I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5373 
To provide support for the production of algae, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2018 
Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. KILMER, and Mr. BIGGS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agri-
culture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide support for the production of algae, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Algae Agriculture Act of 2018’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. National conservation practice standard for algae-based nutrient man-
agement systems. 
Sec. 3. Rural electrification assistance programs. 
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Sec. 4. Agriculture and Food Research Initiatives priorities. 
Sec. 5. Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Purposes. 
Sec. 6. Studies. 
Sec. 7. Center of excellence. 
Sec. 8. Energy programs. 
Sec. 9. Assistance for algae production. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 
FOR ALGAE-BASED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEMS. 
Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3844) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(m) NATIONAL CONSERVATION PRACTICE STAND-
ARD FOR ALGAE-BASED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SYS-
TEMS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of the Algae Agriculture Act of 2018, the Secretary shall 
establish and publish in the National Handbook of Con-
servation Practices, a national conservation practice 
standard for algae-based nutrient management systems.’’. 
SEC. 3. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 
(a) Section 2(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 902(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘efficiency 
and conservation’’ and inserting ‘‘efficiency, conservation, 
and emissions reduction (including carbon capture and 
use)’’. 
(b) Section 4(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 904(a)) is amended— 
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(1) inserting after ‘‘generating plants’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘and related emissions reduction facilities 
(including carbon capture and use)’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘efficiency and conservation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘efficiency, conservation, and emis-
sions reduction (including carbon capture and use)’’. 
(c) Section 19(a) of the Rural Electrification Act of 
1936 (7 U.S.C. 918a(a)) is amended in each of para-
graphs (1) and (2) by inserting ‘‘(including carbon capture 
and use and other related emissions reduction)’’ after 
‘‘generation’’. 
(d) Section 609(c)(3) of the Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(c)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘—’’; 
and 
(2) by adding after and below the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) renewable energy facilities; and 
‘‘(B) carbon capture and use.’’. 
SEC. 4. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVES 
PRIORITIES. 
Subsection (b)(2) of the Competitive, Special, and 
Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
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(A) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (v), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(vi) development and testing of new 
food ingredients.’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (D)(iii), by inserting ‘‘, re-
storing soil carbon and soil health,’’ after ‘‘water 
losses’’; and 
(5) in subparagraph (F)— 
(A) by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), and 
(vii) as clauses (vi), (vii), and (viii); and 
(B) by inserting after clause (iv) the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(v) economic opportunities from new 
feedstocks or food products that expand 
agricultural opportunity in the United 
States through production on marginal or 
unproductive land, industrial systems, or 
coastal or open seawater, or that signifi-
cantly increase the yield of food, feed, or 
other products from existing agricultural 
land;’’. 
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SEC. 5. FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RE-
SEARCH PURPOSES. 
Sec. 7601(c)(A) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 5939(c)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and algae’’ 
after ‘‘plant’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 6. STUDIES. 
(a) ALGAE PROTEIN STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall initiate a study of algae protein 
production potential. The study shall— 
(A) review and validate projected needs 
and supply gaps for protein in the United 
States for the next 20 years (beginning with 
2019), based on current production trends, de-
mand and technology outlook; 
(B) assess the physical and economic feasi-
bility for the United States to grow algae (in-
cluding microalgae and macroalgae) to address 
such needs and supply gaps; 
(C) compare the nutritional profile and 
benefits of algae with other alternative protein 
sources and meat proteins; 
(D) determine public and private activities 
and investments required to scale up to United 
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States algae protein production over the short- 
, medium-, and long-term; 
(E) estimate the number of jobs created, 
per State and per Congressional district, by 
fully ramping up production of algae proteins; 
and 
(F) estimate the potential value of algae 
protein exports from the United States by 
2025, 2030, and 2035. 
(2) STUDY TEAM MEMBERS.—The team of indi-
viduals conducting such study shall include one lab-
oratory of the Department of Agriculture, one lab-
oratory of the Department of Energy, industry asso-
ciations, and academics. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report that 
describes the results of the study. 
(4) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this subsection such sums as 
may be necessary, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
(b) ALGAE FOR SOIL HEALTH STUDY.— 
(1) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
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Agriculture shall initiate a competitive external 
study to determine the benefits to microbial diver-
sity, the restoration of soil organic carbon and 
humic substances, and other aspects of soil health of 
on-field application of algae biomass (including 
microalgae and macroalgae) or algae-derived compo-
nents. The study shall, with respect to the applica-
tion of algae biomass— 
(A) develop a research protocol for a three- 
year evaluation; 
(B) conduct field trials; 
(C) prepare and disseminate an annual 
progress report to the public on the Internet 
website of the Department of Agriculture; and 
(D) prepare and disseminate a final report 
to the public, including an assessment of oppor-
tunities and barriers to commercial deployment. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report that describes the 
results of the study. 
(3) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out this subsection such sums as 
may be necessary, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
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SEC. 7. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. 
Section 1673 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5926) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) ALGAE PROTEIN CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.— 
The Secretary shall establish an Algae Protein Center of 
Excellence to accelerate development of a United States- 
based algae (including microalgae and macroalgae) indus-
try that will serve as a hub for innovation and collabora-
tion, among leading United States algae companies, inter-
national food corporations, and university research ex-
perts. The Center shall be comprised of one center for 
each of the following major protein markets: 
‘‘(1) Food. 
‘‘(2) Animal feed. 
‘‘(3) Aquaculture feed.’’. 
SEC. 8. ENERGY PROGRAMS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS.—Section 9001 
of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 8101) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(B)— 
(A) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (vii), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
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