[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5097 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5097
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to
direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of
excellence for alternative protein innovation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2023
Ms. Brownley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to
direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research centers of
excellence for alternative protein innovation, 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 ``Producing Real Opportunities for
Technology and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Protein innovation that produces the characteristics of
animal protein using plants, animal cell cultivation, and
fermentation is an essential component of the bioeconomy.
(2) The United States has produced several groundbreaking
biotechnological breakthroughs across the alternative protein
sector in the last decade.
(3) In recent years, multiple countries have dramatically
increased public investments into alternative protein research
and development while government spending in the United States
is still extremely modest.
(4) According to the United States Department of
Agriculture, every one dollar of investment into agricultural
research results in twenty dollars of economic productivity.
(5) As of 2019, the plant-based food industry supported
over 55,000 jobs in the United States, and the alternative
protein sector could create as many as 10 million jobs globally
by 2050.
(6) Diversifying the protein supply of the United States
will increase domestic supply chain resilience, decrease
reliance on foreign grain and other commodities, and provide
more choices to American consumers.
(7) The global demand for meat is predicted to double by
2050, thus increasing the need for additional food sources such
as alternative proteins.
(8) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would
decrease the risks associated with antibiotic resistance and
zoonotic disease.
(9) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would
improve global and domestic food security.
(10) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would
improve the nutritional quality of the United States food
system, contributing to improved health outcomes.
(11) Widespread adoption of alternative proteins would
likely help the United States' food system become more climate-
friendly and sustainable.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN
INNOVATION.
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Centers of Excellence for Alternative Protein Innovation.--
``(1) Recognition.--The Secretary shall recognize not fewer
than 3 centers of excellence, one of which will be led by an
1890 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
7601)), to focus on the advancement of alternative proteins in
the areas described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Areas of focus.--
``(A) Alternative proteins research and
development.--A center of excellence recognized under
paragraph (1) may carry out research, development, and
education programs that support the quality,
production, or cost-effectiveness of foods with the
characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal
cell cultivation, or fermentation.
``(B) Student success and workforce development.--A
center of excellence recognized under paragraph (1) may
engage in activities to ensure that students have the
skills and education needed to work in the alternative
proteins industries, including agricultural science,
technology, engineering, mathematics, and related
fields of study.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
``(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Producing Real Opportunities for Technology
and Entrepreneurs Investing in Nutrition Act, and every year
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report
describing--
``(A) the resources invested in the centers of
excellence recognized under paragraph (1); and
``(B) the work being done by such centers of
excellence.''.
SEC. 4. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Section 2(b)(2)(E) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities
Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(E)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (v) as clauses
(iii) through (vi), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:
``(ii) characteristics of animal meat using
plants, animal cell cultivation, or
fermentation;''.
SEC. 5. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
(a) Establishment of National Program.--The Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Agricultural
Research Service (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''),
shall establish a new national program dedicated to the research of
alternative proteins that is focused on developing knowledge and
enabling commercially-viable technologies related to foods with the
characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell cultivation,
or fermentation.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
SEC. 6. ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION GRANT
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a grant program to
ensure that the United States has a viable domestic manufacturing and
production capability to support and sustain increased global demand
for alternative proteins.
(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant
under subsection (a) if--
(1) such entity is--
(A) a nonprofit or for-profit private entity;
(B) an institution of higher education;
(C) a National Laboratory;
(D) a State or local government; or
(E) a consortium of entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D); and
(2) such entity--
(A) is headquartered in the United States and
operates primarily within the United States;
(B) is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by
1 or more individuals who are citizens of the United
States; and
(C) deploys intellectual property and content that
is owned by United States individuals.
(c) Grants.--
(1) Use of funds.--An entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use funds received through the grant--
(A) to carry out 1 or more demonstration projects
for the advanced manufacturing, production, or
processing of alternative protein;
(B) to construct 1 or more new commercial-scale
facilities for the advanced manufacturing, production,
or processing of alternative protein in the United
States; and
(C) to retool, retrofit, or expand 1 or more
existing facilities located in the United States and
determined qualified by the Secretary for advanced
manufacturing, production, or processing of alternative
proteins.
