SEC. 2. FOOD BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIP-
MENT RESPONSE GRANTS. 
(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
through the Administrator of the Agriculture Marketing 
Service, shall make grants to eligible entities, on a com-
petitive basis, to carry out activities to support worker and 
public health and safety, or to adapt production, proc-
essing, distribution, and sales systems, in response to 
COVID–19. 
(b) ELIGIBLE USES.—Amounts received by an eligi-
ble entity under a grant under this section shall be used 
for activities directly relating to COVID–19 response and 
recovery, including— 
(1) costs incurred during the COVID–19 emer-
gency period that are associated with protecting em-
ployee and consumer health and safety, such as for 
personal protective equipment; 
(2) costs incurred during such period that are 
associated with transitioning to a different busi-
nesses model, such as direct-to-consumer, online 
sales, or delivery; 
(3) costs incurred during such period to pur-
chase or lease equipment for food processing, stor-
age, or refrigeration; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:51 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7656.IH
H7656
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(4) other similar costs incurred during such pe-
riod that arise from adjusting to the COVID–19 
pandemic. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application in such manner, at such time, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the application required under paragraph 
(1) is— 
(A) as simple as is practicable; 
(B) accessible online; and 
(C) also available through all local offices 
of the Department of Agriculture. 
(3) DECISIONS.—Not later than 7 days after 
the date on which the Secretary receives an applica-
tion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify 
the eligible entity that submitted the application— 
(A) whether the application is approved or 
denied; 
(B) if the application is approved, the date 
on which the eligible entity will receive the 
grant funds; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:51 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7656.IH
H7656
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(C) if denied, the reason for denial and 
whether the application may be revised and re-
submitted. 
(4) PREFERENCES.—In reviewing applications 
submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
give preference to applications containing proposals 
intended to— 
(A) expand access to food for participants 
in— 
(i) the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program established under section 4 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2013); and 
(ii) a program authorized under the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or Child Nu-
trition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
seq.), including the national school lunch 
program, the national school breakfast pro-
gram, the summer food service program 
for children, the special supplemental nu-
trition program for women, infants, and 
children, and the child and adult care food 
program; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:51 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7656.IH
H7656
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(B) enhance food distribution in high-need 
or underserved areas; 
(C) address local agricultural product over-
supply issues and reduce food waste; or 
(D) benefit young farmers or ranchers, be-
ginning farmers of ranchers (as defined in sec-
tion 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279(a))), or socially disadvantaged farmers or 
ranchers (as defined in such section 2501(a)). 
(d) LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNTS.—The amount of a 
grant under this section shall not exceed— 
(1) in the case of an eligible entity described in 
subsection (f)(1), $15,000; and 
(2) in the case of any other eligible entity, 
$35,000. 
(e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out-
reach to States and eligible entities with respect to the 
availability of grants under this section. 
(f) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means— 
(1) an individual agricultural producer; 
(2) a group of agricultural producers, includ-
ing— 
(A) a cooperative; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:51 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H7656.IH
H7656
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(B) a network or association of individual 
farms; 
(3) a small or very small processor of agricul-
tural products with less than 150 employees, as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
(4) a local distributor, including a food hub and 
a farmers market; and 
(5) any other business that is critical to main-
taining a resilient agricultural supply chain in the 
United States, as determined by the Secretary. 
(g) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Cred-
it Corporation, the Secretary shall use $100,000,000 to 
carry out this section for fiscal year 2020, to remain avail-
able until expended. 
(h) COVID–19 EMERGENCY PERIOD.—The term 
‘‘COVID–19 emergency period’’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘‘emergency period’’ in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)). 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
05:51 Aug 05, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H7656.IH
H7656
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS