Agriculture And Food
US Congress 115th Congress
Conservation Assistance Loan Act of 2018 [HB-4988]
Conservation Assistance Loan Act of 2018 This bill establishes a Department of Agriculture (USDA) nonrecourse conservation assistance loan program. Under the program, farmers who receive loans must meet certain conservation requirements, including: (1) complying with applicable conservation and wetland protection requirements under the Food Security Act of 1985, (2) using a reduced tillage method and nutrient management practices, and (3) planting a cover crop. (Under a nonrecourse loan, a farmer pledges a commodity as collateral and may deliver
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Sponsored by: Rep. Cheri Bustos
Introduced In House on 02/08/2018
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Dairy Premium Refund Act of 2018 [S.2426]
Dairy Premium Refund Act of 2018 This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014, with respect to the Dairy Margin Protection Program, to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to repay certain premiums to participating dairy operations. (The Dairy Margin Protection Program is a voluntary program that makes payments to participating dairy operations when a formula-based national margin [the difference between the national all milk price and the national average feed cost] falls below a producer-selected insured margin.) For 2015 and each succeeding
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Sponsored by: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry. on 02/14/2018
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Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2018 [HB-5017]
Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to reauthorize and modify the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The initiative authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide financial and technical assistance to food retailers, farmers markets, cooperatives, and other entities for projects to improve access to healthy food in underserved communities. The purposes of the initiative include: improving access to, and expanding the supply of, healthy food in
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Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee
Referred To The Subcommittee On Nutrition. on 03/08/2018
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To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to require the specialty crops committee to make an additional recommendation regarding agricultural technology, and for other purposes. [HB-5029]
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to require the specialty crops committee to make an additional recommendation regarding agricultural technology, and for other purposes. This bill amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to require the Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Committee to include in its annual report recommendations regarding research, extension, and teaching programs designed to improve competitiveness in the specialty crop industry by increasing the use of agricultural
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Sponsored by: Rep. Darren Soto
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/08/2018
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Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2018 [HB-5022]
Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase and extend through FY2023 the authorization of mandatory funding for the Department of Agriculture Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. (The program provides grants for state and tribal governments to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make the land available for access by the public for wildlife-dependent recreation, including hunting or fishing.)
Sponsored by: Rep. Jared Polis
Referred To The Subcommittee On Conservation And Forestry. on 03/08/2018
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National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act [S.2432]
National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act
Sponsored by: Sen. Joe Donnelly
Message On Senate Action Sent To The House. on 12/21/2018
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Nutrient Management Technical Service Provider Certification Act of 2018 [HB-5048]
Nutrient Management Technical Service Provider Certification Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide alternative certification methods for third-party technical service providers (TSPs). (TSPs provide technical expertise to agricultural producers on behalf of the Department of Agriculture [USDA] Natural Resource Conservation Service to assist in planning and implementing conservation measures.) USDA must approve certain professional certifications that meet or exceed national criteria and were established by: the USDA,
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Sponsored by: Rep. Darren Soto
Introduced In House on 02/15/2018
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Acequia Conservation Program Eligibility Act [HB-5055]
Acequia Conservation Program Eligibility Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make acequias eligible for assistance under several Department of Agriculture conservation programs. An "acequia" is a political subdivision of a state that is organized to manage the operation of an irrigation ditch and does not have the power to impose taxes or levies.
Sponsored by: Sen. Ben Lujan
Referred To The Subcommittee On Conservation And Forestry. on 03/08/2018
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State Assistance for Tropical Floriculture Research Act of 2018 [HB-5066]
State Assistance for Tropical Floriculture Research Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish and carry out a program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to state departments of agriculture for the research and development of disease resistant varieties of tropical flowers. A grant awarded under the program must be at least $250,000 for a fiscal year. A state department of agriculture that receives a grant must conduct and submit to USDA an audit regarding the use of the grant funds.
Sponsored by: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/08/2018
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Grain Inspection Improvement Act [HB-5070]
Grain Inspection Improvement Act This bill restores certain exceptions to the United States Grain Standards Act that permit certain grain handling facilities to have their grain inspected by grain inspection agencies outside of the official service boundary. The bill applies to grain handling facilities that were granted exceptions by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that were revoked by USDA on or before April 14, 2017.
