H. R. 2—521 
(B) 3 members appointed by the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. 
(C) 3 members appointed by the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives. 
(D) The Chief Economist of the Department of Agri-
culture. 
(2) FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYMENT.—In addition to 
the Chief Economist of the Department of Agriculture, the 
membership of the Commission may include 1 or more 
employees of the Department of Agriculture or other Federal 
agencies. 
(3) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—The appointment of all mem-
bers of the Commission shall be made not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(4) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(A) TERM.—A member shall be appointed for the life 
of the Commission. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission— 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; 
and 
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment was made. 
(5) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which all members of the Commission have been 
appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of 
the Commission. 
(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a 
lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall appoint 1 of the mem-
bers of the Commission to serve as Chairperson of the Commission. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President, 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 required by subsection 
(b), including such recommendations as the Commission considers 
appropriate. 
(g) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such hearings, meet 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive 
such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out 
this section. 
(h) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The Commission 
may secure directly from a Federal agency such information as 
the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. On 
request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of the 
agency shall provide the information to the Commission. 
(i) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use the United 
States mail in the same manner and under the same conditions 
as other agencies of the Federal Government. 
(j) ASSISTANCE FROM SECRETARY.—The Secretary may provide 
to the Commission appropriate office space and such reasonable 
administrative and support services as the Commission may 
request. 
(k) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—
H. R. 2—522 
(1) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of the Commis-
sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Govern-
ment shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equiva-
lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of 
the Commission. 
(2) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of the Commission 
who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall 
serve without compensation in addition to the compensation 
received for the services of the member as an officer or employee 
of the Federal Government. 
(3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commission shall 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under 
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
while away from the home or regular place of business of 
the member in the performance of the duties of the Commission. 
(l) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—Sections 9 and 14 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply to the Commission or any proceeding of the Commission. 
(m) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate on Sep-
tember 30, 2023. 
SEC. 12610. EXCEPTIONS UNDER UNITED STATES GRAIN STANDARDS 
ACT. 
(a) GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES FOR OFFICIAL AGENCIES.—Section 
7 of the United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 79) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)(2)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) 
as clauses (i), (iii), and (iv), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; 
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘Not more’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), not 
more’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), in the 
matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking 
‘‘Secretary, except that, if’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘Secretary. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Subject to subsection (g)(4)(A), if’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated), by inserting 
after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) a person requesting inspection services in that 
geographic area has not been receiving official inspec-
tion services from the current designated official 
agency for that geographic area;’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) TERMINATION OF NONUSE OF SERVICE EXCEPTION.— 
The exception under subparagraph (B)(ii) may only be 
terminated if all parties to that exception jointly agree 
on the termination, unless terminated according to sub-
section (g)(4)(A). 
‘‘(D) RESTORATION OF CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS.—
H. R. 2—523 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION
OF
ELIGIBLE
GRAIN
HANDLING 
FACILITY.—In this subparagraph, the term ‘eligible 
grain handling facility’ means a grain handling facility 
that— 
‘‘(I) was granted an exception under the final 
rule entitled ‘Exceptions to Geographic Areas for 
Official Agencies Under the USGSA’ (68 Fed. Reg. 
19137 (April 18, 2003)); and 
‘‘(II) had that exception revoked between Sep-
tember 30, 2015, and the date of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. 
‘‘(ii) RESTORATION OF EXCEPTIONS.—Within 90 days 
of notification from an eligible grain handling facility, 
the Secretary shall restore an exception described in 
clause (i)(I) with an official agency if— 
‘‘(I) the eligible grain handling facility and 
the former excepted official agency agree to restore 
that exception; and 
‘‘(II) the eligible grain handling facility notifies 
the Secretary of the preferred date for restoration 
of the exception within 90 days of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EFFECT ON EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The exceptions under clauses (ii) 
and (iv) of subsection (f)(2)(B) shall not apply if the designa-
tion of an official agency is terminated, pursuant to para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(B) DESIGNATION RENEWED OR RESTORED.—If the des-
ignation of an official agency is renewed or restored after 
being terminated under paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
renew or restore the exceptions under subsection (f)(2)(B) 
in accordance with that subsection.’’. 
