‘‘(B) 
NOMINATING
ENTITIES
DE-
SCRIBED.—The nominating entities described in 
this subparagraph are organizations, associa-
tions, societies, cooperative extensions, State 
agricultural experiment stations, technical as-
sistance provider organizations, councils, fed-
erations, producer groups, agriculture manufac-
turing entities, restaurants, the food service in-
dustry, the agriculture technology industry, en-
vironmental organizations, forestry organiza-
tions, nonprofit organizations, and companies 
or other entities as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) TERMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee 
appointed under clause (xiv) or (xv) of para-
graph (1)(A) shall be appointed for a term of 
not more than 6 years. 
‘‘(B) TERMS
OF
INITIAL
APPOINTEES.— 
The initial members of the Committee ap-
pointed under clause (xiv) or (xv) of paragraph 
(1)(A) shall be appointed for the following 
terms: 
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‘‘(i) 2 shall be appointed for a term of 
2 years, which may be extended by the 
Secretary for an additional 6 years. 
‘‘(ii) 2 shall be appointed for a term 
of 4 years, which may be extended by the 
Secretary for an additional 6 years. 
‘‘(iii) 1 shall be appointed for a term 
of 6 years. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee 
appointed under clause (xiv) or (xv) of para-
graph (1)(A) may not serve consecutive terms 
on the Committee. 
‘‘(D) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy on the 
Committee— 
‘‘(i) shall not affect the duties of the 
Committee under this section; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be filled in the same man-
ner as the original appointment. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON, VICE CHAIRPERSON, AND 
EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(A) ELECTION.—At the first meeting of 
the Committee each calendar year, the Com-
mittee shall elect from among the members of 
the Committee— 
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‘‘(i) a chairperson; 
‘‘(ii) a vice chairperson; and 
‘‘(iii) 7 members to serve on the exec-
utive subcommittee established under sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(B) EXECUTIVE
SUBCOMMITTEE.—The 
Committee shall establish an executive sub-
committee charged with the responsibility of 
working with the Secretary and officers and 
employees of the Department of Agriculture to 
summarize and disseminate the recommenda-
tions of the Committee. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) DUTIES OF COMMITTEE.—In fulfilling the 
duties of the Committee under this section, the 
Committee shall consult with appropriate agencies of 
the Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—After receiving 
recommendations from the Committee pursuant to 
any provision in this section, the Secretary shall pro-
vide a written response to the Committee regarding 
the manner and extent to which the Secretary will 
implement such recommendations. 
‘‘(e) COMPENSATION AND PERSONNEL.— 
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‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
AND STAFF.—To assist the Committee in the per-
formance of the duties of the Committee, the Sec-
retary may appoint, without regard to the civil serv-
ice laws, and after consultation with the chairperson 
of the Committee— 
‘‘(A) a full-time executive director, who 
shall— 
‘‘(i) perform such duties as the chair-
person of the Committee may direct; and 
‘‘(ii) receive compensation at a rate 
not to exceed the rate payable for GS–15 
of the General Schedule established by sec-
tion 5332 of title 5, United States Code; 
and 
‘‘(B) a professional staff of not more than 
3 full-time employees qualified in climate-spe-
cific agricultural research, extension, education, 
and economics, of which 1 shall serve as the ex-
ecutive secretary of the Committee. 
‘‘(2) 
ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE
AND
PER-
SONNEL.—The Secretary shall detail, on a reimburs-
able basis, personnel of the Department of Agri-
culture to the Committee as necessary to assist the 
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Commission in carrying out its duties under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(3) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), members of the Committee 
shall serve without pay for each day during 
which such members are engaged in the actual 
performance of duties vested in the Committee. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION OF 
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Members of the Com-
mittee who are full-time officers or employees of 
the United States may not receive additional 
pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their 
service on the Committee. 
‘‘(C) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of 
the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies 
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 services for the Committee. 
‘‘(f) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT CHAR-
TER.—The Committee shall be deemed to have filed a 
charter for the purpose of section 1008(c) of title 5, 
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United States Code (commonly known as the ‘Federal Ad-
visory Committee Act’). 
‘‘(g) TERMINATION.—Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, 
United States Code, (relating to the termination of advi-
sory committees) shall not apply to the Committee. 
‘‘(h) COMMITTEE EXPENSES NOT COUNTED TO-
WARD GENERAL LIMITATIONS.—The expenses of the 
Committee shall not be counted toward any general limita-
tion on the expenses of advisory committees, panels, com-
missions, and task forces of the Department of Agri-
culture contained in any Act making appropriations for 
the Department of Agriculture, whether enacted before, 
on, or after the date of enactment of this section, unless 
the appropriation Act specifically refers to this subsection 
and specifically includes the Committee within the general 
limitation.’’. 
