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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7920 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7920

To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
 of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program 
  under which the Secretary will award competitive grants to eligible 
  entities for the purpose of establishing and enhancing farming and 
                  ranching opportunities for veterans.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2024

Mr. Van Orden (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Bacon, and 
Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
 to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Veterans' Affairs, 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 Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act 
 of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program 
  under which the Secretary will award competitive grants to eligible 
  entities for the purpose of establishing and enhancing farming and 
                  ranching opportunities for veterans.

    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 ``Agriculture Grants for Veterans 
Education and Training Services Act'' or the ``AG VETS Act''.

SEC. 2. AGRICULTURE GRANTS FOR VETERAN EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES.

    Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7624 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``SEC. 414. AGRICULTURE GRANTS FOR VETERAN EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
              SERVICES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program under 
which the Secretary will award competitive grants to eligible entities 
for the purpose of establishing and enhancing farming and ranching 
opportunities for veterans (as defined in section 101(2) of title 38, 
United States Code).
    ``(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity is eligible for a grant under 
this section if such entity is--
            ``(1) a cooperative extension service;
            ``(2) a land-grant college or university (as defined in 
        section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
        and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
            ``(3) a non-land-grant college of agriculture (as defined 
        in such section);
            ``(4) a Hispanic-serving agricultural college and 
        university (as defined in such section);
            ``(5) a State department of agriculture;
            ``(6) a nonprofit organization;
            ``(7) a community-based organization; or
            ``(8) a combination of 2 or more eligible entities 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (7).
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use the funds received through the grant--
            ``(1) to provide training and classroom education that 
        leads to a comprehensive understanding of farm and ranch 
        business operations and management practices;
            ``(2) to develop or identify curriculum that veteran 
        farmers and ranchers can adopt to help manage their enterprise;
            ``(3) to offer education, workshops, tours, and instructor-
        supervised field experiences; or
            ``(4) to support any other activity, as identified by the 
        Secretary, to increase the number of military veterans pursuing 
        knowledge and skills development in agriculture.
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
section shall provide non-Federal matching funds for the purposes of 
carrying out this section in an amount equal to not less than the 
amount of the grant.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2025 through 2029.''.
                                 <all>
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