[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1904 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1904
To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to establish the Climate Scientific Research
Advisory Committee and the Rural Climate Alliance Network, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Ms. Brownley (for herself and Ms. Stansbury) 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 establish the Climate Scientific Research
Advisory Committee and the Rural Climate Alliance Network, 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 ``Improving Coordination of
Agriculture Research and Data Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to strategically align agriculture climate research and
data systems;
(2) to strengthen technical assistance and technology
transfer; and
(3) to establish a national agriculture climate research
agenda to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
SEC. 3. AGRICULTURE CLIMATE RESEARCH COORDINATION AND DATA.
(a) Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee.--
Subtitle B of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 1413C. AGRICULTURE CLIMATE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within the
Office of the Chief Scientist an advisory committee, to be known as the
`Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Advisory Committee' (referred
to in this section as the `Committee').
``(b) Duties.--The Committee shall--
``(1) review, and make recommendations and provide
consultation to the Secretary regarding, the long-term and
short-term national policies and priorities of the Department
of Agriculture for--
``(A) data collection for climate-specific
agricultural research, extension, education, and
economics; and
``(B) agricultural climate research priority areas
and scientific agendas for measuring, monitoring,
reporting, and verification of climate and
environmental outcomes that include--
``(i) carbon removal, carbon sequestration,
and greenhouse gas emission related to
agriculture;
``(ii) soil health;
``(iii) livestock methane production;
``(iv) wetland management; and
``(v) climate smart agriculture practices;
``(2) identify gaps in current agriculture climate research
and develop a biennial national research agenda and annual
scientific recommendations to address areas of critical need
for publicly funded agriculture climate research;
``(3)(A) every 5 years, evaluate the results and
effectiveness of climate-specific agricultural research,
extension, education, and economics with respect to the
policies and priorities described in paragraph (1); and
``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary based on such
evaluation;
``(4) review and make programmatic and priority research
recommendations to the Under Secretary for Research, Education,
and Economics on the climate-specific agricultural research,
extension, education, and economics described in paragraph
(3)(A);
``(5) review and make recommendations on the mechanisms of
the Department of Agriculture for technology assessment, which
shall be conducted by qualified professionals, for the purposes
of--
``(A) performance measurement and evaluation of the
implementation by the Secretary of the strategic plan
of the Department of Agriculture required under section
306 of title 5, United States Code;
``(B) implementation of climate-specific national
research policies and priorities that are consistent
with the purposes described in section 1402; and
``(C) the development of mechanisms for the
assessment of emerging public and private climate-
specific agricultural research and technology transfer
initiatives;
``(6) every 5 years, establish and update standardized data
collection, management, and dissemination protocols for--
``(A) agriculture climate research programs of the
Department of Agriculture; and
``(B) initiatives of the Rural Climate Alliance
Network established under section 1419(c);
``(7)(A) consult with industry groups, producer networks,
advocacy organizations, scientific societies, and higher
education associations on climate-specific agricultural
research, extension, education, and economics; and
``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary based on such
consultation;
``(8) consult with, and receive communications from, other
Federal departments and agencies on climate plans and
priorities relating to agriculture and forestry for the purpose
of advising the Secretary of opportunities for collaboration,
coordination, and avoiding duplication;
``(9)(A) review climate research technology transfer and
new scientific practices for climate mitigation and adaptation;
and
``(B) make recommendations to the Rural Climate Alliance
Network established under section 1419(c) based on such review;
and
``(10) review and suggest annual budget recommendations to
support a climate research agenda for the Secretary to propose
in each annual budget of the Department of Agriculture.
``(c) Membership.--
``(1) Number and appointment.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall be composed
of 18 members as follows:
``(i) The Secretary.
``(ii) The Chief Scientist.
``(iii) The Director of the Global Climate
Change Program established under section 2402
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6701).
``(iv) The Under Secretary for Natural
Resources and Environment.
``(v) The Under Secretary for Farm
Production and Conservation.
``(vi) The Under Secretary for Marketing
and Regulatory Programs.
``(vii) The Executive Director of the
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
``(viii) The Administrator of the
Agricultural Research Service.
``(ix) The Director of the National
Institute of Food and Agriculture.
``(x) The Administrator of the Economic
Research Service.
``(xi) The Administrator of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service.
``(xii) The Director of the Office of
Energy and Environmental Policy.
``(xiii) The Deputy Chief for Research and
Development of the Forest Service.
