Agriculture Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2022

Summary

Agriculture Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2022 This bill modifies access to Department of Agriculture disaster assistance programs and requires increased interagency cooperation in drought-related activities. The bill specifies that state and federal grazing permit holders are eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Further, emergency measures eligible for payments include new permanent measures, such as permanent water wells and pipelines. The bill also waives the 30-day comment period required for applications under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for emergency measures carried out during a drought emergency. Modifications to the Livestock Forage Disaster Program allow for one monthly payment when a county has four consecutive weeks of a D2 rating (severe drought) and two payments for eight consecutive weeks of D2. Currently, one payment is available for eight consecutive weeks of D2. The bill expands coverage for honey bee producers under the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses caused by adverse weather or drought, such as transportation costs and reduced honey crops. Further, the bill requires the ELAP payment rate for honey bee producers to incorporate additional factors, such as per-hive and per-colony rates of loss. The USDA must establish an interagency working group to improve the consistency and accuracy of U.S. Drought Monitor data. Finally, the Farm Service Agency and the Forest Service must enter into a memorandum of understanding to better align their drought response activities.

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Timeline

1. 29 September 2022

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text: CR S5546-5548)

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 29 September 2022

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 29 September 2022 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 September 2022

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 29 September 2022

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 29 September 2022

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• John Thune · R · Sponsor
• Ben Luján · D · Sponsor
• · ssaf00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act of 2023