H. R. 2—74 
‘‘(I) apply to producers receiving payments 
under this subsection; and 
‘‘(II) be enforced by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) REPORTING.—An eligible entity participating 
in an on-farm conservation innovation trial under this 
subsection shall report annually to the Secretary on 
the amount of payments made to individual farm oper-
ations under this subsection. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—None 
of the funds made available to carry out this subsection 
may be used to pay for the administrative expenses of 
an eligible entity. 
‘‘(D) LENGTH OF AGREEMENTS.—An agreement entered 
into under subparagraph (A) shall be for a period deter-
mined by the Secretary that is— 
‘‘(i) not less than 3 years; and 
‘‘(ii) if appropriate, more than 3 years, including 
if such a period is appropriate to support— 
‘‘(I) adaptive management over multiple crop 
years; and 
‘‘(II) adequate data collection and analysis by 
a producer or eligible entity to report the natural 
resource and agricultural production benefits of 
the new or innovative conservation approaches to 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) FLEXIBLE ADOPTION.—The scale of adoption of a new 
or innovative conservation approach under an on-farm con-
servation innovation trial under an agreement under paragraph 
(2) may include multiple scales on an operation, including whole 
farm, field-level, or sub-field scales. 
‘‘(5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance— 
‘‘(A) to each producer or eligible entity participating 
in an on-farm conservation innovation trial under para-
graph (2) with respect to the design, installation, and 
management of the new or innovative conservation 
approaches; and 
‘‘(B) to each eligible entity participating in an on-farm 
conservation innovation trial under paragraph (2) with 
respect to data analyses of the on-farm conservation innova-
tion trial. 
‘‘(6) GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE.—The Secretary shall identify a 
diversity of geographic regions of the United States in which 
to establish on-farm conservation innovation trials under para-
graph (2), taking into account factors such as soil type, cropping 
history, and water availability. 
‘‘(7) SOIL
HEALTH
DEMONSTRATION
TRIAL.—Using funds 
made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall 
carry out a soil health demonstration trial under which the 
Secretary coordinates with eligible entities— 
‘‘(A) to provide incentives to producers to implement 
conservation practices that— 
‘‘(i) improve soil health; 
‘‘(ii) increase carbon levels in the soil; or 
‘‘(iii) meet the goals described in clauses (i) and 
(ii);
H. R. 2—75 
‘‘(B) to establish protocols for measuring carbon levels 
in the soil and testing carbon levels on land where con-
servation practices described in subparagraph (A) were 
applied to evaluate gains in soil health as a result of 
the practices implemented by the producers in the soil 
health demonstration trial; and 
‘‘(C)(i) not later than September 30, 2020, to initiate 
a study regarding changes in soil health and, if feasible, 
economic outcomes, generated as a result of the conserva-
tion practices described in subparagraph (A) that were 
applied by producers through the soil health demonstration 
trial; and 
‘‘(ii) to submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate annual 
reports on the progress and results of the study under 
clause (i). 
‘‘(d) REPORTING AND DATABASE.— 
‘‘(1) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than September 30, 
2019, and every 2 years thereafter, 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 on the status of activities funded under 
this section, including— 
‘‘(A) funding awarded; 
‘‘(B) results of the activities, including, if feasible, eco-
nomic outcomes; 
‘‘(C) incorporation of findings from the activities, such 
as new technology and innovative approaches, into the 
conservation efforts implemented by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(D) on completion of the study required under sub-
section (c)(7)(C), the findings of the study. 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION PRACTICE DATABASE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use the data 
reported under paragraph (1) to establish and maintain 
a publicly available conservation practice database that 
provides— 
‘‘(i) a compilation and analysis of effective con-
servation practices for soil health, nutrient manage-
ment, and source water protection in varying soil com-
positions, cropping systems, slopes, and landscapes; 
and 
‘‘(ii) a list of recommended new and effective con-
servation practices. 
‘‘(B) PRIVACY.—Information provided under subpara-
graph (A) shall be transformed into a statistical or aggre-
gate form so as to not include any identifiable or personal 
information of individual producers.’’. 
SEC. 2308. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1240I of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (as redesignated by section 2301(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2—76 
‘‘(iii) development of a comprehensive conservation 
plan, as defined in section 1240L(e)(1); 
‘‘(iv) soil health planning, including planning to 
increase soil organic matter; and 
‘‘(v) activities that will assist a producer to adapt 
to, or mitigate against, increasing weather volatility.’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting the following: ‘‘through the use of— 
‘‘(A) quality criteria under a resource management 
system; 
‘‘(B) predictive analytics tools or models developed or 
approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Service; 
‘‘(C) data from past and current enrollment in the 
program; and 
‘‘(D) other methods that measure conservation and 
improvement in priority resource concerns, as determined 
by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subsection (a) of section 1240J of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by section 
2301(b)) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 through 
2023’’. 
(2) EXCLUSIONS.—Subsection (b)(2) of section 1240J of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by section 2301(b)) 
is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking 
‘‘the Agricultural Act of 2014’’ and inserting the ‘‘Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018’’. 
(c) STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTS.—Section 1240K of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (as redesignated by section 2301(b)) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) RANKING OF APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In evaluating contract offers sub-
mitted under subsection (a) and contract renewals under 
subsection (e), the Secretary shall rank applications based 
on— 
‘‘(i) the natural resource conservation and environ-
mental benefits that result from the conservation treat-
ment on all applicable priority resource concerns at 
the time of submission of the application; 
‘‘(ii) the degree to which the proposed conservation 
activities increase natural resource conservation and 
environmental benefits; and 
‘‘(iii) other consistent criteria, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL CRITERION.—If 2 or more applications 
receive the same ranking under subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary shall rank those contracts based on the extent 
to which the actual and anticipated conservation benefits 
from each contract are provided at the lowest cost relative 
to other similarly beneficial contract offers.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the program under subsection (a)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘a contract or contract renewal under this 
section’’;
H. R. 2—77 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or contract renewal’’ before ‘‘offer 
ranks’’; 
(C) by inserting ‘‘or contract renewal’’ after ‘‘steward-
ship contract’’; and 
(D) by adding ‘‘or contract renewal’’ before the period 
at the end; 
(3) in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘1238G(d)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘1240L(c)’’; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘At the end’’ and all that follows through ‘‘period’’ the 
second place it appears and inserting the following: ‘‘The 
Secretary may provide the producer an opportunity to 
renew an existing contract in the first half of the fifth 
year of the contract period’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘initial’’ and inserting 
‘‘existing’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘new or improved’’ after ‘‘integrate’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘demonstrating continued improve-
ment during the additional 5-year period,’’ after ‘‘oper-
ation,’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘to exceed the 
stewardship threshold of’’ and inserting ‘‘to adopt or 
improve conservation activities, as determined by the Sec-
retary, to achieve higher levels of performance with respect 
to not less than’’. 
(d) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—Section 1240L of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (as redesignated by section 2301(b)) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘acres’’ and inserting ‘‘funding’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
(c) and (d), respectively; 
(4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated), by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(5) PAYMENT FOR COVER CROP ACTIVITIES.—The amount 
of a payment under this subsection for cover crop activities 
shall be not less than 125 percent of the annual payment 
amount determined by the Secretary under paragraph (2).’’; 
(5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘AND 
ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT’’ after ‘‘ROTATIONS’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (4) as para-
graphs (2) and (1), respectively, and moving the paragraphs 
so as to appear in numerical order; 
(D) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
and (E) as clauses (i) through (iv) and (vi), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(ii) by striking the paragraph designation and all 
that follows through ‘‘the term’’ in the matter preceding 
clause (i) (as so redesignated) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
H. R. 2—78 
‘‘(A) ADVANCED
GRAZING
MANAGEMENT.—The term 
‘advanced grazing management’ means the use of a com-
bination of grazing practices (as determined by the Sec-
retary), which may include management-intensive rota-
tional grazing, that provide for— 
‘‘(i) improved soil health and carbon sequestration; 
‘‘(ii) drought resilience; 
‘‘(iii) wildlife habitat; 
‘‘(iv) wildfire mitigation; 
‘‘(v) control of invasive plants; and 
‘‘(vi) water quality improvement. 
‘‘(B) MANAGEMENT-INTENSIVE ROTATIONAL GRAZING.— 
The term ‘management-intensive rotational grazing’ means 
a strategic, adaptively managed multipasture grazing 
system in which animals are regularly and systematically 
moved to fresh pasture in a manner that— 
‘‘(i) maximizes the quantity and quality of forage 
growth; 
‘‘(ii) improves manure distribution and nutrient 
cycling; 
‘‘(iii) increases carbon sequestration from greater 
forage harvest; 
‘‘(iv) improves the quality and quantity of cover 
for wildlife; 
‘‘(v) provides permanent cover to protect the soil 
from erosion; and 
‘‘(vi) improves water quality. 
‘‘(C) 
RESOURCE-CONSERVING
CROP
ROTATION.—The 
term’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so designated)— 
(I) in clause (iv) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(II) by inserting after clause (iv) (as so redesig-
nated) the following: 
‘‘(v) builds soil organic matter; and’’; 
(E) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking 
‘‘improve resource-conserving’’ and all that follows through 
the period at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘improve, 
manage, and maintain— 
‘‘(A) resource-conserving crop rotations; or 
‘‘(B) advanced grazing management.’’; 
(F) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graph (2)’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and maintain’’ and all that follows 
through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘or 
improve, manage, and maintain resource-conserving 
crop rotations or advanced grazing management for 
the term of the contract.’’; and 
(G) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—An additional payment pro-
vided under paragraph (2) shall be not less than 150 percent 
of the annual payment amount determined by the Secretary 
under subsection (c)(2).’’; 
(6) by inserting after subsection (d) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(e) PAYMENT FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN.—
H. R. 2—79 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN.— 
In this subsection, the term ‘comprehensive conservation plan’ 
means a conservation plan that meets or exceeds the steward-
ship threshold for each priority resource concern identified by 
the Secretary under subsection (a)(2). 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN.— 
The Secretary shall provide a 1-time payment to a producer 
that develops a comprehensive conservation plan. 