``(xiv) 1 member of the National Academy of
Sciences, to be appointed by the Secretary.
``(xv) 4 members to be appointed by the
Secretary from nominations submitted by the
nominating entities described in subparagraph
(B).
``(B) Nominating entities described.--The
nominating entities described in this subparagraph are
organizations, associations, societies, cooperative
extensions, State agricultural experiment stations,
technical assistance provider organizations, councils,
federations, producer groups, agriculture manufacturing
entities, restaurants, the food service industry, the
agriculture technology industry, environmental
organizations, forestry organizations, nonprofit
organizations, and companies or other entities as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(2) Terms.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee appointed
under clause (xiv) or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be
appointed for a term of not more than 6 years.
``(B) Terms of initial appointees.--The initial
members of the Committee appointed under clause (xiv)
or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) shall be appointed for the
following terms:
``(i) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 2
years, which may be extended by the Secretary
for an additional 6 years.
``(ii) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 4
years, which may be extended by the Secretary
for an additional 6 years.
``(iii) 1 shall be appointed for a term of
6 years.
``(C) Limitation.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee appointed
under clause (xiv) or (xv) of paragraph (1)(A) may not
serve consecutive terms on the Committee.
``(D) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Committee--
``(i) shall not affect the duties of the
Committee under this section; and
``(ii) shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment.
``(3) Chairperson, vice chairperson, and executive
subcommittee.--
``(A) Election.--At the first meeting of the
Committee each calendar year, the Committee shall elect
from among the members of the Committee--
``(i) a chairperson;
``(ii) a vice chairperson; and
``(iii) 7 members to serve on the executive
subcommittee established under subparagraph
(B).
``(B) Executive subcommittee.--The Committee shall
establish an executive subcommittee charged with the
responsibility of working with the Secretary and
officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture
to summarize and disseminate the recommendations of the
Committee.
``(d) Consultation and Recommendations.--
``(1) Duties of committee.--In fulfilling the duties of the
Committee under this section, the Committee shall consult with
appropriate agencies of the Department of Agriculture.
``(2) Duties of secretary.--After receiving recommendations
from the Committee pursuant to any provision in this section,
the Secretary shall provide a written response to the Committee
regarding the manner and extent to which the Secretary will
implement such recommendations.
``(e) Compensation and Personnel.--
``(1) Appointment of executive director and staff.--To
assist the Committee in the performance of the duties of the
Committee, the Secretary may appoint, without regard to the
civil service laws, and after consultation with the chairperson
of the Committee--
``(A) a full-time executive director, who shall--
``(i) perform such duties as the
chairperson of the Committee may direct; and
``(ii) receive compensation at a rate not
to exceed the rate payable for GS-15 of the
General Schedule established by section 5332 of
title 5, United States Code; and
``(B) a professional staff of not more than 3 full-
time employees qualified in climate-specific
agricultural research, extension, education, and
economics, of which 1 shall serve as the executive
secretary of the Committee.
``(2) Additional assistance and personnel.--The Secretary
shall detail, on a reimbursable basis, personnel of the
Department of Agriculture to the Committee as necessary to
assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this
section.
``(3) Compensation of members.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee shall serve
without pay for each day during which such members are
engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in
the Committee.
``(B) Prohibition of compensation of federal
employees.--Members of the Committee who are full-time
officers or employees of the United States may not
receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by
reason of their service on the Committee.
``(C) Travel expenses.--A member of the Committee
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
5, United States Code, while away from the home or
regular place of business of the member in the
performance of services for the Committee.
``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Charter.--The Committee shall
be deemed to have filed a charter for the purpose of section 1008(c) of
title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the `Federal Advisory
Committee Act').
``(g) Termination.--Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United States
Code, (relating to the termination of advisory committees) shall not
apply to the Committee.
``(h) Committee Expenses Not Counted Toward General Limitations.--
The expenses of the Committee shall not be counted toward any general
limitation on the expenses of advisory committees, panels, commissions,
and task forces of the Department of Agriculture contained in any Act
making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, whether
enacted before, on, or after the date of enactment of this section,
unless the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection and
specifically includes the Committee within the general limitation.''.
(b) Rural Climate Alliance Network.--Subtitle C of title XIV of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977 is amended by inserting after section 1418 (7 U.S.C. 3153) the
following:
``SEC. 1419. RURAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE NETWORK.
