Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

Subjects · US

Agriculture

Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.

51 records in US in 2023

All countriesSearch this topic

Records

Bill· HRH.R. 6891 (118th)referred

MORE USDA Grants Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 December 2023

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 or 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. 6867 (118th)referred

Conservation Innovation Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2023

Conservation Innovation Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to establish an Office of Conservation Innovation within the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The office must encourage innovation in conservation practices through (1) revisions to existing conservation practice standards, and (2) recommendations for interim and new standards.

Bill· HRH.R. 6806 (118th)referred

Farm Tech Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2023

Farm Tech Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a program to certify software that uses artificial intelligence to perform a task in connection with producing agricultural products. The program must be based on the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In order for USDA to certify software under the program, the software must (1) perform accurately; and (2) consistently meet or exceed the federal and state licensure, certification, and permitting standards applicable to a person performing the task. (The bill includes requirements for these standards.) USDA must prescribe any regulations necessary or appropriate to carry out this bill. 

Bill· HRH.R. 6717 (118th)referred

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2023

Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2023 This bill revises the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program to provide agricultural producers and owners of nonindustrial private forest land impacted by natural disasters the option to receive an advance on cost-sharing payments before carrying out emergency measures. The bill also expands eligibility for payments under the programs to include emergency measures to address damages caused by (1) a wildfire that is not caused naturally if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes, and (2) a wildfire that is caused by the federal government.

Bill· HRH.R. 6720 (118th)referred

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grocery, farm, and food worker stabilization grant program.

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2023

This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to establish a grant program to provide farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers stabilization payments in the case of a natural disaster or other disaster. Specifically, AMS must provide funding to membership organizations or labor unions representing farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers for the payments. 

Bill· SS. 3469 (118th)referred

A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grocery, farm, and food worker stabilization grant program.

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2023

This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to establish a grant program to provide farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers stabilization payments in the case of a natural disaster or other disaster. Specifically, AMS must provide funding to membership organizations or labor unions representing farmworkers, meat processing workers, and grocery workers for the payments. 

Bill· SS. 3471 (118th)referred

Fertilizer Research Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2023

Fertilizer Research Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture to publish on the department's website a report on the U.S. fertilizer industry. Among other things, the report must include a description of the impacts on the fertilizer industry that influence the prices that agricultural producers receive for their products; a description of the size and value of the U.S. fertilizer market over the previous 25 years; a description of the importation of fertilizer into the United States and the impacts that antidumping and countervailing duties have on retail fertilizer prices; a study of market concentration of the U.S. fertilizer industry; an assessment of the regulatory environment governing fertilizer production, distribution, and usage; and a description of the extent to which current public price reporting of fertilizer is transparent for market participants and recommendations on whether further reporting is needed.   

Bill· HRH.R. 6706 (118th)referred

Hunger Clearinghouse Enhancement Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2023

Hunger Clearinghouse Enhancement Act of 2023 This bill provides funding through FY2031 to the Department of Agriculture for maintaining a clearinghouse that provides information to assist low-income individuals and communities in obtaining nutrition assistance and related resources. The bill specifies that the clearinghouse must provide information on the utilization of trained volunteers.

Bill· HRH.R. 6662 (118th)referred

Transforming Hiring in Rural Industries and Vital Economies Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2023

Transforming Hiring in Rural Industries and Vital Economies Act of 2023 This bill establishes the White House Rural Council within the Executive Office of the President to make recommendations and coordinate the efforts of the executive branch regarding economic development in rural areas.

Bill· HRH.R. 6657 (118th)referred

Securing Strictly Needy Americans’ Pivotal (SNAP) Benefits Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2023

Securing Strictly Needy Americans’ Pivotal (SNAP) Benefits Act of 2023 This bill establishes additional limitations on the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill requires that a state agency suspend a SNAP household account when the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card transactions are made exclusively out-of-state for a period longer than 60 days. The state agency must maintain the suspension until (1) the household affirmatively provides substantiating evidence that the participating household members still reside in the state from which they receive benefits, or (2) an investigation conclusively determines that the participating household members still reside in the state from which they receive benefits. In addition, a SNAP household may not redeem SNAP benefits at a SNAP-approved retail food store or wholesale food concern that is owned by a household member. This does not apply to a retail food store or a wholesale food concern that is owned by a publicly owned corporation or a government.