(b) UNAUTHORIZED WEIGHING PROHIBITED.—Section 7A(i)(2) of 
the United States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 79a(i)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses 
(i) and (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately; 
(2) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘Not more’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), not 
more’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), in the matter 
preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking ‘‘Secretary, 
except that, if’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘Secretary. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—If’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (B) (as so designated)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end; and 
(B) by inserting after clause (i) the following: 
‘‘(ii) a person requesting weighing services in that 
geographic area has not been receiving official 
weighing services from the current designated official 
agency for that geographic area; or’’; and 
(5) by adding after subparagraph (B) (as so designated)— 
‘‘(C) RESTORATION OF CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION
OF
ELIGIBLE
GRAIN
HANDLING 
FACILITY.—In this subparagraph, the term ‘eligible
H. R. 2—524 
grain handling facility’ means a grain handling facility 
that— 
‘‘(I) was granted an exception under the final 
rule entitled ‘Exceptions to Geographic Areas for 
Official Agencies Under the USGSA’ (68 Fed. Reg. 
19137 (April 18, 2003)); and 
‘‘(II) had that exception revoked between Sep-
tember 30, 2015 and the date of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. 
‘‘(ii) RESTORATION OF EXCEPTIONS.—Within 90 days 
of notification from an eligible grain handling facility, 
the Secretary shall restore an exception described in 
clause (i)(I) with an official agency if— 
‘‘(I) the eligible grain handling facility and 
the former excepted official agency agree to restore 
that exception; and 
‘‘(II) the eligible grain handling facility notifies 
the Secretary of the preferred date for restoration 
of the exception within 90 days of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 7(f)(1) of the United 
States Grain Standards Act (7 U.S.C. 79(f)(1)) is amended by 
indenting subparagraph (C) appropriately. 
SEC. 12611. CONFERENCE REPORT REQUIREMENT THRESHOLD. 
Section 14209(a)(3)(A) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2255b(a)(3)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘$10,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,000’’. 
SEC. 12612. NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IMAGERY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 
the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, shall carry out 
a national agriculture imagery program to annually acquire aerial 
imagery during agricultural growing seasons from the continental 
United States. 
(b) DATA.—The aerial imagery acquired under this section 
shall— 
(1) consist of high resolution processed digital imagery; 
(2) be made available in a format that can be provided 
to Federal, State, and private sector entities; 
(3) be technologically compatible with geospatial informa-
tion technology; and 
(4) be consistent with the standards established by the 
Federal Geographic Data Committee. 
(c) SUPPLEMENTAL SATELLITE IMAGERY.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may supplement the aerial imagery collected under this 
section with satellite imagery. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $23,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter. 
SEC. 12613. REPORT ON INCLUSION OF NATURAL STONE PRODUCTS 
IN COMMODITY PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMA-
TION ACT OF 1996. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture 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
H. R. 2—525 
examining the effect the establishment of a Natural Stone Research 
and Promotion Board pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, 
Research, and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) 
would have on the natural stone industry, including how such 
a program would effect— 
(1) research conducted on, and the promotion of, natural 
stone; 
(2) the development and expansion of domestic markets 
for natural stone; 
(3) economic activity of the natural stone industry subject 
to such a Board; 
(4) economic development in rural areas; and 
(5) benefits to consumers in the United States of natural 
stone products. 
SEC. 12614. ESTABLISHMENT OF FOOD ACCESS LIAISON. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.), as amended 
by sections 12202, 12302, 12403, and 12504, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 225. FOOD ACCESS LIAISON. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish the posi-
tion of Food Access Liaison to coordinate Department programs 
to reduce barriers to food access and monitor and evaluate the 
progress of such programs in accordance with this section. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Food Access Liaison shall— 
‘‘(1) coordinate the efforts of the Department, including 
regional offices, to experiment and consider programs and poli-
cies aimed at reducing barriers to food access for consumers, 
including but not limited to participants in nutrition assistance 
programs; 
‘‘(2) provide outreach to entities engaged in activities to 
reduce barriers to food access in accordance with the statutory 
authorization for each program; 
‘‘(3) provide outreach to entities engaged in activities to 
reduce barriers to food access, including retailers, markets, 
producers, and others involved in food production and distribu-
tion, with respect to the availability of, and eligibility for, 
Department programs; 
‘‘(4) raise awareness of food access issues in interactions 
with employees of the Department; 
‘‘(5) make recommendations to the Secretary with respect 
to efforts to reduce barriers to food access; and 
‘‘(6) submit to Congress an annual report with respect 
to the efforts of the Department to reduce barriers to food 
access.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide tech-
nical assistance to entities that are participants, or seek to partici-
pate, in Department of Agriculture programs related to reduction 
of barriers to food access. 
