[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9182 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9182
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish
a program under which the Secretary awards grants for purposes of
providing training and any related assistance to dairy producers and
dairy workers on implementation of risk mitigation strategies related
to biosecurity threats, to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with
respect to emergency assistance for certain losses due to highly
pathogenic avian influenza, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 26, 2024
Ms. Slotkin (for herself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish
a program under which the Secretary awards grants for purposes of
providing training and any related assistance to dairy producers and
dairy workers on implementation of risk mitigation strategies related
to biosecurity threats, to amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 with
respect to emergency assistance for certain losses due to highly
pathogenic avian influenza, 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 ``Avian Influenza Research and
Response Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTINUING ANIMAL HEALTH AND DISEASE, FOOD SECURITY, AND
STEWARDSHIP RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS.
Section 1433 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3195) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Dairy Biosecurity Education and Training Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
under which the Secretary will award grants to eligible
entities to enable such entities to provide training and any
related assistance to dairy producers and dairy workers on
implementation of risk mitigation strategies related to
biosecurity threats, including strategies such as--
``(A) equipment cleaning;
``(B) interstate and intrastate movement of
animals; and
``(C) other risk mitigation measures relating to
biosecurity threats.
``(2) Training languages.--The Secretary shall ensure that
any training or materials provided by an eligible entity using
funds received through a grant made under paragraph (1) are
provided in English, Spanish, and other languages, as
determined necessary by the Secretary.
``(3) Eligible entities.--An entity eligible to receive a
grant under this subsection is any of the following:
``(A) A State cooperative extension service.
``(B) A Federal, State, local, or Tribal agency.
``(C) A nonprofit, community-based organization or
non-governmental organization.
``(D) An organization that--
``(i) represents owners and operators of
farms, small food processors, or small fruit
and vegetable merchant wholesalers; and
``(ii) has a commitment to public health
and expertise in administering programs that
contribute to food safety.
``(E) A farmer-owned cooperative.
``(F) An institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1964 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or a foundation maintained
by an institution of higher education.
``(G) A dairy product and business innovation
initiative, as described in section 12513 of the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 1632d).
``(H) A collaboration of 2 of more eligible
entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
``(I) Such other appropriate entity, as determined
by the Secretary.
``(4) Multistate projects.--A grant under this subsection
may be made to an eligible entity (or collaboration of 2 or
more such entities) proposing to use funds received through the
grant for projects involving more than 1 State.
``(5) Geographic distribution.--In making grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, ensure geographic diversity.
``(6) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may use funds
made available to carry out this subsection to provide
technical assistance to grant recipients to further the
purposes of this subsection.
``(7) Best practices.--Based on evaluations of, and
responses arising from, training and other assistance provided
pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary may issue a set of
recommended best practices and models to be used by dairy
producers for training programs relating to mitigation of risks
from biosecurity threats.''; and
(3) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (1))--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$25,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2014 through 2023'' and inserting
``$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through
2029'';
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available
under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall
reserve not less than--
``(A) $5,000,000 to carry out the capacity and
infrastructure program under subsection (a); and
``(B) $5,000,000 to carry out the program under
subsection (c).''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``85''
and inserting ``70''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) 15 percent of such amounts shall be used to
carry out the program under subsection (c).''.
SEC. 3. APPROPRIATIONS FOR RESEARCH ON NATIONAL OR REGIONAL PROBLEMS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1434(a) of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or national or regional'' and inserting
``emerging animal health or disease programs, and national or
regional''; and
(2) by striking ``, but not to exceed'' and all that
follows through ``subsequent fiscal year''.
(b) Duration of Grants.--Section 1434(b) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3196(b)) is amended by striking ``Federal agencies, private
organizations or corporations, and individuals'' and inserting
``Federal or State agencies, Tribal agencies, private organizations or
corporations, and nonprofit, community-based organizations or non-
governmental organizations''.
(c) Priority Lists.--Section 1434(c) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(c))
is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``Such lists'' and all that follows
through ``of priorities.''; and
(B) by striking ``and the Advisory Board'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) whether new approaches for vaccine development may
help to reduce negative impacts to animal and human health''.
(d) Assignment of Priorities.--Section 1434(d) of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 3196(d)) is amended by striking the first sentence.
(e) Multiyear Grants.--Section 1434(e) of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3196(e))
is amended by striking ``In the case of'' and inserting ``A grant under
this section shall have a term that is not more than 3 years. In the
case of''.
SEC. 4. HIGHLIGHTING HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA AS ZOONOTIC
DISEASE FOR PURPOSES OF ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND
ANIMAL PRODUCTS PRIORITY AREA UNDER AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Subsection (b)(2)(B)(ix)(II) of the Competitive, Special, and
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(B)(ix)(II)) is
amended by inserting ``, highly pathogenic avian influenza,'' after
``brucellosis''.
SEC. 5. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN LOSSES DUE TO HIGHLY
PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA.
Section 1501(d)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C.
9081(d)(1)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(including dairy cattle)'' after
``producers of livestock''; and
(2) by inserting ``and highly pathogenic avian influenza''
after ``cattle tick fever''.
<all>