‘‘(3) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—The Secretary shall determine 
the amount of payment under paragraph (2) based on— 
‘‘(A) the number of priority resource concerns addressed 
in the comprehensive conservation plan; and 
‘‘(B) the number of types of land uses included in 
the comprehensive conservation plan.’’; 
(7) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’; 
(8) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation and heading 
and all that follows through ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(h) ORGANIC CERTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) COORDINATION.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available for the 
program for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, the 
Secretary shall allocate funding to States to support organic 
production and transition to organic production through 
paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) DETERMINATION.—The Secretary shall determine 
the allocation to a State under subparagraph (A) based 
on— 
‘‘(i) the number of certified and transitioning 
organic operations within the State; and 
‘‘(ii) the number of acres of certified and 
transitioning organic production within the State.’’; and 
(9) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) STREAMLINING
AND
COORDINATION.—To the maximum 
extent feasible, the Secretary shall provide for streamlined and 
coordinated procedures for the program and the environmental 
quality incentives program under subchapter A, including applica-
tions, contracting, conservation planning, conservation practices, 
and related administrative procedures. 
‘‘(k) SOIL HEALTH.—To the maximum extent feasible, the Sec-
retary shall manage the program to enhance soil health. 
‘‘(l) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each fiscal year, 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 describing the payment rates for conservation 
activities offered to producers under the program and an analysis 
of whether payment rates can be reduced for the most expensive 
conservation activities.’’. 
SEC. 2309. GRASSLAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE. 
Subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (as added by subsections (a)(2) and 
(b) of section 2301) is amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2—80 
‘‘SEC. 1240L–1. GRASSLAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
LAND.—Notwithstanding sections 1240I(4) 
and 1240J(b)(2), the term ‘eligible land’ means cropland on 
a farm for which base acres have been maintained by the 
Secretary under section 1112(d)(3) of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9012(d)(3)). 
‘‘(2) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘initiative’ means the grassland 
conservation initiative established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish within the program a grassland conservation initiative for 
the purpose of assisting producers in protecting grazing uses, con-
serving and improving soil, water, and wildlife resources, and 
achieving related conservation values by conserving eligible land 
through grassland conservation contracts under subsection (e). 
‘‘(c) ELECTION.—Beginning in fiscal year 2019, the Secretary 
shall provide a 1-time election to enroll eligible land in the initiative 
under a contract described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(d) METHOD OF ENROLLMENT.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) notwithstanding subsection (b) of section 1240K, deter-
mine under subsection (c) of that section that eligible land 
ranks sufficiently high under the evaluation criteria described 
in subsection (b) of that section; and 
‘‘(2) enroll the eligible land in the initiative under a contract 
described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(e) GRASSLAND CONSERVATION CONTRACT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 1240K(a)(1), to 
enroll eligible land in the initiative under a grassland conserva-
tion contract, a producer shall agree— 
‘‘(A) to meet or exceed the stewardship threshold for 
not less than 1 priority resource concern by the date on 
which the contract expires; and 
‘‘(B) to comply with the terms and conditions of the 
contract. 
‘‘(2) TERMS.—A grassland conservation contract entered 
into under this section shall— 
‘‘(A)(i) be for a single 5-year term; and 
‘‘(ii) not be subject to renewal or reenrollment under 
section 1240K(e); and 
‘‘(B) be subject to section 1240K(d). 
‘‘(3) EARLY TERMINATION.—The Secretary shall allow a pro-
ducer that enters into a grassland conservation contract under 
this section— 
‘‘(A) to terminate the contract at any time; and 
‘‘(B) to retain payments already received under the 
contract. 
‘‘(f) GRASSLAND CONSERVATION PLAN.—The grassland conserva-
tion plan developed for eligible land shall be limited to— 
‘‘(1) eligible land; and 
‘‘(2) resource concerns and activities relating to grassland. 
‘‘(g) PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in fiscal year 2019, of the 
funds made available for this subchapter under section 
1241(a)(3)(B), and notwithstanding any payment under title 
I of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, an amendment 
made by that title, or section 1240L(c), the Secretary shall 
make annual grassland conservation contract payments to the
H. R. 2—81 
producer of any eligible land that is the subject of a grassland 
conservation contract under this section. 
‘‘(2) PAYMENT NONELIGIBILITY.—A grassland conservation 
contract under this section shall not be— 
‘‘(A) eligible for payments under section 1240L(d); or 
‘‘(B) subject to the payment limitations under this sub-
chapter. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—The amount of an annual payment under 
this subsection shall be $18 per acre, not to exceed the number 
of base acres on a farm. 
‘‘(h) CONSIDERED PLANTED.—The Secretary shall consider land 
enrolled under a grassland conservation contract under this section 
during a crop year to be planted or considered planted to a covered 
commodity (as defined in section 1111 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9011)) during that crop year. 
‘‘(i) OTHER CONTRACTS.—A producer with an agricultural oper-
ation that contains land eligible under this section and land eligible 
under section 1240K— 
‘‘(1) may enroll the land eligible under this section through 
a contract under this section or under section 1240K; and 
‘‘(2) shall not be prohibited from enrolling the land eligible 
under section 1240K through a contract under section 1240K.’’. 
Subtitle D—Other Conservation Programs 
SEC. 2401. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION. 
(a) ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.—Section 3 of the 
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1003) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking the section designation and all that follows 
through ‘‘In order to assist’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to assist’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive the watershed plan 
for works of improvement if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(1) the watershed plan is unnecessary or duplicative; and 
‘‘(2) the works of improvement are otherwise consistent 
with applicable requirements under section 4.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 14(h)(2)(E) of 
the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 
1012(h)(2)(E)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) FUNDS OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—The Water-
shed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 15. FUNDING. 
‘‘In addition to any other funds made available by this Act, 
of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall make available to carry out this Act $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’. 
SEC. 2402. SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION. 
The Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 (16 
U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended—
H. R. 2—82 
(1) in section 5(e) (16 U.S.C. 2004(e)), by striking ‘‘and 
December 31, 2015’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015, and 
December 31, 2022’’; 
(2) in section 6(d) (16 U.S.C. 2005(d)), by striking ‘‘, respec-
tively’’ and inserting ‘‘, and a program update shall be completed 
by December 31, 2023’’; 
(3) in section 7 (16 U.S.C. 2006)— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, 2016, and 2022’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘and 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘, 2017, and 
2023’’; and 
(4) in section 10 (16 U.S.C. 2009), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 2403. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF FENCING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘wildfires,’’ after ‘‘hurricanes,’’; 
(B) by striking the section designation and all that 
follows through ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 401. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to 
in this title as the ‘Secretary’)’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF FENCING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a payment to an agricul-
tural producer under subsection (a) for the repair or replace-
ment of fencing, the Secretary shall give the agricultural pro-
ducer the option of receiving not more than 25 percent of 
the payment, determined by the Secretary based on the 
applicable percentage of the fair market value of the cost of 
the repair or replacement, before the agricultural producer 
carries out the repair or replacement. 
‘‘(2) RETURN OF FUNDS.—If the funds provided under para-
graph (1) are not expended by the end of the 60-day period 
beginning on the date on which the agricultural producer 
receives those funds, the funds shall be returned within a 
reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Sections 402, 403, 404, and 405 of the Agricultural 
Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205) 
are amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of Agriculture’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’. 
(B) Section 407(a) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2206(a)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(4). 
(b) COST SHARE PAYMENTS.—Title IV of the Agricultural Credit 
Act of 1978 is amended by inserting after section 402 (16 U.S.C. 
2202) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 402A. COST-SHARE REQUIREMENT. 
‘‘(a) COST-SHARE RATE.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the 
maximum cost-share payment under sections 401 and 402 shall
H. R. 2—83 
not exceed 75 percent of the total allowable cost, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), a payment 
to a limited resource farmer or rancher, a socially disadvantaged 
farmer or rancher (as defined in subsection (a) of section 2501 
of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 2279), or a beginning farmer or rancher under section 
401 or 402 shall not exceed 90 percent of the total allowable cost, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—The total payment under sections 401 and 
402 for a single event may not exceed 50 percent of the agriculture 
value of the land, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) PAYMENT LIMITATIONS.—Title IV of the Agricultural Credit 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 402A (as added by subsection (b)) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 402B. PAYMENT LIMITATION. 
‘‘The maximum payment made under the emergency conserva-
tion program to an agricultural producer under sections 401 and 
402 shall not exceed $500,000.’’. 
(d) WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM.—Section 403 of the 
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting ‘‘EMER-
GENCY WATERSHED PROGRAM’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘watershed protection’’ 
after ‘‘emergency’’. 
(e) FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.—Section 404 of the Agricul-
tural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2204) is amended— 
(1) in the fourth sentence, by striking ‘‘The Corporation’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—The Commodity Credit Corporation’’; 
(2) in the third sentence (as amended by subsection 
(a)(2)(A)), by striking ‘‘In implementing the provisions of’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) USE
OF COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—In imple-
menting’’; 
(3) by striking the second sentence; 
(4) by striking the section designation and all that follows 
through ‘‘There are authorized’’ in the first sentence and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 404. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are author-
ized’’; 
(5) in subsection (a) (as so designated), by inserting ‘‘, 
to remain available until expended’’ before the period at the 
end; and 
(6) by inserting after subsection (a) (as so designated) the 
following: 
‘‘(b) SET-ASIDE FOR FENCING.—Of the amounts made available 
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, 25 percent shall be set 
aside until April 1 of that fiscal year for the repair or replacement 
of fencing.’’. 
SEC. 2404. CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE GRAZING LAND. 
Section 1240M of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2—84 
‘‘(C) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Secretary shall provide education 
and outreach activities through partnerships with— 
‘‘(i) land-grant colleges and universities (as defined 
in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103)); and 
‘‘(ii) nongovernmental organizations.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 2405. GRASSROOTS SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 1240O(b)(1) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2(b)(1)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS.—Section 1240O(b) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb–2(b)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—In addition to any other funds 
made available under this subsection, of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use $5,000,000 
beginning in fiscal year 2019, to remain available until 
expended.’’. 
SEC. 2406. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC ACCESS AND HABITAT INCENTIVE PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1240R of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3839bb–5) is amended— 
(1) in subsections (a) and (c), by striking ‘‘grants’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘funding’’; 
(2) in subsections (b) and (d)(2), by striking ‘‘a grant’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘funding’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(3) (as amended by section 2202(b)(1)), 
by inserting ‘‘or on land covered by a wetland reserve easement 
under section 1265C’’ before ‘‘by providing’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘2012 and’’ and inserting ‘‘2012,’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and $50,000,000 for the period 
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’ before the period 
at the end; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) ENHANCED PUBLIC ACCESS TO WETLAND RESERVE EASE-
MENTS.—To the maximum extent practicable, of the funds made 
available under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use 
$3,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 
to encourage public access to land covered by wetland reserve 
easements under section 1265C through agreements with 
States and tribal governments under this section.’’. 
