I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8138 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a disaster response training 
program to train certain Farm Service Agency employees to provide 
outreach and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by 
a natural disaster, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2024 
Mr. SOTO (for himself and Mr. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a disaster 
response training program to train certain Farm Service 
Agency employees to provide outreach and technical as-
sistance to farmers and ranchers affected by a natural 
disaster, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR 
CERTAIN FARM SERVICE AGENCY EMPLOY-
EES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title I of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq.) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1502. DISASTER RESPONSE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR 
CERTAIN FARM SERVICE AGENCY EMPLOY-
EES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, 
acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service 
Agency, shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this section, establish a disaster re-
sponse training program— 
‘‘(A) to train covered employees— 
‘‘(i) to provide outreach and technical 
assistance to farmers and ranchers af-
fected by a natural disaster, including by 
providing information on available disaster 
relief assistance; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to the appropriate 
protocols for assisting such farmers and 
ranchers; and 
‘‘(B) that, with respect to a natural dis-
aster, provides on-demand trainings on— 
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under subsection (a)(1) to solicit feedback with respect to 
such session or on-demand training. 
‘‘(d) EXIT SURVEY FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.— 
The Secretary shall offer an exit survey to each farmer 
and rancher provided outreach and technical assistance 
pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) that allows the farmer 
or rancher to— 
‘‘(1) evaluate the appropriateness and effective-
ness of such outreach and technical assistance; and 
‘‘(2) summarize the outcome of such farmer or 
rancher with respect to receiving disaster relief as-
sistance. 
‘‘(e) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to 
Congress a report describing— 
‘‘(1) the training program established under 
subsection (a)(1); 
‘‘(2) with respect to the year preceding the re-
port— 
‘‘(A) the number of trainings carried out 
pursuant to each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
of subsection (a)(2); 
‘‘(B) the number of covered employees who 
received each such training; and 
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‘‘(C) the level of the General Schedule and 
the position of each such employee; 
‘‘(3) the results of the completion surveys of-
fered under subsection (c); and 
‘‘(4) the results of the exit surveys offered 
under subsection (d). 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘covered 
employee’ means any employee of the Farm Service 
Agency who could be deployed to carry out disaster 
relief assistance with respect to farmers and ranch-
ers. 
‘‘(2) DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE.—The term 
‘disaster relief assistance’ means assistance under 
any program— 
‘‘(A) to address natural disasters; and 
‘‘(B) that is administered by the Adminis-
trator of the Farm Service Agency. 
‘‘(3) NATURAL DISASTER.—The term ‘natural 
disaster’ includes— 
‘‘(A) any hurricane, tornado, storm, high 
water, wind driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, 
earthquake, 
volcanic 
eruption, 
landslide, 
mudslide, snowstorm, or drought; and 
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‘‘(B) such other natural disaster as may be 
determined appropriate by the Administrator.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1501 the following: 
‘‘1502. Disaster response training program for certain Farm Service Agency em-
ployees.’’. 
Æ 
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