Bill Summary

This bill, known as the "National Agricultural Crisis Hotline Act of 2023", aims to address the high suicide rates among farmers and ranchers in the United States. It proposes to amend the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network and establish a national agricultural crisis hotline.

Findings

The bill highlights several key findings:

1. The suicide rate among farmers is 3.5 times higher than the rate in the general population.
2. Male farmers and ranchers have significantly higher rates of suicide compared to other professions.
3. The percentage of adults living in completely rural areas has increased, leading to higher rates of alcohol abuse in those areas.
4. While the stigma surrounding mental health in farming and ranching communities has decreased, it still plays a significant role in influencing behavior.

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

The bill proposes to amend Section 7522 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 to enhance the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The proposed amendments include:

• Providing mental health training for agriculture professionals such as farm loan officers, extension agents, and State department of agriculture staff.
• Establishing a national agricultural crisis hotline as part of the network to provide emotional support and resources for farmers, ranchers, and their families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.
• Requiring the hotline to be staffed 24/7, offer real-time assistance by voice and through texting, and provide follow-up calls to callers.
• Collecting data on call volume, rescue data, caller information, and referrals provided.
• Ensuring that hotline staff are trained in culturally and linguistically appropriate support, have awareness training on farm stress, and possess the necessary credentials to provide evidence-based suicide intervention hotline care.
• Forming partnerships between the national agricultural crisis hotline and existing farm telephone helplines and websites.
• Providing information about the hotline to participants of financial assistance programs for farmers and ranchers and referring agriculture-related calls received through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to the national agricultural crisis hotline.
• Developing a directory of organizations to which hotline staff can make referrals.
• Conducting a public awareness campaign for the hotline.
• Requiring the Secretary to submit an annual report on the effectiveness of the hotline.

Budget Allocation

The bill proposes an increased budget allocation of $19,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028, with $4,000,000 designated specifically for carrying out the provisions related to the national agricultural crisis hotline.

Explanation of H.R. 5203 - AGRITOURISM Act

This bill aims to create an Office of Agritourism within the Department of Agriculture. Agritourism involves activities like school tours, farm visits, outdoor adventures, entertainment events, direct sales of agricultural products, accommodations on farms, and dining experiences. The bill highlights the benefits of agritourism, such as providing educational opportunities for families, generating income for farmers, boosting rural economies, preserving agricultural traditions, and promoting diversification of farms.

The bill proposes the establishment of the Office of Agritourism to promote and support agritourism activities nationwide. The Director of this office will be responsible for encouraging and facilitating agritourism enterprises, coordinating with various agencies, updating programs to enhance agritourism practices, outreach to stakeholders, and enhancing farm enterprise development programs. The bill also emphasizes interagency collaborations and partnerships to support the agritourism industry.

Bill Summary: HR 5097 - Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act

Summary

The HR 5097 bill, also known as the "Producing Real Opportunities for Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act," aims to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation and introduces various provisions related to this objective.

Key Findings

1. Protein innovation using plants, animal cell cultivation, and fermentation is crucial for the bioeconomy.
2. The United States has made significant biotechnological breakthroughs in the alternative protein sector.
3. Several countries have heavily invested in alternative protein research and development, while the United States' investment remains modest.
4. Investment in agricultural research has shown significant economic productivity.
5. The plant-based food industry has created numerous jobs, and the alternative protein sector has the potential to create millions of jobs globally by 2050.
6. Diversifying the protein supply in the United States enhances domestic supply chain resilience, reduces reliance on foreign commodities, and provides more food choices for consumers.
7. The global demand for meat is expected to double by 2050, necessitating the development of additional food sources like alternative proteins.
8. Widespread adoption of alternative proteins can reduce the risks associated with antibiotic resistance and zoonotic diseases.
9. Adoption of alternative proteins can improve global and domestic food security.
10. Adoption of alternative proteins can contribute to improved health outcomes and make the food system more climate-friendly and sustainable in the United States.

Research Centers of Excellence for Alternative Protein Innovation

The bill includes a provision to establish research centers of excellence for alternative protein innovation. The Secretary of Agriculture shall recognize at least three centers of excellence, with one led by an 1890 Institution. These centers will focus on the advancement of alternative proteins and carry out research, development, and education programs to support the quality, production, and cost-effectiveness of foods with characteristics similar to animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation.

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $15,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028 to support this provision. The Secretary is also required to submit annual reports to the relevant committees describing the resources invested in these centers and the work being done.

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

The bill amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation as an area of focus for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. This amendment expands the scope of the initiative to encompass alternative protein research and development.

Agricultural Research Service

The bill establishes a new national program within the Agricultural Research Service dedicated to alternative protein research. The program's focus is on developing knowledge and commercially-viable technologies related to foods with characteristics similar to animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation, or fermentation. An appropriation of $10,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028 to support this program.

Alternative Protein Advanced Manufacturing and Production Grant Program

The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to support domestic manufacturing and production capabilities for alternative proteins. The program aims to meet the increased global demand for these proteins. Eligible entities include nonprofit and for-profit private entities, institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, and state or local governments. The grants can be used for demonstration projects, construction of new commercial-scale facilities, or retooling and expanding existing facilities for advanced manufacturing, production, or processing of alternative proteins in the United States. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $50,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028 to support this grant program.

Alternative Protein Workforce Development Grant Program

The bill establishes a competitive grant program to support alternative protein workforce development. Eligible entities include governmental entities, public or private organizations on a for-profit or nonprofit basis, and federally recognized Indian Tribes. Grant funds can be used for employee training, establishment of training centers, higher-education scholarships, economic development planning, technical assistance, and facilitating business and lending opportunities related to alternative protein production and processing. An appropriation of $25,000,000 is authorized for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2028 to support this program.

National Strategy on Alternative Proteins

The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national strategy on alternative proteins in coordination with relevant Secretaries. The strategy aims to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in alternative protein research, development, production, and workforce development. The strategy will encompass objectives, barriers, solutions, and an implementation plan to achieve the purpose. The relevant Secretaries include those from Defense, Energy, Commerce, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Rule of Construction

The bill includes a rule of construction clarifying that nothing in the Act or its amendments can be construed to support the production of insects for food or animal feed.