SEC. 2407. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Secretary of the 
Interior shall continue to carry out the Working Lands for Wildlife 
model of conservation on working landscapes, as implemented on
H. R. 2—85 
the day before the date of enactment of this Act, in accordance 
with— 
(1) the document entitled ‘‘Partnership Agreement Between 
the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources 
Conservation Service and the United States Department of 
the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service’’, numbered A–3A7516– 
937, and formalized by the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service on September 15, 2016, and by the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on 
August 4, 2016, as in effect on September 15, 2016; and 
(2) United States Fish and Wildlife Service Director’s Order 
No. 217, dated August 9, 2016, as in effect on August 9, 2016. 
(b) EXPANSION OF MODEL.—The Secretary and the Secretary 
of the Interior may expand the conservation model described in 
subsection (a) through a new partnership agreement between the 
Farm Service Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service for the purpose of carrying out conservation activities for 
species conservation. 
(c) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF REGULATORY PREDICTABILITY.— 
(1) DEFINITION
OF
PERIOD
OF
REGULATORY
PREDICT-
ABILITY.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘period of regulatory 
predictability’’ means the period of regulatory predictability 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) initially determined in accordance with the document 
and order described in paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, 
of subsection (a). 
(2) EXTENSION.—After the period of regulatory predict-
ability, on request of the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, 
acting through the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service, may provide additional consultation under 
section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1536(a)(2)), or additional conference under section 7(a)(4) of 
that Act (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(4)), as applicable, with the Chief 
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Adminis-
trator of the Farm Service Agency, as applicable, to extend 
the period of regulatory predictability. 
SEC. 2408. FERAL SWINE ERADICATION AND CONTROL PILOT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a feral swine 
eradication and control pilot program to respond to the threat 
feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human 
and animal health. 
(b) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram, the Secretary shall— 
(1) study and assess the nature and extent of damage 
to the pilot areas caused by feral swine; 
(2) develop methods to eradicate or control feral swine 
in the pilot areas; 
(3) develop methods to restore damage caused by feral 
swine; and 
(4) provide financial assistance to agricultural producers 
in pilot areas. 
(c) ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide financial assist-
ance to agricultural producers under the pilot program to implement 
methods to— 
(1) eradicate or control feral swine in the pilot areas; and
H. R. 2—86 
(2) restore damage caused by feral swine. 
(d) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that the Nat-
ural Resources Conservation Service and the Animal and Plant 
Health Inspection Service coordinate for purposes of this section 
through State technical committees established under section 
1261(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(a)). 
(e) PILOT AREAS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot pro-
gram in areas of States in which feral swine have been identified 
as a threat to agriculture, native ecosystems, or human or animal 
health, as determined by the Secretary. 
(f) COST SHARING.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the costs of 
activities under the pilot program may not exceed 75 percent 
of the total costs of such activities. 
(2) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—The non-Federal share of the 
costs of activities under the pilot program may be provided 
in the form of in-kind contributions of materials or services. 
(g) FUNDING.— 
(1) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this 
section $75,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023. 
(2) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—Of the funds made available 
under paragraph (1)— 
(A) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service to carry out the pilot pro-
gram, including the provision of financial assistance to 
producers for on-farm trapping and technology related to 
capturing and confining feral swine; and 
(B) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service to carry out the pilot pro-
gram, including the use of established, and testing of 
innovative, population reduction methods. 
(3) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Not more 
than 10 percent of funds made available under this section 
may be used for administrative expenses of the pilot program. 
SEC. 2409. REPORT ON SMALL WETLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Chief of 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 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 describing the number of wetlands with an area not more 
than 1 acre that have been delineated in each of the States of 
North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa during fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—In the report under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service, shall list the number of wetlands acres in each State 
described in the report by tenths of an acre, and ensure the report 
is based on the best available science. 
SEC. 2410. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO INCREASED WATER-
SHED-BASED COLLABORATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should 
recognize and encourage partnerships at the watershed level 
between nonpoint sources and regulated point sources to advance 
the goals of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
H. R. 2—87 
1251 et seq.) and provide benefits to farmers, landowners, and 
the public. 
Subtitle E—Funding and Administration 
SEC. 2501. COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION. 
(a) ANNUAL FUNDING.—Section 1241(a) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018 
(and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the program specified 
in paragraph (5))’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘$10,000,000 for 
the period of fiscal years 2014 through 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘$12,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘$33,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,000,000 
for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, 
including not more than $5,000,000 to provide outreach 
and technical assistance,’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘retired or retiring owners and 
operators’’ and inserting ‘‘contract holders’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) $450,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023.’’; 
(4) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) The programs under chapter 4, using, to the maximum 
extent practicable— 
‘‘(A) for the environmental quality incentives program 
under subchapter A of that chapter— 
‘‘(i) $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(ii) $1,750,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(iii) $1,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(iv) $1,850,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(v) $2,025,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(B) for the conservation stewardship program under 
subchapter B of that chapter— 
‘‘(i) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(ii) $725,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(iii) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(iv) $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(v) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’; 
(5) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘(as in effect on the 
day before the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018), using such sums as are necessary to admin-
ister contracts entered into before that date of enactment’’ 
before the period at the end; and 
(6) by striking paragraph (5). 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 1241(b) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018
H. R. 2—88 
(and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the program specified in sub-
section (a)(5))’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(c) REPORT ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS AND ASSISTANCE.—Sec-
tion 1241(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(i)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) REPORT
ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS
AND ASSISTANCE.— 
Not later than December 15 of each of calendar years 2019 through 
2023, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate an annual report containing 
statistics by State related to enrollments in conservation programs 
under this title, as follows: 
‘‘(1) The annual and current cumulative activity reflecting 
active agreement and contract enrollment statistics. 
‘‘(2) Secretarial exceptions, waivers, and significant pay-
ments, including— 
‘‘(A) payments made under the agricultural conserva-
tion easement program for easements valued at $250,000 
or greater; 
‘‘(B) payments made under the regional conservation 
partnership program subject to the waiver of adjusted gross 
income limitations pursuant to section 1271C(c)(3); 
‘‘(C) waivers granted by the Secretary under section 
1001D(b)(3); 
‘‘(D) exceptions and activity associated with section 
1240B(h)(2); and 
‘‘(E) exceptions provided by the Secretary under section 
1265B(b)(2)(B)(ii).’’. 
(d) ALLOCATIONS REVIEW AND UPDATE.—Section 1241(g) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘January’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary, 
acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service and the Administrator of the Farm 
Service Agency, shall’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘annual’’ after ‘‘utilize’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘relevant data on local natural 
resource concerns, resource inventories, evaluations and 
reports, recommendations from State technical committees 
established under section 1261(a),’’ after ‘‘accounting for’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘that the formulas’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘that— 
‘‘(A) the formulas’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable, local natural 
resource concerns are considered a leading factor in deter-
mining annual funding allocation to States; 
‘‘(C) the process used at the national level to evaluate 
State budget proposals and to allocate funds is reviewed 
annually to assess the effect of allocations in addressing 
identified natural resource priorities and objectives; and
H. R. 2—89 
‘‘(D) the allocation of funds to States addresses priority 
natural resource concerns and objectives.’’. 
(e) ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCHERS FOR CON-
SERVATION ACCESS.—Section 1241(h) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; 
(B) in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘Of the funds’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) FISCAL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 2018.—Of the funds’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2023.—Of the funds 
made available for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 
to carry out the environmental quality incentives program 
under subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D and the 
conservation stewardship program under subchapter B of 
chapter 4 of subtitle D, the Secretary shall use, to the 
maximum extent practicable— 
‘‘(i) 5 percent to assist beginning farmers or 
ranchers; and 
‘‘(ii) 5 percent to assist socially disadvantaged 
farmers or ranchers.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘and, in the case of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, under the conservation steward-
ship program under subchapter B of chapter 4 of subtitle D’’ 
before the period at the end; 
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘year, acres not obligated 
under paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘year through fiscal year 
2018, acres not obligated under paragraph (1)(A)’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A) or (B) 
of paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘, as applicable, clause (i) or 
(ii) of paragraph (1)(A) or clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)’’. 
(f) CONSERVATION STANDARDS
AND REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) CONSERVATION STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements of this title, 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service shall serve as the 
lead agency in developing and establishing technical standards 
and requirements for conservation programs carried out under 
this title, including— 
‘‘(A) standards for conservation practices under this 
title; 
‘‘(B) technical guidelines for implementing conservation 
practices under this title, including the location of the 
conservation practices; and 
‘‘(C) standards for conservation plans. 
‘‘(2) CONSISTENCY
OF
FARM
SERVICE
AGENCY
TECHNICAL 
STANDARDS
AND
PAYMENT
RATES.—The Administrator of the 
Farm Service Agency shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) technical standards of programs administered by 
the Farm Service Agency are consistent with the technical
H. R. 2—90 
standards established by the Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) payment rates, to the extent practicable, are con-
sistent between the Farm Service Agency and the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service.’’. 
SEC. 2502. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1242(a) of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘eligible participant’ 
means a producer, landowner, or entity that is participating 
in, or seeking to participate in, programs in which the producer, 
landowner, or entity is otherwise eligible to participate under 
this title or the agricultural management assistance program 
under section 524(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 
U.S.C. 1524(b)). 
‘‘(2) THIRD-PARTY
PROVIDER.—The term ‘third-party pro-
vider’ means a commercial entity (including a farmer coopera-
tive, agriculture retailer, or other commercial entity (as defined 
by the Secretary)), a nonprofit entity, a State or local govern-
ment (including a conservation district), or a Federal agency, 
that has expertise in the technical aspect of conservation plan-
ning, including nutrient management planning, watershed 
planning, or environmental engineering.’’. 
(b) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—Section 1242(e) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(e)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(4) CERTIFICATION PROCESS.—The Secretary shall certify 
a third-party provider through— 
‘‘(A) a certification process administered by the Sec-
retary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; or 
‘‘(B) a non-Federal entity approved by the Secretary 
to perform the certification. 
‘‘(5) STREAMLINED CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide a streamlined certification process for a third-party pro-
vider that has an appropriate specialty certification, including 
a sustainability certification.’’. 
