[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3652 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3652
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a food waste
research and technical assistance program and grant program, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 1, 2021
Mrs. Axne introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a food waste
research and technical assistance program and grant program, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Food Waste Reduction Act''.
SEC. 2. FOOD WASTE RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison of
the Department of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the
``Liaison'') shall establish a partnership with 5 regional partner
institutions, selected under subsection (c), to carry out a Food Waste
Research Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'').
(b) Food Waste Research Program Requirements.--
(1) Duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Liaison, in
partnership with the 5 regional partner institutions selected
under subsection (c), shall--
(A) plan, conduct, and arrange for public research,
data, education, and recommendations within the areas
of study specified in paragraph (2), as such areas
relate to food waste reduction and food recovery issues
nationwide, regionally, and locally;
(B) carry out the activities of the Program within
a variety of regions in the United States, which are
identified and categorized by the Liaison based on the
specific food recovery and food waste reduction issues
of such regions;
(C) identify areas to increase efficiency in the
allocation of resources, coordination, cooperation, and
consolidation of efforts as they relate to local,
statewide, Tribal, regional, and Federal food recovery
and food waste reduction efforts;
(D) create a Program website, as described in
paragraph (4), to disseminate information to the
public; and
(E) collaborate with other colleges, universities,
and nonprofit organizations in the regions selected by
the Liaison that have demonstrated capability for
research, information dissemination, and professional
training in order to develop regional networks that are
knowledgeable in food waste reduction issues.
(2) Areas of study.--In carrying out the duties listed in
subsection (a), the Liaison and the regional partner
institutions shall consider the following areas of study:
(A) Reducing the volume of surplus food produced.
(B) Feeding individuals in need to utilize excess
food, including through the use of donations of surplus
food.
(C) Diverting food unusable for purposes of
subparagraph (B) to feed animals.
(D) Utilizing food waste to create renewable energy
sources.
(E) Composting food waste to create nutrient rich
soil.
(F) Diminishing the deposits of food waste in
landfills and reducing the incineration of food waste.
(3) Use of funds.--
(A) In general.--The Liaison may make funds
available under this section to improve the facilities
of the regional partner institutions to a level that
meets the requirements of the role of a regional
partner institution.
(B) Plan.--A regional partner institution may not
receive any funding for any facility upgrade under
subparagraph (A), unless--
(i) the regional partner institution
submits to the Liaison a plan detailing the
type of facility construction or improvements
to take place (including any land acquisition,
engineering, design, and staffing and equipment
needs, in addition to other information as
required by the Liaison); and
(ii) the Liaison approves such plan.
(C) Non-federal cost share for facility
improvement.--A regional partner institutions shall be
required to provide at least a 20 percent non-Federal
cost share for facility improvement or construction
projects pursued by a regional partner institution
under subparagraph (A).
(D) Matching funds for operating expenses.--A
regional partner institution shall be required to
provide at least a 30 percent non-Federal cost share
for all Program operating expenses related to such
regional partner institution.
(E) Wage rate requirements.--A construction
activity carried out pursuant to this section shall
meet Federal prevailing wage requirements as determined
by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter
IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40,
United States Code, (commonly referred to as the
``Davis-Bacon Act'').
(4) Food waste research program website.--The Liaison shall
establish a website that shall contain at least the following
information:
(A) Key findings and best practices.
(B) A list of collaborations and partnerships
carried out pursuant to this section.
(C) Annual reports and other pertinent information
on the duties of the Program.
(D) The location and contact information for
regional partner institutions.
(E) Federal, State, local, and regionally specific
public research, data, education, and policy
recommendations that shall be updated in a timely
manner with new information.
(F) Tools for tracking reduction efforts and
measuring food waste production.
(c) Selection of Regional Partner Institutions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this section, the Liaison shall select 5
regional partner institutions to partner with to carry out the
requirements of the Program.
(2) Criteria for regional partner institutions.--In making
a selection under paragraph (1), the Liaison shall select an
institution of higher education that--
(A) has a focus or expertise in at least one of the
areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
(B) has the ability to plan, conduct, and arrange
for public research, data, education, and
recommendations related to food waste reduction and the
areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
(C) can assist the Liaison in fulfilling the duties
listed in subsection (b)(1);
(D) can contribute the required non-Federal funding
to maintain a regional partner institution center; and
(E) satisfies any other criteria determined by the
Liaison.
(3) Eligible sub-awardees.--A State, Tribal, or local
government, local educational agency, agricultural or commodity
organization, farmer, or other organization focused on food
waste prevention may serve as an eligible sub-awardee of a
regional partner institution if the entity meets the
requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (2).
(4) Employment status.--Members of regional partner
institutions shall not be considered Federal employees for any
purpose.
(d) Collaboration With Federal, Regional, State, Tribal, and Local
Governments and Organizations.--The Liaison, in conjunction with the 5
regional partner institutions selected under subsection (c) shall
collaborate and share best practices on regional, State, Tribal, and
locally specific food waste and food waste reduction issues with--
(1) State and county governments;
(2) Tribal governments;
(3) units of local government;
(4) local educational entities;
(5) colleges and universities;
(6) agricultural and commodity organizations;
(7) farmers; and
(8) organizations focused on food waste prevention.
(e) Information Collection and Dissemination.--
(1) Report of regional partner institutions.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section,
and annually thereafter, the regional partnership institutions
shall submit to the Liaison a report containing the activities,
partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy recommendations,
previous and continuing budgets, findings, and any other
applicable information carried out under the Program.
(2) Liaison report.--Not later than 15 months after the
date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter,
the Liaison shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and publish on the
Program website an annual report containing a compilation of
the activities, partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy
recommendations, previous and continuing budgets, findings, and
any other applicable information relating to the Program.
(3) Review of report.--The Liaison shall review the annual
report from the regional partner institutions to ensure that
funds are being used efficiently according to the duties of the
Program and that the Program is producing utilizable public
research, data, education, and recommendations related to food
waste and food waste reduction issues.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2022.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO RESEARCH CENTERS OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Grant Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison of
the Department of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the
``Liaison'') shall establish a grant program under which the Liaison
shall make grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to
establish contracts or cooperative agreements described in subsection
(c) of section 224 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924(c)) with such eligible entities to carry out the
duties described in subsection (b) of such section.
(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Liaison an application
at such time and in such manner as the Liaison may require.
(c) Criteria.--In making grants under this section, the Liaison
shall consider, with respect to each applicant, the following:
(1) The alignment of food loss and recovery programs and
resources developed by such applicant with the Environmental
Protection Agency Food Recovery Hierarchy.
(2) The ability of the facilities and resources of such
applicant to develop and deliver food loss reduction and
recovery programs.
(3) The experience of such applicant in developing high-
impact food loss reduction and recovery programs and resources
at the State, Tribal, regional, or national scale.
(4) Previous collaboration of such applicant with other
food loss reduction and recovery focused organizations in the
private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
(5) Any other information that the Liaison shall require.
(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use such grant to carry out the activities described
in subsection (c) of section 224 of the Department of Agriculture
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924(c)) to accomplish the duties
described in subsection (b) of such section.
(e) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be for a period
of 3 years.
(f) Grant Renewal.--The Liaison may renew a grant under this
section for an additional period of 3 years.
(g) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant under this section
shall not exceed 70 percent of the costs of the activities carried out
under this section.
(h) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Liaison shall
submit to Congress a report describing the activities conducted under
this section and the effects of such activities on food loss and waste
reduction nationally.
(i) Eligible Entity Defined.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
research center or nonprofit organization described in section 224(c)
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C.
6924(c)).
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2022.
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