[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8179 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8179
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and
development with respect to winter oilseed crops, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 30, 2024
Mr. Kustoff (for himself, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Strong) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out research and
development with respect to winter oilseed crops, 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 ``Winter Oilseed Study Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES AND FINDINGS.
(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To ensure the continued growth of clean and sustainable
feedstocks, crops such as winter canola will need access to
crop insurance products that allow for additional growing
practices.
(2) To recognize the importance and regionality
characteristics of rotationally and double-crop grown canola
and the economic and environmental benefits to producers.
(3) By investing in lower carbon-intensity renewable fuels,
such as those produced from canola, the United States can
provide sustainable fuels, create jobs, enhance our rural
communities, and bolster our national security.
(b) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Canola improves farm economics by increasing yield in
cereal, soybean, and other crops that follow winter canola.
(2) Canola oil is a source of renewable energy as a
feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and jet biofuel.
(3) Canola oil-based renewable fuels reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by over 50 percent compared to conventional fuels,
providing significant air quality improvements.
(4) Expanding winter canola production will provide
additional feedstock to meet growing renewable fuel demand
without bringing new land into production, which will yield an
even more favorable carbon intensity compared to conventional
fuels.
SEC. 3. STUDY OF INCLUSION OF CERTAIN OILSEED CROPS UNDER DOUBLE AND
ROTATIONAL CROPPING POLICIES.
Section 522(c) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 4 U.S.C.
1522(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(20) Double cropping and rotational cropping of certain
oilseed crops.--
``(A) Definition of covered oilseed crops.--In this
paragraph, the term `covered oilseed crops' means
rapeseed and canola crops.
``(B) Research and development.--The Corporation
shall carry out research and development, or offer to
enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more qualified
persons to carry out research and development, with
respect to the inclusion of covered oilseed crops under
double cropping and rotational cropping policies.
``(C) Requirements.--The research and development
carried out pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be
conducted in consultation with stakeholders to
evaluate--
``(i) the factors impacting availability
and cost of crop insurance when incorporating
covered oilseed crops into double cropping and
rotational cropping policies; and
``(ii) the potential risk management
benefits associated with incorporating covered
oilseed crops into double cropping and
rotational cropping policies, specifically with
respect to winter planted covered oilseed
crops, including risk management benefits to
soil health, biodiversity, and the
profitability of farming operations.
``(D) Emphasis.--In awarding contracts under
subparagraph (B), the Corporation may place emphasis on
qualified persons that--
``(i) have previous research experience
with covered oilseed crops; and
``(ii) have access to a facility with the
capacity to carry out the applicable research.
``(E) Report.--Not later than 13 months after the
date of enactment of this paragraph, the Corporation
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 that describes--
``(i) the results of the research and
development carried out under subparagraph (B);
and
``(ii) any recommendations with respect to
those results.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AMENDMENTS.
Section 1473D of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
3319d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignation subparagraph (F) as
subparagraph (G); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the
following:
``(F) to examine potential benefits and opportunities for
supplemental and alternative crops (including winter-planted
rapeseed and winter-planted canola crops); and''; and
(2) in subsection (e) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through
2029.''.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 13 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Corporation 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 that describes--
(1) the results of the research and development carried out
under the amendments made by section 3; and
(2) any recommendations with respect to those results.
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