(c) EXPEDITED REVISION
OF STANDARDS.—Section 1242(h) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, complete a 
review of each conservation practice standard, including 
engineering design specifications, in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of that Act;’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) evaluate opportunities to increase flexibility in 
conservation practice standards in a manner that ensures 
equivalent natural resource benefits.’’;
H. R. 2—91 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘State technical commit-
tees established under section 1261(a),’’ before ‘‘crop consult-
ants’’; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) EXPEDITED REVISION OF STANDARDS.—Not later than 
1 year after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018, the Secretary shall develop for the programs 
under this title an administrative process for— 
‘‘(A) expediting the establishment and revision of con-
servation practice standards; 
‘‘(B) considering conservation innovations and scientific 
and technological advancements with respect to any 
establishment or revision under subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(C) allowing local flexibility in the creation of— 
‘‘(i) interim practice standards and supplements 
to existing practice standards to address the consider-
ations described in subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(ii) partnership-led proposals for new and innova-
tive techniques to facilitate implementing agreements 
and grants under this title; and 
‘‘(D) soliciting regular input from State technical 
committees established under section 1261(a) for rec-
ommendations that identify innovations or advancements 
described in subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and 
every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report on— 
‘‘(A) the administrative process developed under para-
graph (3); 
‘‘(B) conservation practice standards that were estab-
lished or revised under that process; and 
‘‘(C) conservation innovations that were considered 
under that process.’’. 
SEC. 2503. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSERVATION 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—Section 1244(f) of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘10’’ and inserting ‘‘15’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘the Agricultural Act of 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS.—Section 
1244 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (m); 
(2) by redesignating subsections (j) through (l) as sub-
sections (k) through (m), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (i) the following: 
‘‘(j) REVIEW AND GUIDANCE FOR PRACTICE COSTS AND PAYMENT 
RATES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and 
not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary 
shall—
H. R. 2—92 
‘‘(A) review the estimates for practice costs and rates 
of payments made to producers for practices on eligible 
land under this title; and 
‘‘(B) evaluate whether those costs and rates reflect 
a payment that— 
‘‘(i) encourages participation in a conservation pro-
gram administered by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) encourages implementation of the most effec-
tive practices to address local natural resource concerns 
on eligible land; and 
‘‘(iii) accounts for regional, State, and local varia-
bility relating to the complexity, implementation, and 
adoption of practices on eligible land. 
‘‘(2) GUIDANCE; REVIEW.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) issue guidance to States to annually review and 
adjust the estimates for practice costs and rates of pay-
ments made to producers to reflect the evaluation factors 
described in paragraph (1)(B); and 
‘‘(B) determine the appropriate practice costs and rates 
of payments for each State by— 
‘‘(i) annually reviewing each conservation program 
payment schedule and payment rate used in the State; 
and 
‘‘(ii) consulting with the State technical committee 
established under section 1261(a) in that State.’’. 
(c) FUNDING FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—Section 1244(m) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (as redesignated by subsection (b)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘that the goals’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘that— 
‘‘(1) the goals’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking ‘‘arrange-
ments, and that statutory’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘arrangements; 
‘‘(2) a sufficient number of eligible participants will be 
aggregated under the alternative funding arrangement to 
accomplish the underlying purposes and objectives of the 
applicable program; and 
‘‘(3) statutory’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (3) (as so designated), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘, except that the Secretary 
may approve a waiver if the Secretary is authorized to approve 
a waiver under the statutory authority of the applicable pro-
gram.’’. 
(d) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION THROUGH TARGETING OF AGRI-
CULTURAL PRACTICES.—Section 1244 of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) (as amended by subsection (b)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(n) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION THROUGH TARGETING OF AGRI-
CULTURAL PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out any conservation pro-
gram administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall encour-
age practices that relate to water quality and water quantity 
that protect source water for drinking water (including pro-
tecting against public health threats) while also benefitting 
agricultural producers.
H. R. 2—93 
‘‘(2) COLLABORATION WITH WATER SYSTEMS AND INCREASED 
INCENTIVES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In encouraging practices under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) work collaboratively with community water 
systems and State technical committees established 
under section 1261(a) to identify, in each State, local 
priority areas for the protection of source waters for 
drinking water; and 
‘‘(ii) subject to subparagraph (B), for practices 
described in paragraph (1), offer to producers increased 
incentives and higher payment rates than are other-
wise statutorily authorized by the applicable conserva-
tion program administered by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) 
LIMITATION.—An 
increased 
payment 
under 
subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not exceed 90 percent of practice 
costs associated with planning, design, materials, equip-
ment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or 
training. 
‘‘(3) RESERVATION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023, the Secretary shall use to carry out this subsection 
not less than 10 percent of any funds available for conserva-
tion programs administered by the Secretary under this 
title (other than the conservation reserve program estab-
lished under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—Funds available for a specific con-
servation program shall not be transferred to fund a dif-
ferent conservation program under this title.’’. 
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MARKET.—Section 1244 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) (as amended by sub-
section (d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(o) ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES MARKET.—The Secretary may 
not prohibit, through a contract, easement, or agreement under 
this title, a participant in a conservation program administered 
by the Secretary under this title from participating in, and receiving 
compensation from, an environmental services market if 1 of the 
purposes of the market is the facilitation of additional conservation 
benefits that are consistent with the purposes of the conservation 
program administered by the Secretary.’’. 
(f) REGULATORY CERTAINTY.—Section 1244 of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) (as amended by subsection (e)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(p) REGULATORY CERTAINTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to technical and pro-
grammatic information that the Secretary is otherwise author-
ized to provide, on request of a Federal agency, a State, an 
Indian tribe, or a unit of local government, the Secretary may 
provide technical and programmatic information— 
‘‘(A) subject to paragraph (2), to the Federal agency, 
State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government to support 
specifically the development of mechanisms that would pro-
vide regulatory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe 
harbor protection, or other similar regulatory assurances 
to a farmer, rancher, or private nonindustrial forest land-
owner under a regulatory requirement— 
‘‘(i) that relates to soil, water, or wildlife; and
H. R. 2—94 
‘‘(ii) over which that Federal agency, State, Indian 
tribe, or unit of local government has authority; and 
‘‘(B) relating to conservation practices or activities that 
could be implemented by a farmer, rancher, or private 
nonindustrial forest landowner to address a targeted soil, 
water, or wildlife resource concern that is the direct subject 
of a regulatory requirement enforced by that Federal 
agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government, 
as applicable. 
‘‘(2) MECHANISMS.—The Secretary shall only provide addi-
tional technical and programmatic information under para-
graph (1) if the mechanisms to be developed by the Federal 
agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local government, as 
applicable, under paragraph (1)(A) are anticipated to include, 
at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) the implementation of 1 or more conservation 
practices or activities that effectively addresses the soil, 
water, or wildlife resource concern identified under para-
graph (1); 
‘‘(B) the on-site confirmation that the applicable con-
servation practices or activities identified under subpara-
graph (A) have been implemented; 
‘‘(C) a plan for a periodic audit, as appropriate, of 
the continued implementation or maintenance of each of 
the conservation practices or activities identified under 
subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(D) notification to a farmer, rancher, or private non-
industrial forest landowner of, and an opportunity to cor-
rect, any noncompliance with a requirement to obtain regu-
latory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe harbor 
protection, or other similar regulatory assurance. 
‘‘(3) CONTINUING CURRENT COLLABORATION ON SOIL, WATER, 
OR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) continue collaboration with Federal agencies, 
States, Indian tribes, or local units of government on 
existing regulatory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe 
harbor protection, or other similar regulatory assurances 
in accordance with paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) continue collaboration with the Secretary of the 
Interior on consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or con-
ference under section 7(a)(4) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 
1536(a)(4)), as applicable, for wildlife conservation efforts, 
including the Working Lands for Wildlife model of conserva-
tion on working landscapes, as implemented on the day 
before the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018, in accordance with— 
‘‘(i) the document entitled ‘Partnership Agreement 
Between the United States Department of Agriculture 
Natural Resources Conservation Service and the 
United States Department of the Interior Fish and 
Wildlife Service’, numbered A–3A75–16–937, and for-
malized by the Chief of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service on September 15, 2016, and by the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
on August 4, 2016, as in effect on September 15, 2016; 
and
H. R. 2—95 
‘‘(ii) United States Fish and Wildlife Service Direc-
tor’s Order No. 217, dated August 9, 2016, as in effect 
on August 9, 2016. 
‘‘(4) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this subsection— 
‘‘(A) preempts, displaces, or supplants any authority 
or right of a Federal agency, a State, an Indian tribe, 
or a unit of local government; 
‘‘(B) modifies or otherwise affects, preempts, or dis-
places— 
‘‘(i) any cause of action; or 
‘‘(ii) a provision of Federal or State law establishing 
a remedy for a civil or criminal cause of action; or 
‘‘(C) applies to a case in which the Department of 
Agriculture is the originating agency requesting a consulta-
tion or other technical and programmatic information or 
assistance from another Federal agency in assisting 
farmers, ranchers, or nonindustrial private forest land-
owners participating in a conservation program adminis-
tered by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 2504. TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATION OF CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) INTERIM ADMINISTRATION.—Subject to subsection (d), the 
Secretary shall use the applicable regulations in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of this Act, to the extent that the 
terms and conditions of those regulations are consistent with the 
amendments made by this title, to carry out the programs under 
laws as amended by this title, including— 
(1) the conservation reserve program under subchapter B 
of chapter 1 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831 et seq.) (as amended by subtitle 
B); 
(2) the environmental quality incentives program under 
subchapter A of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq) (as added 
by section 2301(a)(1) and amended by subtitle C); 
(3) the conservation stewardship program under subchapter 
B of chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (as added by subsections (a)(2) and (b) of section 
2301 and amended by subtitle C); and 
(4) the agricultural conservation easement program estab-
lished under subtitle H of title XII of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865 et seq.) (as amended by subtitle F). 
(b) REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.—Not-
withstanding subsection (e) of section 1271E of the Food Security 
Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e) (as amended by section 2706), and 
subject to subsection (d), for fiscal year 2019, the Secretary may 
use an availability of program funding announcement consistent 
with the amendments made by subtitle G to carry out the regional 
conservation partnership program under subtitle I of title XII of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq.) without 
issuing a regulation. 