SEC. 12615. ELIGIBILITY FOR OPERATORS ON HEIRS PROPERTY LAND 
TO OBTAIN A FARM NUMBER. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE
DOCUMENTATION.—The term ‘‘eligible docu-
mentation’’, with respect to land for which a farm operator
H. R. 2—526 
seeks assignment of a farm number under subsection (b)(1), 
includes— 
(A) in States that have adopted a statute consisting 
of an enactment or adoption of the Uniform Partition of 
Heirs Property Act, as approved and recommended for 
enactment in all States by the National Conference of 
Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 2010— 
(i) a court order verifying the land meets the defini-
tion of heirs property (as defined in that Act); or 
(ii) a certification from the local recorder of deeds 
that the recorded owner of the land is deceased and 
not less than 1 heir of the recorded owner of the 
land has initiated a procedure to retitle the land in 
the name of the rightful heir; 
(B) a fully executed, unrecorded tenancy-in-common 
agreement that sets out ownership rights and responsibil-
ities among all of the owners of the land that— 
(i) has been approved by a majority of the owner-
ship interests in that property; 
(ii) has given a particular owner the right to man-
age and control any portion or all of the land for 
purposes of operating a farm or ranch; and 
(iii) was validly entered into under the authority 
of the jurisdiction in which the land is located; 
(C) the tax return of a farm operator farming a prop-
erty with undivided interests for each of the 5 years pre-
ceding the date on which the farm operator submits the 
tax returns as eligible documentation under subsection (b); 
(D) self-certification that the farm operator has control 
of the land for purposes of operating a farm or ranch; 
and 
(E) any other documentation identified by the Sec-
retary under subsection (c). 
(2) FARM
NUMBER.—The term ‘‘farm number’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 718.2 of title 7, Code of 
Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act). 
(b) FARM NUMBER.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for the 
assignment of a farm number to any farm operator who pro-
vides any form of eligible documentation for purposes of dem-
onstrating that the farm operator has control of the land for 
purposes of defining that land as a farm. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—Any farm number provided under para-
graph (1) shall be sufficient to satisfy any requirement of the 
Secretary to have a farm number to participate in a program 
of the Secretary. 
(c) ELIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION.—The Secretary shall identify 
alternative forms of eligible documentation that a farm operator 
may provide in seeking the assignment of a farm number under 
subsection (b)(1). 
SEC. 12616. EXTENDING PROHIBITION ON ANIMAL FIGHTING TO THE 
TERRITORIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 
U.S.C. 2156) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)—
H. R. 2—527 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Except as provided 
in paragraph (3), it’’ and inserting ‘‘It’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3); 
(2) by striking subsection (d); and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and 
(j) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively. 
(b) USE OF POSTAL SERVICE OR OTHER INTERSTATE INSTRUMEN-
TALITIES.—Section 26(c) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156(c)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)’’. 
(c) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—Subsection (i) of section 26 of the 
Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156), as redesignated by section 
2(3), is amended by striking ‘‘(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)’’. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT OF ANIMAL FIGHTING PROHIBITIONS.—Section 
49(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(e)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(d)’’. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 12617. EXEMPTION OF EXPORTATION OF CERTAIN ECHINODERMS 
FROM PERMISSION AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT.—The term ‘‘conserva-
tion and management’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802). 
(2) MARINE
FISHERIES
COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Marine 
Fisheries Commission’’ means an interstate commission (as that 
term is used in the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 
(16 USC 4101 et seq.)). 
(3) STATE
JURISDICTION.—The term ‘‘State jurisdiction’’ 
means areas under the jurisdiction and authority of a State 
as described in section 306(a)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1856(a)(2)). 