Bill· HRH.R. 6661 (118th)referred

Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2023

Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and modifies the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program. This Department of Agriculture (USDA) program provides grants to nonprofit institutions to help individuals and businesses start, expand, or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Rural Cooperative Development Centers. USDA must give preference to grants that commit to providing technical assistance and other services to socially vulnerable, underserved, or distressed communities. Under current law, USDA must give preference to underserved and economically distressed areas in rural areas. In addition, USDA may give an additional preference to applications that commit to providing a 25% matching contribution for the center with private funds and in-kind contributions. Specifically, USDA may award the maximum points in application scoring criteria to applicants that satisfy this requirement. Under the bill, cooperative development includes activities (e.g., outreach, education, training, and technical assistance) to support the startup, expansion, or ongoing sustainability of new and existing cooperatives. Current law does not define cooperative development. The bill directs the RCDG interagency working group to submit an annual report to Congress on its activities. Finally, the program currently includes cooperative research program requirements to collect data on the effects of all types of cooperatives on the national economy. Under the bill, USDA must analyze the data resulting from the research and include the data and analysis in the annual report to Congress.

Bill· HRH.R. 6687 (118th)referred

Innovative FEED Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2023

Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act of 2023 or the Innovative FEED Act of 2023 This bill provides for the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances as food additives. The bill defines  zootechnical animal food substance  as a substance that is added to the food or drinking water of animals and that affects only the animal's gastrointestinal tract, with the intended purpose of affecting the byproducts of the animal's digestion, reducing foodborne pathogens, or altering the animal's gastrointestinal biome. The definition does not include substances that are used to treat or prevent diseases in animals, hormones, or active ingredients of animal drugs. Labels for zootechnical animal food substances must include a disclaimer that the substance may not be used to treat or prevent diseases in animals.   

Bill· HRH.R. 6621 (118th)referred

Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2023

Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance in geographically underserved and distressed areas for USDA rural development programs. Specifically, USDA must provide (directly or through cooperative agreements) technical assistance and strengthen local capacity to improve USDA rural development program access for local partners (e.g., local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations) in geographically underserved and distressed areas.  Under the bill, a  geographically underserved and distressed area means a rural area (1) in a socially vulnerable community; (2) in a persistent poverty county; (3) in an economically distressed area; or (4) that lacks adequate water services, sewer services, or decent housing in any region near the border between the United States and Mexico. On an annual basis, USDA must submit to Congress (and make publicly available) a report on how the provision of technical assistance under this bill has affected geographically underserved and distressed areas.

Bill· SS. 3399 (118th)referred

Rural Forest Markets Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2023

Rural Forest Markets Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Rural Forest Market Investment Program to guarantee environmental impact bonds, loans, or other investment vehicles to enable rural private forest landowners to participate in voluntary environmental credit markets (i.e., voluntary markets through which environmental credits may be bought or sold). Projects eligible for the program are those developed by a private entity, state forestry agency, or publicly supported, charitable nonprofit organization engaged in the aggregation of sustainable forestry practices implemented by rural private forest landowners to facilitate the sale of credits in the voluntary environmental credit markets. These projects must use methodologies that (1) are approved by a credible, third-party entity; and (2) meet global benchmarks for high integrity. The bill has specific requirements for projects that include the practice of tree planting (e.g., be on land that was historically forested). In addition, the bill prohibits a bond, loan, or other investment vehicle guaranteed under the program from being used to create a floor price or artificial demand for the environmental credits generated. Further, under the program, USDA must guarantee not more than $150 million in the aggregate for bonds, loans, and other investment vehicles; conduct annual audits of each eligible project financed under the program; and issue implementing regulations.

