Bill Overview: H.R. 6379 - Farmers First Act of 2023

This bill seeks to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The bill was introduced by Mr. F Eenstra, Mr. C Costa, Mr. B Bost, Ms. C Craig, and Mr. Nunn of Iowa on November 13, 2023. It has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Section 1: Short Title

This section declares that the bill may be referred to as the Farmers First Act of 2023.

Section 2: Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

This section focuses on amending Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The proposed amendments include:

1. Inserting 'including crisis lines' before the semicolon in subsection (b)(1)(A).
2. Changing the funding amount from '$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023' to '$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028' in subsection (d).
3. Replacing subsection (e) with new language that allows grant recipients to establish referral relationships with certified community behavioral health clinics, health centers, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and critical access hospitals.

Overall, the bill aims to provide support and resources to farmers and ranchers who may be experiencing stress or mental health issues. It seeks to ensure that individuals have access to counseling, wellness support, and comprehensive mental health and substance use treatments. The bill also encourages partnerships with various healthcare providers to facilitate referrals and improve access to care.

Summary of the Bill:

This bill aims to amend agricultural laws related to biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel. It recognizes the importance of sustainable aviation fuels in supporting domestic energy security, the agricultural sector, and rural economic development. The bill also defines sustainable aviation fuel and outlines initiatives for developing and commercializing these fuels.

Explanation of H. R. 6272 in Layman's Terms:

This bill aims to make changes to the way quality control guidance is issued by the Secretary of Agriculture in relation to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The main change proposed in the bill is to require the Secretary to provide notice and allow for public comment on any new or updated guidance that could significantly impact how quality control reviews are conducted or impact verification requirements for assistance program recipients. This public comment period must last for at least 60 days before the guidance can be finalized, unless there is an urgent need for immediate action.

Explanation of H.R. 6203 - Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023

This bill, introduced by Ms. Salinas, Mr. Panetta, and Ms. Crockett, aims to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 for several purposes, including making commodities available for the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Section 1 - Short Title

The bill may be referred to as the "Farmers Feeding America Act of 2023."

Section 2 - Availability of Commodities for the Emergency Food Assistance Program

This section amends Section 27(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change the year from "2023" to "2028" in several instances. It also adds a new provision to allocate $500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Section 3 - Emergency Food Program Storage and Distribution

This section amends Section 204(a)(1) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to increase the funding from "$100,000,000" to "$200,000,000" for the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Section 4 - Emergency Food Program Infrastructure Grants

This section amends Section 209(d) of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to change the year from "2023" to "2028."

Section 5 - Geographically Isolated States

This section amends Section 214 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to include alternative delivery options for geographically isolated states, such as Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and Guam. The Secretary of Agriculture is required to coordinate with these states to establish delivery options for commodities and allow them to order commodities through the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The Secretary may also transfer cash value for up to 20% of the commodities allocated to geographically isolated states for the states to purchase domestically grown food instead.

This section also adds a new provision allowing the Secretary to consider factors beyond the lowest price, such as product variety and transportation distance, when purchasing fresh produce packages for the program, as long as the goal of maximizing the amount of nutritious food available is maintained.

Overall, the bill aims to increase funding, allocation of commodities, and delivery options for the Emergency Food Assistance Program and enhance the availability of nutritious food for those in need.