(c) FUNDING.—The Secretary may only use funds authorized 
to be made available by this title or the amendments made by 
this title for the specific programs described in paragraphs (1) 
through (4) of subsection (a) and subsection (b), in accordance
H. R. 2—96 
with any restrictions on the use of those funds, for the purposes 
described in subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority of the Sec-
retary to carry out subsections (a) and (b) shall terminate on Sep-
tember 30, 2019. 
(e) PERMANENT ADMINISTRATION.—Effective beginning on the 
termination date described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall 
carry out this title and the amendments made by this title in 
accordance with such final regulations as the Secretary considers 
necessary to carry out this title and the amendments made by 
this title. 
Subtitle F—Agricultural Conservation 
Easement Program 
SEC. 2601. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
Section 1265(b) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘that negatively affect 
the agricultural uses and conservation values’’ after ‘‘that land’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘restoring and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘restoring or’’. 
SEC. 2602. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1265A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph(1)(B), by striking ‘‘subject to an agricul-
tural land easement plan, as approved by the Secretary’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) as 
paragraphs (3), (4), (6), and (7), respectively; 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) BUY-PROTECT-SELL TRANSACTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘buy-protect-sell trans-
action’ means a legal arrangement— 
‘‘(i) between an eligible entity and the Secretary 
relating to land that an eligible entity owns or is 
going to purchase prior to acquisition of an agricultural 
land easement; 
‘‘(ii) under which the eligible entity certifies to 
the Secretary that the eligible entity shall— 
‘‘(I)(aa) hold an agricultural land easement on 
that land, but transfer ownership of the land to 
a farmer or rancher that is not an eligible entity 
prior to or on acquisition of the agricultural land 
easement; or 
‘‘(bb) hold an agricultural land easement on 
that land, but transfer ownership of the land to 
a farmer or rancher that is not an eligible entity 
in a timely manner and, subject to subparagraph 
(B), not later than 3 years after the date of acquisi-
tion of the agricultural land easement; and 
‘‘(II) make an initial sale of the land subject 
to the agricultural land easement to a farmer or 
rancher at not more than agricultural value, plus 
any reasonable holding and transaction costs
H. R. 2—97 
incurred by the eligible entity, as determined by 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(iii) 
under 
which 
the 
Secretary 
shall 
be 
reimbursed for the entirety of the Federal share of 
the cost of the agricultural land easement by the 
eligible entity if the eligible entity fails to transfer 
ownership under item (aa) or (bb), as applicable, of 
clause (ii)(I). 
‘‘(B) 
TIME
EXTENSION.—Under 
subparagraph 
(A)(ii)(I)(bb), an eligible entity may transfer land later than 
3 years after the date of acquisition of the agricultural 
land easement if the Secretary determines an extension 
of time is justified.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘to a’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘to— 
‘‘(I) a’’; 
(ii) in subclause (I) (as so designated), by adding 
‘‘or’’ at the end; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(II) a buy-protect-sell transaction;’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), by striking ‘‘, as deter-
mined by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary 
of the Interior at the local level’’; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (4) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(5) MONITORING
REPORT.—The term ‘monitoring report’ 
means a report, the contents of which are formulated and 
prepared by the holder of an agricultural land easement, that 
accurately documents whether the land subject to the agricul-
tural land easement is in compliance with the terms and condi-
tions of the agricultural land easement.’’. 
SEC. 2603. AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS. 
(a) AVAILABILITY OF ASSISTANCE.—Section 1265B(a) of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘provide for the conserva-
tion of natural resources pursuant to an agricultural land ease-
ment plan.’’ and inserting ‘‘implement the program, including 
technical assistance for the development of a conservation plan 
under subsection (b)(4)(C)(iv); and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) buy-protect-sell transactions.’’. 
(b) COST-SHARE ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) SCOPE OF ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE.—Section 1265B(b)(2) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b(b)(2)) is 
amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (ii) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) GRASSLANDS EXCEPTION.—In the case of grass-
land of special environmental significance, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, the Secretary may provide 
an amount not to exceed 75 percent of the fair market 
value of the agricultural land easement.
H. R. 2—98 
‘‘(iii) PERMISSIBLE FORMS.—The non-Federal share 
provided by an eligible entity under this subparagraph 
may comprise— 
‘‘(I) cash resources; 
‘‘(II) a charitable donation or qualified con-
servation contribution (as defined in section 170(h) 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from the 
private landowner from which the agricultural 
land easement will be purchased; 
‘‘(III) costs associated with securing a deed 
to the agricultural land easement, including the 
cost of appraisal, survey, inspection, and title; and 
‘‘(IV) other costs, as determined by the Sec-
retary.’’; and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (C). 
(2) EVALUATION AND RANKING OF APPLICATIONS.—Section 
1265B(b)(3) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865b(b)(3)) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subpara-
graph (E); and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: 
‘‘(C) ACCOUNTING FOR GEOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES.—The 
Secretary may adjust the criteria established under 
subparagraph (A) to account for geographic differences, 
if the adjustments— 
‘‘(i) meet the purposes of the program; and 
‘‘(ii) continue to maximize the benefit of the Fed-
eral investment under the program. 
‘‘(D) PRIORITY.—In evaluating applications under the 
program, the Secretary may give priority to an application 
for the purchase of an agricultural land easement that, 
as determined by the Secretary, maintains agricultural 
viability.’’. 
(3) 
AGREEMENTS
WITH
ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—Section 
1265B(b)(4) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865b(b)(4)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking clauses (iii) and 
(iv) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(iii) include a right of enforcement for the Sec-
retary that— 
‘‘(I) may be used only if the terms and condi-
tions of the easement are not enforced by the 
eligible entity; and 
‘‘(II) does not extend to a right of inspection 
unless— 
‘‘(aa)(AA) the holder of the easement fails 
to provide monitoring reports in a timely 
manner; or 
‘‘(BB) the Secretary has a reasonable and 
articulable belief that the terms and conditions 
of the easement have been violated; and 
‘‘(bb) prior to the inspection, the Secretary 
notifies the eligible entity and the landowner 
of the inspection and provides a reasonable 
opportunity for the eligible entity and the 
landowner to participate in the inspection;
H. R. 2—99 
‘‘(iv) include a conservation plan only for any por-
tion of the land subject to the agricultural land ease-
ment that is highly erodible cropland; and’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: 
‘‘(D) ADDITIONAL PERMITTED TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
An eligible entity may include terms and conditions for 
an agricultural land easement that— 
‘‘(i) are intended to keep the land subject to the 
agricultural land easement under the ownership of 
a farmer or rancher, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) allow subsurface mineral development on the 
land subject to the agricultural land easement and 
in accordance with applicable State law if, as deter-
mined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(I) the subsurface mineral development— 
‘‘(aa) has a limited and localized impact; 
‘‘(bb) does not harm the agricultural use 
and conservation values of the land subject 
to the easement; 
‘‘(cc) does not materially alter or affect 
the existing topography; 
‘‘(dd) shall comply with a subsurface min-
eral development plan that— 
‘‘(AA) includes a plan for the remedi-
ation of impacts to the agricultural use 
and conservation values of the land sub-
ject to the easement; and 
‘‘(BB) is approved by the Secretary 
prior to the initiation of mineral develop-
ment activity; 
‘‘(ee) is not accomplished by any surface 
mining method; 
‘‘(ff) is within the impervious surface 
limits of the easement under subparagraph 
(C)(v); and 
‘‘(gg) uses practices and technologies that 
minimize the duration and intensity of impacts 
to the agricultural use and conservation values 
of the land subject to the easement; and 
‘‘(II) each area impacted by the subsurface 
mineral development shall be reclaimed and 
restored by the holder of the mineral rights at 
cessation of operation; and 
‘‘(iii) include other relevant activities relating to 
the agricultural land easement, as determined by the 
Secretary.’’. 
(4) 
CERTIFICATION
OF
ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—Section 
1265B(b)(5) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865b(b)(5)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2—100 
‘‘(iv) allow a certified eligible entity to use its own 
terms and conditions, notwithstanding paragraph 
(4)(C), as long as the terms and conditions are con-
sistent with the purposes of the program.’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (iii), by redesignating subclauses (I) 
through (III) as items (aa) through (cc), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as 
subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; 
(iii) in the matter preceding subclause (I) (as so 
redesignated), by striking ‘‘entity will’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘eligible entity— 
‘‘(i) will’’; 
(iv) in clause (i)(III)(cc) (as so redesignated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) has— 
‘‘(I) been accredited by the Land Trust Accredi-
tation Commission, or by an equivalent accrediting 
body, as determined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(II) acquired not fewer than 10 agricultural 
land easements under the program or any prede-
cessor program; and 
‘‘(III) successfully met the responsibilities of 
the eligible entity under the applicable agreements 
with the Secretary, as determined by the Sec-
retary, relating to agricultural land easements that 
the eligible entity has acquired under the program 
or any predecessor program; or 
‘‘(iii) is a State department of agriculture or other 
State agency with statutory authority for farm and 
ranchland protection that has— 
‘‘(I) acquired not fewer than 10 agricultural 
land easements under the program or any prede-
cessor program; and 
‘‘(II) successfully met the responsibilities of 
the eligible entity under the applicable agreements 
with the Secretary, as determined by the Sec-
retary, relating to agricultural land easements that 
the eligible entity has acquired under the program 
or any predecessor program.’’. 
(5) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—Section 1265B of the Food 
Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3865b) is amended by striking 
subsection (d) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide tech-
nical assistance, if requested, to assist in compliance with the 
terms and conditions of easements.’’. 
SEC. 2604. WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS. 
Section 1265C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865c) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting ‘‘or improving 
water quality’’ before the period at the end; and
H. R. 2—101 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘Land subject’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Land subject’’; 
(II) in clause (i) (as so designated), by inserting 
‘‘water management,’’ after ‘‘timber harvest,’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) COMPATIBLE USE AUTHORIZATION.—In evalu-
ating and authorizing a compatible economic use under 
clause (i), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(I) request and consider the advice of the 
applicable State technical committee established 
under section 1261(a) about the 1 or more types 
of uses that may be authorized to be conducted 
on land subject to a wetland reserve easement, 
including the frequency, timing, and intensity of 
those uses; 
‘‘(II) consider the ability of an authorized use 
to facilitate the practical administration and 
management of that land; and 
‘‘(III) ensure that an authorized use furthers 
the functions and values for which the wetland 
reserve easement was established.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (D)(i)(III), by inserting after 
‘‘under subsection (f)’’ the following: ‘‘or a grazing 
management plan that is consistent with the wetland 
reserve easement plan and has been reviewed, and 
modified as necessary, at least every 5 years’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENT PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop a wet-
land reserve easement plan— 
‘‘(i) for any eligible land subject to a wetland 
reserve easement; and 
‘‘(ii) that restores, protects, enhances, manages, 
maintains, and monitors the eligible land subject to 
the wetland reserve easements acquired under this 
section. 
