130 
(A) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) PLANT AND ANIMAL BREEDING.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Classical animal 
and plant breeding— 
‘‘(I) intended to deliver public 
plant cultivars and animal breeds; 
‘‘(II) to achieve germplasm con-
servation; and 
‘‘(III) to improve public access 
and use of such cultivars and breeds. 
‘‘(ii) PRIORITY.—With respect to the 
breeding described in clause (i), the Sec-
retary shall give priority to— 
‘‘(I) regionally-adapted cultivars 
and breeds; and 
‘‘(II) breeds that perform well in 
organic and sustainable production 
systems.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘, in-
cluding nonprofit organizations, private labora-
tories, Federal research entities, and other re-
search entities not affiliated with a university’’ 
after ‘‘organizations’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (9); and 
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(D) in paragraph (11)(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘$700,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$900,000,000’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (k)— 
(A) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND CLI-
MATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION’’ 
after ‘‘AGRICULTURE’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and climate change miti-
gation and adaptation’’ after ‘‘systems of sus-
tainable agriculture’’. 
SEC. 712. SPECIALTY CROP RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
(a) ELEMENTS OF INITIATIVE.—Section 412(b) of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and improve the resil-
iency of such crops towards global climate 
change’’ after ‘‘crop characteristics’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘, 
with priority given to responses and tolerances 
to global climate change’’ after ‘‘tolerances’’; 
and 
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(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and threats 
due to global climate change’’ after ‘‘pollinators’’. 
(b) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Section 412(k)(1)(B) of 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Re-
form Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7632(k)(1)(B)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘$80,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each 
fiscal year thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘$80,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018 and $100,000,000 
for fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter’’. 
TITLE VIII—ANIMAL WELFARE 
Subtitle A—Ensuring Animal 
Welfare in Farming 
SEC. 801. DEFINITIONS FOR HUMANELY RAISED LIVE-
STOCK AND POULTRY CERTIFICATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) INDEPENDENT ANIMAL WELFARE CERTIFI-
CATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘independent animal 
welfare certification program’’ means an entity ap-
proved by the Secretary of Agriculture that uses 
qualified third-party on-farm auditors to routinely 
assess a producer’s 100 percent compliance with 
specific animal welfare standards exceeding industry 
standards (based on industry guidelines), subject to 
the following conditions: 
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(A) The standards’ protocols are made 
public. 
(B) The standards include, at a minimum, 
provisions for space allowance, environmental 
enrichment and ability to engage in natural be-
haviors, pain control and physical alternations, 
handling, and responsible antibiotic use. 
(C) Routine caging, crating or tethering of 
animals is prohibited. 
(D) Auditors have no vested or financial 
interest in audit outcomes. 
(E) Auditors possess a background in ani-
mal welfare science or have received equivalent 
training, and are able to recognize, review, and 
apply established farm animal welfare stand-
ards and protocols. 
(2) ELIGIBLE
COSTS.—The term ‘‘eligible 
costs’’ means costs associated with application fees, 
inspections, labeling, shipment and marketing. 
SEC. 802. REQUIRING THE ISSUANCE OF THE FINAL RULE 
FOR SETTING PRODUCTION STANDARDS FOR 
ORGANIC LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY WITH-
OUT AMENDMENT. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall imple-
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ment, without amendment, the final rule entitled ‘‘Na-
tional Organic Program (NOP); Organic Livestock and 
Poultry Practices’’ and published in the Federal Register 
by the Department of Agriculture on January 19, 2017 
(82 Fed. Reg. 7042). 
SEC. 803. INCREASING MARKET ACCESS FOR HUMANELY 
RAISED LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY CERTIFI-
CATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, act-
ing through the Agricultural Marketing Service, shall es-
tablish a cost-share program to assist producers and han-
dlers of livestock and poultry products in obtaining and 
maintaining animal welfare certifications through an inde-
pendent animal welfare certification program. 
(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Secretary may cover not 
more than 75 percent of the eligible costs, but not to ex-
ceed $750, incurred by a producer or handler in obtaining 
and maintaining an animal welfare certification through 
an independent animal welfare certification program. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Not later than 
March 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate a report that describes the requests 
by, disbursements to, and expenditures for each State 
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under the program during the current and previous fiscal 
year, including the number of producers and handlers 
served by the program in the previous fiscal year. 
(d) FUNDING.— 
(1) MANDATORY
FUNDING.—Of the funds of 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall make available to carry out this section 
$1,250,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 
2023, to remain available until expended. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $22,000,000 
for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to carry out this 
section. 
Subtitle B—Reforming Animal Wel-
fare in Agricultural Research 
Endeavors 
SEC. 811. ANIMAL WELFARE. 
Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 
2144) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘Any’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
any Federal research facility or any other’’; 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘Any’’ 
and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(2) ANIMAL EXHIBITION.—Any’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSIONS NOT APPLICABLE.—For pur-
poses of the application of standards and other re-
quirements described in paragraph (1) to a Federal 
research facility or any other department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the United States having labora-
tory animal facilities, the exclusions contained in 
section 2(g)(3) shall not apply.’’. 
SEC. 812. ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
PROGRAM FOR HUMANELY RAISED LIVE-
STOCK AND POULTRY CERTIFICATIONS. 
(a) CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND 
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS.—Section 
1402(6) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101(6)) is 
amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: 
‘‘, and meet growing consumer demand for animal welfare, 
environmental sustainability, pasture-based rearing, and 
compliance with independent animal welfare certifi-
cations’’. 
(b) INDEPENDENT
ANIMAL
WELFARE
CERTIFI-
CATION PROGRAM DEFINED.—Section 1404 of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
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Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(21) INDEPENDENT
ANIMAL
WELFARE
CER-
TIFICATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘Independent ani-
mal welfare certification program’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 801(1) of the Food and 
Farm Act.’’. 
(c) FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP AND COORDINA-
TION.—Section 1409A of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3124a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘and 
environmental’’ and inserting ‘‘environmental, ani-
mal welfare, and marketplace demand’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘pasture- 
based rearing systems,’’ after ‘‘cooperatives,’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘improving 
animal well-being, facilitating enrollment in inde-
pendent animal welfare certification programs,’’ 
after ‘‘marketing systems,’’. 
(d) ANIMAL WELL-BEING RESEARCH.—The heading 
of subtitle E of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (title XIV of 
Public Law 93–113) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘Subtitle E—Animal Health, Well- 
Being, and Disease Research’’. 
(e) AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY TO ACT.—Sec-
tion 1431(b)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3193(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (B); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (C), and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) improve the flow of information to 
producers regarding enrollment in, compliance 
with, and marketing benefits of independent 
animal welfare certification programs.’’. 
(f) SMALL FARM RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
(1) SMALL FARM EXTENSION PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 
U.S.C. 2662) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘, im-
proved animal husbandry techniques including 
enrollment in independent animal welfare cer-
tification programs,’’ after ‘‘marketing tech-
niques’’; and 
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(B) in subsection (h)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (E); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(F) as subparagraph (H); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(E) the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(F) opportunities for enrollment in inde-
pendent animal welfare certification programs; 
‘‘(G) animal husbandry; and’’. 
(2) DEFINITION.—Section 506 of the Rural De-
velopment Act of 1972 (7 U.S.C. 2666) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), 
and (c) as subsections (b), (c), and (d) respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting before subsection (b), as 
so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(a) ‘independent animal welfare certification 
program’ has the meaning given that term in section 
801(1) of the Food and Farm Act.’’. 
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Subtitle C—Protecting Companion 
Animals 
SEC. 821. MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF 
REGULATORY RECORDS. 
(a) MAINTENANCE
OF INFORMATION.—Beginning 
not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall maintain 
information relating to the administration of the Animal 
Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) and the Horse Protec-
tion Act (15 U.S.C. 1821 et seq.), including the following: 
(1) The entirety of each report of any inspec-
tion conducted, and record of any enforcement ac-
tion taken, under— 
(A) the Animal Welfare Act or the Horse 
Protection Act; and 
(B) any regulation issued under those 
Acts. 
(2) With respect to the Animal Welfare Act— 
(A) the entirety of each annual report sub-
mitted by a research facility under section 13 of 
that Act (7 U.S.C. 2143); and 
(B) the name, address, and license or reg-
istration number of each research facility, ex-
hibitor, dealer, and other person or establish-
ment— 
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(i) licensed by the Secretary under 
section 3 or 12 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 
2133, 2142); or 
(ii) registered with the Secretary 
under section 6 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 
2136). 
(3) With respect to the Horse Protection Act, 
the name and address of— 
(A) any person that is licensed to conduct 
any inspection under section 4(c) of that Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1823(c)); or 
(B) any organization or association that is 
licensed by the Department of Agriculture to 
promote horses through— 
(i) the showing, exhibiting, sale, auc-
tion, or registry of horses; or 
(ii) the conduct of any activity that 
contributes to the advancement of horses. 
(b) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The 
information required to be maintained under subsection 
(a) shall promptly be made available to the public in an 
online searchable database in a machine-readable format 
on the website of the Department of Agriculture. 
