deforestation, and conserve and restore grasslands, wetlands, and blue carbon habitats around the world.
Bill· HRH.R. 8910 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2020
Conservation for Agricultural Leased Land Act or the CALL Act This bill directs the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the Department of Agriculture to carry out a study and make recommendations regarding conservation practices on leased agricultural land. The study must (1) address issues such as participation in conservation programs and barriers to adopting conservation practices; and (2) be carried out with particular consideration of farmers and ranchers who are people of color, including Black and indigenous farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers.
Bill· HRH.R. 8909 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 2020
Climate Agricultural Conservation Practices Act This bill requires the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture to review the national conservation practice standards, taking into consideration the climate benefits of such standards. Climate benefit is defined as a reduction in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions; an increase in carbon sequestration; or mitigation against, or adaptation to, increased weather volatility.
Bill· HRH.R. 8887 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2020
Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act of 2020 or the AIPM Act of 2020 This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program to include grants to colleges, universities, and other entities for qualified area-wide integrated pest management projects to prevent the spread of pests and invasive species. The bill establishes an area-wide integrated pest management committee to consider stakeholder feedback and determine priorities for the projects. The projects must be implemented on a landscape scale or larger and include collaboration with specified federal, regional, state, and nongovernmental entities. The projects may prevent the spread of pests and invasive species through prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression; educational programs; and physical, mechanical, cultural biologically-based, or chemical controls. A qualified project must provide for significant benefits for the prevention, eradication, or management of pests and invasive species; provide for economic and environmental benefits to agriculture, individuals, wildlife, and the environment; address the annual priorities established by the integrated pest management committee; last no more than five years; establish a regional advisory committee to oversee the project; and involve the cooperative extension services in translating the results of research into practical information and tools to be shared. USDA must transfer to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture the authority for the Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program.
Bill· HRH.R. 8866 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020
More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the MORE USDA Grants Act This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal and local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government. Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions. On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions before and during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.
Bill· HRH.R. 8843 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2020
This bill increases the number of acres authorized for enrollment in the conservation reserve program for FY2021-FY2025. The Department of Agriculture must prioritize applications for the enrollment of land that would promote soil health and carbon sequestration, including land on which deep-rooted perennials will be planted.
Bill· SS. 4950 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2020
More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act or the MORE USDA Grants Act This bill revises the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to high-density public land counties and any units of tribal and local governments within such counties. A high-density public land county is a county that has a population of not more than 100,000 people and in which more than 50% of the land is owned or managed by the federal government. Any requirement for local matching funds under a qualifying grant program must be reduced by 50% with respect to such jurisdictions. On request, USDA must provide additional technical assistance to such jurisdictions during the annual application period for each qualifying grant program. USDA must also prioritize grant applications from such jurisdictions that have not received support under the qualifying grant program during the 10-year period preceding the date of the application.
Bill· SS. 4926 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2020
Montana Headwaters Legacy Act This bill designates specified segments of the following rivers and creeks in Montana as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers Smith River, Tenderfoot Creek, Gallatin River, Hyalite Creek, Taylor Creek, Madison River, Bear Creek, Boulder River, Hellroaring Creek, Lake Fork Rock Creek, Rock Creek, Slough Creek, Stillwater River, West Boulder River, West Fork Stillwater River, West Fork of Rock Creek, and Yellowstone River. No land or interest in land located within the boundary of such a river segment may be acquired by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture without the consent of the owner of the land or interest.
Bill· SS. 4929 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2020
Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide a variety of assistance to address historical discrimination and disparities within USDA programs and the agricultural sector, including by providing land grants to Black farmers and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and groups.
Bill· HRH.R. 8790 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2020
2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to include coverage for losses of crops (including smoke-tainted wine grapes) due to wildfires occurring in calendar year 2020. Under current law, the program provides disaster payments to agricultural producers who suffered crop, tree, bush, and vine losses resulting from hurricanes, wildfires, and other qualifying natural disasters that occurred in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years.
Bill· HRH.R. 8746 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020
Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps Act or the RENEW Conservation Corps Act This bill establishes the Restore Employment in Natural and Environmental Work Conservation Corps program within the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture under which participants must implement eligible projects (e.g., planting trees or controlling invasive species).
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 771 (116th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2020
This resolution designates October 2020 as National Co-Op Month, commends the cooperative business model for its contributions to the economy, and expresses confidence in cooperatives to continue their successes.
Bill· SS. 4850 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2020
Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act of 2020 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 improve soil health through increasing 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 to improve soil health; develop ranking and scoring criteria under the program that prioritize 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 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 conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at its agricultural research stations.
Bill· SS. 4845 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 2020
Agricultural Emissions Data Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct surveys and data analysis to collect agricultural subsector-specific information and data regarding (1) the prevention, reduction, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, including livestock emissions reductions; (2) soil carbon sequestration; and (3) forest wood and tree carbon sequestration. Additionally, the establishment of federal agricultural baselines for the prevention, reduction, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and forest wood and tree carbon sequestration must be determined by modeling based on the information and data collected by USDA. USDA must submit to the Environmental Protection Agency and other appropriate federal agencies, and make publicly available, the results of the surveys.
Bill· HRH.R. 8630 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 2020
Organizational Fee Fairness Act This bill revises the annual land use fee for organizational camps for their occupancy and use of National Forest System lands in counties in which less than 2% of land is used for farming.
Bill· HRH.R. 8557 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 2020
Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and maintain a library or catalog of each type of contract offered by packers to producers for the purchase of all or part of the production of fed cattle (including cattle that are purchased or committed for delivery). Fed cattle means a steer or heifer that has been feeding on a ration of roughage and feed concentrates prior to slaughter, including grains, protein meal, grass, and other nutrient-rich feeds. USDA must create and maintain a publicly available library of the types of contracts that are being offered by packers to, and are open to acceptance by, producers for the purchase of fed cattle. Additionally, USDA must also establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds to enhance price discovery and transparency for cattle market participants. Further, the bill revises daily reporting requirements for packer processing plants by requiring them to include the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for slaughter each day for the subsequent 14 days.
Bill· HRH.R. 8531 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Food Deserts Act of 20 20 This bill establishes a Department of Agriculture program to provide grants to states for revolving funds to support the establishment and operation of grocery stores in underserved communities. An underserved community is a community that has (1) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in grocery retail stores or farmer-to-consumer direct markets; and (2) a high rate of hunger, a high rate of food insecurity, or a high poverty rate. States must use the funds to make loans to support grocery stores in underserved communities, including for opening a store (excluding new construction), or supporting or purchasing an existing store. States may only make loans for grocery stores that meet requirements related to emphasizing unprocessed, healthful foods; providing staple foods and a variety of raw fruits and vegetables; having a plan to keep the foods in stock; charging prices at or below market averages; meeting specified matching requirements using nonfederal funds; and being qualified to operate a store or having partnerships with organizations that provide technical assistance. States must prioritize loan applications from entities that meet criteria related to hiring workers from the underserved community, providing classes or educational information about a healthful diet, sourcing food from local urban farms and gardens, not selling alcohol or tobacco products, or demonstrating existing supply chain relationships in the grocery industry.
Bill· HRH.R. 8535 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Growing Opportunities in Agriculture Act or the GO Ag Act This bill directs the Department of Education to award competitive grants to eligible entities (e.g., local educational agencies) to create new agricultural education programs in secondary schools. Agricultural education refers to career and technical education that is focused on agriculture, including classroom or laboratory instruction, work-based learning, and leadership education that is delivered through career and technical student organizations.
Bill· HRH.R. 8540 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Keeping Seniors Safe from COVID-19 Through Home Design Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Health and Human Services to study improved home and housing design features in nursing homes and assisted living facilities that can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
Bill· HRH.R. 8534 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 2020
Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act of 2020 This bill revises requirements for the food and nutrition programs of the Department of Agriculture to allow direct certification of dependent children in households of active duty members of the Armed Forces for the school meal programs. State agencies must establish procedures to certify child dependents of active duty members whose income does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty line for the school meal programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 8518 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2020
Law Enforcement Officer Recreation Pass Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior to make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available, without charge and for the lifetime of the passholder, to law enforcement officers.
Bill· HRH.R. 8522 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 2020
Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Reform Act This bill revises reporting requirements, allows increased civil penalties for failure to report or knowingly reporting misleading information, and otherwise modifies provisions related to foreign investment in agricultural lands within the United States.
Bill· HRH.R. 8499 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
SNAP for Infant Care Act of 2020 This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to permit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase diapering supplies (e.g., diapers, diaper wipes, and diaper cream) for children not more than three years of age.
Bill· HRH.R. 8489 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
Price Reform In Cattle Economics Act or the PRICE Act This bill revises provisions related to meat and poultry processing facilities, including by directing the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to provide competitive grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct and publish research on the feasibility of establishing new and expanding existing meat and poultry processing facilities.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 1174 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
This resolution supports the designation of National Co-Op Month, commends the cooperative business model for its contributions to the economy, and expresses confidence in cooperatives to continue their successes.
Bill· HRH.R. 8482 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 2020
American Food Workers Protection Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to support state and local jurisdictions in providing (1) priority COVID-19 testing for essential critical food and agriculture workers; (2) priority access to personal protective equipment, sanitizers, face coverings, and other health-related or protective supplies necessary to safely perform essential critical infrastructure work; and (3) assurance that the federal agency responsible for the distribution of a vaccine for COVID-19 in the United States will prioritize essential critical food and agriculture workers for inoculation with the vaccine.
Bill· SS. 4773 (116th)open
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Continuing the Paycheck Protection Program Act This bill establishes funding for, expands, and provides additional economic assistance to small businesses in response to COVID-19. Specifically, the Small Business Administration is authorized to provide second draw loans of up to $2 million under the Paycheck Protection Program. A recipient shall be eligible for forgiveness of a second draw loan in the same manner as an initial paycheck protection loan. Further the bill modifies the Paycheck Protection Program by, among other things, (1) expanding forgivable expenses, (2) allowing borrowers to select an eight-week period to use their paycheck protection loan, (3) simplifying the forgiveness application for smaller loans, (4) expanding eligibility to certain chambers of commerce and destination marketing organizations, and (5) establishing a specific loan calculation for farmers and ranchers.
Bill· SS. 4768 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 2020
Agricultural Intelligence Measures Act or the AIM Act This bill establishes the Office of Intelligence in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the National Intelligence Program. The office must leverage the capabilities of the intelligence community and the intelligence-related research of the National Laboratories to ensure that USDA is fully informed of threats by foreign actors to U.S. agriculture; focus on understanding foreign efforts to steal U.S. agriculture knowledge and technology, and develop or implement biological warfare attacks, cyber or clandestine operations, or other means of sabotaging and disrupting U.S. agriculture; prepare, conduct, and facilitate intelligence briefings for USDA; operate as the liaison between USDA and the intelligence community, with the authority to request intelligence collection and analysis on matters related to U.S. agriculture; collaborate with the intelligence community to downgrade intelligence assessments for broader dissemination within USDA; and facilitate the sharing of information on foreign activities related to agriculture with the intelligence community.
Bill· HRH.R. 8423 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
Feeding Homeless Youth During COVID-19 Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to reimburse institutions that are emergency shelters for meals and supplements provided under the Child and Adult Care Food Program during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency to individuals who have not attained the age of 25 and who are receiving assistance from such shelters. Under current law, individuals who are older than age 18 are not eligible to participate in the program.
Bill· HRH.R. 8431 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
Strengthening Local Processing Act This bill authorizes grants and other forms of assistance for small and very small meat and poultry processing establishments, including competitive grants for training programs and activities related to COVID-19 response and recovery.
Bill· SS. 4757 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2020
Puppy Protection Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs adequate housing, exercise, and veterinary care; appropriate and nutritious food; continuous access to potable water; and meaningful socialization with humans and compatible dogs for at least 30 minutes each day. The standards must also include requirements for breeders to use safe breeding practices and make all reasonable efforts to find humane placement for retired breeding dogs.
Bill· HRH.R. 8401 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2020
This bill requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to complete an interagency report on the use of special recreation permits by recreation service providers serving environmental justice communities. The bill defines an environmental justice community as a community with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects than other communities. Interior and USDA (1) shall contact all current or prospective special recreation providers to request a voluntary estimation of how many user days are used by individuals from environmental justice communities; (2) shall request from recreational service providers and interested members of the public any other information that supports the reporting requirements in this bill; and (3) shall not use participation or information provided as a condition in approving or rejecting a special recreation permit.
Bill· SS. 4720 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2020 or the HAULS Act of 2020 This bill modifies exemptions with respect to commercial motor vehicle safety regulations involving the transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies. The bill allows the federal hours-of-service rules exemption regarding maximum driving and on-duty time for drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies to apply year-round. Current law provides an exception from the federal hours-of-service rules for the transportation of agricultural commodities within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location only during planting and harvest periods which are determined by each state. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must revise the definition of agricultural commodity to include specific commodities that are covered by the federal hours-of-service rules exception.
Bill· SS. 4704 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2020
NRCS Wetland Compliance and Appeals Reform Act This bill revises provisions related to the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), including by requiring USDA to establish oversight committees in each state that will oversee the appeals of wetland determinations.
