Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023

Subjects: Agriculture and Food


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1016 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1016

 To address the impact of climate change on agriculture, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 28, 2023

 Mr. Heinrich (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Welch, Ms. Smith, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Markey, and Mr. 
   Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To address the impact of climate change on agriculture, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Agriculture 
Resilience Act of 2023''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary.
                        TITLE I--NATIONAL GOALS

Sec. 101. National goals.
Sec. 102. Action plan.
                           TITLE II--RESEARCH

Sec. 201. Research, extension, and education purpose.
Sec. 202. Regional hubs for risk adaptation and mitigation to climate 
                            change.
Sec. 203. Sustainable agriculture research and education resilience 
                            initiative.
Sec. 204. Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network.
Sec. 205. Public breed and cultivar research.
Sec. 206. ARS Climate Scientist Career Development Program.
Sec. 207. Agricultural Climate Adaptation and Mitigation through AFRI.
Sec. 208. Specialty crop research initiative.
Sec. 209. Integrated pest management.
Sec. 210. Appropriate technology transfer for rural areas program.
                         TITLE III--SOIL HEALTH

Sec. 301. Crop insurance.
Sec. 302. Environmental quality incentives program.
Sec. 303. Conservation stewardship program.
Sec. 304. State assistance for soil health.
Sec. 305. Funding and administration.
Sec. 306. Conservation compliance.
Sec. 307. National and regional agroforestry centers.
           TITLE IV--FARMLAND PRESERVATION AND FARM VIABILITY

Sec. 401. Local Agriculture Market Program.
Sec. 402. National organic certification cost-share program.
Sec. 403. Farmland Protection Policy Act.
Sec. 404. Agricultural conservation easement program.
                    TITLE V--PASTURE-BASED LIVESTOCK

Sec. 501. Animal raising claims.
Sec. 502. Processing resilience grant program.
Sec. 503. Conservation of private grazing land.
Sec. 504. Conservation reserve program.
Sec. 505. Alternative manure management program.
                   TITLE VI--ON-FARM RENEWABLE ENERGY

Sec. 601. Rural Energy For America Program.
Sec. 602. Agrivoltaic systems.
Sec. 603. AgSTAR program.
                     TITLE VII--FOOD LOSS AND WASTE

                     Subtitle A--Food Date Labeling

Sec. 701. Definitions.
Sec. 702. Quality dates and discard dates.
Sec. 703. Misbranding.
Sec. 704. Regulations.
Sec. 705. Delayed applicability.
                      Subtitle B--Other Provisions

Sec. 711. Composting as conservation practice.
Sec. 712. Amendments to Federal Food Donation Act.
Sec. 713. Grants for composting and anaerobic digestion food waste-to-
                            energy projects.
Sec. 714. School food waste reduction grant program.
Sec. 715. Support for national media campaigns to decrease incidence of 
                            food waste.
Sec. 716. Food waste research program.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY.

    In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
Agriculture.

                        TITLE I--NATIONAL GOALS

SEC. 101. NATIONAL GOALS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of the goals established under this title 
is to prevent climate change from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius of 
warming above preindustrial levels through a national greenhouse gas 
emission reduction effort.
    (b) National Goals.--The national goals for the agricultural sector 
shall be to achieve--
            (1) not less than a 50-percent reduction in net greenhouse 
        gas emissions, as compared to those levels during calendar year 
        2010, by not later than December 31, 2030; and
            (2) net zero emissions by not later than December 31, 2040.
    (c) Subgoals.--To achieve the national goals described in 
subsection (b), there are established the following subgoals:
            (1) Research.--The total Federal investment in public food 
        and agriculture research and extension should--
                    (A) at a minimum, as compared to that total Federal 
                investment for fiscal year 2023--
                            (i) triple by not later than December 31, 
                        2030; and
                            (ii) quadruple by not later than December 
                        31, 2040; and
                    (B) strongly focus on climate change adaptation and 
                mitigation, soil health and carbon sequestration, 
                nutrient and manure management to curb nitrous oxide 
                and methane emissions, agroforestry, advanced grazing 
                management and crop-livestock integration, perennial 
                production systems, on-farm and food system energy 
                efficiency and renewable energy production, farmland 
                preservation and viability, food waste reduction, and 
                any other related areas, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
            (2) Soil health.--The United States should--
                    (A) immediately become a member of the Partners 
                Forum and the Consortium of the 4 per 1000 Initiative, 
                hosted by the Consultative Group for International 
                Agricultural Research, with the aim of increasing total 
                soil carbon stocks by 0.4 percent annually to reduce 
                carbon in the atmosphere, restore soil health and 
                productivity, and thereby improve food security;
                    (B) sufficiently expand adoption of soil health 
                systems and practices (including diverse crop 
                rotations, cover cropping, and conservation tillage), 
                perennial crop and grass-based livestock production 
                systems, agroforestry, composting, advanced nutrient 
                budgeting and biologically based nutrient management, 
                advanced grazing management (including silvopasture and 
                management-intensive rotational grazing), and 
                integrated crop-livestock systems--
                            (i) to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from 
                        agricultural soils, as compared to those levels 
                        during calendar year 2023--
                                    (I) by 25 percent by not later than 
                                December 31, 2030; and
                                    (II) by 75 percent by not later 
                                than December 31, 2040;
                            (ii) to increase soil carbon stocks by 0.4 
                        percent annually on at least 50 percent of 
                        agricultural land by not later than December 
                        31, 2030; and
                            (iii) to meet or exceed the threshold 
                        described in clause (ii) on all agricultural 
                        land by not later than December 31, 2040;
                    (C) expand implementation of regionally appropriate 
                cover crops and other continual living cover so that--
                            (i) at least 50 percent of cropland acres 
                        include 1 or more cover crops or other 
                        continual living cover in the rotations of the 
                        cropland acres by not later than December 31, 
                        2030;
                            (ii) at least 75 percent of cropland acres 
                        include 1 or more cover crops or other 
                        continual living cover in the rotations of the 
                        cropland acres by not later than December 31, 
                        2040;
                            (iii) cropland acres are covered by crops 
                        (including forages and hay crops), cover crops, 
                        or residue for an average of 75 percent of each 
                        calendar year by not later than December 31, 
                        2030; and
                            (iv) cropland acres are covered by crops 
                        (including forages and hay crops), cover crops, 
                        or residue for an average of 85 percent of each 
                        calendar year by not later than December 31, 
                        2040; and
                    (D) encourage conversion of at least--
                            (i) 15 percent of annual grain crop acres, 
                        as in use on the date of enactment of this Act, 
                        to agroforestry, perennial grazing, perennial 
                        grain crops, or other perennial production 
                        systems by not later than December 31, 2030; 
                        and
                            (ii) 30 percent of annual grain crop acres, 
                        as in use on the date of enactment of this Act, 
                        to agroforestry, perennial grazing, perennial 
                        grain crops, or other perennial production 
                        systems by not later than December 31, 2040.
            (3) Farmland preservation.--
                    (A) 2030 goal.--The rate of conversion of 
                agricultural land to development, and the rate of 
                conversion of grassland to cropping, should be reduced 
                by at least 80 percent, as compared to those rates for 
                calendar year 2023 by not later than December 31, 2030.
                    (B) 2040 goal.--There should be no conversion of 
                agricultural land to development, or grassland to 
                cropping, by December 31, 2040.
            (4) Pasture-based livestock.--The livestock sector should--
                    (A) establish advanced grazing management, 
                including management-intensive rotational grazing, on 
                at least--
                            (i) 50 percent of all grazing land by not 
                        later than December 31, 2030; and
                            (ii) 100 percent of all grazing land by not 
                        later than December 31, 2040;
                    (B)(i) reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to 
                feeding of ruminants by at least--
                            (I) \1/3\ by not later than December 31, 
                        2030; and
                            (II) \1/2\ by not later than December 31, 
                        2040; and
                    (ii) accomplish the reductions described in clause 
                (i) by--
                            (I) reducing nongrazing feeding of 
                        ruminants;
                            (II) growing feed grains and forages with 
                        soil health and nutrient management practices 
                        that minimize net greenhouse gas emissions from 
                        cropland; and
                            (III) designing livestock feed mixtures and 
                        supplements to mitigate enteric methane 
                        emissions;
                    (C) re-integrate livestock and crop production 
                systems at farm, local, and regional levels to 
                facilitate environmentally sound management and field 
                application of manure and reduce the need for long-term 
                manure storage by increasing acreage on individual 
                farms under crop-livestock integrated management by at 
                least--
                            (i) 100 percent as compared to calendar 
                        year 2017 levels by not later than December 31, 
                        2030; and
                            (ii) 300 percent as compared to calendar 
                        year 2017 levels by not later than December 31, 
                        2040; and
                    (D) reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from 
                manure management by--
                            (i) immediately ceasing building any new or 
                        expanded waste lagoons for confined animal 
                        feeding operations; and
                            (ii) converting--
                                    (I) by not later than December 31, 
                                2030, at least \1/3\ of wet manure 
                                handling and storage to non-digester 
                                dairy or livestock methane management 
                                methods (as defined in section 1240T(a) 
                                of the Food Security Act of 1985); and
                                    (II) by not later than December 31, 
                                2040, at least \2/3\ of wet manure 
                                handling and storage to non-digester 
                                dairy or livestock methane management 
                                methods (as so defined).
            (5) On-farm renewable energy.--The agricultural sector 
        should--
                    (A) implement energy audits and energy efficiency 
                improvements on at least--
                            (i) 50 percent of farms by not later than 
                        December 31, 2030; and
                            (ii) 100 percent of farms by not later than 
                        December 31, 2040;
                    (B) expand on-farm clean renewable energy 
                production to a level that is at least--
                            (i) double the 2017 level by not later than 
                        December 31, 2030; and
                            (ii) triple the 2017 level by not later 
                        than December 31, 2040; and
                    (C) install and manage on-farm renewable energy 
                infrastructure in a manner that does not--
                            (i) compromise the climate resilience and 
                        greenhouse gas mitigation goals of this Act; or
                            (ii) adversely impact farmland, soil, and 
                        water resources, or food production.
            (6) Food loss and waste.--Consistent with the Food Waste 
        Challenge launched by the Department of Agriculture and the 
        Environmental Protection Agency in June 2013, and the national 
        food loss and waste goal announced in September 2015, the food 
        and agricultural sector should commit to--
                    (A) at least a 50-percent reduction in food loss 
                and waste by not later than December 31, 2030;
                    (B) at least a 75-percent reduction in food loss 
                and waste by not later than December 31, 2040; and
                    (C) in a manner consistent with the Food Recovery 
                Hierarchy established by the Environmental Protection 
                Agency, diverting from landfills through composting and 
                other means at least--
                            (i) 50 percent of unavoidable food waste 
                        and food processing byproducts by not later 
                        than December 31, 2030; and
                            (ii) 90 percent of unavoidable food waste 
                        and food processing byproducts by not later 
                        than December 31, 2040.

SEC. 102. ACTION PLAN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) develop a plan (referred to in this section as the 
        ``plan''), which may involve actions to be taken by other 
        Federal agencies, to make significant and rapid progress to 
        achieve the national goals described in section 101; and
            (2) make the plan available for public comment for a period 
        of not less than 90 days.
    (b) Actions.--Actions under the plan shall--
            (1) include issuing regulations, providing incentives, 
        carrying out research and development programs, and any other 
        actions the Secretary determines are necessary to achieve the 
        national goals described in section 101; and
            (2) be designed--
                    (A) to fully implement the provisions of this Act 
                and the amendments made by this Act;
                    (B) to provide benefits for farmers and ranchers, 
                rural communities, small businesses, and consumers;
                    (C) to improve public health, resilience, and 
                environmental outcomes, especially for rural and low-
                income households, communities of color, Tribal and 
                indigenous communities, and communities that are 
                disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate 
                change, air and water pollution, and other resource 
                degradation; and
                    (D) to prioritize investments that reduce emissions 
                of greenhouse gases and sequester carbon while 
                simultaneously helping to solve other pressing agro-
                environmental resource concerns, increase farming and 
                ranching opportunities, create quality jobs, improve 
                farmworker working conditions and living standards, and 
                make communities more resilient to the effects of 
                climate change.
    (c) Final Plan.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
            (1) finalize the plan, taking into account any public 
        comments received on the plan;
            (2) begin implementation of the plan; and
            (3) submit the plan to Congress.
    (d) Updates.--Beginning 2 years after the date on which the 
Secretary submits the plan to Congress under subsection (c)(3), and not 
less frequently than biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall--
            (1) review and revise the plan to ensure that the plan is 
        sufficient to achieve the national goals described in section 
        101; and
            (2) submit the revised plan to Congress.
    (e) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
the Secretary submits the plan to Congress under subsection (c)(3), and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, and make 
publicly available, an annual report that describes, for the period 
covered by the report--
            (1) actions taken pursuant to the plan and the effects of 
        those actions;
            (2) the conclusion of the most recent review of the plan 
        conducted under subsection (d), if applicable; and
            (3) a summary of any revisions made to the plan under that 
        subsection.

                           TITLE II--RESEARCH

SEC. 201. RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATION PURPOSE.

    Section 1402 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs 
        (9) and (11), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) accelerate the ability of agriculture and the food 
        system of the United States to first achieve net-zero carbon 
        emissions and then be carbon negative by removing additional 
        carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;'';
            (3) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``and'' at the end;
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
            ``(10) develop food systems that are healthful, 
        sustainable, equitable, and resilient to extreme weather, other 
        impacts of climate change, and other potential intersecting 
        global and national disruptions; and''; and
            (5) in paragraph (11) (as so redesignated), in subparagraph 
        (B), by inserting ``and delivering to agricultural producers'' 
        after ``improving''.

SEC. 202. REGIONAL HUBS FOR RISK ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION TO CLIMATE 
              CHANGE.

    Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 (7 U.S.C. 
7624) the following:

``SEC. 401. REGIONAL HUBS FOR RISK ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION TO CLIMATE 
              CHANGE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a national 
network of regional hubs for risk adaptation and mitigation to climate 
change to provide to farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and other 
agricultural and natural resource managers--
            ``(1) science-based, region-specific, cost-effective, and 
        practical information and program support for science-informed 
        decision making in light of the increased costs, opportunities, 
        risks, and vulnerabilities associated with a changing climate; 
        and
            ``(2) access to assistance to implement that decision 
        making.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--An entity shall be eligible to be selected as a 
regional hub under subsection (a) if the entity is any office of the 
Agricultural Research Service, the Forest Service, or any other agency 
of the Department of Agriculture that the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate.
    ``(c) Administration.--
            ``(1) In general.--The network established under subsection 
        (a) shall be designated and administered jointly by the 
        Agricultural Research Service and the Forest Service, in 
        partnership with other Federal agencies, including the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Within the Department of Agriculture, the 
                following agencies:
                            ``(i) The Natural Resources Conservation 
                        Service.
                            ``(ii) The Farm Service Agency.
                            ``(iii) The Risk Management Agency.
                            ``(iv) The Animal and Plant Health 
                        Inspection Service.
                            ``(v) The National Institute of Food and 
                        Agriculture.
                    ``(B) The Department of the Interior.
                    ``(C) The Department of Energy.
                    ``(D) The Environmental Protection Agency.
                    ``(E) The United States Geological Survey.
                    ``(F) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration.
                    ``(G) The National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration.
                    ``(H) Such other Federal agencies as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.
            ``(2) Partners.--The regional hubs established under 
        subsection (a) shall work in close partnership with other 
        stakeholders and partners, including--
                    ``(A) colleges and universities (as defined in 
                section 1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 
                U.S.C. 3103));
                    ``(B) cooperative extension services (as defined in 
                that section);
                    ``(C) State agricultural experiment stations (as 
                defined in that section);
                    ``(D) private entities;
                    ``(E) State, local, and regional governments;
                    ``(F) Indian Tribes;
                    ``(G) agriculture and commodity organizations;
                    ``(H) nonprofit and community-based organizations; 
                and
                    ``(I) other partners, as determined by the 
                Secretary.
    ``(d) Responsibilities.--A regional hub established under 
subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) offer tools, strategic management options, and 
        technical support to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners 
        to help those farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners mitigate 
        and adapt to climate change;
            ``(2) direct farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to 
        Federal agencies that can provide program support to enable 
        those farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to implement 
        science-informed management practices that address climate 
        change;
            ``(3) determine how climate and weather projections will 
        impact the agricultural and forestry sectors;
            ``(4) provide periodic regional assessments of risk and 
        vulnerability in the agricultural and forestry sectors--
                    ``(A) to help farmers, ranchers, and forest 
                landowners better understand the potential direct and 
                indirect impacts of climate change; and
                    ``(B) to inform the United States Global Change 
                Research Program established under section 103 of the 
                Global Change Research Act of 1990 (15 U.S.C. 2933);
            ``(5) provide to farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and 
        rural communities outreach, education, and extension on 
        science-based risk management through partnerships with the 
        land-grant colleges and universities (as defined in section 
        1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)), 
        cooperative extension services (as defined in that section), 
        and other entities;
            ``(6) work with any cooperative extension services (as 
        defined in section 1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 
        (7 U.S.C. 3103)), conservation districts, and nongovernmental 
        organizations involved in farmer outreach in the region served 
        by the hub to assist producers in developing business plans and 
        conservation plans that take into account emerging climate risk 
        science with respect to crop, production, and conservation 
        system changes that will help producers adapt to a changing 
        climate; and
            ``(7) establish, in partnership with programs and projects 
        carried out under subtitle B of title XVI of the Food, 
        Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5801 
        et seq.), additional partnerships with farmers and nonprofit 
        and community-based organizations to conduct applied on-farm 
        research on climate change.
    ``(e) Priorities.--A regional hub established under subsection (a) 
shall prioritize synthesis and dissemination of research and data 
collection activities in the following areas:
            ``(1) Improved measurement and monitoring of--
                    ``(A) soil organic carbon sequestration; and
                    ``(B) total net greenhouse gas impacts of different 
                farming systems and practices.
            ``(2) Lifecycle analysis for total net greenhouse gas 
        emissions related to--
                    ``(A) alternative cropping systems;
                    ``(B) alternative livestock production systems;
                    ``(C) integrated cropping-livestock systems;
                    ``(D) alternative biofuel crop production systems 
                and biofuel end uses;
                    ``(E) alternative agroforestry practices and 
                systems; and
                    ``(F) alternative forestry management systems.
            ``(3) Research and education on--
                    ``(A) optimal soil health management systems and 
                practices;
                    ``(B) advanced biological nutrient management based 
                on optimal soil health practices;
                    ``(C) enhanced synergies between crop roots and 
                soil biota;
                    ``(D) linkages between soil, plant, animal, and 
                human health;
                    ``(E) adaption and mitigation needs of 
                stakeholders;
                    ``(F) new crops or new varieties to help producers 
                be profitable while implementing soil health management 
                systems and adapting to a changing climate;
                    ``(G) social and economic barriers to stakeholder 
                adoption of new practices that improve adaptation, 
                mitigation, and soil sequestration; and
                    ``(H) evaluation and assessment of climate-related 
                decision tools of the Department of Agriculture.
            ``(4) Grazing-based livestock management systems to 
        optimize the net greenhouse gas footprint, including--
                    ``(A) grazing land carbon sequestration;
                    ``(B) reduction of nitrous oxide emissions from 
                manure deposited on grazing land; and
                    ``(C) mitigation of enteric methane.
            ``(5) Perennial production systems that sequester carbon, 
        enhance soil health, and increase resilience, including--
                    ``(A) perennial forages;
                    ``(B) perennial grains; and
                    ``(C) agroforestry.
    ``(f) Stakeholder Input.--Each regional hub established under 
subsection (a)--
            ``(1) shall solicit input from stakeholders on pressing 
        needs, important issues, and outreach strategies through a 
        variety of mechanisms, including regional stakeholder 
        committees; and
            ``(2) may partner with stakeholders in conducting research 
        and developing tools.
    ``(g) Risk Management.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint a team of 
        individuals representing the regional hubs established under 
        subsection (a), partners with those regional hubs, and the Risk 
        Management Agency to develop recommendations to better account 
        for--
                    ``(A) climate risk in actuarial tables; and
                    ``(B) soil health and other risk-reducing 
                conservation activities under the Federal crop 
                insurance program under the Federal Crop Insurance Act 
                (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
            ``(2) Submission of recommendations.--The team appointed 
        under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary, on an 
        iterative basis, but not less frequently than once every 2 
        years, the recommendations developed by the team under that 
        paragraph.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.''.