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SEC. 822. PROHIBITING THE TRADE OF DOG AND CAT 
MEAT. 
The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 30. PROHIBITION OF SLAUGHTER OF DOGS AND CATS 
FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—No person may— 
‘‘(1) knowingly slaughter a dog or cat for 
human consumption; or 
‘‘(2) knowingly ship, transport, move, deliver, 
receive, possess, purchase, sell, or donate— 
‘‘(A) a dog or cat to be slaughtered for 
human consumption; or 
‘‘(B) dog or cat parts for human consump-
tion. 
‘‘(b) PENALTY.—Any person who violates this section 
shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 1 year, 
or a fine of not more than $2,500, or both. 
‘‘(c) SCOPE.—Subsection (a) shall apply only with re-
spect to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign com-
merce or within the special maritime and territorial juris-
diction of the United States. 
‘‘(d) CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW.—This section 
shall not be construed to limit any State or local law or 
regulations protecting the welfare of animals or to prevent 
a State or local governing body from adopting and enforc-
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ing animal welfare laws and regulations that are more 
stringent than this section.’’. 
TITLE IX—REGIONAL FOOD 
SYSTEMS 
Subtitle A—Expanding Support for 
Local and Regional Food Systems 
SEC. 901. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of the Congress that: 
(1) Local and regional food systems provide 
jobs and economic opportunity for farmers and 
ranchers, businesses, entrepreneurs, and employees 
across the United States who cultivate, harvest, 
store, process, market, and distribute food, particu-
larly in rural areas. 
(2) Local and regional food systems provide 
meaningful access to healthy, fresh, and affordable 
foods that are grown and processed closer to mar-
kets, especially in food deserts and other under-
served areas. 
(3) Local and regional food systems lower the 
carbon footprint of America’s food system by grow-
ing, processing, distributing, and consuming prod-
ucts locally and reducing the use of fossil fuels. 
(4) Local and regional food systems foster 
American resiliency and independence by helping 
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communities become less dependent on external food 
sources. 
(5) Local and regional food systems increase 
accountability for farmers, ranchers, and others em-
ployed in the field to engage in sustainable and eth-
ical practices. 
(6) By supporting the growth and advancement 
of local and regional food systems, the people of the 
United States are investing in an environmentally 
and economically resilient food and agriculture sys-
tem that provides opportunity and livelihoods for 
farmers, 
ranchers, 
businesses, 
and 
employees 
throughout the economy. 
SEC. 902. EXPANDING THE FOOD LEVERAGING INVEST-
MENT FOR NETWORK COORDINATION (LINC) 
PROGRAM. 
(a) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VALUE CHAIN COOR-
DINATORS.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand 
Rural Development Agency participation in the Food 
Leveraging Investment for Network Coordination (LINC) 
program, a public-private partnership to enhance regional 
food-value chains, to deploy during each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023 at least 25 full-time value chain coor-
dinators to provide local food sector coordination services. 
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(b) LOCATION OF VALUE CHAIN COORDINATORS.— 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that at least 5 
value chain coordinators deployed under subsection (a) are 
located in each of the following: 
(1) The Pacific Northwest region of the United 
States. 
(2) The Northeast region of the United States. 
(3) The Western region of the United States. 
(4) The Midwest region of the United States. 
(5) The Southern region of the United States. 
(c) COORDINATION SERVICES DESCRIBED.—The du-
ties of a value chain coordinator include the following: 
(1) Identifying and connecting interested per-
sons through short-term engagement, helping to 
build relationships across the food value chain by en-
gaging interested persons, maintaining communica-
tion channels, and fostering a trusting environment 
among interested persons. 
(2) Identifying and pursuing resources, such as 
grants, loans, and services to support value-chain 
collaborators as they develop their enterprises. 
(3) Raising policy issues and partnering with 
interested persons to address policies and procure-
ment requirements. 
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(4) Working with food chain members to build 
capacity through education and training programs in 
such areas as organics and other sustainable produc-
tion practices, food safety, marketing, and branding. 
(5) Utilizing grants and other external re-
sources to test new business models to help lower 
the financial risk of businesses engaged in the value 
chain. 
(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Cred-
it Corporation, the Secretary of the Agriculture shall use 
to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023. 
SEC. 
903. 
ENSURING 
SUCCESS 
OF 
REGIONAL 
FOOD 
PROJECTS UNDER THE BUSINESS AND IN-
DUSTRY GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM. 
(a) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 310B(g)(9)(B) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1932(g)(9)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(v) OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Not more than 5 percent of 
the amounts reserved under clause (iv) for 
each fiscal year shall be used for outreach, 
and to provide marketing and technical as-
sistance through Federal entities, and 
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