(b) EXEMPTION.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service shall amend section 14.92 of title 50, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to clarify that— 
(1) except as provided in paragraph (2) and subsection 
(d)(2)— 
(A) fish and wildlife described in subsection (c) are 
fishery products exempt from the export permission 
requirements of section 9(d)(1) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(d)(1)); and 
(B) any person may engage in business as an exporter 
of fish or wildlife described in subsection (c) without pro-
curing— 
(i) permission under section 9(d)(1) of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1538(d)(1)); or 
(ii) an export license under subpart I of part 14 
of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations); and 
(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), unless the person has 
qualified for and obtained an export license described in para-
graph (1)(B)(ii), any person that has been convicted of 1 or 
more violations of a Federal law relating to the importation,
H. R. 2—528 
transportation, or exportation of wildlife shall not be permitted, 
during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the most 
recent conviction, to engage in business as an exporter of fish 
or wildlife described in subsection (c). 
(c) COVERED FISH OR WILDLIFE.—The fish or wildlife referred 
to in subsection (b) are members of the species Strongylocentrotus 
droebachiensis (commonly known as the ‘‘green sea urchin’’), 
including any products of that species, that— 
(1) do not require a permit under part 16, 17, or 23 of 
title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); 
(2)(A) are harvested in waters under State jurisdiction; 
or 
(B) are imported for processing in the United States pursu-
ant to an import license as required under section 14.91 of 
title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), 
and not exempt from import license requirements under section 
14.92 of that title (as in effect on the day before the date 
of enactment of this Act); and 
(3) are exported for purposes of human or animal consump-
tion. 
(d) INFORMATION COLLECTION ON EXPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The State agency that regulates or other-
wise oversees a State fishery in which the fish and wildlife 
described in subsection (c) are harvested shall annually 
transmit the conservation and management data (as defined 
in subsection (a)) to the Interstate Fisheries Management Pro-
gram Policy Board of the applicable Marine Fisheries Commis-
sion. 
(2) PRIVACY.—Such data thereafter shall not be released 
and shall be maintained as confidential by such applicable 
Marine Fisheries Commission, including data requested under 
the section 552 of title 5, United States Code, unless disclosure 
is required under court order or unless the data is essential 
for an enforcement action under Federal wildlife management 
laws. 
(3) EXCLUSION.—The exemption under subsection (b)(1) 
shall not apply in a State if— 
(A) the State fails to transmit the data required under 
paragraph (1); or 
(B) the applicable Marine Fisheries Commission deter-
mines, in consultation with the primary research agency 
of such Commission, after notice and an opportunity to 
comment, that the data required under paragraph (1) fails 
to prove that the State agency or official is engaged in 
conservation and management of the fish or wildlife 
described in subsection (c). 
SEC. 12618. DATA ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES. 
Subtitle E of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1247. DATA ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES. 
‘‘(a) DATA ON CONSERVATION PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall 
identify available data sets within the Department of Agriculture 
regarding the use of conservation practices and the effect of such 
practices on farm and ranch profitability (including such effects 
relating to crop yields, soil health, and other risk-related factors).
H. R. 2—529 
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
of the Senate a report that includes— 
‘‘(1) a summary of the data sets identified under subsection 
(a); 
‘‘(2) a summary of the steps the Secretary would have 
to take to provide access to such data sets by university 
researchers, including taking into account any technical, pri-
vacy, or administrative considerations; 
‘‘(3) a summary of safeguards the Secretary employs when 
providing access to data to university researchers; 
‘‘(4) a summary of appropriate procedures to maximize 
the potential for research benefits while preventing any viola-
tions of privacy or confidentiality; and 
‘‘(5) recommendations for any necessary authorizations or 
clarifications of Federal law to allow access to such data sets 
to maximize the potential for research benefits.’’. 
SEC. 12619. CONFORMING CHANGES TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 102(16) of the Controlled Substances 
Act (21 U.S.C. 802(16)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(16) The’’ and inserting ‘‘(16)(A) Subject 
to subparagraph (B), the’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Such term does not include the’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) The term ‘marihuana’ does not include— 
‘‘(i) hemp, as defined in section 297A of the Agricultural 
Marketing Act of 1946; or 
‘‘(ii) the’’. 
(b) TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL.—Schedule I, as set forth in sec-
tion 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)), 
is 
amended 
in 
subsection 
(c)(17) 
by 
inserting 
after 
‘‘Tetrahydrocannabinols’’ 
the 
following: 
‘‘, 
except 
for 
tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp (as defined under section 297A of 
the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)’’. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.