Bill· HRH.R. 8352 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 2020
Jobs and Justice Act of 2020 This bill addresses a wide variety of domestic policy matters and focuses on economically distressed communities, opportunities for minorities and the disadvantaged, and civil rights enforcement. Included in the programs and requirements affected are those concerning the following areas: workforce development, including job training and wage standards; economic development, including through assistance to minority businesses; antipoverty measures, including programs to specifically address child poverty and persistent poverty; housing and savings matters, including housing affordability, discrimination, homelessness assistance, tenant protections, public housing funding, home ownership and foreclosure mitigation, and lead-safe housing; savings and consumer finance, including financial literacy and lending discrimination; public contracting; infrastructure development; job training for youth and older Americans; veterans' and military family benefits; health care coverage and access, including Medicare and Medicaid coverage; small business investment and commercial investment in underserved areas, including through tax benefits; elementary and secondary education, including education of girls and minorities and teacher preparation; higher education access, including through community college attendance; science, technology, and information security education; law enforcement officer conduct, resources and administration, juvenile justice, sentencing procedures, hate crimes, correctional facilities, and firearms sales and possession; election administration and voting rights; and environmental, agriculture, and energy matters, including climate change, environmental justice, and energy efficiency and transition to alternative and renewable resources.
Law· HRH.R. 8337 (116th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2020
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act This bill provides continuing FY2021 appropriations to federal agencies through December 11, 2020, and extends several programs. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur if the FY2021 appropriations bills have not been enacted when FY2021 begins on October 1, 2020. The CR funds most programs and activities at the FY2020 levels with several exceptions that provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations to various programs. In addition, the bill extends several authorities and programs, including surface transportation programs; public health, Medicare, and Medicaid authorities and programs; several authorities related to veterans benefits; authorities to waive certain requirements for nutrition programs; the National Flood Insurance Program; the Appalachian Regional Commission; the U.S. Parole Commission; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and several authorities related to immigration. The bill also includes provisions that accelerate reimbursements to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for net realized losses to allow the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue making certain payments to farmers, prohibit USDA from using CCC funds to provide payments or support to fossil fuel refiners and importers, expand nutrition assistance programs, increase and expand U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fees for providing premium processing services for certain immigration-related applications, and reauthorize a program that provides incentives (e.g., limitations on civil liability) for corporations to self-report antitrust violations to the Department of Justice.
Bill· SS. 4647 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2020
Cattle Market Transparency Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and maintain a library or catalog of each type of contract offered by packers to producers for the purchase of all or part of the production of fed cattle (including cattle that are purchased or committed for delivery). Fed cattle means a steer or heifer that has been feeding on a ration of roughage and feed concentrates prior to slaughter, including grains, protein meal, grass, and other nutrient-rich feeds. USDA must create and maintain a publicly available library of the types of contracts that are being offered by packers to, and are open to acceptance by, producers for the purchase of fed cattle. Additionally, USDA must also establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds to enhance price discovery and transparency for cattle market participants. Further, the bill revises daily reporting requirements for packer processing plants by requiring them to include the number of cattle scheduled to be delivered for slaughter each day for the subsequent 14 days.
Bill· SS. 4643 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 2020
Forest Incentives Program Act of 2020 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish two programs to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions. Specifically, USDA must establish (1) a forest incentives program to achieve emission reductions and carbon sequestration on private forest land through carbon incentives contracts and conservation easement agreements, and (2) an incentives program to achieve emission reductions from material choices in buildings. USDA shall pay owners of forest land under a contract or agreement for (1) certain forestry practices that measurably increase carbon sequestration and storage over a designated period on such land, with appropriate crediting for the carbon benefits of harvested wood products; or (2) conservation easements on such land. USDA shall pay owners of nonresidential buildings used for commercial or state or local government for using less energy-intensive commercial or industrial products in new construction or building renovation.
Bill· HRH.R. 8325 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2020
Operation Feed Our Kids Act This bill extends authority through December 31, 2021, for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue waivers of requirements under the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the summer food service program for children due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Under current law, such waiver authority expires on September 30, 2020. Additionally, USDA must extend through at least the end of the 2020-2021 school year all of the child nutrition waivers granted under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that as of September 11, 2020, were set to expire on December 31, 2020.
Bill· HRH.R. 8327 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2020
Farm and Agricultural Worker Safety Education Act This bill expands the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to authorize USDA to provide grants for the dissemination to farm, agricultural workers, and others in the agricultural supply chain of information and training concerning best practices, relevant health and safety guidance, guidelines, requirements, or information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the bill provides additional prioritization flexibility through FY2025 for USDA to combat substance use disorder in rural America.
Bill· SS. 4633 (116th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2020
Emergency Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act of 2020 This bill allows, and provides funds for, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants and loans, as well as loan forgiveness, modification, and refinancing, to rural water, wastewater, or waste disposal facilities. Specifically, USDA may provide such assistance for purposes of ensuring public health, safety, and order and to address financial hardships, in particular those due to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.