(b) RURAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE NETWORK.—Subtitle 
C of title XIV of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 is amended by 
inserting after section 1418 (7 U.S.C. 3153) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 1419. RURAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE NETWORK. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER.— 
In this section, the term ‘agricultural producer’ means an 
individual who is engaged in farming, ranching, forestry, 
aquaculture, or another occupation relating to agriculture. 
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‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to provide science-based climate adaptation 
and mitigation assistance and training programs to 
rural communities and agricultural producers; 
‘‘(2) to coordinate the transfer of new tech-
nology and research relating to climate change that 
will impact behavioral and management changes to 
agricultural systems, including to— 
‘‘(A) individuals who work in the field of 
climate science, including agricultural pro-
ducers; and 
‘‘(B) individuals, organizations, and other 
entities with an established history of working 
with agricultural producers; 
‘‘(3) to improve agriculture research collabora-
tion, data collection, and partnerships and the shar-
ing of information about new scientific advance-
ments in climate research, as well as inform future 
research efforts; and 
‘‘(4) to facilitate the exchange of regional agri-
culture climate data and research through a network 
of partners. 
‘‘(c) RURAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE NETWORK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish and administer through the Climate Hubs a net-
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work, to be known as the ‘Rural Climate Alliance 
Network’ (referred to in this subsection as the ‘Net-
work’)— 
‘‘(A) that serves as a coordination hub for 
the provision of agriculture climate research, 
climate data, extension, and technical assistance 
for agricultural producers, the food and agricul-
tural industry, nonprofit organizations relating 
to food and agriculture, and researchers relat-
ing to food and agriculture to address the ef-
fects of climate change; and 
‘‘(B) to improve— 
‘‘(i) responses to climate disasters 
through data collection and information 
sharing; 
‘‘(ii) communication of climate risks; 
‘‘(iii) accessible education and tech-
nical transfer of climate-related, regionally 
relevant agricultural data and research to 
agricultural producers in all regionally ap-
propriate languages; 
‘‘(iv) tools and networks that deliver 
information to prevent damage from ex-
treme weather events, pest and disease 
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outbreaks, 
and 
other 
related 
climate 
change impacts; 
‘‘(v) communication between agricul-
tural producers and the agricultural re-
search community to ensure that agricul-
tural research considers the perspectives of 
agricultural producers, such as changes in 
yield and fluctuating costs of inputs; 
‘‘(vi) coordination between other Fed-
eral agencies, as the Secretary determines 
appropriate; and 
‘‘(vii) coordination between entities in 
the private sector, such as participants in 
the agricultural and food supply chains 
that work with agricultural producers, re-
lating to climate data, adaptation, mitiga-
tion, and response. 
‘‘(2) COMPOSITION.—The Network shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) entities, and employees of entities, 
that conduct research, exchange data, provide 
monitoring and verification services, or provide 
technical assistance relating to food and agri-
culture, including— 
‘‘(i) colleges and universities; 
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‘‘(ii) State cooperative institutions; 
‘‘(iii) State extension services; 
‘‘(iv) State departments of agri-
culture; 
‘‘(v) State agricultural experiment 
stations; 
‘‘(vi) Indian Tribes (as defined in sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)); 
‘‘(vii) qualified nonprofit organiza-
tions, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(viii) qualified private businesses, as 
determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ix) agricultural producers, producer 
groups, or producer organizations, includ-
ing agricultural trade associations and re-
search and promotion boards (commonly 
known as ‘checkoffs’); 
‘‘(x) agencies and offices within the 
Department of Agriculture; and 
‘‘(xi) any other technical assistance 
provider, research entity, or data analytics 
entity that the Secretary determines to be 
qualified to participate in the Network; 
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‘‘(B) climate resilience-related research 
networks within the Department of Agriculture, 
including— 
‘‘(i) the Long-Term Agroecosystem 
Research Network; 
‘‘(ii) the Extension Disaster Edu-
cation Network; 
‘‘(iii) the Eastern Forest Environ-
mental Threat Assessment Center; 
‘‘(iv) the Western Wildland Environ-
mental Threat Assessment Center; 
‘‘(v) the Sustainable Agriculture Re-
search and Education program; 
‘‘(vi) the National Soil Dynamics Lab-
oratory; 
‘‘(vii) the National Cooperative Soil 
Survey; 
‘‘(viii) the Economic Research Service; 
‘‘(ix) regional and rural development 
centers; and 
‘‘(x) other existing climate-related re-
search networks within the Department of 
Agriculture that the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate to participate in the Net-
work; and 
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‘‘(C) other government-affiliated entities 
and climate resilience-related research networks 
outside of the Department of Agriculture, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(i) the Foundation for Food and Ag-
riculture Research; 
‘‘(ii) the U.S. Global Change Research 
Program; 
‘‘(iii) State and public weather station 
networks; 
‘‘(iv) the National Weather Service 
and other weather data systems within the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration; 
