564 
latory, or technical issue or on an interpretation of 
a statutory or regulatory issue. 
SEC. 11308. EVALUATION REQUIRED FOR PURPOSES OF 
PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION 
OF COUNTY OFFICES FOR THE FARM SERV-
ICE AGENCY. 
(a) PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION OF 
OFFICES WITH HIGH WORKLOAD VOLUME.—Section 
14212 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 6932a) is amended by striking subsection (a) 
and inserting the following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION OF 
OFFICES WITH HIGH WORKLOAD VOLUME.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture may not close or relocate a county 
or field office of the Farm Service Agency in a State if 
the Secretary determines, after conducting the evaluation 
required under subsection (b)(1)(B), that the office has 
a high workload volume compared with other county of-
fices in the State.’’. 
(b) WORKLOAD EVALUATION.—Section 14212(b)(1) 
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving 
the margins of such clauses two ems to the right; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00564
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
565 
(2) by striking ‘‘the Farm Service Agency, to 
the maximum extent practicable’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Farm Service Agency— 
‘‘(A) to the maximum extent practicable’’; 
(3) in clause (ii) (as redesignated by paragraph 
(1))— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘as of the date of the en-
actment of this Act’’ after ‘‘employees’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) conduct and complete an evaluation 
of all workload assessments for Farm Service 
Agency county offices that were open and oper-
ational as of January 1, 2012, during the pe-
riod that begins on a date that is not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of the 
Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Manage-
ment Act of 2013 and ends on the date that is 
18 months after such date of enactment.’’. 
(c) NOTICE REQUIRED.—Section 14212(b)(2) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘After the period referred to in sub-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00565
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
566 
section (a)(1), the Secretary of Agriculture may not 
close a county or field office of the Farm Service 
Agency unless—’’ and inserting ‘‘After carrying out 
each of the activities required under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall, before closing a 
county or field office of the Farm Service Agency— 
’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary holds’’ and inserting ‘‘hold’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary notifies’’ and inserting ‘‘notify’’. 
(d) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
14212(b)(1) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘After the period referred to in subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary’’. 
SEC. 11309. ACER ACCESS AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make competitive grants to States, tribal gov-
ernments, and research institutions to support the efforts 
of such States, tribal governments, and research institu-
tions to promote the domestic maple syrup industry 
through the following activities: 
(1) Promotion of research and education related 
to maple syrup production. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00566
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
567 
(2) Promotion of natural resource sustainability 
in the maple syrup industry. 
(3) Market promotion for maple syrup and 
maple-sap products. 
(4) Encouragement of owners and operators of 
privately held land containing species of trees in the 
genus Acer— 
(A) to initiate or expand maple-sugaring 
activities on the land; or 
(B) to voluntarily make the land available, 
including by lease or other means, for access by 
the public for maple-sugaring activities. 
(b) APPLICATION.—In submitting an application for 
a competitive grant under this section, a State, tribal gov-
ernment, or research institution shall include— 
(1) a description of the activities to be sup-
ported using the grant funds; 
(2) a description of the benefits that the State, 
tribal government, or research institution intends to 
achieve as a result of engaging in such activities; 
and 
(3) an estimate of the increase in maple-sug-
aring activities or maple syrup production that the 
State, tribal government, or research institution an-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:32 Jul 11, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00567
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
568 
ticipates will occur as a result of engaging in such 
activities. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed so as to preempt a State or tribal 
government law, including a State or tribal government 
liability law. 
(d) DEFINITION OF MAPLE-SUGARING.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘maple-sugaring’’ means the collection of 
sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the 
purpose of boiling to produce food. 
(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. 
SEC. 11310. REGULATORY REVIEW BY THE SECRETARY OF 
AGRICULTURE. 
(a) REVIEW OF REGULATORY AGENDA.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall review publications that may 
give notice that the Environmental Protection Agency is 
preparing or plans to prepare any guidance, policy, memo-
randum, regulation, or statement of general applicability 
and future effect that may have a significant impact on 
a substantial number of agricultural entities, including— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:32 Jul 11, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00568
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
569 
(1) any regulatory agenda of the Environmental 
Protection Agency published pursuant to section 602 
of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) any regulatory plan or agenda published by 
the Environmental Protection Agency or the Office 
of Management and Budget pursuant to an Execu-
tive order, including Executive Order 12866; and 
(3) any other publication issued by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency or the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget that may reasonably be foreseen 
to contain notice of plans by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency to prepare any guidance, policy, 
memorandum, regulation, or statement of general 
applicability and future effect that may have a sig-
nificant impact on a substantial number of agricul-
tural entities. 
(b) INFORMATION GATHERING.—For a publication 
item reviewed under subsection (a) that the Secretary de-
termines may have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of agricultural entities, the Secretary shall— 
(1) solicit from the Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency any information the 
Administrator may provide to facilitate a review of 
the publication item; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00569
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
572 
(D) recommendations of the Secretary. 