‘‘(B) PRACTICES
AND
ACTIVITIES.—A wetland reserve 
easement plan under subparagraph (A) shall include prac-
tices and activities, including repair or replacement, that 
are necessary to restore and maintain the enrolled land 
and the functions and values of the wetland subject to 
a wetland reserve easement.’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-
graphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) ALTERNATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES.—The Secretary, in 
coordination with State technical committees established under 
section 1261(a) and pursuant to State-specific criteria and 
guidelines, may authorize the establishment or restoration of 
a hydrologically appropriate native community or alternative 
naturalized vegetative community as part of a wetland reserve 
easement plan on land subject to a wetland reserve easement
H. R. 2—102 
if that hydrologically appropriate native or alternative natural-
ized vegetative community shall— 
‘‘(A) substantially support or benefit migratory water-
fowl or other wetland wildlife; or 
‘‘(B) meet local resource concerns or needs (including 
as an element of a regional, State, or local wildlife initiative 
or plan).’’. 
SEC. 2605. ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 1265D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3865d) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (a)(4), by striking ‘‘proposed’’ and inserting 
‘‘permitted’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) SUBORDINATION, EXCHANGE, MODIFICATION, AND TERMI-
NATION.— 
‘‘(1) SUBORDINATION.—The Secretary may subordinate any 
interest in land, or portion of such interest, administered by 
the Secretary (including for the purposes of utilities and energy 
transmission services) either directly or on behalf of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation under the program if the Secretary 
determines that the subordination— 
‘‘(A) increases conservation values or has a limited 
negative effect on conservation values; 
‘‘(B) minimally affects the acreage subject to the 
interest in land; and 
‘‘(C) is in the public interest or furthers the practical 
administration of the program. 
‘‘(2) MODIFICATION AND EXCHANGE.— 
‘‘(A) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may approve a modi-
fication or exchange of any interest in land, or portion 
of such interest, administered by the Secretary, either 
directly or on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation 
under the program if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(i) no reasonable alternative exists and the effect 
on the interest in land is avoided or minimized to 
the extent practicable; and 
‘‘(ii) the modification or exchange— 
‘‘(I) results in equal or increased conservation 
values; 
‘‘(II) results in equal or greater economic value 
to the United States; 
‘‘(III) is consistent with the original intent of 
the easement; 
‘‘(IV) is consistent with the purposes of the 
program; and 
‘‘(V) is in the public interest or furthers the 
practical administration of the program. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—In modifying or exchanging an 
interest in land, or portion of such interest, under this 
paragraph, the Secretary may not increase any payment 
to an eligible entity. 
‘‘(3) TERMINATION.—The Secretary may approve a termi-
nation of any interest in land, or portion of such interest, 
administered by the Secretary, directly or on behalf of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation under the program if the Sec-
retary determines that—
H. R. 2—103 
‘‘(A) termination is in the interest of the Federal 
Government; 
‘‘(B) the United States will be fully compensated for— 
‘‘(i) the fair market value of the interest in land; 
‘‘(ii) any costs relating to the termination; and 
‘‘(iii) any damages determined appropriate by the 
Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) the termination will— 
‘‘(i) address a compelling public need for which 
there is no practicable alternative even with avoidance 
and minimization; and 
‘‘(ii) further the practical administration of the pro-
gram. 
‘‘(4) CONSENT.—The Secretary shall obtain consent from 
the landowner and eligible entity, if applicable, for any subordi-
nation, exchange, modification, or termination of interest in 
land, or portion of such interest, under this subsection. 
‘‘(5) NOTICE.—At least 90 days before taking any termi-
nation action described in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
provide written notice of such action to the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘transferred into the 
program’’ and inserting ‘‘enrolled in an easement under 
section 1265C(b)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) AGRICULTURAL LAND EASEMENTS.—A farmer or rancher 
who owns eligible land subject to an agricultural land easement 
may enter into a contract under subchapter B of chapter 1 
of subtitle D.’’. 
Subtitle G—Regional Conservation 
Partnership Program 
SEC. 2701. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES. 
Section 1271 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including partner-
ship agreements funded through alternative funding 
arrangements 
or 
grant 
agreements 
under 
section 
1271C(d),’’ after ‘‘partnership agreements’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘contracts with pro-
ducers’’ and inserting ‘‘program contracts with producers’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘use covered programs’’ and inserting 
‘‘carry out eligible activities’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) To further the conservation, protection, restoration, 
and sustainable use of soil, water (including sources of drinking 
water and groundwater), wildlife, agricultural land, and related
H. R. 2—104 
natural resources on eligible land on a regional or watershed 
scale.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, including 
through alignment of partnership projects with other 
national, State, and local agencies and programs 
addressing similar natural resource or environmental 
concerns’’ after ‘‘eligible land’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘installation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘adoption, installation,’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) To encourage the flexible and streamlined delivery 
of conservation assistance to producers through partnership 
agreements. 
‘‘(5) To engage producers and eligible partners in conserva-
tion projects to achieve greater conservation outcomes and bene-
fits for producers than would otherwise be achieved.’’. 
SEC. 2702. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 1271A of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ‘‘, not including 
the grassland conservation initiative under section 1240L– 
1’’ before the period at the end; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) The conservation reserve program established 
under subchapter B of chapter 1 of subtitle D. 
‘‘(F) The programs established by the Secretary to carry 
out the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), except for any program established 
by the Secretary to carry out section 14 (16 U.S.C. 1012) 
of that Act.’’; 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.—The term ‘eligible activity’ means 
a practice, activity, agreement, easement, or related conserva-
tion measure that is available under the statutory authority 
for a covered program. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE LAND.—The term ‘eligible land’ means any 
agricultural or nonindustrial private forest land or associated 
land on which the Secretary determines an eligible activity 
would help achieve conservation benefits.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ‘‘acequia,’’ after 
‘‘irrigation district,’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(I) An organization described in section 1265A(3)(B). 
‘‘(J) A conservation district.’’; 
(4) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(5) PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.—The term ‘partnership 
agreement’ means the programmatic agreement entered into 
between the Secretary and an eligible partner, subject to the 
terms and conditions under section 1271B.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) PROGRAM CONTRACT.—
H. R. 2—105 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘program contract’ means 
the contract between the Secretary and a producer entered 
into under this subtitle. 
‘‘(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘program contract’ does not 
include a contract under a covered program.’’. 
SEC. 2703. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS. 
Section 1271B of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871b) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) LENGTH.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A partnership agreement shall be— 
‘‘(A) for a period not to exceed 5 years; or 
‘‘(B) for a period that is longer than 5 years, if the 
longer period is necessary to meet the objectives of the 
program, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) RENEWAL.—A partnership agreement may be renewed 
under subsection (e)(5) for a period not to exceed 5 years. 
‘‘(3) EXTENSION.—A partnership agreement, or any renewal 
of a partnership agreement, may each be extended 1 time 
for a period not longer than 12 months, as determined by 
the Secretary.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as 
clauses (iv) and (v), respectively; and 
(II) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(i) 1 or more conservation benefits that the project 
shall achieve; 
‘‘(ii) the eligible activities on eligible land to be 
conducted under the project to achieve conservation 
benefits; 
‘‘(iii) the implementation timeline for carrying out 
the project, including any interim milestones;’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘funds’’ and 
inserting ‘‘contributions’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘of the 
project’s effects; and’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘of— 
‘‘(i) the progress made by the project in achieving 
each conservation benefit defined in the partnership 
agreement, including in a quantified form to the extent 
practicable; and 
‘‘(ii) as appropriate, other outcomes of the project; 
and’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘An eligible’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) FORM.—A contribution of an eligible partner under 
this paragraph may be in the form of— 
‘‘(i) direct funding; 
‘‘(ii) in-kind support; or 
‘‘(iii) a combination of direct funding and in-kind 
support.
H. R. 2—106 
‘‘(C) TREATMENT.—Any amounts expended during the 
period beginning on the date on which the Secretary 
announces the approval of an application under subsection 
(e) and ending on the day before the effective date of 
the partnership agreement by an eligible partner for staff 
salaries or development of the partnership agreement may 
be considered to be a part of the contribution of the eligible 
partner under this paragraph.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); 
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: 
‘‘(d) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish a timeline for carrying out the duties of 
the Secretary under a partnership agreement, including— 
‘‘(A) entering into program contracts with producers; 
‘‘(B) providing financial assistance to producers; and 
‘‘(C) in the case of a partnership agreement that is 
funded through an alternative funding arrangement or 
grant agreement under section 1271C(d), providing the pay-
ments to the eligible partner for carrying out eligible activi-
ties; 
‘‘(2) identify in each State a program coordinator for the 
State, who shall be responsible for providing assistance to 
eligible partners under the program; 
‘‘(3) establish guidance to assist eligible partners with car-
rying out the assessment required under subsection (c)(1)(E); 
‘‘(4) provide to each eligible partner that has entered into 
a partnership agreement that is not funded through an alter-
native funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 
1271C(d)— 
‘‘(A) a semiannual report describing the status of each 
pending and obligated contract under the project of the 
eligible partner; and 
‘‘(B) an annual report describing how the Secretary 
used amounts reserved by the Secretary for that year for 
technical assistance under section 1271D(f); and 
‘‘(5) ensure that any eligible activity effectively achieves 
the conservation benefits identified in the partnership agree-
ment under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i).’’; 
(5) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘simplified’’ after 
‘‘conduct a’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking the paragraph designation and 
heading and all that follows through ‘‘description of— 
’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The Secretary shall develop a simplified 
application that includes a description of—’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘, including 
the covered programs to be used’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘financial’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by striking subparagraph (D); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) 
as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing:
H. R. 2—107 
‘‘(D) build new partnerships with local, State, and pri-
vate entities to include a diversity of stakeholders in the 
project; 
‘‘(E) deliver a high percentage of applied conservation— 
‘‘(i) to achieve conservation benefits; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a project in a critical conserva-
tion area under section 1271F, to address the priority 
resource concern for that critical conservation area; 
‘‘(F) implement the project consistent with existing 
watershed, habitat, or other area restoration plans;’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) RENEWALS.—If the Secretary determines that a project 
that is the subject of a partnership agreement has met or 
exceeded the objectives of the project, the Secretary may renew 
the partnership agreement through an expedited noncompeti-
tive process if the 1 or more eligible partners that are parties 
to the partnership agreement request the renewal in order— 
‘‘(A) to continue to implement the project under a 
renewal of the partnership agreement; or 
‘‘(B) to expand the scope of the project under a renewal 
of the partnership agreement, as long as the expansion 
is within the objectives and purposes of the original part-
nership agreement.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) NONAPPLICABILITY
OF ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME LIMITA-
TION.—The adjusted gross income limitation described in section 
1001D(b)(1) shall not apply to an eligible partner under the pro-
gram.’’. 