Bill· SS. 3401 (118th)referred

WEATHER Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2023

Bill· HRH.R. 6580 (118th)referred

LAND Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 December 2023

Land And National Defense Act or the LAND Act This bill requires that a foreign purchaser of agricultural land be subject to the same restrictions and limitations as a U.S. citizen or national would be subject to when purchasing agricultural land in the foreign purchaser's home country. The bill applies to all foreign purchasers, including U.S. citizens who are also a citizen of one or more other countries (e.g., a dual citizen). For a foreign company purchasing agricultural land, a country is treated as the company's home country if (1) it has the most restrictive laws with respect to the purchasing of agricultural land, and (2) the citizens of the country hold at least 5% of the company. The seller of the agricultural land to a foreign purchaser must report the sale to the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Further, USDA must notify certain Members of Congress of the sale, including (1) the Senators from the state in which the agricultural land is located, and (2) the Representative from the congressional district where the land is located. In addition, the bill establishes the U.S. Land Protection Task Force, chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture, to identify violations of these restrictions on foreign agricultural land purchasers. The task force must submit a report to Congress every six months, which must include specific information on the sale of agricultural land to foreign purchasers.

Bill· HRH.R. 6534 (118th)open

Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023

Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023 This bill establishes a grant program to fund demonstration projects to provide in-home mental health and substance use services to medically underserved individuals in rural areas or in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to public or nonprofit telemental health provider networks to deliver, and evaluate the impact of, home-based telemental health and substance use services for such individuals. HHS must consult with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture on the grants.

Bill· HRH.R. 6527 (118th)referred

JUST Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2023

Law· HRH.R. 6492 (118th)enacted

EXPLORE Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2023

Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act or EXPLORE Act This bill sets forth policies for the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture related to recreation on certain public lands. Issues addressed include itemized budget information for outdoor recreation across departments;  long-distance bike trails;  recreational climbing activities;  target shooting ranges;  overnight campsites in Arkansas;  filming and still photography;  motorized and nonmotorized access;  invasive species;  gateway communities;  real-time information for the public on visitor levels;  broadband and cellular service; public-private partnerships;  access for persons with disabilities to trails and recreation opportunities;  recreational and job opportunities for military members and veterans;  youth access to recreational lands;  issuance of special recreation permits; a digital version of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass; extension of seasonal recreation opportunities; and  volunteers on public recreational lands.

Bill· HRH.R. 6501 (118th)referred

Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2023

Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act This bill requires states to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and adjusts the formula for determining a state's liability rate for overpayments. As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. States that have comparatively high payment error rates for two consecutive years are assessed a penalty (i.e., liability amount). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) must use a statutory formula to determine the liability amount. Under current law, FNS must set a tolerance level for excluding small payment errors (e.g., $54 or less in FY2023). This bill reduces the tolerance level for excluding small errors to $0 for FY2024 and each succeeding fiscal year. The bill also requires state agencies to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to SNAP beneficiaries. The bill adjusts the liability rate formula to reduce the state payment error rate based on the percentage of overpayments recouped by the state. Further, the bill increases the multiplier used in the formula to 25% (from 10%). 

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 80 (118th)referred

Recognizing that Federal law does not prohibit elementary school or secondary school students from discussing or sharing information about non-dairy milk alternatives.

United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2023

This concurrent resolution resolves that the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act does not prohibit elementary or secondary school students from discussing or sharing information about non-dairy milk alternatives with their classmates; parents and students should be provided with as much information as possible about school meal nutrition; and parents and students, in consultation with their physicians, should have as much choice as possible in the school lunch program.

Bill· SS. 3358 (118th)referred

Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2023

Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023 This bill allows livestock producers and their employees to take certain actions against black vultures to protect livestock. (Black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.) Specifically, livestock producers and their employees may (1) take (i.e., capture, kill, or disperse, or transport the carcass of) a black vulture that they reasonably believe will cause death, injury, or destruction to livestock; or (2) in the course of taking or attempting to take the black vulture, cause injury to the bird. However, they may not take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison. Livestock producers and their employees must submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on black vultures taken under this bill. The FWS must make this reporting form available on its website. Currently, the FWS has a permit process under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the taking of black vultures.