``(a) Definition of Agricultural Producer.--In this section, the
term `agricultural producer' means an individual who is engaged in
farming, ranching, forestry, aquaculture, or another occupation
relating to agriculture.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to provide science-based climate adaptation and
mitigation assistance and training programs to rural
communities and agricultural producers;
``(2) to coordinate the transfer of new technology and
research relating to climate change that will impact behavioral
and management changes to agricultural systems, including to--
``(A) individuals who work in the field of climate
science, including agricultural producers; and
``(B) individuals, organizations, and other
entities with an established history of working with
agricultural producers;
``(3) to improve agriculture research collaboration, data
collection, and partnerships and the sharing of information
about new scientific advancements in climate research, as well
as inform future research efforts; and
``(4) to facilitate the exchange of regional agriculture
climate data and research through a network of partners.
``(c) Rural Climate Alliance Network.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and
administer through the Climate Hubs a network, to be known as
the `Rural Climate Alliance Network' (referred to in this
subsection as the `Network')--
``(A) that serves as a coordination hub for the
provision of agriculture climate research, climate
data, extension, and technical assistance for
agricultural producers, the food and agricultural
industry, nonprofit organizations relating to food and
agriculture, and researchers relating to food and
agriculture to address the effects of climate change;
and
``(B) to improve--
``(i) responses to climate disasters
through data collection and information
sharing;
``(ii) communication of climate risks;
``(iii) accessible education and technical
transfer of climate-related, regionally
relevant agricultural data and research to
agricultural producers in all regionally
appropriate languages;
``(iv) tools and networks that deliver
information to prevent damage from extreme
weather events, pest and disease outbreaks, and
other related climate change impacts;
``(v) communication between agricultural
producers and the agricultural research
community to ensure that agricultural research
considers the perspectives of agricultural
producers, such as changes in yield and
fluctuating costs of inputs;
``(vi) coordination between other Federal
agencies, as the Secretary determines
appropriate; and
``(vii) coordination between entities in
the private sector, such as participants in the
agricultural and food supply chains that work
with agricultural producers, relating to
climate data, adaptation, mitigation, and
response.
``(2) Composition.--The Network shall include--
``(A) entities, and employees of entities, that
conduct research, exchange data, provide monitoring and
verification services, or provide technical assistance
relating to food and agriculture, including--
``(i) colleges and universities;
``(ii) State cooperative institutions;
``(iii) State extension services;
``(iv) State departments of agriculture;
``(v) State agricultural experiment
stations;
``(vi) Indian Tribes (as defined in section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(vii) qualified nonprofit organizations,
as determined by the Secretary;
``(viii) qualified private businesses, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(ix) agricultural producers, producer
groups, or producer organizations, including
agricultural trade associations and research
and promotion boards (commonly known as
`checkoffs');
``(x) agencies and offices within the
Department of Agriculture; and
``(xi) any other technical assistance
provider, research entity, or data analytics
entity that the Secretary determines to be
qualified to participate in the Network;
``(B) climate resilience-related research networks
within the Department of Agriculture, including--
``(i) the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research
Network;
``(ii) the Extension Disaster Education
Network;
``(iii) the Eastern Forest Environmental
Threat Assessment Center;
``(iv) the Western Wildland Environmental
Threat Assessment Center;
``(v) the Sustainable Agriculture Research
and Education program;
``(vi) the National Soil Dynamics
Laboratory;
``(vii) the National Cooperative Soil
Survey;
``(viii) the Economic Research Service;
``(ix) regional and rural development
centers; and
``(x) other existing climate-related
research networks within the Department of
Agriculture that the Secretary determines to be
appropriate to participate in the Network; and
``(C) other government-affiliated entities and
climate resilience-related research networks outside of
the Department of Agriculture, including--
``(i) the Foundation for Food and
Agriculture Research;
``(ii) the U.S. Global Change Research
Program;
``(iii) State and public weather station
networks;
``(iv) the National Weather Service and
other weather data systems within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
``(v) the harvest program of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
``(vi) other existing local, State, or
Federal climate-related research networks, as
determined by the Secretary.