(2) Amount of grants.--The amount of a grant awarded under
this section shall be not less than $10,000,000 for an eligible
entity carrying out 1 or more projects described in paragraph
(1).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $50,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
SEC. 7. ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a competitive grant
program to support alternative protein workforce development.
(b) Eligible Entity.--An entity is eligible to receive a grant
under this section if the entity is--
(1) a governmental entity;
(2) a public, private, or cooperative organization
organized on a for-profit or nonprofit basis; or
(3) an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)) on a Federal or State reservation or any other federally
recognized Indian Tribe.
(c) Use of Funds.--An entity to which a grant is made under this
section may use the grant funds to--
(1) train new and existing employees on alternative protein
production and processing methods;
(2) establish a center for training, technology, and trade
that will provide training to employees who process alternative
protein;
(3) provide higher-education scholarships to students
pursuing careers in alternative protein production and
processing, including at community colleges;
(4) conduct regional, community, and local economic
development planning and coordination for the purpose of
increasing alternative protein production and processing;
(5) provide technical assistance to gain compliance with
Federal, State, or local regulations related to alternative
protein production and processing; or
(6) facilitate business and lending opportunities related
to alternative protein production and processing, including
identifying relevant information necessary for obtaining--
(A) private capital investments;
(B) Federal and State loan guarantees;
(C) Federal and State direct grants; or
(D) other financial support mechanisms from Federal
and State entities.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL STRATEGY ON ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS.
(a) Establishment of a National Strategy on Alternative Proteins.--
The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the
``Secretary'') shall--
(1) establish a national strategy on alternative proteins
in coordination with the Secretaries concerned that meets the
requirements of subsection (c); and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, finalize such strategy.
(b) Considerations.--When developing the national strategy under
subsection (a), the Secretaries concerned shall consider--
(1) the best available science related to products with the
characteristics of animal meat using plants, animal cell
cultivation, and fermentation;
(2) the societal benefits of expanding research,
development, and production of alternative proteins relating
to--
(A) personal and public health;
(B) climate change and energy;
(C) food and agricultural innovation;
(D) resilient supply chains; and
(E) cross-cutting scientific advancements;
(3) global competition and the economic benefits of
alternative proteins relating to--
(A) future economic productivity;
(B) job creation in the biotechnology sector; and
(C) existing public investments and strategies of
competitor countries; and
(4) existing policies and programs offered by the Federal
and State governments that--
(A) fund open-access research and development at
higher-learning institutions and government agencies;
(B) incentivize private sector research and
development;
(C) support new and existing alternative protein
producers and manufacturers;
(D) support farmers in the United States that
produce outputs related to alternative proteins; and
(E) represent a barrier for effective--
(i) open-access alternative protein
research and development;
(ii) scale-up of alternative protein
production and manufacturing; and
(iii) regulatory oversight.
(c) Contents.--The national strategy shall--
(1) use a whole-of-government approach to ensure that the
United States remains the global leader of alternative protein
research, development, production, and workforce development
for future generations; and
(2) include--
(A) objectives to fulfill the purpose of the
national strategy specified in paragraph (1), including
interagency coordination;
(B) barriers to fulfill such purpose;
(C) solutions to the barriers identified in
subsection (b)(4)(E); and
(D) a plan for the implementation of the national
strategy.
(d) Secretaries Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term
``Secretaries concerned'' means--
(1) the Secretary of Defense;
(2) the Secretary of Energy;
(3) the Secretary of Commerce;
(4) the Director of the National Science Foundation;
(5) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;
(6) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs;
(7) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
(8) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency; and
(9) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
SEC. 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this Act, shall be
construed to support the production of insects for food or animal feed.
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