Bill· SS. 3346 (118th)open

Montana Headwaters Legacy Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 November 2023

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, Yellowstone River, Cabin Creek, Middle Fork of Cabin Creek, and Clarks Fork of the 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.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 882 (118th)referred

Declaring support and gratitude by the House of Representatives to food banks, food pantries, and other community-based organizations working to end food insecurity and providing other essential services in the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2023

This resolution declares support and gratitude to food banks and community-based organizations working to end U.S. food insecurity. The resolution also confirms that food bank and community-based organization employees and volunteers, private donors, and U.S. agricultural producers serve an essential role in working to end food insecurity.

Bill· HRH.R. 6469 (118th)referred

Farmland Security Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2023

Farmland Security Act of 2023 This bill authorizes increased civil penalties for violations of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) and increases Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight of and research into foreign investment in agricultural land. (AFIDA and the regulations that implemented the act require foreign investors who acquire, transfer, or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report such holdings and transactions to USDA.)  In general, the bill allows USDA to determine an appropriate civil penalty amount for an AFIDA violation by removing the cap that currently prohibits the civil penalty from exceeding 25% of the fair market value of the interest in the land. The bill provides an exception for a shell corporation (i.e., a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, trust, or estate that has no or nominal operations). An AFIDA civil penalty for a foreign-owned shell corporation must be 100% of the fair market value of the interest in the agricultural land associated with the violation. The penalty does not apply if the shell corporation remedies a defective filing or failure to file within 60 days of USDA providing notice.   USDA must conduct annual compliance audits of at least 10% of the reports. Further, USDA must provide state and county-level personnel annual training in identifying agricultural land for which a report must be submitted. USDA must also annually conduct research and submit a report to Congress on foreign investment in agricultural land, including trends in the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign-owned shell corporations.   

Bill· HRH.R. 6449 (118th)referred

Providing Robust Organics and Diets for Urban Communities Everywhere Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2023

Providing Robust Organics and Diets for Urban Communities Everywhere Act or the PRODUCE Act This bill extends through FY2028 the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, which coordinates across USDA agencies to update programs and engage with stakeholders to serve the needs of urban and innovative producers. The office also provides competitive grants to initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs.  

Report· HearingH.Hrg.118published

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON H.R. 4235, TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ESTABLISH A WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY TESTBED PILOT PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, "WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION, EVALUATION, MODERNIZATION, AND OPTIMIZATION ACT" OR "WILDFIRE TECHNOLOGY DEMO ACT"; H.R. 4353, TO AMEND PUBLIC LAW 91-378 TO AUTHORIZE ACTIVITIES RELATING TO CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, "CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTER ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2023"; H.R. 4717, TO AMEND THE HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2003 WITH RESPECT TO THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTS FOR WILDFIRE HAZARD FUEL REMOVAL, TO AMEND THE NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT WITH RESPECT TO THE THRESHOLD FOR ADVERTISED TIMBER SALES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, "LOCALLY LED RESTORATION ACT OF 2023"; H.R. 5582, TO PROVIDE FOR WHITE OAK RESTORATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, "WHITE OAK RESILIENCE ACT"; H.R. 5665, TO REQUIRE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN FEDERAL TRAILS, CAMPSITES, BOAT DOCKS, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES TO DETERMINE THE ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, "PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY ON FEDERAL LANDS ACT OF 2023"; H.R. 6070, TO AMEND THE MILITARY LANDS WITHDRAWAL ACT OF 1999 TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CONDUCT CERTAIN MILITARY ACTIVITIES AT THE NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND DISCUSSION DRAFT OF H.R., TO ESTABLISH DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF BIOCHAR AND A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WITH RESPECT TO BIOCHAR, "BIOCHAR INNOVATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOREST CONSERVATION, HEALTH, AND ADVANCEMENTS IN RESEARCH ACT" OR "BIOCHAR ACT"

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 November 2023

Page 1 of 2Next