``(d) Activities of the Network.--
``(1) In general.--An individual or entity within the
Network may--
``(A) through the means described in paragraph
(2)--
``(i) initiate, expand, or sustain
agricultural research programs that build
capacity to mitigate, respond to, and recover
from climate change disasters, including--
``(I) programs of the Agricultural
Research Service;
``(II) the Agriculture and Food
Research Initiative;
``(III) the Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education program;
``(IV) the Agriculture Advanced
Research and Development Authority; and
``(V) programs of the Foundation
for Food and Agriculture Research;
``(ii) inform and advise about agricultural
climate variability, change, vulnerability,
risk, adaptation, and mitigation;
``(iii) respond to climate impacts on
ecosystems, economics, and diversity;
``(iv) collect and store agricultural
climate data to share with other individuals
and entities within the Network and Federal
research partners;
``(v) assist agricultural producers in
implementing new management approaches to adapt
to, reduce the risk of, and provide societal
solutions to mitigate climate change;
``(vi) transfer technology, research
outcomes, and information; and
``(vii) improve climate change awareness,
education, and planning assistance, as
necessary; and
``(B) enter into cooperative agreements or
contracts, on a multiyear basis, with community-based,
direct-service organizations to initiate, expand, or
sustain--
``(i) activities carried out under
subparagraph (A) and paragraph (2); or
``(ii) programs described in subsection
(b)(1).
``(2) Means described.--An eligible entity may carry out
the activities described in paragraph (1)(A) through--
``(A) the development of phone technology, online
applications, websites, handbooks, manuals,
publications, warning systems, and other communication
networks in all regionally appropriate languages;
``(B) training, including training programs and
workshops, for disseminating information to--
``(i) crop insurance agents;
``(ii) loan and credit officers;
``(iii) agricultural suppliers;
``(iv) agricultural producers;
``(v) State cooperative agents;
``(vi) third-party providers (as defined in
section 1242(a) of the Food Security Act of
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a)));
``(vii) Certified Crop Advisers and
Certified Professional Soil Scientists
certified by the American Society of Agronomy;
``(viii) Federal officers and employees,
including officers and employees of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, the Farm
Service Agency, the Agricultural Research
Service, and the Forest Service;
``(ix) non-Federal technical assistance
providers;
``(x) climate change experts who work with
agricultural producers; and
``(xi) other individuals and entities that
may--
``(I) assist agricultural producers
who are vulnerable to climate impacts;
or
``(II) provide societal solutions
to mitigate the climate impacts of
agriculture;
``(C) curriculum development for managing climate
risks, mitigating climate change, and understanding
climate risks and economic implications; and
``(D) such other means as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
``(e) Report to Congress.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Improving Coordination of Agriculture Research
and Data Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress and any
relevant Federal department or agency, and make publicly
available, a report describing--
``(A) the current needs of climate mitigation and
resilience research and data systems in the food and
agriculture sector;
``(B) progress made toward developing and adopting
climate solutions across the food and agriculture
system;
``(C) technical assistance needs of rural
communities and agricultural producers;
``(D) actions and recommendations of the
Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Committee
(established under section 1413C); and
``(E) recommended Federal budget activities and
funding levels for research, data systems, and
technical assistance priorities relating to climate
mitigation.
``(2) Contents.--The report under paragraph (1) shall
include--
``(A) an inventory and assessment of efforts to
support the climate change adaptation, mitigation, risk
management, and resilience tools for agricultural
producers by--
``(i) the Federal Government;
``(ii) States and territories of the United
States;
``(iii) Indian Tribes (as defined in
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304));
``(iv) units of local government;
``(v) communities comprising agricultural
producers;
``(vi) qualified nonprofit organizations,
as determined by the Secretary;
``(vii) agriculture and food businesses;
``(viii) State extension services;
``(ix) land-grant colleges and
universities; and
``(x) other appropriate entities, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(B) a baseline report on soil carbon
sequestration on measurable soil carbon stocks and
sequestration;
``(C) a description of the challenges faced by
agricultural producers that may impact the climate
change resilience of those agricultural producers;
``(D) a long-term strategy for responding to the
challenges described under subparagraph (C) and
recommendations based on best practices for further
action to be carried out by appropriate Federal
departments or agencies--
``(i) to improve the response by the
Federal Government to those challenges; and
``(ii) to seek to improve climate change
resilience among rural communities and
agricultural producers; and
``(E) an evaluation of the impact that climate
change challenges faced by rural communities, Indian
Tribes, and agricultural producers have on--
``(i) the agricultural workforce;
``(ii) agricultural production;
``(iii) rural families and communities,
including relating to food security; and
``(iv) succession planning.''.
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