SEC. 203. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION RESILIENCE 
              INITIATIVE.

    (a) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.--Section 1619 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5801) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) increase resilience in the context of a changing 
        climate and related economic, social, and environmental 
        shocks.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``integrated crop 
                        management'' and inserting ``integrated crop 
                        and livestock management system or practice''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``resilience,'' after 
                        ``profitability,''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(3) The term `resilience' means, with respect to an 
        agricultural management system, the ability of that system to 
        absorb and recover from climate and other disturbances, such 
        that the system is not impacted by severe shocks.''.
    (b) Eligibility of Tribal Colleges To Enter Into Research and 
Extension Project Agreements.--Section 1621(b) of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5811(b)) is 
amended by striking ``or Federal or State'' and inserting ``1994 
Institutions (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational 
Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103-382)), 
or Federal, State, or Tribal''.
    (c) Agricultural and Food System Resilience Initiative.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1627 of the Food, Agriculture, 
        Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in the section heading, by striking 
                ``integrated management systems'' and inserting 
                ``agricultural and food system resilience initiative'';
                    (B) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
                following:
    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--In close conjunction with programs and 
        projects established under sections 1621 and 1623, the 
        Secretary shall establish a research, education, extension, and 
        outreach initiative to increase the resilience and climate 
        change mitigation potential of agriculture and the food system 
        in the context of a changing climate and related economic, 
        social, and environmental shocks, which may include--
                    ``(A) farmer and rancher research and demonstration 
                grants; and
                    ``(B) the use of an interdisciplinary approach 
                wherever appropriate.
            ``(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the initiative established 
        under paragraph (1) shall be--
                    ``(A) to equip farmers to prepare, adapt, and 
                transform the farming systems of the farmers when 
                confronted by shocks and stresses to the agricultural 
                production and livelihoods of the farmers;
                    ``(B) to support local and regional food systems 
                that support resilience and enhance local access to and 
                control over productive resources;
                    ``(C) to encourage producers to adopt practices and 
                systems that provide living cover year-round throughout 
                the farm, including through the use of cover crops and 
                perennial plants in diversified combinations, and that 
                are designed to support crop, livestock, and crop-
                livestock integrated systems that--
                            ``(i) minimize or abate adverse climate and 
                        environmental impacts;
                            ``(ii) increase soil carbon sequestration 
                        and storage;
                            ``(iii) reduce soil erosion and loss of 
                        water and nutrients;
                            ``(iv) enhance soil quality and the 
                        efficient use of on-farm and off-farm inputs;
                            ``(v) reduce dependency on fossil fuels; 
                        and
                            ``(vi) maintain or increase profitability 
                        and long-term productivity;
                    ``(D) to develop knowledge and information and 
                conduct outreach on living cover systems and practices, 
                including greater use of perennials, and integrated 
                crop and livestock management systems and practices to 
                increase resilience and assist agricultural producers 
                in the adoption of those systems and practices;
                    ``(E) to facilitate the adoption of year-round 
                living cover and perennial production systems 
                supporting whole-farm integrated crop and livestock 
                management systems and practices through demonstration 
                projects on individual farms, including small and 
                limited resource farms, throughout the United States; 
                and
                    ``(F) to evaluate and recommend appropriate 
                policies and programs to improve food and agricultural 
                system resilience.''; and
                    (C) by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(b) Funding.--
            ``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
        section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter.
            ``(2) Discretionary funding.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out this section through the National 
        Institute of Food and Agriculture $20,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2013 through 2028.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The chapter heading of chapter 2 
        of subtitle B of title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, 
        Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5821) is amended 
        to read as follows: ``AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM RESILIENCE 
        INITIATIVE''.
    (d) Technical Guides and Books.--Section 1628 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5831) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and outreach resources and'' after 
        ``educational'' each place it appears;
            (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Not later than two 
        years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Secretary'' and inserting ``The Secretary'';
            (3) in subsection (b), by striking the second sentence;
            (4) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate 
        change;'';
            (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``Soil Conservation'' 
        and inserting ``Natural Resources Conservation''; and
            (6) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``2023'' and 
        inserting ``2028''.
     (e) National Training Program.--Section 1629 of the Food, 
Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5832) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Soil 
                Conservation Service and the Agricultural Stabilization 
                and Conservation Service'' and inserting ``Natural 
                Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service 
                Agency'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as 
                paragraphs (11) and (12), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following;
            ``(10) develop and provide information concerning climate 
        change adaptation and mitigation developed under this subtitle 
        and other research and education programs of the Department;'';
            (2) in subsection (h), by striking ``Soil Conservation 
        Service'' and inserting ``Natural Resources Conservation 
        Service''; and
            (3) in subsection (i), by inserting ``, and $30,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028'' before the period at 
        the end.

SEC. 204. LONG-TERM AGROECOSYSTEM RESEARCH NETWORK.

    Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7624 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 401 (as added by section 202) the following:

``SEC. 402. LONG-TERM AGROECOSYSTEM RESEARCH NETWORK.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, shall 
        provide for the establishment and maintenance of a network of 
        research sites operated by the Agricultural Research Service 
        for research on the sustainability of agricultural systems in 
        the United States, to be known as the `Long-Term Agroecosystem 
        Research Network' (referred to in this section as the 
        `Network').
            ``(2) Goals.--The Network shall have the following goals:
                    ``(A) To understand and enhance the sustainability 
                of agriculture.
                    ``(B) To integrate research projects with common 
                standardized measurements on multiple agroecosystems 
                and land uses, including cropland, rangeland, and 
                pastureland.
                    ``(C) To develop new farming systems, practices, 
                and technologies to address agricultural challenges and 
                opportunities, including challenges and opportunities 
                posed by climate change.
    ``(b) Activities Described.--The activities of the Network shall 
include--
            ``(1) research conducted for a minimum of 30 years to 
        develop novel scientific insights at regional and national 
        scales and evaluate the applicability of and adaptation to 
        local conditions;
            ``(2) the establishment and maintenance of multiple sites 
        or research centers that capture the diversity of agricultural 
        production systems that function as a network; and
            ``(3) the coordination, management, and analysis of large-
        scale data collection relating to the sustainability of 
        agricultural systems and the provision of infrastructure to 
        research sites to allow for analyzing and disseminating that 
        data.
    ``(c) Coordination of Research.--The Secretary shall, in carrying 
out subsection (a)--
            ``(1) coordinate long-term agroecological research to 
        improve understanding within the Department of how 
        agroecosystems function at the field, regional, and national 
        scales;
            ``(2) designate research sites for inclusion in the Network 
        that are representative of major agricultural regions;
            ``(3) ensure that each research site included in the 
        Network conducts experiments with common standardized goals and 
        methods--
                    ``(A) to increase agricultural productivity and 
                profitability;
                    ``(B) to enhance agricultural resilience and the 
                capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
                    ``(C) to boost the provision of ecosystem services 
                from agricultural landscapes; and
                    ``(D) to improve opportunities for rural 
                communities;
            ``(4) make data collected at research sites included in the 
        Network open to researchers and the public whenever 
        practicable, and integrate data across the network and partner 
        sites;
            ``(5) provide infrastructure to research sites included in 
        the Network for data collection, common measurements, and data 
        streams that complement other national networks, such as the 
        National Ecological Observatory Network and the Long-Term 
        Ecological Research network;
            ``(6) coordinate with Department of Agriculture Climate 
        Hubs to share research findings and data insights; and
            ``(7) collaborate with Department of Agriculture Climate 
        Hubs to translate research findings into educational, outreach, 
        and technical assistance materials for agricultural producers.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out activities of the Network under this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.''.

SEC. 205. PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--The Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this section:
                    ``(A) Conventional breeding.--The term 
                `conventional breeding' means the development of a new 
                variety of an organism through controlled mating and 
                selection without the use of transgenic methods.
                    ``(B) Cultivar.--The term `cultivar' means a 
                variety of a species of plant that has been 
                intentionally selected for use in cultivation because 
                of the improved characteristics of that variety of the 
                species.
                    ``(C) Public animal breed.--The term `public animal 
                breed' means an animal breed that is the commercially 
                available end product of a publicly funded breeding 
                program that has been sufficiently tested to 
                demonstrate improved characteristics and stable 
                performance.
                    ``(D) Public cultivar.--The term `public cultivar' 
                means a cultivar--
                            ``(i) that is the commercially available 
                        end product of a publicly funded breeding 
                        program that has been sufficiently tested to 
                        demonstrate improved characteristics and stable 
                        performance; and
                            ``(ii) with respect to which, if 
                        intellectual property rights are asserted, the 
                        intellectual property rights are in the form of 
                        plant patents or plant variety protection and 
                        not utility patents.
                    ``(E) Public cultivar or animal breed.--The term 
                `public cultivar or animal breed' means--
                            ``(i) a public animal breed; and
                            ``(ii) a public cultivar.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Public Breed and Cultivar Development Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the total amount of grants made under 
        the provisions of law described in paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        shall ensure that not less than $75,000,000 for each fiscal 
        year is used for competitive research grants that support the 
        development of public cultivars and animal breeds.
            ``(2) Applicable programs.--The provisions of law referred 
        to in paragraph (1) are--
                    ``(A) subsections (a) and (b);
                    ``(B) section 1672B(e) of the Food, Agriculture, 
                Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
                5925b(e));
                    ``(C) sections 1619 through 1624 of that Act (7 
                U.S.C. 5801 et seq.);
                    ``(D) any relevant competitive grant program 
                authorized by section 406 of the Agricultural Research, 
                Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 
                7626), as determined by the Secretary; and
                    ``(E) section 412 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 7632).
            ``(3) Priority.--In making grants under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall give priority to high-potential research 
        projects that lead to the release of regionally adapted public 
        cultivars and animal breeds that assist producers in mitigating 
        and adapting to climate change, including--
                    ``(A) regionally adapted public cultivars and 
                animal breeds;
                    ``(B) public cultivars and animal breeds bred for 
                environmental resilience, including resilience to 
                changing climates, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, 
                and sequestering carbon;
                    ``(C) public animal breeds adapted to grazing and 
                overwintering as appropriate for the applicable 
                production region;
                    ``(D) public cultivars and animal breeds bred to 
                enhance the nutritional and health outcomes of local 
                and Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian 
                populations;
                    ``(E) public cultivars and animal breeds of 
                indigenous and place-based importance that are 
                endangered; and
                    ``(F) public cultivars and animal breeds with 
                beneficial and compatible characteristics and behaviors 
                for dual-use renewable energy-agricultural systems.
            ``(4) Grants.--The Secretary shall ensure that--
                    ``(A) the terms and renewal process for any 
                competitive grants made under subsection (b) in 
                accordance with paragraph (1) facilitates the 
                development and commercialization of public cultivars 
                and animal breeds through long-term grants not less 
                than 5 years in length; and
                    ``(B) Tribal consultation occurs to ensure public 
                cultivar or animal breed development does not infringe 
                on the abilities of Tribes to maintain culturally 
                sensitive animal breeds and cultivars.
            ``(5) Requirement for domestic production.--No person that 
        receives title to a plant patent or plant variety protection 
        relating to any public cultivar or animal breed developed using 
        funds received under this subsection, and no assignee of any 
        such person, shall grant to any person the exclusive right to 
        use or sell that public cultivar or animal breed unless that 
        person agrees that any cultivars or animals embodying the 
        public cultivar or animal breed or produced through the use of 
        the public cultivar or animal breed will be produced 
        substantially in the United States.
            ``(6) Report.--Not later than October 1 of each year, the 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that provides 
        information on all public cultivar and animal breeding research 
        funded by the Department of Agriculture, including--
                    ``(A) a list of public cultivars and animal breeds 
                developed and released in a commercially available 
                form;
                    ``(B) areas of high-priority research;
                    ``(C) identified research gaps relating to public 
                cultivar and animal breed development; and
                    ``(D) an assessment of the state of 
                commercialization for public cultivars and animal 
                breeds.''.
    (b) Public Breed and Cultivar Research Activities Coordination.--
            (1) In general.--Section 251 of the Department of 
        Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6971) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the 
                following:
            ``(7) Public breed and cultivar research activities 
        coordinator.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall 
                appoint a coordinator within the Office of the Chief 
                Scientist that reports to the Under Secretary to 
                coordinate research activities at the Department 
                relating to the breeding of public cultivars and animal 
                breeds (as defined in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) 
                of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research 
                Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(a))).
                    ``(B) Duties of coordinator.--The coordinator 
                appointed under subparagraph (A) shall--
                            ``(i) coordinate plant and animal breeding 
                        research activities funded by the Department 
                        relating to the development of public cultivars 
                        and animal breeds;
                            ``(ii)(I) carry out ongoing analysis and 
                        track activities for any Federal research 
                        funding supporting plant and animal breeding 
                        (including any public cultivars and animal 
                        breeds developed with Federal funds); and
                            ``(II) ensure that the analysis and 
                        activities are made available to the public not 
                        later than 60 days after the last day of each 
                        fiscal year;
                            ``(iii) develop a strategic plan that 
                        establishes targets for public cultivar and 
                        animal breed research investments across the 
                        Department to ensure that a diverse range of 
                        crop and animal needs are being met in a timely 
                        and transparent manner, with a strong focus on 
                        delivery of resource-efficient, stress-
                        tolerant, regionally adapted public cultivar 
                        and animal breeds that--
                                    ``(I) help build agricultural 
                                resilience to climate change; and
                                    ``(II) support on-farm carbon 
                                sequestration and greenhouse gas 
                                mitigation, nutritional quality, and 
                                other farmer-identified priority 
                                agronomic and market traits;
                            ``(iv) convene a working group to carry out 
                        the coordination functions described in this 
                        subparagraph comprised of individuals who are 
                        responsible for the management, administration, 
                        or analysis of public cultivar and animal 
                        breeding programs within the Department from--
                                    ``(I) the National Institute of 
                                Food and Agriculture;
                                    ``(II) the Agricultural Research 
                                Service; and
                                    ``(III) the Economic Research 
                                Service;
                            ``(v) in order to maximize delivery of 
                        public cultivars and animal breeds, promote 
                        collaboration among--
                                    ``(I) the coordinator;
                                    ``(II) the working group convened 
                                under clause (iv);
                                    ``(III) the advisory council 
                                established under section 1634 of the 
                                Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
                                Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5843);
                                    ``(IV) genetic resource 
                                conservation centers;
                                    ``(V) land-grant colleges and 
                                universities (as defined in section 
                                1404 of the National Agricultural 
                                Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                                Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
                                    ``(VI) Hispanic-serving 
                                institutions (as defined in section 
                                502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)));
                                    ``(VII) Native American-serving 
                                nontribal institutions (as defined in 
                                section 371(c) of the Higher Education 
                                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)));
                                    ``(VIII) Tribal Colleges and 
                                Universities (as defined in section 
                                316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))) and 
                                federally recognized Tribes extension 
                                programs;
                                    ``(IX) nongovernmental 
                                organizations with interest or 
                                expertise in public breeding; and
                                    ``(X) public and private plant and 
                                animal breeders, including small-scale 
                                organic breeders;
                            ``(vi) convene regular stakeholder 
                        listening sessions to provide input on national 
                        and regional priorities for public cultivar and 
                        animal breed research activities across the 
                        Department; and
                            ``(vii) evaluate and make recommendations 
                        to the Under Secretary on training and resource 
                        needs to meet future breeding challenges.''; 
                        and
                    (B) in subsection (f)(1)(D)(i), by striking ``(7 
                U.S.C. 450i(b))'' and inserting ``(7 U.S.C. 3157(b))''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 296(b)(6)(B) of the 
        Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
        7014(b)(6)(B)) is amended by striking ``Scientist; and'' and 
        inserting ``Scientist (including the public breed and cultivar 
        research activities coordinator under subsection (e)(7) of that 
        section); and''.
    (c) Public Breed and Cultivar Development.--Subtitle H of title XVI 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5921 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 1681. PUBLIC BREED AND CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service (referred to in this 
section as the `Secretary') and in conjunction with the Director of the 
National Genetic Resources Program appointed under section 1633, shall 
support the development of public breeds and cultivars (as defined in 
paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(a))) by Federal 
researchers.
    ``(b) Priority.--In supporting research under subsection (a) using 
funds made available pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary shall 
give priority to high-potential research projects that lead to the 
release of regionally adapted public breeds and cultivars that assist 
producers in mitigating and adapting to climate change.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than October 1 of each year, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report that provides information on all 
public breed and cultivar research funded by the Agricultural Research 
Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, including--
            ``(1) a list of public breeds and cultivars developed and 
        released in a commercially available form;
            ``(2) areas of high-priority research;
            ``(3) identified research gaps relating to public breed and 
        cultivar development, including newly emerging needs stemming 
        from climate change; and
            ``(4) an assessment of the state of commercialization for 
        breeds and cultivars that have been developed.
    ``(d) Funding.--Of the funds made available to the Secretary for a 
fiscal year, not less than $50,000,000 shall be made available to carry 
out this section.''.

SEC. 206. ARS CLIMATE SCIENTIST CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in accordance with section 
922 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
U.S.C. 2279c), carry out an internship program within the Agricultural 
Research Service for graduate students pursuing a degree or conducting 
research relating to climate change and agriculture.
    (b) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the 
Secretary may use to carry out the program described in subsection (a) 
not more than $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

SEC. 207. AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION THROUGH AFRI.

    Subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Grant 
Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
                    ``(G) Agricultural climate adaptation and 
                mitigation.--Agricultural climate adaptation and 
                mitigation, including--
                            ``(i) strategies for agricultural 
                        adaptation to climate change and drought, 
                        including strategies for small and medium-sized 
                        farms and ranches;
                            ``(ii) on-farm mitigation strategies and 
                        solutions, including infrastructure, equipment, 
                        and ecosystems-based strategies;
                            ``(iii) economic and social costs and 
                        benefits of adopting conservation practices to 
                        mitigate and adapt to climate change;
                            ``(iv) ecosystem services co-benefits of 
                        reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and 
                        adapting to climate change;
                            ``(v) new technologies, methods, and models 
                        to measure and predict greenhouse gas emissions 
                        and soil carbon sequestration; and
                            ``(vi) the intersection of agricultural 
                        production, soil health, climate change, and 
                        human health.''.

SEC. 208. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

    Section 412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                inserting ``, diverse multi-crop production systems,'' 
                after ``specific crops'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking 
                ``pesticide application systems'' and inserting 
                ``ecologically based pest management, pesticide 
                application systems,'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)(E), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, 
        including--
                    ``(A) on-farm mitigation strategies and solutions, 
                including agricultural ecosystems-based strategies;
                    ``(B) conservation practices and technologies 
                designed to improve soil health, including practices 
                and technologies that sequester carbon in soil; and
                    ``(C) breeding research and cultivar development to 
                help adapt to climate change.''; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(3)(A), by striking ``equal to not 
        less than the amount of the grant'' and inserting ``in an 
        amount that is equal to not less than 25 percent of the funds 
        provided through the grant''.

SEC. 209. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT.

    Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7626) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as 
        subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Emphasis on Climate Resilience.--The Secretary shall ensure 
that grants made under this section are, where appropriate, consistent 
with the development of food and agricultural systems that improve 
climate resilience.
    ``(e) Ecologically Based Pest Management.--The Secretary shall 
ensure that grants made under this section to support pest management 
prioritize ecologically based approaches that--
            ``(1) are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound;
            ``(2) maintain agricultural productivity and healthy 
        communities; and
            ``(3) improve climate resilience.''; and
            (3) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``2023'' and inserting ``2028''.