(2) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish 
the comments in the Federal Register and make the 
comments available to the public on the public Inter-
net website of the Department of Agriculture. 
(e) WAIVERS.—The Secretary may waive initiation of 
the review panel under subsection (b)(4) as the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
(f) DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL ENTITY.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘agricultural entity’’ means any entity 
involved in or related to agricultural enterprise, including 
enterprises that are engaged in the business of production 
of food and fiber, ranching and raising of livestock, aqua-
culture, and all other farming and agricultural related in-
dustries. 
SEC. 11311. PROHIBITION ON ATTENDING AN ANIMAL 
FIGHTING VENTURE OR CAUSING A MINOR 
TO ATTEND AN ANIMAL FIGHTING VENTURE. 
Section 26(a)(1) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 
2156(a)(1)) is amended by striking the period and insert-
ing ‘‘or to knowingly attend or knowingly cause a minor 
to attend an animal fighting venture.’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00572
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
573 
SEC. 11312. PROHIBITION AGAINST INTERFERENCE BY 
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH 
PRODUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF ITEMS 
IN OTHER STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with Article I, section 
8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States, the 
government of a State or locality therein shall not impose 
a standard or condition on the production or manufacture 
of any agricultural product sold or offered for sale in inter-
state commerce if— 
(1) such production or manufacture occurs in 
another State; and 
(2) the standard or condition is in addition to 
the standards and conditions applicable to such pro-
duction or manufacture pursuant to— 
(A) Federal law; and 
(B) the laws of the State and locality in 
which such production or manufacture occurs. 
(b) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘agricultural product’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 207 of the Agricultural Mar-
keting Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1626). 
SEC. 11313. INCREASED PROTECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL 
INTERESTS IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00573
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
574 
(1) Record runoff occurred in the Missouri 
River basin during 2011 as a result of historic rain-
fall over portions of the upper basin coupled with 
heavy plains and mountain snowpack. 
(2) Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa, during the 
5-month period of March through July totaled an es-
timated 48.4 million acre-feet (referred to in this 
section as ‘‘MAF’’). This runoff volume was more 
than 20 percent greater than the design storm for 
the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘System’’), which was 
based on the 1881 runoff of 40.0 MAF during the 
same 5-month period. 
(3) During the 2011 runoff season, nearly 61 
million acre-feet of water entered the Missouri River 
system, far surpassing the previous record of 49 
MAF in runoff that was set during the flood of 
1997. 
(4) Given the incredible amount of water enter-
ing the System, the summer months were spent 
working to evacuate as much water from the System 
as possible, ultimately leading to record high water 
releases from Gavins Point Dam of 160,000 cubic 
feet per second, a rate that more than doubled the 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00574
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
575 
previous release record of 70,000 cubic feet per sec-
ond set in 1997. 
(5) For nearly four months, those extremely 
high releases from Gavins Point were maintained, 
resulting in severe and sustained flooding, with 
much of western Iowa and eastern Nebraska as well 
as portions of South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri 
inundated by a flooding river three to five feet deep, 
up to 11 miles wide, and flowing at a rate of 4 to 
11 miles per hour. 
(6) Thousands of homes and businesses were 
damaged or destroyed and hundreds of millions of 
dollars in damage was done to roads and other pub-
lic infrastructure. 
(7) In addition to the homes, businesses, and 
infrastructure impacted by the flooding, hundreds of 
thousands of acres of cropland were affected. 
(8) The Department of Agriculture has esti-
mated that 400,000 to 500,000 acres of some of the 
most productive crop land in the world was flooded 
in 2011. 
(9) Local Farm Services Agency representatives 
have estimated that $82,100,000 was lost in 2011 
alone due to damaged or lost crops and unplanted 
acres. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00575
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
576 
(10) Not only did the flooding eliminate the 
2011 crop, but it is highly unlikely that many farm-
ers will be able to put that land back into production 
at any point in the near future. 
(11) Producers will have to contend with large 
piles of sand, silt, and other debris that have been 
deposited in their fields, meaning the impact of the 
2011 flood will be felt in the agricultural commu-
nities up and down the Missouri River for many 
years to come. 
(12) Currently, the amount of storage capacity 
in the System that is set aside for flood control is 
based upon the vacated space required to control the 
1881 flood, because prior to the 2011 flood, the 
1881 flood was seen as the ‘‘high water mark’’. 
(13) Given the historic flooding that took place 
in 2011, it is clear that year’s flooding now rep-
resents a new ‘‘high water mark’’, surpassing the 
flooding of even the 1881 flood. 
(14) It is important that the flood control re-
lated functions of the System management be ad-
justed to reflect the reality of the 2011 flood as the 
new ‘‘worst case scenario’’ for flooding along the 
Missouri River. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:54 Jul 10, 2013
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00576
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2642.IH
H2642
rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS