[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 243 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 243
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act to require producers to establish disaster
preparedness plans to be eligible for certain disaster assistance
programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2023
Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Carson, Mr. Doggett, Ms.
Norton, and Ms. Titus) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 and the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act to require producers to establish disaster
preparedness plans to be eligible for certain disaster assistance
programs, 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 ``Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
for Farm Animals Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) American farms continue to experience devastating
impacts from extreme weather events that have resulted in the
death of millions of livestock and poultry in recent years.
(2) During 2020 and 2021, the United States experienced a
record-breaking hurricane season, record-breaking heat waves
and the hottest month on record, a record-breaking wildfire
season, and record-breaking droughts across the county.
(3) Extreme weather events continue to become more frequent
and severe, putting the country's agriculture operations and
livestock herds at increased risk.
(4) To help producers recover from weather-related losses,
numerous Federal disaster assistance programs have been
established that provide significant funding to compensate
producers each year, but do not require emergency planning.
(5) Leading agricultural and animal health entities,
including the Department of Agriculture, the American
Veterinary Medical Association, and the World Organisation for
Animal Health, as well as the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, all recognize the importance of emergency planning and
recommend the development of disaster preparedness plans on
farms to help mitigate the impacts of extreme weather.
(6) As we continue to adapt to a rapidly changing climate,
emergency planning requirements are necessary to help ensure
farmers are prepared, financial losses are reduced, and farm
animals are protected.
SEC. 3. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS REQUIRED UNDER CERTAIN DISASTER
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(a) Livestock Indemnity Payments.--Section 1501(b) of the
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``(other than a
disaster preparedness plan under paragraph (5))'' after
``management practice''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Special rule for payments due to adverse weather.--
``(A) In general.--An eligible producer may only
receive a payment under this subsection for a loss
described in paragraph (1)(B) if--
``(i) on a date before the 180-day period
preceding such loss, the eligible producer
submitted to the Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, an
initial disaster preparedness plan;
``(ii) in the case of a disaster
preparedness plan that was submitted to the
Secretary on a date before the 2-year period
preceding such loss, the producer submitted a
renewal of such plan during such 2-year period;
and
``(iii) not later than 30 days after such
loss is incurred, the eligible producer
provides to the Secretary a description of how
the most recently submitted disaster
preparedness plan was implemented on the farm
to attempt to prevent such loss.
``(B) Elements.--For purposes of subparagraph (A),
a disaster preparedness plan shall include--
``(i) an adverse weather plan for each
potential adverse weather event (based on the
region the applicable farm is located and size
of the farm) for each species of livestock on
the farm; and
``(ii) such other information as the
Secretary may require.
``(C) Publication.--The Secretary shall make the
plans received by the Secretary under subparagraph
(A)(i) available to State or local agencies upon
request.''.
(b) Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.--Section 333 of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1983) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (7) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) in the case of an emergency loan to replace livestock
lost due to a natural disaster or major disaster or emergency
designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et
seq.), require the applicant to develop a disaster preparedness
plan that includes an adverse weather plan for each potential
adverse weather event (based on the region the applicable farm
is located and size of the farm) for each species of livestock
on the farm.''.
(c) Effective Date.--This section, and the amendments made by this
section, shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
<all>