SEC. 210. APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR RURAL AREAS PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Section 310B(i)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
        ``, including a beginning farmer or rancher and a veteran 
        farmer or rancher (as those terms are defined in section 
        2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
        of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))) and a socially disadvantaged farmer 
        or rancher (as defined in section 355(e)),'' after 
        ``producers'';
            (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
            (4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
                    ``(D) increase on-farm resilience to extreme 
                weather by enhancing soil health and adopting other 
                conservation practices;'';
            (5) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (6) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) improve farm viability and strengthen local, 
                regional, and national supply chains.''.
    (b) Implementation.--Section 310B(i)(3) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)(3)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
                    ``(C) Eligibility for and use of other funds.--A 
                national nonprofit agricultural assistance institution 
                that receives a grant or enters into a cooperative 
                agreement under this subsection--
                            ``(i) may not, as a result of that grant or 
                        cooperative agreement, be treated as ineligible 
                        for a grant under any other Federal program; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) may utilize, in accordance with 
                        applicable law, other public and private funds 
                        made available to the institution to expand the 
                        resources and outreach of the program 
                        established under this subsection.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 310B(i) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(i)) is 
amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
                    ``(A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
                    ``(B) $8,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2028.''.

                         TITLE III--SOIL HEALTH

SEC. 301. CROP INSURANCE.

    (a) Voluntary Good Farming Practices.--Section 508(a)(3)(A)(iii) of 
the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(a)(3)(A)(iii)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``including scientifically'' and inserting 
        the following: ``including--
                                    ``(I) scientifically'';
            (2) in subclause (I) (as so designated), by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(II) conservation practices and 
                                enhancements that are approved by--
                                            ``(aa) the Natural 
                                        Resources Conservation Service; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) an agricultural 
                                        expert, as determined by the 
                                        Secretary.''.
    (b) Risk-Reduction Based Discounts.--Section 508(d) of the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(d)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Risk-reduction based discount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Effective beginning with the 
                2024 reinsurance year, the Corporation may provide a 
                risk-reduction based premium discount for a producer of 
                an agricultural commodity who uses risk-reduction 
                farming practices, as determined by the Corporation in 
                accordance with subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Risk-reduction farming practices.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (A), a risk-reduction farming 
                practice may include any of the following:
                            ``(i) The use of a cover crop.
                            ``(ii) A resource-conserving crop rotation.
                            ``(iii) Management-intensive rotational 
                        grazing.
                            ``(iv) A compost or biochar application.
                            ``(v) An agroforestry or other perennial 
                        production system.
                            ``(vi) Other risk-reducing and soil health-
                        promoting farming practices, as determined by 
                        the Corporation.''.
    (c) Crop Production on Native Sod Applicability.--
            (1) Application to certain states.--Section 508(o) of the 
        Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(o)) is amended by 
        striking paragraph (3).
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the first day of the first reinsurance 
        year that begins after the date that is 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 302. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``and environmental quality'' and inserting ``environmental 
        quality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation'';
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) greenhouse gas emissions reduction and carbon 
                sequestration;'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``sequestering 
        carbon, increasing drought resilience, reducing greenhouse gas 
        emissions, and'' before ``conserving energy''; and
            (4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``climate change and'' 
        before ``increasing weather volatility''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 1240A of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6)(B)--
                    (A) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); 
                and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
                            ``(vi) greenhouse gas emissions reduction 
                        planning; and'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``natural resource concern or problem'' and 
        inserting ``resource concern'';
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10) as paragraphs 
        (10) and (11), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) Resource concern.--The term `resource concern' means 
        a natural resource condition of the soil, water, air, plant, 
        animal, or energy resource base that impairs the sustainability 
        or intended uses of the resource.''.
    (c) Establishment and Administration of Environmental Quality 
Incentives Program.--
            (1) Payments.--Section 1240B(d)(7)(A) of the Food Security 
        Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(d)(7)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``; or'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) increases carbon sequestration or 
                        reduces greenhouse gas emissions.''.
            (2) Allocation of funding.--Section 1240B(f)(1) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(f)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2031''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``including grazing management'' 
                and inserting ``of which not less than \2/3\ shall be 
                targeted at practices relating to grazing management''.
            (3) Payments for conservation practices related to organic 
        production.--Section 1240B(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
        (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(i)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.
            (4) Conservation incentive contracts.--Section 1240B(j) of 
        the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(j)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, 
                        which may include climate change adaptation and 
                        mitigation,'' after ``priority resource 
                        concerns''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, 
                        which may include climate change adaptation and 
                        mitigation'' before the period at the end; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
                                    (I) in subclause (I), by striking 
                                ``or'' at the end;
                                    (II) in subclause (II), by striking 
                                the period at the end and inserting ``; 
                                or''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(III) funding, through annual 
                                payments, for a suite of incentive 
                                practices that are appropriate for the 
                                region and land use and that best 
                                enhance soil health and carbon 
                                sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas 
                                emissions, as determined by the 
                                Secretary.'';
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Term.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A contract under this 
                        subsection shall have a term of not less than 
                        5, and not more than 10, years.
                            ``(ii) Graduation option.--The Secretary 
                        may reduce the term for a contract under this 
                        subsection if the producer enters into a 
                        conservation stewardship contract under section 
                        1240K with respect to the eligible land that is 
                        subject to the contract under this 
                        subsection.''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                the period at the end and inserting ``; 
                                and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) give priority to applications that 
                        cover eligible land that, on expiration of a 
                        contract under this subsection, may be enrolled 
                        in a conservation stewardship contract under 
                        section 1240K.''.
    (d) Environmental Quality Incentives Plan.--Section 1240E(a)(3) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-5(a)(3)) is amended by 
inserting ``, and a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan'' after 
``if applicable''.
    (e) Limitation on Payments.--Section 1240G of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-7) is amended by striking ``Not including 
payments'' and all that follows through ``2023'' and inserting ``A 
person or legal entity (including a joint venture and a general 
partnership) may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or 
incentive payments under this subchapter that, in aggregate, exceed 
$450,000 for all contracts entered into under this subchapter by the 
person or legal entity during any 5-fiscal-year period''.
    (f) Conservation Innovation Grants.--
            (1) Air quality concerns from agricultural operations.--
        Section 1240H(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
        3839aa-8(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``practices to address'' in 
                        the first sentence and all that follows through 
                        ``The funds'' in the second sentence and 
                        inserting the following: ``practices--
                            ``(i) to address air quality concerns from 
                        agricultural operations; and
                            ``(ii) to meet Federal, State, and local--
                                    ``(I) regulatory requirements; and
                                    ``(II) goals with respect to 
                                greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
                    ``(B) Basis of availability and use.--Funds for 
                payments under subparagraph (A)''; and
                            (ii) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as 
                        so designated), by striking ``The Secretary'' 
                        and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$37,500,000 for 
                each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031'' and inserting 
                ``$37,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
                2023, and $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2031''.
            (2) On-farm conservation innovation trials.--Section 
        1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
        8(c)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)--
                            (i) in subclause (II), by inserting ``on-
                        farm nutrient recycling,'' after ``plans,'';
                            (ii) in subclause (VI), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(VII) perennial production 
                                systems, including agroforestry and 
                                perennial forages and grain crops; 
                                and''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``2019 through 2031'' and 
                inserting ``2019 through 2023, $50,000,000 of the funds 
                made available to carry out this subchapter for each of 
                fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and $100,000,000 of the 
                funds made available to carry out this subchapter for 
                each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031''.

SEC. 303. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 1240I of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa-21) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                ``enhancements,'' after ``practices,''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)(v), by inserting ``and 
                climate change'' before the period at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ``maintained, 
        actively'' after ``implemented,'';
            (3) in paragraph (5), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``natural resource concern or problem'' and 
        inserting ``resource concern'';
            (4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) Resource concern.--The term `resource concern' means 
        a natural resource condition of the soil, water, air, plant, 
        animal, or energy resource base that impairs the sustainability 
        or intended uses of the resource.''.
    (b) Conservation Stewardship Program.--Section 1240J(a) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-22(a)) is amended by striking 
paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) by maintaining, actively managing, and, where 
        practicable, improving existing conservation activities; and
            ``(2) by undertaking additional conservation activities.''.
    (c) Stewardship Contracts.--
            (1) Submission of contract offers.--Section 1240K(a)(2)(B) 
        of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-23(a)(2)(B)) 
        is amended by striking ``improving, maintaining, and managing'' 
        and inserting ``maintaining, actively managing, and, where 
        practicable, improving''.
            (2) Evaluation of contract offers.--Section 1240K(b) of the 
        Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-23(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking clause (iii) 
                and inserting the following:
                            ``(iii) other criteria consistent with an 
                        equal weighting of the factors described in 
                        clauses (i) and (ii), as determined by the 
                        Secretary, including criteria the Secretary 
                        determines are necessary to ensure that--
                                    ``(I) the program effectively 
                                targets improvements to soil health, 
                                increases in carbon sequestration, and 
                                reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) other national, State, and 
                                local priority resource concerns are 
                                effectively addressed.''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3).
            (3) Contract renewal.--Section 1240K(e) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-23(e)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (B);
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; 
                        or'' at the end and inserting ``, if 
                        applicable.''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``period--'' in the 
                        matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that 
                        follows through ``to meet'' in subparagraph (A) 
                        and inserting ``period, to meet'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and 
                indenting appropriately;
                    (C) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so 
                redesignated), by striking ``The Secretary'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Ranking and payments.--In determining whether to 
        accept an application for contract renewal under this 
        subsection, and when calculating payments for those renewed 
        contracts, the Secretary shall consider the full conservation 
        benefits across the entire applicable agricultural operation, 
        including--
                    ``(A) the number of priority resource concerns with 
                respect to which the producer is expected to meet or 
                exceed the stewardship threshold by the end of the 
                contract period; and
                    ``(B) the active management and maintenance of 
                ongoing conservation activities, including--
                            ``(i) the conservation activities adopted 
                        during a prior contract period; and
                            ``(ii) the new or improved conservation 
                        activities to be adopted if a contract is 
                        renewed.''.
    (d) Duties of the Secretary.--
            (1) Climate change adaptation and mitigation.--Section 
        1240L(a)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
        24(a)(2)) is amended by inserting ``(which may include climate 
        change adaptation and mitigation)'' after ``priority resource 
        concerns''.
            (2) Conservation stewardship payments.--Section 1240L(c) of 
        the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(c)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``on 
                        1 or more types of eligible land covered by the 
                        contract'' after ``activities''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``improving, maintaining, and managing'' and 
                        inserting ``maintaining, actively managing, and 
                        improving'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Income forgone by the producer, including 
                amounts that reflect--
                            ``(i) increased economic risk; and
                            ``(ii) loss in revenue due to--
                                    ``(I) production changes;
                                    ``(II) anticipated reductions in 
                                yield;
                                    ``(III) transitioning to an 
                                organic, resource-conserving cropping 
                                or grazing, or perennial production 
                                system; or
                                    ``(IV) acreage converted to 
                                conservation uses.''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ``, 
                        actively managed, and, where applicable, 
                        improved'' after ``maintained''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Payments for conservation activities related to 
        organic production systems.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide 
                payments under this subsection for conservation 
                activities relating to--
                            ``(i) organic production; and
                            ``(ii) transitioning to organic production.
                    ``(B) Conservation activities.--Conservation 
                activities described in subparagraph (A) may include--
                            ``(i) generally available and specifically 
                        tailored conservation activities; and
                            ``(ii) individual conservation activities 
                        and bundles of conservation activities.
            ``(7) Minimum payment.--The amount of an annual payment 
        under the program shall be not less than $2,000.''.
            (3) Supplemental payments.--Section 1240L(d) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(d)) is amended--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``, 
                Perennial Production Systems,'' after ``Rotations'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
                        subparagraph (D); and
                            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
                        the following:
                    ``(C) Perennial production system.--The term 
                `perennial production system' means--
                            ``(i) the use of cropland for agroforestry, 
                        including alley cropping, silvopasture, and 
                        related production practices, as determined by 
                        the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) the use of woodland for 
                        agroforestry, including forest farming, 
                        multistory cropping, and related production 
                        practices, as determined by the Secretary; and
                            ``(iii) the use of cropland for perennial 
                        forages or perennial grain crops.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' 
                        at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) a perennial production system.''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or advanced 
                grazing management'' and inserting ``, advanced grazing 
                management, or a perennial production system''.
            (4) Payment for comprehensive conservation plan.--Section 
        1240L(e)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
        24(e)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                the following: ``; and
                    ``(B) with respect to an organic production 
                system--
                            ``(i) is integrated with an organic system 
                        plan approved under the national organic 
                        program established under the Organic Foods 
                        Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.); 
                        or
                            ``(ii) allows a producer to transition to 
                        organic production systems and pursue 
                        certification under that Act.''; and
                    (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (B) (as 
                added by subparagraph (A)), by striking ``plan that 
                meets'' and inserting the following: ``plan that--
                    ``(A) meets''.
            (5) Payment limitations.--Section 1240L(f) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(f)) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(including a joint venture and a 
                general partnership)'' after ``A person or legal 
                entity''; and
                    (B) by striking ``fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' 
                and inserting ``any consecutive 5-fiscal-year period''.
            (6) Specialty crop and organic producers.--Section 1240L(g) 
        of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(g)) is 
        amended by inserting ``, and producers transitioning to organic 
        production systems,'' after ``organic producers''.
            (7) Soil health.--Section 1240L(k) of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-24(k)) is amended by striking the 
        period at the end and inserting the following: ``, including 
        by--
            ``(1) conducting outreach to encourage the use of contracts 
        to improve soil health and sequester carbon in the soil; and
            ``(2) offering payments for soil testing to provide 
        producers and the Secretary with information on the soil health 
        and carbon sequestration impacts of conservation activities.''.
    (e) On-Farm Conservation Stewardship Innovation Grants.--Subchapter 
B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 1240L-2. ON-FARM CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP INNOVATION GRANTS.

    ``(a) Definition of Agricultural Professional.--In this section, 
the term `agricultural professional' means a university researcher or 
educator, including an extension agent or specialist, Federal agency 
field staff, an agricultural consultant, State and local agency staff, 
Tribal agency staff, a Federally-Recognized Tribes Extension Program 
agent, and nonprofit organization staff assisting farmers and ranchers 
at the local level.
    ``(b) Grants.--Using funds made available to carry out this 
subchapter, the Secretary shall provide competitive grants to carry out 
on-farm conservation innovation projects on eligible land of program 
participants for the purpose of stimulating innovative approaches on 
farms and ranches to leverage Federal investment in conservation 
stewardship, in conjunction with agricultural production or forest 
resource management, through the program.
    ``(c) Participants.--The Secretary shall provide grants under this 
section--
            ``(1) directly to agricultural operations, or groups of 
        agricultural operations, participating in the program; or
            ``(2) through partnerships between agricultural 
        professionals and small groups of agricultural operations 
        participating in the program.
    ``(d) Use.--An entity that receives a grant under this section 
directly or through a partnership in accordance with subsection (c) 
shall carry out an on-farm conservation innovation project that--
            ``(1) facilitates on-farm research and demonstration or 
        pilot testing of new technologies or innovative conservation 
        systems and practices that aim to reduce greenhouse gas 
        emissions and decarbonize agriculture;
            ``(2) facilitates on-farm research and demonstration or 
        pilot testing of practices and systems with a proven high 
        impact for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and 
        decarbonization and low national or regional adoption rates; or
            ``(3) helps to prepare program participants for 
        participation in environmental services markets that have as a 
        primary goal greenhouse gas emissions reduction or 
        decarbonization of agriculture.
    ``(e) Incentive Payments.--
            ``(1) Agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out this section, 
                the Secretary shall enter into agreements with 
                agricultural operations (directly or through 
                governmental or nongovernmental organizations involved 
                in a partnership with 1 or more agricultural 
                operations) on whose land an on-farm conservation 
                innovation project is being carried out under this 
                section to provide payments to the agricultural 
                operations to assist with adopting and evaluating new 
                or innovative conservation approaches to achieve 
                conservation benefits.
                    ``(B) Amount.--Payments provided under subparagraph 
                (A) shall reflect the direct costs of the research and 
                demonstration and compensation for foregone income, as 
                appropriate to address the increased economic risk or 
                lower economic return potentially associated with the 
                applicable innovative conservation approach.
            ``(2) Adjusted gross income requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Adjusted gross income 
                requirements under section 1001D(b)(1) shall--
                            ``(i) apply to producers receiving payments 
                        under this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) be enforced by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Reporting.--A governmental or nongovernmental 
                organization participating in an on-farm conservation 
                innovation project under this subsection shall submit 
                to the Secretary an annual report describing the amount 
                of payments that the organization made to each 
                agricultural operation under this subsection.
            ``(3) Research, technical assistance, and administrative 
        expenses.--The Secretary may provide to a partnership described 
        in paragraph (1)(A) not more than $50,000 for each on-farm 
        conservation innovation project for research, technical 
        assistance, and administrative expenses.
            ``(4) Length of agreements.--An agreement entered into 
        under paragraph (1)(A) shall be for a period determined by the 
        Secretary that is--
                    ``(A) not less than 2 years; and
                    ``(B) if appropriate, more than 2 years, including 
                if the longer period is appropriate to support--
                            ``(i) adaptive management over multiple 
                        crop years; and
                            ``(ii) adequate data collection and 
                        analysis by an agricultural operation or 
                        partnership to report the natural resource and 
                        agricultural production benefits of the new or 
                        innovative conservation approaches to the 
                        Secretary.''.

SEC. 304. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH.

    Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 1240S. STATE ASSISTANCE FOR SOIL HEALTH.