‘‘(v) the harvest program of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion; and 
‘‘(vi) other existing local, State, or 
Federal climate-related research networks, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) ACTIVITIES OF THE NETWORK.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—An individual or entity 
within the Network may— 
‘‘(A) through the means described in para-
graph (2)— 
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‘‘(i) initiate, expand, or sustain agri-
cultural research programs that build ca-
pacity to mitigate, respond to, and recover 
from climate change disasters, including— 
‘‘(I) programs of the Agricultural 
Research Service; 
‘‘(II) the Agriculture and Food 
Research Initiative; 
‘‘(III) 
the 
Sustainable 
Agri-
culture Research and Education pro-
gram; 
‘‘(IV) the Agriculture Advanced 
Research and Development Authority; 
and 
‘‘(V) programs of the Foundation 
for Food and Agriculture Research; 
‘‘(ii) inform and advise about agricul-
tural climate variability, change, vulner-
ability, risk, adaptation, and mitigation; 
‘‘(iii) respond to climate impacts on 
ecosystems, economics, and diversity; 
‘‘(iv) collect and store agricultural cli-
mate data to share with other individuals 
and entities within the Network and Fed-
eral research partners; 
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‘‘(v) assist agricultural producers in 
implementing new management approaches 
to adapt to, reduce the risk of, and provide 
societal 
solutions 
to 
mitigate 
climate 
change; 
‘‘(vi) transfer technology, research 
outcomes, and information; and 
‘‘(vii) improve climate change aware-
ness, education, and planning assistance, 
as necessary; and 
‘‘(B) enter into cooperative agreements or 
contracts, on a multiyear basis, with commu-
nity-based, direct-service organizations to ini-
tiate, expand, or sustain— 
‘‘(i) activities carried out under sub-
paragraph (A) and paragraph (2); or 
‘‘(ii) programs described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
‘‘(2) MEANS
DESCRIBED.—An eligible entity 
may carry out the activities described in paragraph 
(1)(A) through— 
‘‘(A) the development of phone technology, 
online applications, websites, handbooks, manu-
als, publications, warning systems, and other 
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communication networks in all regionally appro-
priate languages; 
‘‘(B) training, including training programs 
and workshops, for disseminating information 
to— 
‘‘(i) crop insurance agents; 
‘‘(ii) loan and credit officers; 
‘‘(iii) agricultural suppliers; 
‘‘(iv) agricultural producers; 
‘‘(v) State cooperative agents; 
‘‘(vi) third-party providers (as defined 
in section 1242(a) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a))); 
‘‘(vii) Certified Crop Advisers and 
Certified Professional Soil Scientists cer-
tified by the American Society of Agron-
omy; 
‘‘(viii) Federal officers and employees, 
including officers and employees of the 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
the Farm Service Agency, the Agricultural 
Research Service, and the Forest Service; 
‘‘(ix) non-Federal technical assistance 
providers; 
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‘‘(x) climate change experts who work 
with agricultural producers; and 
‘‘(xi) other individuals and entities 
that may— 
‘‘(I) assist agricultural producers 
who are vulnerable to climate impacts; 
or 
‘‘(II) provide societal solutions to 
mitigate the climate impacts of agri-
culture; 
‘‘(C) curriculum development for managing 
climate risks, mitigating climate change, and 
understanding climate risks and economic im-
plications; and 
‘‘(D) such other means as the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Improving Coordination 
of Agriculture Research and Data Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress and any relevant Federal 
department or agency, and make publicly available, 
a report describing— 
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‘‘(A) the current needs of climate mitiga-
tion and resilience research and data systems in 
the food and agriculture sector; 
‘‘(B) progress made toward developing and 
adopting climate solutions across the food and 
agriculture system; 
‘‘(C) technical assistance needs of rural 
communities and agricultural producers; 
‘‘(D) actions and recommendations of the 
Agriculture Climate Scientific Research Com-
mittee (established under section 1413C); and 
‘‘(E) recommended Federal budget activi-
ties and funding levels for research, data sys-
tems, and technical assistance priorities relating 
to climate mitigation. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report under paragraph 
(1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) an inventory and assessment of ef-
forts to support the climate change adaptation, 
mitigation, risk management, and resilience 
tools for agricultural producers by— 
‘‘(i) the Federal Government; 
‘‘(ii) States and territories of the 
United States; 
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‘‘(iii) Indian Tribes (as defined in sec-
tion 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304)); 
‘‘(iv) units of local government; 
‘‘(v) communities comprising agricul-
tural producers; 
‘‘(vi) qualified nonprofit organizations, 
as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(vii) agriculture and food businesses; 
‘‘(viii) State extension services; 
‘‘(ix) land-grant colleges and univer-
sities; and 
‘‘(x) other appropriate entities, as de-
termined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(B) a baseline report on soil carbon se-
questration on measurable soil carbon stocks 
and sequestration; 
‘‘(C) a description of the challenges faced 
by agricultural producers that may impact the 
climate change resilience of those agricultural 
producers; 
‘‘(D) a long-term strategy for responding 
to the challenges described under subparagraph 
(C) and recommendations based on best prac-
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