Sponsored by: Rep. Cheri Bustos
Introduced In House on 02/20/2018
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Agricultural Research Advisory Board Improvement Act [HB-5071]
Agricultural Research Advisory Board Improvement Act This bill amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend and modify the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education, and Economics Advisory Board. The bill reduces the membership of the board from 25 to 15 members and modifies the membership categories. It also specifies that the duties of the board include making recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding agricultural research, extension, education, and economics programs.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Loebsack
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/08/2018
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HBCU Parity Act of 2018 [HB-5122]
HBCU Parity Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to reauthorize and provide mandatory funding for Department of Agriculture grants to upgrade agricultural and food sciences facilities at 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University. (Under current law funding for the grant program is subject to the annual appropriations process. Mandatory spending is not controlled by appropriations bills.)
Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/08/2018
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SNAP Work Opportunities and Veteran Protection Act of 2018 [S.2477]
SNAP Work Opportunities and Veteran Protection Act of 2018 This bill amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exempt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) beneficiaries from work requirements if they are not offered a position in a state job training or workfare program. The bill also exempts from work requirements veterans who are participating in certain programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a state to further employment or rehabilitation goals. The bill permits
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Sponsored by: Sen. Edward Markey
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry. on 03/01/2018
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AG RESEARCH Act Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-Edge and Helpful Act [S.2479]
AG RESEARCH Act Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-Edge and Helpful Act This bill amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to provide funding for maintenance at agricultural research facilities. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to: (1) establish a grant program within the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to provide agricultural research facilities with a federal share of the cost for the alteration, modernization, renovation, or remodeling
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Sponsored by: Sen. Angus King
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry. on 03/01/2018
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To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish seaweed as a high-priority research and extension area, and for other purposes. [HB-5168]
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish seaweed as a high-priority research and extension area, and for other purposes. This bill amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to establish seaweed as a high-priority research and extension area for which the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may make competitive grants to support research and extension activities. USDA may make grants for carrying out or enhancing research with respect to the harvesting of seaweed for voluntary use for the
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Sponsored by: Rep. Darren Soto
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/28/2018
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To amend the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to prioritize research on sensor and imager technology in agriculture, and for other purposes. [HB-5169]
To amend the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to prioritize research on sensor and imager technology in agriculture, and for other purposes. This bill amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act and the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide competitive grants for sensor and imager technology. The bill authorizes USDA to provide the grants under: (1) the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and (2) the Specialty
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Sponsored by: Rep. Darren Soto
Referred To The Subcommittee On Biotechnology, Horticulture, And Research. on 03/28/2018
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SOIL Stewardship Act Strengthening Our Investment in Land Stewardship Act [HB-5188]
SOIL Stewardship Act Strengthening Our Investment in Land Stewardship Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reauthorize and modify Department of Agriculture conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The bill addresses requirements for the programs relating to: enrollment and funding levels, the length and renewal process for contracts, payment rates, payment limitations, coordinating the application and enrollment processes for the two programs, set-asides
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Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney
Introduced In House on 03/06/2018
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Accelerating Innovative Conservation Technologies and Practices Act [HB-5184]
Accelerating Innovative Conservation Technologies and Practices Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to require the Department of Agriculture (USDA), within 180 days of the enactment of this bill, to develop an administrative process for: (1) expediting the establishment and revision of conservation practice standards, and (2) considering conservation innovations with respect to the establishment or revision of the standards. USDA must report to Congress on the administrative process developed under this bill, including conservation
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Sponsored by: Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Referred To The Subcommittee On Conservation And Forestry. on 03/28/2018
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A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require producers to elect to receive price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage under that Act or Federal crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. [S.2512]
A bill to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require producers to elect to receive price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage under that Act or Federal crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require all of the producers on a farm to elect to receive for the 2018 crop year either: (1) price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage, as determined by the election of the producers on the farm required under current law for the 2014-2018 crop years; or (2) federal crop insurance.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jeff Flake
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition, And Forestry. on 03/07/2018
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To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require producers to elect to receive price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage under that Act or Federal crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. [HB-5203]
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require producers to elect to receive price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage under that Act or Federal crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. This bill amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require all of the producers on a farm to elect to receive for the 2018 crop year either: (1) price loss coverage or agriculture risk coverage, as determined by the election of the producers on the farm required under current law for the 2014-2018 crop years; or (2) federal crop insurance.
Sponsored by: Rep. John Duncan
Referred To The Subcommittee On General Farm Commodities And Risk Management. on 03/28/2018