    ``(a) Availability and Purpose of Grants.--Using funds made 
available under subsection (k), the Secretary shall make grants to 
States or Tribal governments for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 
to be used by State departments of agriculture or appropriate Tribal 
authorities to develop and implement plans to improve soil health on 
agricultural land.
    ``(b) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State department of agriculture or 
        Tribal government requesting a grant under this section shall 
        prepare and submit for approval by the Secretary an application 
        at such time, in such a manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary shall require, including an assurance that 
        grant funds received under this section shall supplement the 
        expenditure of State or Tribal funds in support of soil health, 
        rather than replace State or Tribal funds for those purposes.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--A State or Tribal government may 
        request funds under this section--
                    ``(A) to develop or modify a State or Tribal soil 
                health plan; or
                    ``(B) to implement a State or Tribal soil health 
                plan approved by the Secretary under this section, 
                including through--
                            ``(i) technical assistance;
                            ``(ii) financial assistance;
                            ``(iii) on-farm research and demonstration;
                            ``(iv) education, outreach, and training;
                            ``(v) monitoring and evaluation; or
                            ``(vi) such other activities as the 
                        Secretary determines to be appropriate.
            ``(3) Plan components.--Prior to approving a State or 
        Tribal soil health plan, the Secretary shall ensure that the 
        plan, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) is broadly consistent with the soil health 
                principles of the Natural Resources Conservation 
                Service; and
                    ``(B) identifies effective strategies for 
                increasing adoption of regionally appropriate soil 
                health practices and systems on privately owned 
                agricultural land under the jurisdiction of the 
                applicable State or Tribal government.
            ``(4) Eligibility.--A State or Tribal government may--
                    ``(A) apply for a grant for the purposes described 
                in paragraph (2)(A) at any time; and
                    ``(B) apply for a grant for the purposes described 
                in paragraph (2)(B) on approval by the Secretary of a 
                soil health plan for the State or Tribal government.
    ``(c) Tribal Option.--At the sole discretion of a Tribal 
government, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization shall have the 
option of being incorporated into a State application rather than 
submitting an application for the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.
    ``(d) Grant Amount.--
            ``(1) Maximum.--The maximum grant any 1 State or Tribal 
        government may receive under this section for a fiscal year 
        shall be--
                    ``(A) in the case of a grant for the purposes 
                described in subsection (b)(2)(A), $1,000,000; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a grant for the purposes 
                described in subsection (b)(2)(B), $5,000,000.
            ``(2) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) Grants to states.--The amount of a grant to a 
                State under this section shall not exceed--
                            ``(i) 75 percent of the cost of developing 
                        or modifying a soil health plan; or
                            ``(ii) 50 percent of the cost of 
                        implementing the soil health plan.
                    ``(B) Grants to tribes.--The amount of a grant to a 
                Tribal government under this section shall not exceed--
                            ``(i) 90 percent of the cost of developing 
                        or modifying a soil health plan; or
                            ``(ii) 75 percent of the cost of 
                        implementing the soil health plan.
            ``(3) Non-federal funds.--A grant made under this section 
        shall be made on the condition that the non-Federal share of 
        expenditures under paragraph (2) be provided by non-Federal 
        sources.
    ``(e) Grant Term.--A grant under this section shall be for 1 year 
and may be renewed annually, at the discretion of the Secretary.
    ``(f) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority to States or 
Tribal governments with a climate action plan that includes soil 
health, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(g) Performance Measures and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) Performance measures.--Each application under 
        subsection (b) shall include performance measures to be used to 
        evaluate the results of the assistance received under this 
        section.
            ``(2) Review.--Each applicable State department of 
        agriculture or Tribal authority shall submit to the Secretary a 
        review and evaluation of the progress of the State department 
        of agriculture or Tribal authority, using the performance 
        measures under paragraph (1), at such intervals as the 
        Secretary shall establish.
    ``(h) Effect of Noncompliance.--If the Secretary, after reasonable 
notice to a State or Tribal government, determines that there has been 
a failure by the State or Tribal government to comply with the terms of 
a grant made under this section, the Secretary may disqualify, for 1 or 
more years, the State or Tribal government from receipt of future 
grants under this section.
    ``(i) Audit Requirement.--For each year that a State or Tribal 
government receives a grant under this section, the State or Tribal 
government shall--
            ``(1) conduct an audit of the expenditures of grant funds 
        by the State or Tribal government; and
            ``(2) not later than 30 days after the completion of the 
        audit under paragraph (1), submit to the Secretary a copy of 
        the audit.
    ``(j) Administration.--
            ``(1) Department.--The Secretary may not use more than 3 
        percent of the funds made available to carry out this section 
        for a fiscal year for administrative expenses.
            ``(2) States and tribes.--A State or Tribal government 
        receiving a grant under this section may not use more than 7 
        percent of the funds received under the grant for a fiscal year 
        for administrative expenses.
    ``(k) Funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, 
the Secretary shall use to make grants under this section--
            ``(1) $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025;
            ``(2) $80,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027; 
        and
            ``(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal 
        year thereafter.''.

SEC. 305. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Commodity Credit Corporation.--
            (1) Annual funding.--Section 1241(a) of the Food Security 
        Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, 
                        and $17,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 
                        2024 through 2028,'' after ``2023''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
                        ``and $70,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
                        years 2024 through 2028, including not more 
                        than $5,000,000 to provide outreach and 
                        technical assistance,'' after ``technical 
                        assistance,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
                        ``2031.'' and inserting ``2023; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) $700,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2031.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (II) in clause (v), by striking 
                                ``each of fiscal years 2023 through 
                                2031'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
                                2023''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(vi) $3,000,000,000 for each of fiscal 
                        years 2024 through 2031; and''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (II) in clause (v), by striking 
                                ``each of fiscal years 2023 through 
                                2031.'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
                                2023; and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(vi) $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal 
                        years 2024 through 2031.''.
            (2) Technical assistance.--Section 1241(c) of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(c)) is amended by adding 
        at the end the following:
            ``(5) Special initiative.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2022, 
                and each year thereafter through fiscal year 2028, the 
                Secretary shall use for a special technical assistance 
                initiative to assist producers in mitigating and 
                adapting to climate change, of the funds of the 
                Commodity Credit Corporation, an amount equal to not 
                less than 1 percent of Commodity Credit Corporation 
                funds made available for the applicable fiscal year for 
                each of the programs described in subsection (a).
                    ``(B) Provision of technical assistance.--The 
                Secretary shall provide technical assistance under the 
                special initiative under this paragraph to producers--
                            ``(i) directly;
                            ``(ii)(I) through an agreement with a 
                        third-party provider (as defined in section 
                        1242(a)); or
                            ``(II) at the option of the producer, 
                        through a payment, as determined by the 
                        Secretary, to the producer for a third-party 
                        provider approved under section 1242, if 
                        available; or
                            ``(iii) through a cooperative agreement or 
                        contract with--
                                    ``(I) a cooperative extension;
                                    ``(II) a nongovernmental 
                                organization; or
                                    ``(III) a State, Tribal, or Federal 
                                agency.
                    ``(C) Underserved producers.--In providing 
                technical assistance under this paragraph, the 
                Secretary shall give priority to producers who are 
                persons described in section 1244(a)(2).''.
            (3) Assistance to certain farmers or ranchers for 
        conservation access.--Section 1241(h) of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking 
                ``practicable--'' in the matter preceding clause (i) 
                and all that follows through the period at the end of 
                clause (ii) and inserting ``practicable, 30 percent to 
                assist beginning farmers or ranchers and socially 
                disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``section 
                2501(e)'' and all that follows through the period at 
                the end and inserting ``section 2501(a) of the Food, 
                Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
                U.S.C. 2279(a))) that qualifies under paragraph 
                (1)(B).''.
    (b) Delivery of Technical Assistance.--Section 1242 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)--
                    (A) by inserting ``an individual,'' before ``a 
                commercial entity'';
                    (B) by striking ``State or local'' and inserting 
                ``State, local, or Tribal''; and
                    (C) by striking ``nutrient management planning,'' 
                and inserting ``soil health planning, greenhouse gas 
                emissions reduction planning, nutrient management 
                planning, integrated pest management planning, 
                agroforestry planning, organic transition planning,'';
            (2) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                            (i) by inserting ``individuals,'' before 
                        ``commercial entities,''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``State or local'' and 
                        inserting ``State, local, or Tribal''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``or organic'' 
                after ``sustainability''; and
            (3) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting 
                ``Perennial Agriculture System,'' after ``Organic,''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``a perennial 
                agriculture system,'' after ``production,'' each place 
                it appears.
    (c) Administrative Requirements for Conservation Programs.--
            (1) Incentives for certain farmers and ranchers and indian 
        tribes.--Section 1244(a)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
        (16 U.S.C. 3844(a)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``incentives'' and inserting ``incentives, 
                including higher payment rates, advance payments, 
                transition payments, and farm infrastructure 
                assistance,'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(B) to establish a new generation of producers 
                who use the full array of climate-friendly conservation 
                activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 
                increase soil carbon, and improve resilience to weather 
                extremes; and
                    ``(C) to enhance other long-term environmental 
                goals.''.
            (2) Review and guidance for practice costs and payment 
        rates.--Section 1244(j)(1)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
        (16 U.S.C. 3844(j)(1)(B)) is amended--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) accelerates progress in meeting the 
                        goals established under title I of the 
                        Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023.''.
            (3) Advanced grazing management.--Section 1244 of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(q) Advanced Grazing Management.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out any conservation program 
        administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall encourage 
        advanced grazing management, including management-intensive 
        rotational grazing (as those terms are defined in section 
        1240L(d)(1)).
            ``(2) Reservation of funds.--In each of fiscal years 2024 
        through 2028, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
        subsection not less than \2/3\ of any funds available for 
        activities relating to livestock production under conservation 
        programs administered by the Secretary under this title (other 
        than the conservation reserve program established under 
        subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D, except for acres 
        enrolled in that program under section 1231(d)(2)).''.
    (d) Environmental Services Markets.--Section 1245 of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3845) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(f) Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration Monitoring 
and Measurement Federal Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        establish an advisory committee, to be known as the `Greenhouse 
        Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration Monitoring and 
        Measurement Federal Advisory Committee' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the `advisory committee').
            ``(2) Membership.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall appoint members to the advisory committee 
        that--
                    ``(A) reflect diversity in gender, age, race, and 
                geography; and
                    ``(B) include--
                            ``(i) farmers and ranchers, including 
                        farmers and ranchers operating small and mid-
                        sized farms;
                            ``(ii) organizations representing farmers 
                        and ranchers, including organizations 
                        representing farmers and ranchers operating 
                        small and mid-sized farms;
                            ``(iii) scientists;
                            ``(iv) environmental nonprofit 
                        organizations;
                            ``(v) existing private sector carbon and 
                        ecosystem services market development 
                        initiatives;
                            ``(vi) businesses working to reduce 
                        greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in 
                        the supply chains of the businesses;
                            ``(vii) relevant Federal agencies;
                            ``(viii) Tribal communities; and
                            ``(ix) State agriculture agencies.
            ``(3) Terms.--
                    ``(A) Term length.--The term of a member of the 
                advisory committee shall be 3 years.
                    ``(B) Reappointment.--The Secretary may reappoint a 
                member of the advisory committee for not more than 2 
                consecutive terms.
            ``(4) Meetings.--The advisory committee shall meet--
                    ``(A) not fewer than 4 times in the first year 
                after the advisory committee is established; and
                    ``(B) not less frequently than twice annually 
                thereafter.
            ``(5) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date on which the advisory committee is established, and 
        periodically thereafter, the advisory committee shall submit to 
        the Secretary recommendations on--
                    ``(A) the feasibility of establishing reliable 
                outcomes-based measurement systems, as described in 
                subsection (g);
                    ``(B) existing technology that provides reliable 
                measurement data;
                    ``(C) with respect to parameters for which existing 
                technology does not provide reliable measurement data, 
                research and technical needs and, as appropriate, goals 
                and plans for that research;
                    ``(D) standards for data collection and 
                dissemination;
                    ``(E) farmer data management and privacy;
                    ``(F) greenhouse gas emissions and soil health 
                inventories and databases, as described in subsection 
                (h); and
                    ``(G) criteria for soil health and greenhouse gas 
                emissions reductions incentives, as described in 
                subsection (i).
    ``(g) Measurement System.--
            ``(1) Purpose.--The Secretary shall evaluate existing 
        outcomes-based measurement systems for recordkeeping, modeling, 
        and measurement of farm-level greenhouse gas emissions and soil 
        carbon sequestration, including measures of soil disturbance, 
        plant diversity, continual living cover, residue management, 
        advanced grazing management, and crop-livestock integration, to 
        determine which of those systems--
                    ``(A) can be implemented quickly;
                    ``(B) can improve in accuracy and ease over time;
                    ``(C) use the best available science and 
                technology;
                    ``(D) estimate uncertainty; and
                    ``(E) are cost-effective.
            ``(2) Guidance.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall issue 
        guidance on the outcomes-based measurement systems evaluated 
        under paragraph (1), based on--
                    ``(A) recommendations from the advisory committee 
                established under subsection (f); and
                    ``(B) information from--
                            ``(i) existing and emerging agroecosystem 
                        models;
                            ``(ii) remote sensing data and analysis;
                            ``(iii) soil health demonstration trials 
                        carried out under section 1240H(c)(7);
                            ``(iv) existing and emerging public 
                        environmental services protocols, measurement 
                        systems, and benchmarks, including uncertainty 
                        predictions and measurements;
                            ``(v) field-level measurement, including 
                        field-based data collected under section 
                        21002(a)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (7 U.S.C. 
                        6936 note; 136 Stat. 2018);
                            ``(vi) the Conservation Evaluation and 
                        Monitoring Activity for the Carbon 
                        Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation 
                        Assessment; and
                            ``(vii) such other sources as the Secretary 
                        determines to be appropriate.
            ``(3) Review.--The Secretary, based on recommendations from 
        the advisory committee established under subsection (f), 
        shall--
                    ``(A) establish and maintain an outcomes-based 
                measurement system in accordance with the guidance 
                issued under paragraph (2) when feasible;
                    ``(B) conduct a periodic review of that system;
                    ``(C) periodically make any necessary updates to 
                that system; and
                    ``(D) establish research and development goals and 
                plans, as necessary.
    ``(h) Inventory.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of this subsection, and every 2 years thereafter, 
        the Secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee 
        established under subsection (f) and the Administrator of the 
        Environmental Protection Agency, shall conduct a nationwide 
        soil health and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions inventory 
        that uses the best available science and data to establish 
        expected average performance for soil carbon drawdown and 
        storage and greenhouse gas emissions reduction by primary 
        production type and production region.
            ``(2) Database.--Drawing on the field-based data collected 
        under section 21002(a)(2) of Public Law 117-169 (7 U.S.C. 6936 
        note; 136 Stat. 2018), the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) establish an accessible and interoperable 
                database for the information collected through the 
                inventory conducted under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) improve and update that database not less 
                frequently than once every 2 years as new data is 
                collected.
    ``(i) Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        advisory committee established under subsection (f), shall 
        establish criteria for payments, credits, or other forms of 
        incentives to inform policy established to promote soil carbon 
        sequestration or greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The criteria established under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) have a documented likelihood to lead to long-
                term net increases in soil carbon sequestration and net 
                reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, according to 
                the best available science;
                    ``(B) be based in part on environmental impact 
                modeling of the changes of shifting from baseline 
                agricultural practices to new or improved agricultural 
                practices; and
                    ``(C) be designed to prevent the degradation of 
                other natural resource or environmental conditions.
    ``(j) Demonstration Trials.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall periodically review 
        the results from soil health demonstration trials carried out 
        under section 1240H(c)(7), and other similar public and private 
        demonstration trials that the Secretary determines to be 
        appropriate, to inform the activities under subsections (g), 
        (h), and (i).
            ``(2) Recommendations.--In submitting reports pursuant to 
        section 1240H(c)(7)(C)(ii), the Secretary shall include any 
        recommendations to Congress for changes or additions to the 
        conservation programs under this Act that the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate to accelerate net increases in 
        soil carbon sequestration and other improvements in soil 
        health.''.

SEC. 306. CONSERVATION COMPLIANCE.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 1201(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``highly erodible'' each place it 
                appears; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and 
                conservation treatment measures'' and inserting ``crop 
                rotation and cover crop systems, and other relevant 
                soil conservation and soil health management treatment 
                measures'';
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B)--
                            (i) by striking ``or a substantial 
                        improvement in soil conditions on a field or 
                        group of fields containing highly erodible 
                        cropland'' and inserting ``and a substantial 
                        improvement in soil health conditions 
                        (including soil carbon levels) on a field or 
                        group of fields containing cropland''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) are designed to achieve, within 5 years of 
                actively applying a conservation plan, a level of 
                erosion not to exceed twice the soil loss tolerance 
                level; and
                    ``(D) are designed to effectively prevent the 
                formation of new, or treat all existing, ephemeral 
                gullies.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (11)(A)(ii), by striking ``excessive 
        average annual rate of erosion in relation to'' and inserting 
        ``average annual rate of erosion exceeding twice''.
    (b) Cropland Conservation.--
            (1) Program ineligibility.--Section 1211 of the Food 
        Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                        by striking ``produces an agricultural 
                        commodity'' and all that follows through ``as 
                        determined by the Secretary'' and inserting 
                        ``carries out an activity described in 
                        subsection (b), as determined by the 
                        Secretary,''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting 
                        ``cropland or'' before ``highly erodible 
                        land'';
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
                (c);
                    (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
                following:
    ``(b) Activities Described.--Activities referred to in subsection 
(a) are--
            ``(1) the production of an agricultural commodity on a 
        field on which cropland is predominant;
            ``(2) the designation of land on which cropland is 
        predominant to be set aside, diverted, devoted to conservation 
        uses, or otherwise not cultivated under a program administered 
        by the Secretary to reduce production of an agricultural 
        commodity; and
            ``(3) the production of an agricultural commodity without 
        having in place a conservation plan.''; and
                    (D) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking the heading and inserting ``Authority of 
                Secretary.--''.
            (2) Exemptions.--Section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 
        1985 (16 U.S.C. 3812) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(3)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``highly erodible land'' and inserting 
                        ``cropland''; and
                            (ii) in the first and second sentences, by 
                        striking ``only be required to apply a 
                        conservation plan established under this 
                        subtitle. The person shall not be required to 
                        meet a higher conservation standard than the 
                        standard applied to other highly erodible'' and 
                        inserting ``be required to apply a conservation 
                        plan established under this subtitle consistent 
                        with the standard applied to other'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``highly 
                erodible land'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``cropland''; and
                    (C) in subsection (f)(4)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``highly 
                        erodible''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii)(II), by inserting ``and 
                        soil health'' after ``erosion control''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Subtitle B of title XII of the 
        Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3811 et seq.) is amended 
        in the subtitle heading by striking ``Highly Erodible Land'' 
        and inserting ``Cropland''.

SEC. 307. NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AGROFORESTRY CENTERS.

    Section 1243 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act 
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 1642 note; Public Law 101-624) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and inserting 
        ``national and regional agroforestry centers'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 
        subsections (c), (d), and (f), respectively;
            (3) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) Definition of Agroforestry.--In this section, the term 
`agroforestry' means a management system that intentionally integrates 
trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to build more 
profitable and weather-resilient farms, ranches, and communities, 
address natural resource concerns and conservation needs, and establish 
productive and sustainable land use practices, including--
            ``(1) riparian forest buffers and managed waterbreaks;
            ``(2) alley cropping;
            ``(3) silvopasture;
            ``(4) forest farming and multistory cropping; and
            ``(5) windbreaks, shelterbelts, hedgerows, field borders, 
        and living snow fences.
    ``(b) National and Regional Agroforestry Centers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture (referred 
        to in this section as the `Secretary')--
                    ``(A) shall establish at the Forestry Sciences 
                Laboratory of the Forest Service, in Lincoln, Nebraska, 
                a National Agroforestry Research, Development, and 
                Demonstration Center; and
                    ``(B) acting through the Chief of the Forest 
                Service and in cooperation with the Natural Resources 
                Conservation Service, shall establish not fewer than 3 
                additional regional agroforestry centers at other 
                locations, as determined by the Secretary.
            ``(2) National and regional directors.--The Secretary shall 
        appoint a National Director and Regional Directors to manage 
        and coordinate the program established under subsection (c).'';
            (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Center'' and inserting 
                        ``Centers established under subparagraphs (A) 
                        and (B) of subsection (b)(1) (referred to in 
                        this section as the `Centers')''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and organizations'' 
                        after ``nonprofit foundations'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``on semiarid lands that'' 
                        and inserting ``that build soil health and''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, including 
                        agroforestry systems on semiarid land and other 
                        fragile agroecosystems in which restoration of 
                        permanent woody perennial plant communities 
                        will enhance carbon sequestration and reduce 
                        greenhouse gas emissions'' before the 
                        semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``forestry 
                products for commercial sale from semiarid land'' and 
                inserting ``agroforestry products for commercial 
                sale'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``in semiarid regions''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``the Great Plains 
                        region'' and inserting ``particular regions'';
                    (E) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``technical 
                assistance and'' before ``technology'';
                    (F) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(6) develop improved silvopasture, alley cropping, forest 
        farming, multistory cropping, riparian buffer, windbreak and 
        shelterbelt, and other perennial production and conservation 
        systems and technologies to improve soil health, carbon 
        sequestration, drought preparedness, soil and water 
        conservation, environmental quality, and biological 
        diversity;'';
                    (G) in paragraph (7), by striking ``on semiarid 
                lands'';
                    (H) in paragraph (8), by striking ``on semiarid 
                lands worldwide'' and inserting ``worldwide, including 
                on semiarid land''; and
                    (I) in paragraph (9)--
                            (i) by striking ``on semiarid lands''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``and climate change'' 
                        after ``pollution'';
            (5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Center'' and inserting ``Centers'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) facilitate agroforestry adoption by disseminating 
        comprehensive information on Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
        programs that provide support for agroforestry.'';
            (6) by inserting after subsection (d) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
    ``(e) Grants.--The Secretary may establish regional grant programs 
at each of the Centers to support agroforestry projects, including 
demonstration farms.''; and
            (7) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
        ``and $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028'' 
        after ``through 2023''.