SEC. 2704. ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS. 
Section 1271C of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871c) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A producer may receive financial or technical 
assistance to conduct eligible activities on eligible land through 
a program contract entered into with the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program 
contract to be entered into with a producer to conduct eligible 
activities on eligible land, subject to such terms and conditions 
as the Secretary may establish. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION BUNDLES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible partner may submit to 
the Secretary, on behalf of producers, a bundle of applica-
tions for assistance under the program through program 
contracts to address a substantial portion of the conserva-
tion benefits to be achieved by the project, as defined 
in the partnership agreement. 
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary may give priority to 
applications described in subparagraph (A).’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘In accordance with 
statutory requirements of the covered programs involved, 
the Secretary may make payments to a producer’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Subject to section 1271D, the Secretary may 
make payments to a producer’’; and
H. R. 2—108 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘participating’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) FUNDING THROUGH ALTERNATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS 
OR GRANT AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A partnership agreement entered into 
with an eligible partner may be funded through an alternative 
funding arrangement or grant in accordance with this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) under a funding agreement under paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(i) use funding made available to carry out this 
subtitle to provide funding directly to the eligible 
partner; and 
‘‘(ii) provide technical and administrative assist-
ance, as mutually agreed by the parties; and 
‘‘(B) enter into not more than 15 alternative funding 
arrangements or grant agreements with 1 or more eligible 
partners each fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES
OF
ELIGIBLE
PARTNERS.—Under a funding 
agreement under paragraph (1), the eligible partner shall— 
‘‘(A) carry out eligible activities on eligible land in 
agreement with producers to achieve conservation benefits 
on a regional or watershed scale, such as— 
‘‘(i) infrastructure investments relating to agricul-
tural or nonindustrial private forest production that 
would— 
‘‘(I) benefit multiple producers; and 
‘‘(II) address natural resource concerns such 
as drought, wildfire, or water quality impairment 
on the land covered by the project; 
‘‘(ii) projects addressing natural resources concerns 
in coordination with producers, including the develop-
ment and implementation of watershed, habitat, or 
other area restoration plans; 
‘‘(iii) projects that use innovative approaches to 
leveraging the Federal investment in conservation with 
private financial mechanisms, in conjunction with agri-
cultural production or forest resource management, 
such as— 
‘‘(I) the provision of performance-based pay-
ments to producers; and 
‘‘(II) support for an environmental market; or 
‘‘(iv) other projects for which the Secretary deter-
mines that the goals and objectives of the program 
would be easier to achieve through the funding agree-
ment under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Secretary, in addition to any 
information that the Secretary requires to prepare the 
report under section 1271E(b), an annual report that 
describes the status of the project, including a description 
of— 
‘‘(i) the use of the funds awarded under paragraph 
(1); 
‘‘(ii) any subcontracts awarded; 
‘‘(iii) the producers receiving funding through the 
funding agreement under paragraph (1);
H. R. 2—109 
‘‘(iv)(I) the progress made by the project in 
addressing each natural resource concern defined in 
the funding agreement under paragraph (1), including 
in a quantified form to the extent practicable; and 
‘‘(II) as appropriate, other outcomes of the project; 
and 
‘‘(v) any other reporting data the Secretary deter-
mines are necessary to ensure compliance with the 
program rules.’’. 
SEC. 2705. FUNDING. 
Section 1271D of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871d) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$100,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$300,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2019 through 2023’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (c); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
(c) and (d), respectively; 
(4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and acres’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and reserved for the program 
under subsection (c)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘25 percent of the funds and acres 
to projects based on a State competitive process 
administered by the State Conservationist, with the 
advice of the State technical committee’’ and inserting 
‘‘50 percent of the funds to projects based on a State 
or multistate competitive process administered by the 
Secretary at the local level with the advice of the 
applicable State technical committees’’; and 
(ii) by adding ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(C) by striking paragraph (2); 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); 
and 
(E) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), by striking 
‘‘35 percent of the funds and acres’’ and inserting ‘‘50 
percent of the funds’’; 
(5) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘None of the funds made available 
or reserved for the program’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
none of the funds made available for the program, including 
for a partnership agreement funded through an alternative 
funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 
1271C(d),’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH.—Under a part-
nership agreement that is not funded through an alternative 
funding arrangement or grant agreement under section 
1271C(d), the Secretary may advance reasonable amounts of 
funding for not longer than 90 days for technical assistance
H. R. 2—110 
to eligible partners to conduct project development and outreach 
activities in a project area, including— 
‘‘(A) providing outreach and education to producers 
for potential participation in the project; 
‘‘(B) establishing baseline metrics to support the 
development of the assessment required under section 
1271B(c)(1)(E); or 
‘‘(C) providing technical assistance to producers.’’; and 
(6) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—At the time of project selection, the 
Secretary shall identify and make publicly available the amount 
that the Secretary shall use to provide technical assistance 
under the terms of the partnership agreement. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall limit costs of the 
Secretary for technical assistance to costs specific and necessary 
to carry out the objectives of the program. 
‘‘(3) THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS.—The Secretary shall develop 
and implement strategies to encourage third-party technical 
service providers to provide technical assistance to eligible part-
ners pursuant to a partnership agreement.’’. 
SEC. 2706. ADMINISTRATION. 
Section 1271E of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871e) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘1271B(d)’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘1271B(e)’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2019’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as 
paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively; 
(C) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesig-
nated) the following: 
‘‘(1) a summary of— 
‘‘(A) the progress made towards achieving the conserva-
tion benefits defined for the projects; and 
‘‘(B) any other related outcomes of the projects;’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(E) in paragraph (5) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘1271C(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘1271C(d)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) in the case of a project within a critical conservation 
area under section 1271F, the status of each priority resource 
concern for each designated critical conservation area, 
including— 
‘‘(A) the priority resource concerns for which each crit-
ical conservation area is designated; 
‘‘(B) conservation goals and outcomes sufficient to dem-
onstrate that progress is being made to address the priority 
resource concerns; 
‘‘(C) the partnership agreements selected to address 
each conservation goal and outcome; and
H. R. 2—111 
‘‘(D) the extent to which each conservation goal and 
outcome is being addressed by the partnership agree-
ments.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may not provide assistance under the program to a producer 
unless the producer agrees, during the program year for which 
the assistance is provided— 
‘‘(1) to comply with applicable conservation requirements 
under subtitle B; and 
‘‘(2) to comply with applicable wetland protection require-
ments under subtitle C. 
‘‘(d) HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, in carrying out the program, the Secretary 
and eligible partners shall conduct outreach to beginning farmers 
and ranchers, veteran farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers, and limited resource farmers and ranchers 
to encourage participation by those producers in a project subject 
to a partnership agreement or funding agreement under 1271C(d). 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regulations to 
carry out the program.’’. 
SEC. 2707. CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREAS. 
Section 1271F of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3871f) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), and (c) as sub-
sections (b), (c), and (e), respectively; 
(2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREA.—The term ‘critical con-
servation area’ means a geographical area that contains a crit-
ical conservation condition that can be addressed through the 
program. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITY
RESOURCE
CONCERN.—The term ‘priority 
resource concern’ means a natural resource concern located 
in a critical conservation area that can be addressed through— 
‘‘(A) water quality improvement, including through 
reducing 
erosion, 
promoting 
sediment 
control, 
and 
addressing nutrient management activities affecting large 
bodies of water of regional, national, or international 
significance; 
‘‘(B) water quantity improvement, including improve-
ment relating to— 
‘‘(i) drought; 
‘‘(ii) groundwater, surface water, aquifer, or other 
water sources; or 
‘‘(iii) water retention and flood prevention; 
‘‘(C) wildlife habitat restoration to address species of 
concern at a Federal, State, or local level; and 
‘‘(D) other natural resource improvements, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, within the critical conservation 
area.’’; 
(3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(b) IN GENERAL.—’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—’’;
H. R. 2—112 
(B) 
by 
striking 
‘‘1271D(d)(3)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘1271D(d)(2)’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘producer’’ and inserting ‘‘program’’; 
and 
(D) by inserting ‘‘that address 1 or more priority 
resource concerns for which the critical conservation area 
is designated’’ before the period at the end; 
(4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesig-
nated) the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall identify 1 or more 
priority resource concerns that apply to each critical conserva-
tion area designated under this section after the date of enact-
ment of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–79; 
128 Stat. 649), including the conservation goals and outcomes 
sufficient to demonstrate that progress is being made to address 
the priority resource concern.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) contains 1 or more priority resource concerns; 
or’’; and 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subpara-
graph (D); and 
(D) by striking paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) REVIEW AND WITHDRAWAL.—The Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) review designations of critical conservation areas 
under this section not more frequently than once every 
5 years; and 
‘‘(B) withdraw designation of a critical conservation 
area only if the Secretary determines that the area is 
no longer a critical conservation area.’’; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(d) OUTREACH TO ELIGIBLE PARTNERS AND PRODUCERS.—The 
Secretary shall provide outreach and education to eligible partners 
and producers in critical conservation areas designated under this 
section to encourage the development of projects to address each 
priority resource concern identified by the Secretary for that critical 
conservation area.’’; and 
(6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘producer’’ and 
inserting ‘‘program’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3).
H. R. 2—113 
Subtitle H—Repeals and Technical 
Amendments 
PART I—REPEALS 
SEC. 2811. REPEAL OF CONSERVATION CORRIDOR DEMONSTRATION 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle G of title II of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C. 3801 note; Public 
Law 107–171) is repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 5059 of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 2007 (16 U.S.C. 3801 note; Public 
Law 110–114) is repealed. 
