I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3509 
To authorize certain citrus programs, to increase the limitations on assistance 
for the tree assistance program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2017 
Mr. THOMAS J. ROONEY of Florida (for himself, Mr. VALADAO, and Mr. 
VELA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To authorize certain citrus programs, to increase the limita-
tions on assistance for the tree assistance program, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Citrus Investment in 
Treatment and Research for U.S. Sustainability Act’’ or 
the ‘‘CITRUS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The citrus industry is grappling with the 
most serious threat in its history: a bacterial disease 
called citrus greening or Huanglongbing that on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, does not have a 
cure. 
(2) Huanglongbing has caused a reduction in 
citrus production by over 60 percent since 2007 in 
Florida. 
(3) All citrus-producing counties in Texas are 
under quarantine, the Asian Citrus Psyllid (the vec-
tor of the disease) has been found in backyard trees 
in California, and the disease has also been found in 
Arizona. 
(4) The spread of this disease places the domes-
tic citrus industry’s future into question and has 
caused the loss of thousands of jobs and millions in 
revenue. 
(5) Great progress has been made through Fed-
eral, State and industry collaboration, but it is im-
perative that Congress provide further research 
funding and grower assistance. 
(6) The citrus industry will only eradicate the 
disease through research funding for short-term and 
long-term cures and by ensuring there are adequate 
incentives for growers to replace diseased trees. 
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(7) The Emergency Citrus Disease Research 
and Extension Program is a program to discover 
and develop tools for early detection, control, and 
eradication of diseases and pests that threaten do-
mestic citrus production and processing that receives 
$25,000,000 per year in mandatory funding through 
the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. 
(8) The Citrus Health Response Program 
(CHRP) is a national effort to protect the domestic 
citrus industry from invasive citrus pests and dis-
eases through partnerships with State departments 
of agriculture and industry groups. 
(9) The Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordina-
tion Group (HLB-MAC) is instrumental in helping 
respond to critical issues that impact the health of 
the citrus industry. 
(10) The Tree Assistance Program has aided 
growers in replacing diseased trees, but expanding 
access to this assistance is needed. 
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY CITRUS DIS-
EASE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAM. 
(a) REAUTHORIZATION OF EMERGENCY CITRUS DIS-
EASE RESEARCH
AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.—Section 
412 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Edu-
cation Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (j)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (5); and 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (5); and 
(2) in subsection (k)(1)(C), by striking ‘‘fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal 
years 2018 through 2023’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF CITRUS DISEASE SUBCOMMITTEE 
TERMINATION DATE.—Section 1408A(a)(2)(D) of the 
Food 
and 
Agriculture 
Act 
of 
1977 
(7 
U.S.C. 
3123a(a)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘on September 
30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘on the date Huanglongbing and 
the Asian Citrus Psyllid no longer pose a threat to United 
States citrus production, as determined by the citrus dis-
ease subcommittee’’. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR CITRUS HEALTH RESPONSE 
PROGRAM. 
For purposes of carrying out the citrus health re-
sponse program of the Animal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service, there is authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2018 through 
2023. 
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SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR MULTI-AGENCY COORDINA-
TION GROUP. 
For purposes of carrying out the activities of the 
Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group (HLB- 
MAC) under the Department of Agriculture, there is au-
thorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary for fiscal years 2018 through 2023. 
SEC. 6. LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FOR THE TREE AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) 
LIMITATIONS
ON
ASSISTANCE.—Section 
1501(e)(4) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9081(e)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘exceed $125,000’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘exceed— 
‘‘(i) $125,000’’; 
(B) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; 
or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(ii) if the person or legal entity is a 
citrus producer (as defined in paragraph 
(5) of section 412(j) of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(j))), 
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$250,000, for any crop year, or an equiva-
lent value in tree seedlings.’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘exceed 500 acres.’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘exceed— 
‘‘(i) 500 acres; or 
‘‘(ii) if the person or legal entity is a 
citrus producer (as defined in paragraph 
(5) of section 412(j) of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(j))), 
1500 acres.’’. 
(b) ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME REQUIREMENT.—Sec-
tion 1001D(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1308–3a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘except as 
provided in paragraph (3),’’ after ‘‘provision of 
law,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘A pay-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in para-
graph (3), a payment’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION
FOR
CITRUS
PRODUCERS 
UNDER TREE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—A person or 
legal entity that is a citrus producer (as defined in 
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paragraph (5) of section 412(j) of the Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(j))) shall not be eligible to re-
ceive a benefit under the tree assistance program 
under section 1501(e) of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(e)), during a crop year if the 
average adjusted gross income of the person or legal 
entity exceeds $1,800,000.’’. 
Æ 
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