           TITLE IV--FARMLAND PRESERVATION AND FARM VIABILITY

SEC. 401. LOCAL AGRICULTURE MARKET PROGRAM.

    Section 210A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1627c) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(12)(A)--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as 
                clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) is produced and marketed in a manner 
                        that significantly improves soil health and 
                        carbon sequestration or significantly reduces 
                        greenhouse gas emissions;
                            ``(v) when added to the crop or grazing 
                        rotation on a farm, will significantly improve 
                        soil health and carbon sequestration or 
                        significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
                        emissions;'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                        semicolon at the end and inserting ``, 
                        including value-added agricultural products 
                        from crops or animals that, when added into 
                        crop or grazing rotations on a farm, will 
                        significantly improve soil health and carbon 
                        sequestration or significantly reduce 
                        greenhouse gas emissions; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) markets for agricultural commodities and 
                products produced in a manner that significantly 
                improve soil health and carbon sequestration or 
                significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``and local'' and inserting 
                        ``, local''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and production and 
                        marketing approaches to significantly improve 
                        soil health and carbon sequestration or 
                        significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions'' 
                        before the semicolon at the end;
                    (C) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph 
                (7); and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) enhances the economic viability of producers and 
        related agricultural enterprises; and'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``subsection (i)'' and 
                        inserting ``subsection (j)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
                        ``2028'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by adding 
                                ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(iii) agricultural commodities and 
                        products that are produced and marketed in a 
                        manner that--
                                    ``(I) significantly improves soil 
                                health and carbon sequestration or 
                                significantly reduces greenhouse gas 
                                emissions; or
                                    ``(II) when added to a crop or 
                                grazing rotation on a farm will 
                                significantly improve soil health and 
                                carbon sequestration or significantly 
                                reduce greenhouse gas emissions;''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
                        ``producers of local food products and value-
                        added agricultural products in new and existing 
                        markets'' and inserting the following: 
                        ``producers of--
                            ``(i) local food products;
                            ``(ii) value-added agricultural products in 
                        new and existing markets; and
                            ``(iii) agricultural commodities and 
                        products that are produced in a manner that--
                                    ``(I) enhances soil health and 
                                carbon sequestration or significantly 
                                reduces greenhouse gas emissions; or
                                    ``(II) when added to a crop or 
                                grazing rotation on a farm, will 
                                significantly improve soil health and 
                                carbon sequestration or significantly 
                                reduce greenhouse gas emissions;''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (5)(A), by inserting ``and the 
                Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service'' 
                before the period at the end;
            (4) in subsection (e)(2)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``subsection (i)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (j)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``2023'' and inserting ``2028'';
            (5) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) as 
        subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j), respectively;
            (6) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Farm Viability and Local Climate Resiliency Centers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service and in 
        coordination with the Administrator of the Rural Business-
        Cooperative Service and the Chief of the Natural Resources 
        Conservation Service, shall provide grants to eligible entities 
        described in paragraph (2) to serve as farm viability and local 
        climate resiliency centers (referred to in this section as 
        `centers') to support--
                    ``(A) efforts to enhance farm viability; and
                    ``(B) the development, coordination, and expansion 
                of markets for commodities and farm products that 
                significantly improve soil health and carbon 
                sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
                emissions.
            ``(2) Eligible entities.--An entity is eligible to receive 
        a grant under this subsection if the entity is--
                    ``(A) an agricultural cooperative or other 
                agricultural business entity or a producer network or 
                association;
                    ``(B) a local, State, or Tribal government;
                    ``(C) a nonprofit corporation;
                    ``(D) a public benefit corporation;
                    ``(E) an economic development corporation;
                    ``(F) an institution of higher education; or
                    ``(G) such other entity as the Secretary may 
                designate.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this subsection shall use grant funds to provide to 
        entities described in subsection (d)(5)(B)--
                    ``(A) assistance for the development of business 
                plans and feasibility studies;
                    ``(B) assistance in developing marketing strategies 
                for--
                            ``(i) local products; and
                            ``(ii) value-added agricultural products in 
                        new and existing markets;
                    ``(C) assistance in enterprise development for the 
                processing, aggregation, distribution, and storage of--
                            ``(i) local and regional food products that 
                        are marketed locally or regionally; and
                            ``(ii) value-added agricultural products;
                    ``(D) assistance relating to finances and 
                recordkeeping;
                    ``(E) assistance relating to enterprise and 
                business management;
                    ``(F) assistance relating to ownership succession 
                planning;
                    ``(G) outreach and assistance in the adoption of 
                farming practices that enhance soil health and carbon 
                sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
                emissions;
                    ``(H) outreach regarding assistance available under 
                subsection (d);
                    ``(I) outreach regarding assistance available 
                through other programs administered by any other 
                Federal agency that supports the adoption of farming 
                practices that enhance soil health and carbon 
                sequestration or significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
                emissions; or
                    ``(J) at the request of the entity described in 
                subsection (d)(5)(B), assistance in applying for a 
                grant under subsection (d), including acting on behalf 
                of the entity in applying for the grant.
            ``(4) Geographic diversity.--To the maximum extent 
        practicable, the Secretary shall ensure geographic diversity in 
        selecting eligible entities to receive a grant under this 
        subsection.
            ``(5) Non-federal share.--An entity receiving a grant under 
        this subsection shall provide funding in an amount equal to not 
        less than 25 percent of the total amount of the Federal portion 
        of the grant.
            ``(6) Applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall 
                submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information as the 
                Secretary considers necessary to evaluate and select 
                applications.
                    ``(B) Competitive process.--The Secretary--
                            ``(i) shall conduct a competitive process 
                        to select applications submitted under 
                        subparagraph (A);
                            ``(ii) may assess and rank applications 
                        with similar proposals as a group; and
                            ``(iii) shall, prior to accepting 
                        applications under that subparagraph, make 
                        public the criteria to be used in evaluating 
                        the applications.
            ``(7) Priority.--The Secretary may give priority to 
        applications submitted under paragraph (6)(A) that include--
                    ``(A) plans to use funds for 3 or more of purposes 
                described in paragraph (3); or
                    ``(B) activities relating to improving the use and 
                expanded adoption of farming practices that enhance 
                soil health and carbon sequestration or significantly 
                reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously 
                improving farm viability.
            ``(8) Administrative expenses.--An entity receiving a grant 
        under this subsection may use not more than 4 percent of the 
        funds received through the grant for administrative 
        expenses.'';
            (7) in subsection (i)(1) (as so redesignated), in the 
        matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection 
        (i)(3)(E)'' and inserting ``subsection (j)(3)(E)''; and
            (8) in subsection (j) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``fiscal year 
                2019'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2019 
                through 2023 and $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2024'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
                        ``35'' and inserting ``36''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
                        inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Farmers' market and local food promotion 
                grants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Of the funds made 
                        available to carry out this section for a 
                        fiscal year, 36 percent shall be used for 
                        grants under subsection (d)(6).
                            ``(ii) Allocation among subprograms.--Of 
                        the funds made available for grants under 
                        subsection (d)(6) for a fiscal year--
                                    ``(I) 40 percent shall be made 
                                available for farmers' market promotion 
                                grants; and
                                    ``(II) 60 percent shall be made 
                                available for local food promotion 
                                grants.'';
                    (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
                subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively;
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
                    ``(D) Farm viability and local climate 
                resiliency.--Of the funds made available to carry out 
                this section for a fiscal year, 10 percent shall be 
                used to provide grants under subsection (f).''; and
                    (E) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), in 
                the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``or (C)'' 
                and inserting ``(C), or (D)''.

SEC. 402. NATIONAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST-SHARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Federal Share.--Section 10606(b)(2) of the Farm Security and 
Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523(b)(2)) is amended by 
striking ``$750'' and inserting ``$1,500''.
    (b) Mandatory Funding.--Section 10606(d)(1) of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 6523(d)(1)) is amended by 
striking ``shall make available'' in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A) and all that follows through the period at the end of subparagraph 
(C) and inserting ``shall use such sums as are necessary to carry out 
this section.''.

SEC. 403. FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY ACT.

    (a) Findings, Purpose, and Definitions.--Section 1540 of the 
Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 4201) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (7) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) the Nation's farmland is a vital source of 
        environmental services, such as carbon sequestration;'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``Tribal,'' after 
        ``State,''; and
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and 
                (5) as paragraphs (2), (7), (8), and (6), respectively, 
                and moving the paragraphs so as to appear in numerical 
                order;
                    (B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so 
                redesignated) the following:
            ``(1) the term `conversion' means--
                    ``(A) the physical conversion of farmland to a 
                nonagricultural use;
                    ``(B) the effective conversion of farmland as a 
                consequence of physical conversion of adjacent 
                farmland, which threatens the continued viability of 
                the land for agricultural use; or
                    ``(C) a change in management of federally owned 
                land historically used for agriculture to a 
                nonagricultural use;'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``that 
                        is used for'' and inserting ``that is suitable 
                        for''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
                        ``and is suitable'' after ``local importance'';
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as so 
                redesignated) the following:
            ``(3) the term `farmland of national significance' means 
        farmland that is the most suitable for intensive crop and food 
        production, as determined by the Secretary, taking into 
        consideration, among other factors, the physical and chemical 
        characteristics of the farmland;'';
                    (E) in paragraph (4), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``and'' at the end;
                    (F) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
            ``(5) the term `permanently protected farmland' means 
        farmland encumbered by a conservation easement--
                    ``(A) held by the Federal Government, a State, 
                Tribal, or local unit of government, or a land 
                conservation organization; and
                    ``(B) that is perpetual or the maximum number of 
                years allowed by State law;'';
                    (G) in paragraph (6) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting a 
                semicolon;
                    (H) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by 
                adding ``and'' at the end; and
                    (I) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated), by 
                striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a 
                period.
    (b) Farmland Protection Policy.--Section 1541 of the Agriculture 
and Food Act of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 4202) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 1541. FARMLAND PROTECTION POLICY.

    ``(a) In General.--It is the policy of the United States that 
Federal programs--
            ``(1) shall minimize the conversion of farmland to 
        nonagricultural uses; and
            ``(2) subject to subsection (d), shall not convert to 
        nonagricultural uses farmland--
                    ``(A) that is permanently protected farmland;
                    ``(B) that has been defined and delineated by the 
                Secretary under subsection (b)(1) as farmland of 
                national significance; or
                    ``(C) that has been defined and delineated by a 
                State as significant to the State or a priority for 
                inclusion in a State farmland protection program and 
                for which the State has submitted a definition and 
                delineation under subsection (b)(2).
    ``(b) Definition and Delineation of Land.--
            ``(1) National significance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall define and 
                delineate farmland of national significance.
                    ``(B) Experts.--The Secretary shall convene a group 
                of experts, including agronomists and soil scientists, 
                to assist the Secretary in carrying out subparagraph 
                (A).
            ``(2) State significance.--Any State wishing to have 
        farmland recognized under subsection (a)(2)(C) shall provide to 
        the Secretary a definition and delineation of the farmland.
    ``(c) Process and Criteria.--
            ``(1) Process and criteria.--The Secretary shall develop a 
        process, including criteria--
                    ``(A) to determine the potential conversion of 
                farmland as a consequence of any action or activity 
                conducted through a Federal program;
                    ``(B)(i) to minimize the conversion of farmland to 
                nonagricultural uses; or
                    ``(ii) in the case of farmland identified under 
                subsection (a)(2), to avoid conversion of the farmland 
                to nonagricultural uses;
                    ``(C) to provide to the Secretary notice regarding 
                actions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
                    ``(D) that the Secretary shall use to make 
                determinations under subsection (d).
            ``(2) Use required.--Each department, agency, independent 
        commission, and other unit of the Federal Government shall use 
        the process and criteria developed under paragraph (1) in 
        carrying out a Federal program.
    ``(d) Exemption.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subsection (a)(2) shall not apply if the 
        Secretary determines, based on the process and criteria 
        developed under subsection (c)(1), that converting farmland to 
        nonagricultural uses cannot be avoided.
            ``(2) Minimization of conversion.--In a case in which the 
        Secretary makes a determination under paragraph (1), the 
        Federal program shall minimize the conversion of farmland 
        described in subsection (a)(2) to the maximum extent 
        practicable.
    ``(e) Information.--The Secretary may make available to States, 
units of local government, individuals, organizations, and other units 
of the Federal Government information--
            ``(1) useful in restoring, maintaining, and improving the 
        quantity and quality of farmland; and
            ``(2) concerning the location of permanently protected 
        farmland.
    ``(f) Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to 
departments, agencies, independent commissions, and other units of the 
Federal Government, on request, in using the process and criteria 
developed under subsection (c)(1).''.

SEC. 404. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 1265B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)(C)(iv), by striking ``only''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Condition of assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As a condition of receiving 
                cost-share assistance under this section, the owner of 
                eligible land shall agree to have in place a 
                conservation plan that addresses applicable resource 
                concerns for the land subject to the easement, 
                including soil health and greenhouse gas emissions 
                reduction, not later than 3 years after the date on 
                which the easement is granted.
                    ``(B) Bureau of indian affairs.--Subparagraph (A) 
                may be satisfied by having in place a conservation plan 
                developed or recognized by the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs.''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical 
assistance, if requested, to assist in--
            ``(1) compliance with the terms and conditions of an 
        easement; and
            ``(2) development and implementation of a conservation plan 
        required under subsection (b)(6), including, as applicable--
                    ``(A) a conservation plan for highly erodible land 
                required under subsection (b)(4)(C)(iv); and
                    ``(B) a comprehensive conservation plan developed 
                pursuant to subsection (e)(1).
    ``(e) Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Enrollment in csp.--At the sole option of the 
                owner of the eligible land subject to an easement, the 
                Secretary shall provide for the automatic enrollment of 
                the eligible land subject to the easement in the 
                conservation stewardship program established by 
                subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D, including 
                financial assistance for the development of a 
                comprehensive conservation plan under section 1240L(e), 
                if the person or entity farming the eligible land is 
                otherwise eligible for the conservation stewardship 
                program, as determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Determination of compliance.--In the case of 
                eligible land enrolled in the conservation stewardship 
                program pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall have the sole responsibility of determining 
                compliance with the terms of the conservation 
                stewardship program contract.
                    ``(C) Funding.--Funding received by an eligible 
                entity pursuant to this paragraph shall not be 
                considered in the calculation of costs under subsection 
                (b).
            ``(2) Timing.--The owner of the eligible land subject to an 
        easement may exercise the option under paragraph (1)(A) during 
        the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the easement 
        is granted.''.

                    TITLE V--PASTURE-BASED LIVESTOCK

SEC. 501. ANIMAL RAISING CLAIMS.

    The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

                  ``Subtitle H--Animal Raising Claims

``SEC. 298A. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subtitle:
            ``(1) Animal raising claim.--The term `animal raising 
        claim' means a statement on the labeling of a meat food product 
        or poultry product used in interstate commerce that 
        references--
                    ``(A) the manner in which the source animal for the 
                meat food product or poultry product was raised, 
                including--
                            ``(i) production practices that were used, 
                        such as living or raising conditions; and
                            ``(ii) the location or source where the 
                        source animal was born, raised, and processed; 
                        or
                    ``(B) the breed of the source animal.
            ``(2) Meat food product.--The term `meat food product' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 1 of the Federal Meat 
        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601).
            ``(3) Poultry product.--The term `poultry product' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4 of the Poultry Products 
        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453).
            ``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the 
        Agricultural Marketing Service, in coordination with the 
        Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

``SEC. 298B. REQUIRED VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR ANIMAL RAISING CLAIMS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to facilitate 
marketing, truth in labeling, and new economic opportunities for 
producers and businesses using animal raising claims.
    ``(b) Standards and Procedures.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this subtitle, after providing notice and an 
        opportunity to comment, and in a manner consistent with United 
        States obligations under international agreements, the 
        Secretary shall establish--
                    ``(A) mandatory standards with respect to animal 
                raising claims, including the standards described in 
                paragraph (2);
                    ``(B) procedures--
                            ``(i) to verify an animal raising claim 
                        prior to the use in commerce of any meat food 
                        product or poultry product bearing that claim; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) that are incorporated seamlessly 
                        with the labeling requirements under the 
                        Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et 
                        seq.) and the Poultry Products Inspection Act 
                        (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.); and
                    ``(C) on-farm and supply chain auditing and 
                verification procedures to ensure the truthfulness of 
                animal raising claims.
            ``(2) Standards.--In developing and approving animal 
        raising claim standards under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary 
        shall include standards relating to--
                    ``(A) diet claims, including claims that the source 
                animal was grass fed, vegetarian fed, or fed no animal 
                byproducts;
                    ``(B) living and raising condition claims, 
                including claims that the source animal was cage free, 
                free range, or pasture raised;
                    ``(C) antibiotic and hormone claims, including 
                claims that the source animal was raised without 
                antibiotics, had no hormones added, or was raised 
                without growth promotants;
                    ``(D) source claims that the source animal can be 
                traced back to its farm of origin from birth to 
                slaughter;
                    ``(E) age claims;
                    ``(F) animal welfare claims;
                    ``(G) environmental stewardship claims, including 
                greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration 
                claims;
                    ``(H) breed claims; and
                    ``(I) any other claim that the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            ``(3) Consistency with other laws.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure consistency between the animal raising claim standards 
        established under this subsection and the Organic Foods 
        Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and any rules or 
        regulations implementing that Act.
    ``(c) Third-Party Certification.--A producer of a meat food product 
or a poultry product may use an animal raising claim that is verified 
by a third party if--
            ``(1) the claim is consistent with standards established by 
        the Secretary under subsection (b); and
            ``(2) the procedures used by the third party to verify the 
        claim, and for any subsequent auditing, are equivalent to the 
        verification and auditing procedures established under 
        subsection (b)(1)(C), as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Approval Process.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall require that a producer seeking to make an animal 
raising claim shall submit to the Secretary, prior to using the label 
on the meat food product or poultry product that is the subject of the 
animal raising claim, the following documentation to support the animal 
raising claim:
            ``(1) A detailed written description explaining the 
        controls used for ensuring that the animal raising claim is 
        valid, as applicable--
                    ``(A) from birth to harvest; or
                    ``(B) for the period of raising referenced in the 
                animal raising claim.
            ``(2) A signed and dated document describing the manner in 
        which the source animals were raised.
            ``(3) A written description of the product tracing and 
        segregation mechanism used with respect to the applicable meat 
        food product or poultry product from the time of slaughter of 
        the source animal or further processing through the packaging 
        and distribution of the meat food product or poultry product.
            ``(4) A written description of the identification, control, 
        and segregation of nonconforming animals or products.
            ``(5) In the case of a meat food product or poultry product 
        certified by a third party, a current copy of the third-party 
        certificate.
    ``(e) Compliance Requirements.--Beginning on the date that is 3 
years after the date of enactment of this subtitle--
            ``(1) a person may sell or label a domestic meat food 
        product or poultry product with an animal raising claim only if 
        the animal raising claim and the meat food product or poultry 
        product is in compliance with the standards established under 
        subsection (b); and
            ``(2) an imported meat food product or poultry product may 
        be sold or labeled with an animal raising claim if, as 
        determined by the Secretary, the animal raising claim and the 
        meat food product or poultry product is in compliance with a 
        verification program that provides safeguards and guidelines 
        that are at least equivalent to the standards established under 
        subsection (b).
    ``(f) Violations.--
            ``(1) Misuse of label.--Any person who, after notice and an 
        opportunity to be heard, is found by the Secretary to have 
        knowingly sold or labeled any meat food product or poultry 
        product with an animal raising claim in violation of this 
        subtitle, including the standards and procedures established 
        under subsection (b), shall be assessed a civil penalty of not 
        more than $10,000.
            ``(2) False statement.--Any person who, after notice and an 
        opportunity to be heard, is found by the Secretary to have made 
        to the Secretary, a Federal or State official, or a third-party 
        certifier a false, fraudulent, or fictitious statement, or to 
        have concealed to, hidden from, falsified to, or deceived the 
        Secretary, official, or certifier regarding a material fact, 
        with respect to an animal raising claim subject to the 
        requirements of this subtitle, shall be subject to a penalty 
        described in section 1001 of title 18, United States Code.
    ``(g) Effect on Other Laws.--Nothing in this section alters the 
authority of the Secretary under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
451 et seq.).

``SEC. 298C. APPLICABILITY.

    ``This subtitle shall only apply to meat food products and poultry 
products that are subject to labeling requirements under the Federal 
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.).

``SEC. 298D. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such 
sums as are necessary to carry out this subtitle.''.

SEC. 502. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

    Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 210B. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Business enterprise owned and controlled by socially 
        and economically disadvantaged individuals.--The term `business 
        enterprise owned and controlled by socially and economically 
        disadvantaged individuals' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 3002 of the State Small Business Credit Initiative Act 
        of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5701).
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a smaller establishment or very small 
                establishment (as those terms are defined in the final 
                rule entitled `Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and 
                Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems' (61 Fed. Reg. 
                33806 (July 25, 1996)));
                    ``(B) a slaughtering or processing establishment 
                subject to--
                            ``(i) a State meat inspection program 
                        pursuant to section 301 of the Federal Meat 
                        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661); or
                            ``(ii) a State poultry product inspection 
                        program pursuant to section 5 of the Poultry 
                        Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454);
                    ``(C) a person engaging in custom operations that 
                is exempt from inspection under--
                            ``(i) section 23 of the Federal Meat 
                        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 623); or
                            ``(ii) section 15 of the Poultry Products 
                        Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 464); and
                    ``(D) a person seeking--
                            ``(i) to establish and operate an 
                        establishment described in subparagraph (A) or 
                        (B); or
                            ``(ii) to engage in custom operations 
                        described in subparagraph (C).
            ``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the 
        Agricultural Marketing Service.
    ``(b) Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall award 
        competitive grants to eligible entities for activities to 
        increase resiliency and diversification of the meat processing 
        system, including activities that--
                    ``(A) support the health and safety of meat and 
                poultry plant employees, suppliers, and customers;
                    ``(B) support increased processing capacity; and
                    ``(C) otherwise support the resilience of the small 
                meat and poultry processing sector.
            ``(2) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a grant 
        awarded under this section shall not exceed $500,000.
            ``(3) Duration.--The term of a grant awarded under this 
        section shall not exceed 3 years.
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant 
        under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
        as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Applications for small grants.--The Secretary shall 
        establish a separate, simplified application process for 
        eligible entities applying for a grant under this section of 
        not more than $100,000.
            ``(3) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that any 
        application for a grant under this section is--
                    ``(A) simple and practicable;
                    ``(B) accessible online; and
                    ``(C) available through local staff of the 
                Department of Agriculture.
            ``(4) Notice.--Not later than 14 days before the date on 
        which the Secretary begins to accept applications under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish a notice of funding 
        opportunity with respect to the grants available under this 
        section.
            ``(5) Reapplication.--If an application of an eligible 
        entity under this subsection is denied by the Secretary, the 
        eligible entity may submit a revised application.
            ``(6) Priority.--In reviewing applications submitted under 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to proposals 
        that will--
                    ``(A) increase farmer and rancher access to animal 
                slaughter options within a 200-mile radius of the 
                location of the farmer or rancher;
                    ``(B) support an eligible entity described in 
                subsection (a)(2)(A); or
                    ``(C) support an eligible entity that is a business 
                enterprise owned and controlled by socially and 
                economically disadvantaged individuals.
    ``(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities in 
support of the purposes described in subsection (b)(1), including 
through--
            ``(1) the development and issuance of a Hazard Analysis and 
        Critical Control Points plan for the eligible entity, which may 
        be developed by a consultant;
            ``(2) the purchase or establishment, as applicable, of 
        facilities, equipment, processes, and operations necessary for 
        the eligible entity to comply with applicable requirements 
        under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
        or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.);
            ``(3) the purchase of cold storage, equipment, or 
        transportation services;
            ``(4) the purchase of temperature screening supplies, 
        testing for communicable diseases, disinfectant, sanitation 
        systems, hand washing stations, and other sanitizing supplies;
            ``(5) the purchase and decontamination of personal 
        protective equipment;
            ``(6) the construction or purchase of humane handling 
        infrastructure, including holding space for livestock prior to 
        slaughter, shade structures, and knock box structures;
            ``(7)(A) the purchase of software and computer equipment 
        for record keeping, production data, Hazard Analysis and 
        Critical Control Points record review, and facilitation of 
        marketing and sales of products in a manner consistent with the 
        social distancing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention; and
            ``(B) the provision of guidelines and training relating to 
        that software and computer equipment;
            ``(8) the provision of staff time and training for 
        implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures;
            ``(9) the development of a feasibility study or business 
        plan for, or the carrying out of any other activity associated 
        with, establishing or expanding a small meat or poultry 
        processing facility;
            ``(10) the purchase of equipment that enables the further 
        use or value-added sale of coproducts or byproducts, such as 
        organs, hides, and other relevant products; and
            ``(11) other activities associated with expanding or 
        establishing an eligible entity described in subsection 
        (a)(2)(A), as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(e) Outreach.--During the period beginning on the date on which 
the Secretary publishes the notice under subsection (c)(4) and ending 
on the date on which the Secretary begins to accept applications under 
subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall perform outreach to States and 
eligible entities relating to grants under this section.
    ``(f) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal 
        share of the activities carried out using a grant awarded under 
        this section shall not exceed--
                    ``(A) 90 percent in the case of a grant in the 
                amount of $100,000 or less; or
                    ``(B) 75 percent in the case of a grant in an 
                amount greater than $100,000.
            ``(2) Fiscal years 2023 and 2024.--An eligible entity 
        awarded a grant under this section during fiscal year 2023 or 
        2024 shall not be required to provide non-Federal matching 
        funds with respect to the grant.
    ``(g) Administration.--The promulgation of regulations under, and 
administration of, this section shall be made without regard to--
            ``(1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of 
        title 5, United States Code; and
            ``(2) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
        known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act').
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028.''.

SEC. 503. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND.

    (a) Purpose.--Section 1240M(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``conserving water and'' 
        before ``improving'';
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) conserving and improving soil health and improving 
        grazing system resilience in the face of climate change through 
        advanced grazing management practices; and
            ``(10) providing support for producers transitioning from 
        confinement and feedlot systems or continuous grazing to 
        managed grazing-based systems, including support for pasture 
        development and management.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 1240M(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``hay land'' and 
inserting ``perennial hay land, including silvopasture''.
    (c) Private Grazing Land Conservation Assistance.--Section 1240M(c) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                inserting ``and partnerships described in paragraph 
                (2)(B)'' after ``local conservation districts'';
                    (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(B) planning and implementing regionally 
                appropriate, advanced grazing land management 
                technologies to improve soil health and maximize carbon 
                sequestration;'';
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(iv), by inserting ``through 
                integrated strategies that include rotational and 
                multispecies grazing, integrated pest management, and 
                other ecological practices'' after ``brush encroachment 
                problems'';
                    (D) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (E) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) assisting producers in transitioning from 
                confinement or feedlot systems or continuous grazing to 
                managed grazing-based systems, including assistance in 
                pasture development and management.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Program elements.--
                    ``(A) Technical assistance and education.--
                Personnel of the Department trained in pasture and 
                range management shall be made available under the 
                program to deliver and coordinate technical assistance 
                and education to owners and managers of private grazing 
                land, including owners and managers interested in 
                developing new or improved pasture or grazing-based 
                systems on the land of the owners and managers, at the 
                request of the owners and managers.
                    ``(B) Partnerships.--In carrying out the program 
                under this section, the Secretary shall provide 
                research, demonstration, education (including 
                conferences, workshops, field days, and trainings), 
                workforce training, planning, and outreach activities 
                through partnerships with--
                            ``(i) land-grant colleges and universities 
                        (as defined in section 1404 of the National 
                        Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
                        Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103));
                            ``(ii) nongovernmental organizations; and
                            ``(iii) Tribal organizations.
                    ``(C) Cooperative agreements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In carrying out the 
                        program under this section, the Secretary shall 
                        provide funds on a competitive basis for 
                        cooperative agreements to regional, State, or 
                        local partnerships to use to conduct grazing 
                        land research, demonstration, education, 
                        workforce training, planning, and outreach 
                        projects.
                            ``(ii) Duration.--Grants made by 
                        partnerships under this subparagraph shall be 
                        for a period not to exceed 3 years.
                            ``(iii) Limitation on indirect costs.--A 
                        partnership that receives funding under this 
                        subparagraph may not use more than 15 percent 
                        of the total cost of the project for the 
                        indirect costs of carrying out the project.
                            ``(iv) Priority.--A partnership that 
                        receives funding under this subparagraph shall 
                        give priority to projects that--
                                    ``(I) focus on sustainable grazing 
                                management systems and techniques that 
                                assist producers with multiple 
                                ecosystem services, including climate 
                                change adaptation and mitigation; and
                                    ``(II) involve beginning farmers 
                                and ranchers, socially disadvantaged 
                                farmers and ranchers, Tribal producers, 
                                or new graziers (including State or 
                                federally registered 
                                apprenticeships).''.
    (d) Grazing Technical Assistance Training.--Section 1240M of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb) is amended by striking 
subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Grazing Technical Assistance Training.--In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Secretary shall provide funds to 
establish training programs to foster a new generation of technical 
assistance providers to support advanced grazing management.''.
    (e) Funding.--Section 1240M of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839bb) is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Mandatory funding.--Of the funds of the Commodity 
        Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
        section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $60,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
            ``(3) Cooperative agreements.--Of the funds made available 
        under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary shall use not less 
        than 80 percent to carry out subsection (c)(2)(C).
            ``(4) Technical assistance training.--Of the funds made 
        available under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary shall use 
        not more than 10 percent to carry out subsection (d).''.

SEC. 504. CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Conservation Reserve.--Section 1231 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
        ``2028'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                through (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) fiscal year 2024, not more than 28,000,000 
                acres;
                    ``(B) fiscal year 2025, not more than 29,000,000 
                acres;
                    ``(C) fiscal year 2026, not more than 30,000,000 
                acres;
                    ``(D) fiscal year 2027, not more than 31,000,000 
                acres; and
                    ``(E) fiscal year 2028, not more than 32,000,000 
                acres.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (ii) in clause (ii)(III), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) the Secretary shall enroll and 
                        maintain in the conservation reserve not fewer 
                        than 7,000,000 acres of land described in 
                        subsection (b)(3) by September 30, 2028, of 
                        which not fewer than 5,000,000 acres shall be 
                        reserved for the pilot program established 
                        under section 1231C(c).''.
    (b) Pilot Programs.--Section 1231C of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3831c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Grassland 30.--
            ``(1) In general.--
                    ``(A) Enrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
                pilot program to enroll land in the conservation 
                reserve program through a 30-year conservation reserve 
                contract (referred to in this subsection as a 
                `Grassland 30 contract') in accordance with this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Inclusion of acreage limitation.--For 
                purposes of applying the limitations in section 
                1231(d)(1), the Secretary shall include acres of land 
                enrolled under this subsection.
            ``(2) Eligible land.--Eligible land for enrollment through 
        a Grassland 30 contract--
                    ``(A) is land that is eligible to be enrolled in 
                the conservation reserve program under the grasslands 
                initiative described in section 1231(d)(2); and
                    ``(B) shall not be limited to land that is subject 
                to a covered contract (as defined in paragraph (3)(A)).
            ``(3) Conservation contract election.--
                    ``(A) Definition of covered contract.--In this 
                paragraph, the term `covered contract' means a contract 
                entered into under this subchapter that--
                            ``(i) expires on or after the date of 
                        enactment of this subsection; and
                            ``(ii) covers land enrolled in the 
                        conservation reserve program under the 
                        grasslands initiative described in section 
                        1231(d)(2).
                    ``(B) Expiring contracts.--On the expiration of a 
                covered contract, an owner or operator party to the 
                covered contract shall elect--
                            ``(i) not to reenroll the land under the 
                        contract;
                            ``(ii) to offer to reenroll the land under 
                        the contract if the land remains eligible under 
                        the terms in effect as of the date of 
                        expiration; or
                            ``(iii) not to reenroll the land under the 
                        contract and to enroll that land through a 
                        Grassland 30 contract under this subsection.
                    ``(C) Unexpired contracts.--Prior to the expiration 
                of a covered contract, an owner or operator party to 
                the covered contract may elect to terminate the 
                contract and to enroll that land through a Grassland 30 
                contract under this subsection.
            ``(4) Term.--The term of a Grassland 30 contract shall be 
        30 years.
            ``(5) Agreements.--To be eligible to enroll land in the 
        conservation reserve program through a Grassland 30 contract, 
        the owner of the land shall enter into an agreement with the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) to implement a conservation reserve plan 
                developed for the land;
                    ``(B) to comply with the terms and conditions of 
                the contract and any related agreements; and
                    ``(C) to temporarily suspend the base history for 
                the land covered by the contract.
            ``(6) Terms and conditions of grassland 30 contracts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A Grassland 30 contract--
                            ``(i) shall include terms and conditions 
                        that promote sustainable grazing systems, 
                        protect and enhance soil carbon levels, and are 
                        compatible with wildlife habitat conservation, 
                        as determined by the Secretary; and
                            ``(ii) may include any additional provision 
                        that the Secretary determines is appropriate to 
                        carry out this subsection or facilitate the 
                        practical administration of this subsection.
                    ``(B) Violation.--On the violation of a term or 
                condition of a Grassland 30 contract, the Secretary may 
                require the owner to refund all or part of any payments 
                received by the owner under the conservation reserve 
                program, with interest on the payments, as determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Compatible uses.--Land subject to a Grassland 
                30 contract may be used for compatible economic uses, 
                including hunting and fishing, if the use--
                            ``(i) is specifically permitted by the 
                        conservation reserve plan developed for the 
                        land; and
                            ``(ii) is consistent with the long-term 
                        protection and enhancement of the conservation 
                        resources for which the contract was 
                        established.
            ``(7) Compensation.--
                    ``(A) Amount of payments.--The Secretary shall 
                provide payment under this subsection to an owner of 
                land enrolled through a Grassland 30 contract using 30 
                annual payments in an amount equal to the amount that 
                would be used if the land were to be enrolled in the 
                conservation reserve program under section 1231(d)(2).
                    ``(B) Form of payment.--Compensation for a 
                Grassland 30 contract shall be provided by the 
                Secretary in the form of a cash payment in an amount 
                determined under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) Timing.--The Secretary shall provide any 
                annual payment obligation under subparagraph (A) as 
                early as practicable in each fiscal year.
                    ``(D) Payments to others.--The Secretary shall make 
                a payment, in accordance with regulations prescribed by 
                the Secretary, in a manner as the Secretary determines 
                is fair and reasonable under the circumstances, if an 
                owner who is entitled to a payment under this section--
                            ``(i) dies;
                            ``(ii) becomes incompetent;
                            ``(iii) is succeeded by another person or 
                        entity who renders or completes the required 
                        performance; or
                            ``(iv) is otherwise unable to receive the 
                        payment.
            ``(8) Technical assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall assist 
                owners in complying with the terms and conditions of a 
                Grassland 30 contract.
                    ``(B) Contracts or agreements.--The Secretary may 
                enter into 1 or more contracts with private entities or 
                agreements with a State, nongovernmental organization, 
                or Indian Tribe to carry out necessary maintenance of a 
                Grassland 30 contract if the Secretary determines that 
                the contract or agreement will advance the purposes of 
                the conservation reserve program.
            ``(9) Administration.--
                    ``(A) Conservation reserve plan.--The Secretary 
                shall develop a conservation reserve plan for any land 
                subject to a Grassland 30 contract, which shall include 
                practices and activities necessary to maintain, 
                protect, and enhance the conservation value of the 
                enrolled land, including the protection and enhancement 
                of soil carbon levels.
                    ``(B) Delegation of contract administration.--
                            ``(i) Federal, state, tribal, or local 
                        government agencies.--The Secretary may 
                        delegate any of the management, monitoring, and 
                        enforcement responsibilities of the Secretary 
                        under this subsection to other Federal, State, 
                        Tribal, or local government agencies that have 
                        the appropriate authority, expertise, and 
                        resources necessary to carry out those 
                        delegated responsibilities.
                            ``(ii) Conservation organizations.--The 
                        Secretary may delegate any management 
                        responsibilities of the Secretary under this 
                        subsection to conservation organizations if the 
                        Secretary determines the conservation 
                        organization has similar expertise and 
                        resources.''.

SEC. 505. ALTERNATIVE MANURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

    Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) (as amended by section 304) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 1240T. ALTERNATIVE MANURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Alternative manure management program.--The term 
        `alternative manure management program' means the program 
        established under subsection (b).
            ``(2) Covered management measure.--The term `covered 
        management measure' means a dairy or livestock operation method 
        that is used by an eligible producer to reduce baseline methane 
        emissions and, where applicable, improve carbon sequestration 
        on the operation of that eligible producer, including the 
        measures described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 
        subsection (f)(2).
            ``(3) Eligible producer.--The term `eligible producer' 
        means a dairy or livestock producer who agrees to reduce 
        greenhouse gas emissions by adopting at least 1 covered 
        management measure as an alternative or complement to anaerobic 
        systems that capture methane emissions.
            ``(4) Pasture-based management.--The term `pasture-based 
        management' means a dairy or livestock production system--
                    ``(A) that eliminates or reduces the quantity of 
                manure stored in anaerobic conditions; and
                    ``(B) in which the animals spend all or a 
                substantial portion of their time grazing on fields in 
                which some or all of the manure is deposited and left 
                in the field and decomposes aerobically.
            ``(5) Solid separation system.--The term `solid separation 
        system' means a system designed to separate liquid components 
        of manure from mineral and organic solid components of that 
        manure.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an alternative 
manure management program to award contracts to eligible producers to 
support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 
implementing covered management measures.
    ``(c) Submission of Contract Offers.--To be eligible to participate 
in the alternative manure management program, an eligible producer 
shall submit to the Secretary a contract offer that details any 
management measure to be used on the operation of the eligible 
producer.
    ``(d) Cluster Contract Offers.--The Secretary shall establish 
procedures under which--
            ``(1) groups of eligible producers may submit a joint 
        contract offer for a shared composting facility; and
            ``(2) the Secretary shall allocate payments to each 
        eligible producer associated with a joint contract described in 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(e) Duties of the Secretary.--
            ``(1) Evaluation criteria.--The Secretary shall develop 
        criteria for evaluating applications that will maximize--
                    ``(A) carbon sequestration;
                    ``(B) greenhouse gas emissions reductions; and
                    ``(C) the overall environmental and public health 
                benefits.
            ``(2) Priority.--In awarding contracts under this section, 
        the Secretary, using criteria developed under paragraph (1), 
        shall give priority to contract offers that address air 
        quality, water quality, or other public health concerns 
        associated with dairy and livestock operations located near 
        low-income or underserved communities.
            ``(3) Grouping of applications.--The Secretary may group 
        and evaluate contract offers relative to other contract offers 
        for similar farming operations.
            ``(4) Geographical diversity.--In awarding contracts under 
        this section, the Secretary shall ensure geographical 
        diversity.
    ``(f) Contract Provisions.--
            ``(1) Term.--A contract awarded under this section shall 
        have a term that does not exceed 3 years.
            ``(2) Covered management measures.--Each eligible producer 
        requesting funding for a project under the alternative manure 
        management program shall implement at least 1 of the following 
        management measures:
                    ``(A) With respect to pasture-based management--
                            ``(i) adopting pasture-based management;
                            ``(ii) converting a non-pasture dairy or 
                        livestock operation to pasture-based 
                        management;
                            ``(iii) increasing the amount of time 
                        livestock spend at pasture at an existing 
                        pasture operation; or
                            ``(iv) improving pasture-based management, 
                        including transitioning to management-intensive 
                        rotational grazing (as defined in section 
                        1240L(d)(1)).
                    ``(B) Adopting alternative manure treatment and 
                storage practices, including--
                            ``(i) the installation of a compost-bedded 
                        pack barn that composts manure;
                            ``(ii) the installation of slatted floor 
                        pit storage manure collection that is cleaned 
                        out at least once a month; or
                            ``(iii) other similar practices, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(C)(i) Adopting a solid separation system, 
                installing a new solid separation system that has a 
                significantly higher separation efficiency than any 
                existing solid separation system, or developing or 
                retrofitting a manure management system that primarily 
                avoids wet handling infrastructure; and
                    ``(ii) in conjunction with 1 or more of the 
                following management measures:
                            ``(I) Open solar drying or composting of 
                        manure onsite.
                            ``(II) Solar drying in an enclosed 
                        environment.
                            ``(III) Forced evaporation with natural-gas 
                        fueled dryers.
                            ``(IV) Storage of manure in unconfined 
                        piles or stacks.
                            ``(V) Composting in an enclosed vessel, 
                        with forced aeration and continuous mixing.
                            ``(VI) Composting in piles with forced 
                        aeration without mixing.
                            ``(VII) Composting in intensive windrows 
                        with regular turning for mixing and aeration.
                            ``(VIII) Composting in passive windrows 
                        with infrequent turning for mixing and 
                        aeration.
                            ``(IX) Vermiculture or vermifiltration.
                            ``(X) Other similar activities, as 
                        determined by the Secretary.
                    ``(D) Adopting scrape technologies, in conjunction 
                with 1 of the management measures described in 
                subclauses (I) through (X) of subparagraph (C)(ii).
            ``(3) Duties of eligible producers under contract.--To 
        receive payments under the alternative manure management 
        program, an eligible producer shall--
                    ``(A) implement 1 or more management measures;
                    ``(B) supply information as required by the 
                Secretary to determine compliance with the requirements 
                of the alternative manure management program; and
                    ``(C) comply with such additional provisions as the 
                Secretary determines are necessary to carry out the 
                alternative manure management program.
    ``(g) Payments to Eligible Producers.--
            ``(1) In general.--During each of fiscal years 2024 through 
        2028, the Secretary shall provide payments to eligible 
        producers that enter into contracts with the Secretary under 
        the alternative manure management program.
            ``(2) Availability of payments.--Payments provided to an 
        eligible producer under this section may be used to implement 1 
        or more covered management measures.
            ``(3) Payment amounts.--The Secretary may provide a payment 
        to an eligible producer under the alternative manure management 
        program for an amount that is up to 100 percent of the costs 
        associated with planning, design, materials, equipment, 
        installation, labor, management, maintenance, and training 
        relating to implementing a covered management measure.
            ``(4) Limitation on payments.--A person or legal entity 
        (including a joint venture and a general partnership) may not 
        receive, directly or indirectly, payments under the program 
        that exceed $825,000 during any 5-year period.
            ``(5) Advanced payments.--The Secretary shall provide not 
        less than 50 percent of the amount of total payments to an 
        eligible producer in advance for all costs relating to--
                    ``(A) purchasing or contracting materials and 
                equipment; or
                    ``(B) any technical assistance provided by the 
                Secretary.
    ``(h) Modification or Termination of Contracts.--
            ``(1) Voluntary modification or termination.--The Secretary 
        may modify or terminate a contract entered into with an 
        eligible producer under the alternative manure management 
        program if--
                    ``(A) the producer agrees to the modification or 
                termination; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary determines that the 
                modification or termination is in the public interest.
            ``(2) Involuntary termination.--The Secretary may terminate 
        a contract under the alternative manure management program if 
        the Secretary determines that the eligible producer violated 
        the contract.
    ``(i) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) determine and publish factors for estimating the 
        carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions 
        for each covered management measure described in subclauses (I) 
        through (X) of subsection (f)(2)(C)(ii);
            ``(2) assist an eligible producer in achieving the carbon 
        sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and other 
        environmental and public health goals of the alternative manure 
        management program plan by--
                    ``(A) providing payments for developing and 
                implementing 1 or more covered management measures, as 
                appropriate; and
                    ``(B) providing that eligible producer with 
                information, technical assistance, and training to aid 
                in implementation of the covered management measures; 
                and
            ``(3) review the adequacy of existing conservation practice 
        standards for supporting the covered management measures and, 
        if necessary--
                    ``(A) revise existing conservation practice 
                standards; and
                    ``(B) develop new conservation practice standards.
    ``(j) Technical Assistance.--In providing technical assistance 
under the alternative manure management program, the Secretary shall 
apply sections 1241(c) and 1242, except that the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) apportion not more than 15 percent of the total 
        funding available for the alternative manure management program 
        for the provision of technical assistance; and
            ``(2) enter into cooperative agreements with third-party 
        providers with relevant expertise in the covered management 
        measures to ensure adequate technical services are available to 
        alternative manure management program applicants.
    ``(k) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use the funds, 
        facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
        to carry out the alternative manure management program 
        (including the provision of technical assistance described in 
        subsection (j)) using $1,500,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
        years 2024 through 2028.
            ``(2) Reservations of funds.--The Secretary shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, use a majority of the funds made 
        available by paragraph (1) for contract offers from small and 
        mid-sized dairy and livestock operations, including--
                    ``(A) beginning farmers or ranchers;
                    ``(B) limited resource farmers and ranchers; and
                    ``(C) socially disadvantaged farmers and 
                ranchers.''.

                   TITLE VI--ON-FARM RENEWABLE ENERGY

SEC. 601. RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM.

    Section 9007 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 8107) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``and renewable energy development'' and 
                inserting ``, renewable energy development, and the 
                reduction of greenhouse gas emissions''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by adding ``that reduce 
                greenhouse gas emissions'' before the period at the 
                end;
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                        subparagraph (G); and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
                        the following:
                    ``(E) a nonprofit corporation;
                    ``(F) an agricultural cooperative or producer 
                group; and'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(D), by inserting before the 
                semicolon at the end the following: ``, including 
                greenhouse gas emissions reductions''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by inserting ``, agricultural 
                        processors,'' after ``agricultural producers'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking 
                        the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                        and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) assisting in the development of feasibility 
                studies and plans for implementing recommendations 
                provided under subparagraph (B).'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)(i), by inserting ``, 
                agricultural processors,'' after ``agricultural 
                producers'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and 
                        (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (E) 
                        the following:
                    ``(F) carbon accounting assessments developed under 
                subsection (d) with respect to the renewable energy 
                system to be installed or the energy efficiency upgrade 
                to be undertaken;'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``The 
                        amount'' and all that follows through ``25 
                        percent'' and inserting ``Except as provided in 
                        subparagraph (F), the amount of a grant under 
                        this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and 
                        (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively;
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
                        the following:
                    ``(C) Maximum percentage of loan guarantee.--The 
                portion of a loan that the Secretary may guarantee 
                under this section shall be--
                            ``(i) in the case of a loan in the amount 
                        of not less than $1,000,000, 80 percent of the 
                        principal amount of the loan; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of a loan in an amount 
                        less than $1,000,000, 90 percent of the 
                        principal amount of the loan.'';
                            (iv) in subparagraph (E) (as so 
                        redesignated), by striking ``subsection (f)'' 
                        and inserting ``subsection (h)''; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) Underserved producers.--The amount of a grant 
                provided under this subsection to an agricultural 
                producer who is a beginning farmer or rancher, a 
                socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, or a veteran 
                farmer or rancher (as those terms are defined in 
                section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation 
                and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a))) shall not 
                exceed 75 percent of the cost of the activity funded by 
                the grant.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the 
                following:
                    ``(F) Pre-approved technologies.--In order to 
                streamline the adoption of renewable energy systems and 
                energy efficiency improvements, the Secretary shall 
                develop a streamlined application process for projects 
                utilizing pre-approved products and technologies 
                included on the list described in paragraph (5).''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Pre-approved list.--The Secretary shall, beginning in 
        fiscal year 2024--
                    ``(A) develop a list of pre-approved technologies 
                and products for purposes of paragraph (4)(F); and
                    ``(B) update that list every 2 fiscal years.
            ``(6) Priority.--In making grants or loan guarantees under 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to proposed 
        projects that utilize technologies--
                    ``(A) with a substantially low carbon footprint; or
                    ``(B) that would result in significant net 
                decreases of greenhouse gas emissions, as determined by 
                the Secretary using the carbon accounting assessments 
                developed under subsection (d).'';
            (4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as 
        subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
            (5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Carbon Accounting.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023, the 
        Secretary, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy 
        Laboratory, shall develop carbon accounting assessments for 
        renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades 
        (including technologies on the list described in subsection 
        (c)(5)(A) and technologies described in subsection (h)(5)(A)) 
        supported by assistance provided under this section.
            ``(2) Methodologies.--In developing the carbon accounting 
        assessments under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, create accurate methodologies for 
        assigning greenhouse gas emission values, including land use 
        change.
            ``(3) Program guidance.--The Secretary shall, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, use the carbon accounting 
        assessments developed under paragraph (1) as guides in carrying 
        out this section.
    ``(e) Regional Demonstration Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out regional 
        demonstration projects that incentivize agricultural producers 
        to reduce their carbon footprint or overall carbon equivalent 
        emissions to the maximum extent practicable through the use of 
        energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.
            ``(2) Publicization.--The Secretary shall publicize the 
        results of the regional demonstration projects carried out 
        under paragraph (1).'';
            (6) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
                Technical Assistance'' after ``Outreach'';
                    (B) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and 
                inserting ``Using funds made available under subsection 
                (h)(4), the Secretary shall'';
                    (C) by inserting ``and technical assistance'' after 
                ``outreach''; and
                    (D) by inserting ``or provided, as applicable,'' 
                after ``conducted'';
            (7) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``subsection (f)'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``subsection (h)''; and
            (8) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                through (E) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
                through 2023;
                    ``(B) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    ``(C) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                    ``(D) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
                    ``(E) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each 
                fiscal year thereafter.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``become 
                available'' and inserting ``be used''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Administrative expenses.--Of the funds made available 
        to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall use not more than 8 percent for administrative expenses.
            ``(5) Reservation of funds.--Of the funds made available to 
        carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary may 
        reserve--
                    ``(A) not more than 15 percent to provide grants 
                under subsection (c) to support the adoption of 
                underutilized but proven commercial technologies; and
                    ``(B) not more than 5 percent to carry out 
                subsection (e).''.

SEC. 602. AGRIVOLTAIC SYSTEMS.

    (a) Definition of Agrivoltaic System.--In this section, the term 
``agrivoltaic system'' means a system under which solar energy 
production and agricultural production, including crop or animal 
production or apiculture, occurs in an integrated manner on the same 
piece of land.
    (b) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on 
        agrivoltaic systems that shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the compatibility of different 
                species of livestock with different agrivoltaic system 
                designs, including--
                            (i) the optimal height of and distance 
                        between solar panels for--
                                    (I) livestock grazing; and
                                    (II) shade for livestock;
                            (ii) manure management considerations;
                            (iii) fencing requirements; and
                            (iv) other animal handling considerations;
                    (B) an assessment of animal breeding research needs 
                with respect to beneficial and compatible 
                characteristics and behaviors of different species of 
                grazing animals in agrivoltaic systems;
                    (C) an assessment of the compatibility of different 
                crop types with different agrivoltaic system designs, 
                including--
                            (i) the optimal height of and distance 
                        between solar panels for--
                                    (I) plant shading; and
                                    (II) farm equipment use;
                            (ii) the impact on crop yield; and
                            (iii) market opportunities to sell crops at 
                        a premium price;
                    (D) an assessment of plant breeding research needs 
                with respect to beneficial and compatible 
                characteristics of different crops, including specialty 
                and perennial crops, in agrivoltaic systems;
                    (E) a risk-benefit analysis of agrivoltaic systems 
                in different regions of the United States, including a 
                comparison between the total greenhouse gas impact of 
                agrivoltaic systems and solar energy systems that 
                displace agricultural production;
                    (F) an assessment of the types of agricultural land 
                best suited and worst suited for agrivoltaic systems;
                    (G) an assessment of how to best develop 
                agrivoltaic systems on a national and local scale 
                consistent with--
                            (i) maintaining or increasing agricultural 
                        production;
                            (ii) increasing agricultural resilience;
                            (iii) retaining prime farmland;
                            (iv) increasing economic opportunities in 
                        farming and rural communities;
                            (v) reducing nonfarmer ownership of 
                        farmland; and
                            (vi) enhancing biodiversity;
                    (H) an assessment of the unique risk management and 
                crop insurance needs of agrivoltaic systems;
                    (I) an assessment of how Federal procurement of 
                agricultural products could help build a market for 
                agricultural products from farms with agrivoltaic 
                systems; and
                    (J) an assessment of how Federal agricultural 
                conservation programs, renewable energy programs, and 
                investment tax credits can better support agrivoltaic 
                systems.
            (2) 5-year plan.--Based on the study under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall develop a 5-year plan for using the 
        research, extension, outreach, conservation, and renewable 
        energy activities of the Department of Agriculture to better 
        support agrivoltaic systems that do not displace agricultural 
        production.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, 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 containing the results of the study conducted 
        under paragraph (1).
    (c) Agrivoltaic System Research and Demonstration.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service and in 
        coordination with the relevant research programs of the 
        Department of Energy, shall establish and maintain a network of 
        research and demonstration sites operated by the Agricultural 
        Research Service to investigate and demonstrate agrivoltaic 
        systems in multiple regions of the United States, including 
        arid, semi-arid, and wet agricultural zones, that--
                    (A) increase agricultural productivity and 
                profitability;
                    (B) enhance agricultural resilience and the 
                capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
                    (C) protect biodiversity; and
                    (D) increase economic opportunities in farming and 
                rural communities.
            (2) Coordination.--In establishing and maintaining the 
        network described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        collaborate with USDA Climate Hubs to share research findings 
        and translate research findings into educational, outreach, and 
        technical assistance materials for agricultural producers.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $15,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter.

SEC. 603. AGSTAR PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall maintain the program known as 
the ``AgSTAR program'' within the Department of Agriculture, under 
which the Secretary shall--
            (1) support the use of anaerobic digestion in the 
        agricultural sector to reduce methane emissions from livestock 
        waste;
            (2) conduct outreach, education, and training on anaerobic 
        digestion of livestock waste;
            (3) provide technical and regulatory assistance on 
        anaerobic digestion of livestock waste to stakeholders, 
        including farmers and ranchers, on issues including--
                    (A) permitting;
                    (B) codigestion of multiple organic wastes in one 
                digester; and
                    (C) interconnection to physically link a digester 
                to the electrical power grid;
            (4) promote centralized, multifarm digesters that use 
        livestock waste from more than 1 farm or ranch;
            (5) collect and report data on anaerobic digestion of 
        livestock waste; and
            (6) maintain a database of on-farm anaerobic digester 
        projects in the United States.
    (b) Transition From EPA.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency shall take such steps as are necessary to 
        provide for an orderly transition for the activities carried 
        out under the AgSTAR program by the Environmental Protection 
        Agency to be carried out by the Secretary, in accordance with 
        subsection (c).
            (2) Deadline.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency shall finish carrying out paragraph (1) by 
        not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
        such that the Secretary has sole jurisdiction of the AgSTAR 
        program by that date.
    (c) Administration.--The Secretary shall carry out the AgSTAR 
program through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service--
            (1) in coordination with the Administrator of the 
        Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal agencies as 
        necessary; and
            (2) in partnership with the climate hubs, cooperative 
        extension services, and agencies of the Department of 
        Agriculture.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the AgSTAR program not more 
than $5,000,000 for each fiscal year.

                     TITLE VII--FOOD LOSS AND WASTE

                     Subtitle A--Food Date Labeling

SEC. 701. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
            (1) Administering secretaries.--The term ``administering 
        Secretaries'' means--
                    (A) the Secretary, with respect to any product that 
                is--
                            (i) under the jurisdiction of the 
                        Secretary; and
                            (ii)(I) a poultry product (as defined in 
                        section 4 of the Poultry Products Inspection 
                        Act (21 U.S.C. 453));
                            (II) a meat food product (as defined in 
                        section 1 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
                        (21 U.S.C. 601)); or
                            (III) an egg product (as defined in section 
                        4 of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
                        1033)); and
                    (B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
                with respect to any product that is--
                            (i) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 
                        of Health and Human Services; and
                            (ii) a food (as defined in section 201 of 
                        the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
                        U.S.C. 321)).
            (2) Discard date.--The term ``discard date'' means a date 
        voluntarily printed on food packaging that signifies the end of 
        the estimated period of shelf life under any stated storage 
        conditions, after which the food labeler advises the product 
        not be consumed.
            (3) Food labeler.--The term ``food labeler'' means the 
        producer, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer that places a 
        date label on food packaging of a product.
            (4) Quality date.--The term ``quality date'' means a date 
        voluntarily printed on food packaging that is intended to 
        communicate to consumers the date after which--
                    (A) the quality of the product may begin to 
                deteriorate; but
                    (B) the product remains apparently wholesome food 
                (as defined in subsection (b) of the Bill Emerson Good 
                Samaritan Food Donation Act (42 U.S.C. 1791(b))).

SEC. 702. QUALITY DATES AND DISCARD DATES.

    (a) Quality Dates.--
            (1) In general.--If a food labeler includes a quality date 
        on food packaging, the label shall use the uniform quality date 
        label phrase under paragraph (2).
            (2) Uniform phrase.--The uniform quality date label phrase 
        under this paragraph shall be ``BEST If Used By'' or, if 
        permissible under subsection (c)(3), the standard abbreviation 
        of ``BB'', unless and until the administering Secretaries, 
        acting jointly, specify through rulemaking another uniform 
        phrase to be used for purposes of complying with paragraph (1).
            (3) Option of the labeler.--The decisions on whether to 
        include a quality date on food packaging and which foods should 
        be so labeled shall be at the discretion of the food labeler.
    (b) Discard Dates.--
            (1) In general.--If a food labeler includes a discard date 
        on food packaging, the label shall use the uniform discard date 
        label phrase under paragraph (2).
            (2) Uniform phrase.--The uniform discard date label phrase 
        under this paragraph shall be ``USE By'' or, if permissible 
        under subsection (c)(3), the standard abbreviation of ``UB'', 
        unless and until the administering Secretaries, acting jointly, 
        specify through rulemaking another uniform phrase to be used 
        for purposes of complying with paragraph (1).
            (3) Option of the labeler.--The decisions on whether to 
        include a discard date on food packaging and which foods should 
        be so labeled shall be at the discretion of the food labeler.
    (c) Quality Date and Discard Date Labeling.--
            (1) In general.--The quality date or discard date, as 
        applicable, and immediately adjacent uniform quality date label 
        phrase or discard date label phrase--
                    (A) shall be--
                            (i) in single easy-to-read type style; and
                            (ii) located in a conspicuous place on the 
                        package of the food; and
                    (B) may be on the label or, at the discretion of 
                the food labeler, elsewhere on the package.
            (2) Date format.--Each quality date and discard date shall 
        be stated in terms of day and month and, as appropriate, year.
            (3) Abbreviations.--A food labeler may use a standard 
        abbreviation of ``BB'' and ``UB'' for the quality date and 
        discard date, respectively, only if the food packaging is too 
        small to include the uniform phrase described in subsection 
        (a)(2) or (b)(2), as applicable.
            (4) Freeze by.--A food labeler may add ``or Freeze By'' 
        following a quality date or discard date uniform phrase.
    (d) Education.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the administering Secretaries, acting jointly, shall 
provide consumer education and outreach on the meaning of quality date 
and discard date food labels.
    (e) Rules of Construction; Preemption.--
            (1) Infant formula.--This title and the amendments made by 
        this title shall not--
                    (A) apply to infant formula (as defined in section 
                201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 
                U.S.C. 321)); and
                    (B) affect the requirements relating to infant 
                formula established under section 412 of the Federal 
                Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 350a) or other 
                applicable provisions of law.
            (2) Sale or donation of food based on discard date.--
        Nothing in this title or an amendment made by this title 
        prohibits any State or political subdivision of a State from 
        establishing or continuing in effect any requirement that 
        prohibits the sale or donation of foods based on passage of the 
        discard date.
            (3) Time temperature indicator labels.--Nothing in this 
        title or an amendment made by this title prohibits or restricts 
        the use of time-temperature indicator labels or similar 
        technology that is in addition to or in lieu of any uniform 
        quality date label phrase under subsection (a)(2) or uniform 
        discard date label phrase under subsection (b)(2).
            (4) Preemption.--No State or political subdivision of a 
        State may establish or continue in effect any requirement 
        that--
                    (A) relates to the inclusion in food labeling of a 
                quality date or a discard date that is different from 
                or in addition to, or that is otherwise not identical 
                with, the requirements of this Act and the amendments 
                made by this Act; or
                    (B) prohibits the sale or donation of foods based 
                on passage of the quality date.
            (5) Enforcement.--The administering Secretaries, acting 
        jointly and in coordination with the Federal Trade Commission, 
        shall ensure that the uniform quality date label phrase and 
        uniform discard date label phrase are standardized across all 
        food products.
            (6) Savings.--Notwithstanding paragraph (4), nothing in 
        this title, any amendment made by this title, or any standard 
        or requirement imposed pursuant to this title preempts, 
        displaces, or supplants any State or Federal common law rights 
        or any State or Federal statute creating a remedy for civil 
        relief, including a remedy for civil damage, or a penalty for 
        criminal conduct.

SEC. 703. MISBRANDING.

    (a) FDA Violations.--Section 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(z) If it is food and its labeling is in violation of section 702 
of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023.''.
    (b) Poultry Products.--Section 4(h) of the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 453(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) if its labeling is in violation of section 702 of 
        the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023.''.
    (c) Meat Products.--Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 601(n)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) if its labeling is in violation of section 702 of 
        the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023.''.
    (d) Egg Products.--Section 7(b) of the Egg Products Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 1036(b)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ``or 
if its labeling is in violation of section 702 of the Agriculture 
Resilience Act of 2023'' before the period at the end.

SEC. 704. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
administering Secretaries, acting jointly, shall promulgate final 
regulations for carrying out this title and the amendments made by this 
title.

SEC. 705. DELAYED APPLICABILITY.

    This title and the amendments made by this title shall apply only 
with respect to food products that are labeled on or after the date 
that is 2 years after the date of promulgation of final regulations 
under section 704.

                      Subtitle B--Other Provisions

SEC. 711. COMPOSTING AS CONSERVATION PRACTICE.

    (a) Conservation Standards and Requirements.--Section 1241(j) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(j)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Composting as conservation practice and activity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall, by 
                regulation, provide that composting is a conservation 
                practice and a conservation activity for the purposes 
                of this title.
                    ``(B) Definition of composting.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In this paragraph, the 
                        term `composting' means--
                                    ``(I) an activity (including an 
                                activity that does not require the use 
                                of a composting facility) to produce 
                                compost from organic waste that is--
                                            ``(aa) generated on a farm; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) brought to a farm 
                                        from a nearby community and 
                                        used to produce compost on that 
                                        farm; and
                                    ``(II) the use and active 
                                management of compost on a farm, in 
                                accordance with any applicable Federal, 
                                State, or local law, to improve water 
                                retention and soil health.
                            ``(ii) Determination of nearby 
                        communities.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                        with the Administrator of the Environmental 
                        Protection Agency, shall issue regulations for 
                        determining whether a community is nearby for 
                        purposes of clause (i)(I)(bb), which shall 
                        ensure that bringing organic waste from the 
                        community to the farm to produce compost 
                        results in a net reduction of greenhouse gas 
                        emissions.''.
    (b) Conservation Stewardship Program.--Section 1240I(2)(B)(i) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-21(2)(B)(i)) is amended 
by inserting ``and composting (as defined in section 1241(j)(2)(B))'' 
after ``agriculture drainage management systems''.
    (c) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.--Section 
1240A(6)(A)(ii) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa-
1(6)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting ``, including composting (as 
defined in section 1241(j)(2)(B))'' before the semicolon at the end.
    (d) Delivery of Technical Assistance.--Section 1242(h) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(5) Development of composting practice standard.--In 
        addition to conducting a review under this subsection of any 
        composting facilities practice standard established before the 
        date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall 
        develop and implement a composting practice standard under the 
        process developed under paragraph (3).''.

SEC. 712. AMENDMENTS TO FEDERAL FOOD DONATION ACT.

    (a) Purpose.--Section 2 of the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110-247; 42 U.S.C. 1792 note) is amended by striking 
``encourage'' and inserting ``require''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 3 of the Federal Food Donation Act of 
2008 (Public Law 110-247; 42 U.S.C. 1792 note) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Executive agency.--The term `executive agency' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United 
        States Code.''.
    (c) Report on Food Waste by Certain Federal Contractors.--Section 4 
of the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1792) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023, the 
        Federal Acquisition Regulation issued in accordance with 
        section 1121 of title 41, United States Code, shall be revised 
        to provide that, except as provided in paragraph (2), all 
        contracts greater than $10,000 for the provision, service, or 
        sale of food in the United States, or for the lease or rental 
        of Federal property to a private entity for events at which 
        food is provided in the United States, shall include a clause 
        that--
                    ``(A) requires the donation of excess, apparently 
                wholesome food to nonprofit organizations that provide 
                assistance to food-insecure people in the United 
                States;
                    ``(B) states the terms and conditions described in 
                subsection (b); and
                    ``(C) requires the submission of a report, annually 
                if applicable--
                            ``(i) in a form and manner specified by the 
                        executive agency awarding the contract; and
                            ``(ii) that describes, for each month of 
                        performance of the contract during the period 
                        covered by the report, the weight of apparently 
                        wholesome food that was disposed of pursuant to 
                        the contract by--
                                    ``(I) donation, organized by the 
                                name of the organization receiving the 
                                food;
                                    ``(II) composting or other 
                                recycling; or
                                    ``(III) discarding, organized by 
                                the reason that the food was discarded.
            ``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a 
        contract with an executive agency that has issued a regulation 
        in effect on the date of enactment of the Agriculture 
        Resilience Act of 2023 that prohibits a donation described in 
        paragraph (1)(A).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Application to Congress.--
            ``(1) Contracts.--This Act shall apply to the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate, and to contracts entered into 
        by the House of Representatives and the Senate, in the same 
        manner and to the same extent as this Act applies to an 
        executive agency and to contracts entered into by an executive 
        agency pursuant to this Act.
            ``(2) Administration.--For purposes of carrying out 
        paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) the Chief Administrative Officer of the House 
                of Representatives shall be considered to be the head 
                of the House of Representatives; and
                    ``(B) the Secretary of the Senate shall be 
                considered to be the head of the Senate.
    ``(d) Reports.--
            ``(1) Report to omb.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which an executive agency receives a report described in 
        subsection (a)(1)(C), the executive agency shall submit a copy 
        of the report to the Director of the Office of Management and 
        Budget.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget shall submit to Congress an annual report 
        aggregating the information in the reports received under 
        paragraph (1) during the year covered by the report to 
        Congress.''.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--The Federal Food Donation Act 
of 2008 (Public Law 110-247; 122 Stat. 2314) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Agriculture to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.''.

SEC. 713. GRANTS FOR COMPOSTING AND ANAEROBIC DIGESTION FOOD WASTE-TO-
              ENERGY PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle G of the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 
U.S.C. 6971 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 7011. GRANTS FOR COMPOSTING AND ANAEROBIC DIGESTION FOOD WASTE-
              TO-ENERGY PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Definition of State.--In this section, the term `State' 
means--
            ``(1) each of the several States;
            ``(2) the District of Columbia;
            ``(3) each territory or possession of the United States; 
        and
            ``(4) each federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    ``(b) Grants.--The Administrator shall establish a grant program to 
award grants to States eligible to receive the grants under subsection 
(c)(1) to construct large-scale composting or anaerobic digestion food 
waste-to-energy projects.
    ``(c) Eligible States.--
            ``(1) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section, a State shall--
                    ``(A) have in effect a plan to limit the quantity 
                of food waste that may be disposed of in landfills in 
                the State; and
                    ``(B) provide to the Administrator--
                            ``(i) a written commitment that the State 
                        has read and agrees to comply with the Food 
                        Recovery Hierarchy of the Environmental 
                        Protection Agency, particularly as applied to 
                        apparently wholesome food (as defined in 
                        section 22(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
                        1966 (42 U.S.C. 1791(b))) that may be provided 
                        to or received by the State; and
                            ``(ii) a written end-product recycling plan 
                        that provides for the beneficial use of the 
                        material resulting from any anaerobic digestion 
                        food waste-to-energy operation with respect to 
                        which the grant is made, in a manner that meets 
                        all applicable Federal, State, and local laws 
                        that protect human health and the environment.
            ``(2) Limitation.--A grant under subsection (b) may not be 
        used for an anaerobic digester that uses solely manure as 
        undigested biomass.
            ``(3) Preference.--The Administrator shall give preference 
        to grants under subsection (b) for anaerobic digesters that use 
        primarily nonedible food, crop waste, or nonedible food and 
        crop waste as undigested biomass.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each fiscal 
year.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Solid Waste 
Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 7010 the following:

``Sec. 7011. Grants for composting and anaerobic digestion food waste-
                            to-energy projects.''.

SEC. 714. SCHOOL FOOD WASTE REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by inserting before 
subsection (b) the following:
    ``(a) School Food Waste Reduction Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Definition of eligible local educational agency.--In 
        this subsection, the term `eligible local educational agency' 
        means a local educational agency that participates in the 
        school lunch program under this Act or the school breakfast 
        program established under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act 
        of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773).
            ``(2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
        program to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
        local educational agencies to carry out food waste measurement, 
        prevention, and reduction projects.
            ``(3) Regional balance.--In awarding grants under this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, ensure--
                    ``(A) that a grant is awarded to an eligible local 
                educational agency in each region served by the 
                Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service; and
                    ``(B) equitable treatment of rural, urban, and 
                tribal communities.
            ``(4) Grants.--
                    ``(A) Application.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this subsection, an eligible local 
                educational agency shall submit an application to the 
                Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
                such information as the Secretary may require.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In making grants under this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an 
                eligible local educational agency that demonstrates in 
                the application submitted under subparagraph (A) that 
                the grant will be used--
                            ``(i) to carry out experiential education 
                        activities that encourage children enrolled in 
                        the eligible local educational agency to 
                        participate in food waste measurement and 
                        education;
                            ``(ii) to prioritize the best use of food 
                        in accordance with the Food Recovery Hierarchy 
                        published by the Administrator of the 
                        Environmental Protection Agency;
                            ``(iii) with respect to food waste 
                        prevention and reduction, to collaborate with 
                        other eligible local educational agencies, 
                        Indian Tribes, nongovernmental and community-
                        based organizations, and other community 
                        partners;
                            ``(iv) to establish a food waste 
                        measurement, prevention, and reduction project 
                        with long-term sustainability; and
                            ``(v) to evaluate the activities described 
                        in clauses (i) through (iv) and make evaluation 
                        plans.
                    ``(C) Use of funds.--An eligible local educational 
                agency that receives a grant under this subsection 
                shall use the grant to carry out 1 or more of the 
                following activities:
                            ``(i) Planning a food waste measurement, 
                        prevention, and reduction project.
                            ``(ii) Implementing a food waste 
                        measurement, prevention, and reduction project.
                            ``(iii) Providing training to support a 
                        food waste measurement, prevention, and 
                        reduction project.
                            ``(iv) Purchasing equipment to support a 
                        food waste measurement, prevention, and 
                        reduction project.
                            ``(v) Offering food waste education to 
                        students enrolled in the eligible local 
                        educational agency.
                    ``(D) Cost-sharing.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The amount of a grant 
                        provided under this subsection shall not exceed 
                        75 percent of the total cost of the project for 
                        which the grant is provided.
                            ``(ii) Non-federal share.--An eligible 
                        local educational agency that receives a grant 
                        under this subsection shall use non-Federal 
                        funds in the form of cash or in-kind 
                        contributions, including facilities, equipment, 
                        or services provided by State and local 
                        governments, nonprofit organizations, and 
                        private sources, to pay for the remaining cost 
                        of the project for which the grant is provided.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--
                    ``(A) Cooperation.--As a condition of receiving a 
                grant under this subsection, each eligible local 
                educational agency shall agree to cooperate in an 
                evaluation by the Secretary of the project carried out 
                by the eligible local educational agency as part of the 
                evaluation conducted by the Secretary under 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Periodic evaluation.--Not later than 2 years 
                after the date of enactment of the Agriculture 
                Resilience Act of 2023, and every 2 years thereafter, 
                the Secretary shall evaluate the grants made under this 
                subsection, including--
                            ``(i) the amount of Federal funds used to 
                        award those grants; and
                            ``(ii) an evaluation of the outcomes of the 
                        projects carried out using those grants.
                    ``(C) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress as a report each evaluation carried out under 
                subparagraph (B).''.
    (b) Technical Assistance.--Section 21(b) of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769b-1(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) food waste measurement, prevention, and reduction.''.

SEC. 715. SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO DECREASE INCIDENCE OF 
              FOOD WASTE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall support national media 
campaigns to decrease the incidence of food waste.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 716. FOOD WASTE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison of 
the Department of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the 
``Liaison'') shall establish a partnership with 5 regional partner 
institutions, selected under subsection (c), to carry out a Food Waste 
Research Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'').
    (b) Food Waste Research Program Requirements.--
            (1) Duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Liaison, in 
        partnership with the 5 regional partner institutions selected 
        under subsection (c), shall--
                    (A) plan, conduct, and arrange for public research, 
                data, education, and recommendations within the areas 
                of study specified in paragraph (2), as such areas 
                relate to food waste reduction and food recovery issues 
                nationwide, regionally, and locally;
                    (B) carry out the activities of the Program within 
                a variety of regions in the United States, which are 
                identified and categorized by the Liaison based on the 
                specific food recovery and food waste reduction issues 
                of such regions;
                    (C) identify areas to increase efficiency in the 
                allocation of resources and the coordination, 
                cooperation, and consolidation of efforts as they 
                relate to local, statewide, Tribal, regional, and 
                Federal food recovery and food waste reduction efforts;
                    (D) create a Program website, as described in 
                paragraph (4), to disseminate information to the 
                public; and
                    (E) collaborate with other colleges, universities, 
                and nonprofit organizations in the regions selected by 
                the Liaison that have demonstrated capability for 
                research, information dissemination, and professional 
                training in order to develop regional networks that are 
                knowledgeable in food waste reduction issues.
            (2) Areas of study.--In carrying out the duties listed in 
        paragraph (1), the Liaison and the regional partner 
        institutions shall consider the following areas of study:
                    (A) Reducing the volume of surplus food produced.
                    (B) Utilizing excess food to feed individuals in 
                need, including through the use of donations of surplus 
                food.
                    (C) Diverting food unusable for purposes described 
                in subparagraph (B) to feed animals.
                    (D) Utilizing food waste to create renewable energy 
                sources.
                    (E) Composting food waste to create nutrient rich 
                soil.
                    (F) Diminishing the deposits of food waste in 
                landfills and reducing the incineration of food waste.
            (3) Use of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--The Liaison may make funds 
                available under this section to improve the capacities 
                and facilities of the regional partner institutions to 
                a level that meets the requirements of the role of a 
                regional partner institution.
                    (B) Plan.--A regional partner institution may not 
                receive any funding for any facility upgrade under 
                subparagraph (A), unless--
                            (i) the regional partner institution 
                        submits to the Liaison a plan detailing the 
                        type of facility construction or improvements 
                        to take place (including any land acquisition, 
                        engineering, design, and staffing and equipment 
                        needs, in addition to other information as 
                        required by the Liaison); and
                            (ii) the Liaison approves such plan.
                    (C) Non-federal cost share for facility 
                improvement.--A regional partner institution shall be 
                required to provide at least a 20-percent non-Federal 
                cost share for facility improvement or construction 
                projects pursued by a regional partner institution 
                under subparagraph (A).
                    (D) Matching funds for operating expenses.--A 
                regional partner institution shall be required to 
                provide at least a 30-percent non-Federal cost share 
                for all Program operating expenses related to such 
                regional partner institution.
                    (E) Wage rate requirements.--A construction 
                activity carried out pursuant to this subsection shall 
                meet Federal prevailing wage requirements as determined 
                by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter 
                IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, 
                United States Code (commonly referred to as the 
                ``Davis-Bacon Act'').
            (4) Food waste research program website.--The Liaison shall 
        establish a website that shall contain at least the following 
        information:
                    (A) Key findings and best practices.
                    (B) A list of collaborations and partnerships 
                carried out pursuant to this subsection.
                    (C) Annual reports and other pertinent information 
                on the duties of the Program.
                    (D) The location and contact information for 
                regional partner institutions.
                    (E) Federal, State, local, and regionally specific 
                public research, data, education, and policy 
                recommendations that shall be updated in a timely 
                manner with new information.
                    (F) Tools for tracking reduction efforts and 
                measuring food waste production.
    (c) Selection of Regional Partner Institutions.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Liaison shall select 5 regional 
        partner institutions to partner with to carry out the 
        requirements of the Program under subsection (b).
            (2) Criteria for regional partner institutions.--In making 
        a selection under paragraph (1), the Liaison shall select an 
        institution of higher education that--
                    (A) has a focus or expertise in at least one of the 
                areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
                    (B) has the ability to plan, conduct, and arrange 
                for public research, data, education, and 
                recommendations related to food waste reduction and the 
                areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
                    (C) can assist the Liaison in fulfilling the duties 
                listed in subsection (b)(1);
                    (D) can contribute the required non-Federal funding 
                to maintain a regional partner institution center; and
                    (E) satisfies any other criteria determined by the 
                Liaison.
            (3) Eligible sub-awardees.--A State, Tribal, or local 
        government, local educational agency, agricultural or commodity 
        organization, farmer, or other organization focused on food 
        waste prevention may serve as an eligible sub-awardee of a 
        regional partner institution if the entity meets the 
        requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (2).
            (4) Employment status.--Members of regional partner 
        institutions shall not be considered Federal employees for any 
        purpose.
    (d) Collaboration With Federal, Regional, State, Tribal, and Local 
Governments and Organizations.--The Liaison, in conjunction with the 5 
regional partner institutions selected under subsection (c), shall 
collaborate and share best practices on regional, State, Tribal, and 
locally specific food waste and food waste reduction issues with--
            (1) State and county governments;
            (2) Tribal governments;
            (3) units of local government;
            (4) local educational entities;
            (5) colleges and universities;
            (6) agricultural and commodity organizations;
            (7) farmers; and
            (8) organizations focused on food waste prevention.
    (e) Information Collection and Dissemination.--
            (1) Report of regional partner institutions.--Not later 
        than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
        annually thereafter, the regional partnership institutions 
        shall submit to the Liaison a report containing the activities, 
        partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy recommendations, 
        previous and continuing budgets, findings, and any other 
        applicable information carried out under the Program.
            (2) Liaison report.--Not later than 15 months after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
        Liaison shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and publish on the 
        Program website an annual report containing a compilation of 
        the activities, partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy 
        recommendations, previous and continuing budgets, findings, and 
        any other applicable information relating to the Program.
            (3) Review of report.--The Liaison shall review the annual 
        report from the regional partner institutions to ensure that 
        funds are being used efficiently according to the duties of the 
        Program and that the Program is producing utilizable public 
        research, data, education, and recommendations related to food 
        waste and food waste reduction issues.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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