SEC. 2812. REPEAL OF CRANBERRY ACREAGE RESERVE PROGRAM. 
Section 10608 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C. 3801 note; Public Law 107–171) is repealed. 
SEC. 2813. REPEAL OF NATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION. 
Subtitle F of title III of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.) is repealed. 
SEC. 2814. REPEAL OF FLOOD RISK REDUCTION. 
Section 385 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7334) is repealed. 
SEC. 2815. REPEAL OF STUDY OF LAND USE FOR EXPIRING CONTRACTS 
AND EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY. 
Section 1437 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3831 note; Public Law 101–624) is repealed. 
SEC. 2816. REPEAL OF INTEGRATED FARM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 
OPTION. 
Section 1451 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5822) is repealed. 
SEC. 2817. REPEAL OF CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF AGRICUL-
TURAL LANDS. 
Section 325 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and 
Reform Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–127; 110 Stat. 992) is repealed. 
PART II—TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 2821. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS. 
(a) WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.— 
Section 5(4) of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1005(4)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘goodwater’’ and inserting ‘‘floodwater’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘Secretary of Health, Education, and Wel-
fare’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Secretary of Health 
and Human Services’’. 
(b) DELINEATION OF WETLANDS; EXEMPTIONS.—Section 1222(j) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822(j)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘National Resources Conservation Service’’ and inserting 
‘‘Natural Resources Conservation Service’’.
H. R. 2—114 
(c) FARMABLE WETLAND PROGRAM.—Section 1231B(b)(2)(A)(i) 
of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3831b(b)(2)(A)(i)) is 
amended by adding a semicolon at the end. 
(d) TERMINAL LAKES ASSISTANCE.—Section 2507 of the Farm 
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb– 
6) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (1); 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section authorizes 
any additional funds to carry out this section. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any funds made avail-
able to carry out this section before the date of enactment 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 may remain 
available until expended.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority provided by 
this section shall terminate on October 1, 2023.’’. 
(e) DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 1242 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3842) is amended by striking 
‘‘third party’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘third-party’’. 
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
FOR CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAMS.—Section 1244(b)(4)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3844(b)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘General 
Accounting Office’’ and inserting ‘‘Government Accountability 
Office’’. 
SEC. 2822. STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. 
(a) STANDARDS.—Section 1261(b)(2) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘under section 
1262(b)’’. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—Section 1261(c) of the Food Security Act 
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3861(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(14) The State Cooperative Extension Service and land 
grant university in the State.’’. 
TITLE III—TRADE 
Subtitle A—Food for Peace Act 
SEC. 3101. LABELING REQUIREMENTS. 
Section 202(g) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1722(g)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) LABELING OF ASSISTANCE.—Agricultural commodities and 
other assistance provided under this title shall, to the extent prac-
ticable, be clearly identified with appropriate markings on the pack-
age or container of such agricultural commodities or food procured 
outside of the United States, or on printed material that accom-
panies other assistance, in the language of the locality in which 
such commodities and other assistance are distributed, as being 
furnished by the people of the United States of America.’’.
H. R. 2—115 
SEC. 3102. FOOD AID QUALITY ASSURANCE. 
Section 202(h)(3) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1722(h)(3)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3103. LOCAL SALE AND BARTER OF COMMODITIES. 
Section 203 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1723) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘to generate proceeds 
to be used as provided in this section’’ before the period at 
the end; 
(2) by striking subsection (b); and 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
(b) and (c), respectively. 
SEC. 3104. MINIMUM LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE. 
Section 204(a) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1724(a)) 
is amended in paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking ‘‘2018’’ both 
places it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3105. FOOD AID CONSULTATIVE GROUP. 
Section 205 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1725) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)(1), in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘45’’ and inserting ‘‘30’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3106. ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS. 
Section 207(c)(1) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726a(c)(1)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘the Agricultural Act of 2014’’and inserting 
‘‘the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 3107. OVERSIGHT, MONITORING, AND EVALUATION. 
Section 207(f)(4) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726a(f)(4)) 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$17,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘1.5 per-
cent, but not less than $17,000,000,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘chapter 1 of part I 
of’’. 
SEC. 3108. ASSISTANCE FOR STOCKPILING AND RAPID TRANSPOR-
TATION, 
DELIVERY, 
AND 
DISTRIBUTION 
OF 
SHELF- 
STABLE PREPACKAGED FOODS. 
Section 208 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1726b) is 
amended— 
(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
‘‘INTERNATIONAL FOOD RELIEF PARTNERSHIP.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3109. CONSIDERATION OF IMPACT OF PROVISION OF AGRICUL-
TURAL COMMODITIES AND OTHER ASSISTANCE ON LOCAL 
FARMERS AND ECONOMY. 
(a) INCLUSION OF ALL MODALITIES.—Section 403(a) of the Food 
for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1733(a)) is amended—
H. R. 2—116 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
‘‘, food procured outside of the United States, food voucher, 
or cash transfer for food’’ after ‘‘agricultural commodity’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘in the case of the provi-
sion of an agricultural commodity,’’ before ‘‘adequate’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘commodity’’ and inserting 
‘‘agricultural commodity or use of the food procured outside 
of the United States, food voucher, or cash transfer for food’’. 
(b) AVOIDANCE OF DISRUPTIVE IMPACT.—Section 403(b) of the 
Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1733(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘, the use of food 
procured outside of the United States, food vouchers, and cash 
transfers for food,’’ after ‘‘agricultural commodities’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘of sales of agricul-
tural commodities’’. 
SEC. 3110. ALLOWANCE FOR DISTRIBUTION COSTS. 
Section 406(b)(6) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736(b)(6)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘and distribution costs’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
distribution, and program implementation costs to use the commod-
ities’’. 
SEC. 3111. PREPOSITIONING OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES. 
Section 407(c)(4)(A) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1736a(c)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3112. ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING FOOD AID PROGRAMS AND 
ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 407(f) of the Food for Peace Act 
(7 U.S.C. 1736a(f)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING FOOD AID PROGRAMS
AND 
ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than April 1 of each fiscal 
year, the Administrator and the Secretary shall jointly, or 
each separately, prepare and submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report regarding each program and activity 
carried out under this Act by the Administrator, the Secretary, 
or both, as applicable, during the prior fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An annual report described in paragraph 
(1) shall include, with respect to the prior fiscal year, the 
following: 
‘‘(A) A list that contains a description of each country 
and organization that receives food and other assistance 
under this Act (including the quantity of food and assist-
ance provided to each country and organization). 
‘‘(B) A general description of each project and activity 
implemented under this Act (including each activity funded 
through the use of local currencies) and the total number 
of beneficiaries of the project. 
‘‘(C) A statement describing the quantity of agricultural 
commodities made available to, and the total number of 
beneficiaries in, each country pursuant to— 
‘‘(i) this Act; 
‘‘(ii) section 416(b) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 
(7 U.S.C. 1431(b)); 
‘‘(iii) the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
1736o); and
H. R. 2—117 
‘‘(iv) the McGovern-Dole International Food for 
Education and Child Nutrition Program established 
by section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o–1). 
‘‘(D) An assessment of the progress made through pro-
grams under this Act towards reducing food insecurity 
in the populations receiving food assistance from the United 
States. 
‘‘(E) A description of efforts undertaken by the Food 
Aid Consultative Group under section 205 to achieve an 
integrated and effective food assistance program. 
‘‘(F) An assessment of— 
‘‘(i) each program oversight, monitoring, and 
evaluation system implemented under section 207(f); 
and 
‘‘(ii) the impact of each program oversight, moni-
toring, and evaluation system on the effectiveness and 
efficiency of assistance provided under this title. 
‘‘(G) An assessment of the progress made by the 
Administrator in addressing issues relating to quality with 
respect to the provision of food assistance. 
‘‘(H) A statement of the amount of funds (including 
funds for administrative costs, indirect cost recovery, 
internal transportation, storage and handling, and associ-
ated distribution costs) provided to each eligible organiza-
tion that received assistance under this Act, that further 
describes the following: 
‘‘(i) How such funds were used by the eligible 
organization. 
‘‘(ii) The actual rate of return for each commodity 
made available under this Act, including factors that 
influenced the rate of return, and, for the commodity, 
the costs of bagging or further processing, ocean 
transportation, inland transportation in the recipient 
country, storage costs, and any other information that 
the Administrator and the Secretary determine to be 
necessary. 
‘‘(iii) For each instance in which a commodity was 
made available under this Act at a rate of return 
less than 70 percent, the reasons for the rate of return 
realized. 
‘‘(I) For funds expended for purposes of section 202(e), 
406(b)(6), and 407(c)(1)(B), a detailed accounting of the 
expenditures and purposes of such expenditures with 
respect to each such section. 
‘‘(3) RATE OF RETURN DESCRIBED.—For purposes of applying 
subparagraph (H) of paragraph (2), the rate of return for a 
commodity shall be equal to the proportion that— 
‘‘(A) the proceeds the implementing partners generate 
through monetization; bears to 
‘‘(B) the cost to the Federal Government to procure 
and ship the commodity to a recipient country for monetiza-
tion.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Subsection (m) of section 403 of 
the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1733) is repealed.
H. R. 2—118 
SEC. 3113. DEADLINE FOR AGREEMENTS TO FINANCE SALES OR TO 
PROVIDE OTHER ASSISTANCE. 
Section 408 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736b) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3114. MINIMUM LEVEL OF NONEMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE. 
Section 412(e) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736f(e)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) MINIMUM LEVEL OF NONEMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023, not less than $365,000,000 of the amounts made available 
to carry out emergency and nonemergency food assistance pro-
grams under title II, nor more than 30 percent of such amounts, 
shall be expended for nonemergency food assistance programs 
under such title. 
‘‘(2) COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
FUNDS.—Funds appro-
priated each year to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance 
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) that are made available 
through grants or cooperative agreements to strengthen food 
security in developing countries and that are consistent with 
section 202(e)(1)(C) may be considered amounts expended for 
nonemergency food assistance programs for purposes of para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(3) FARMER-TO-FARMER
PROGRAM.—In determining the 
amount expended for a fiscal year for nonemergency food assist-
ance programs under paragraph (1), amounts expended for 
that year to carry out programs under section 501 may be 
considered amounts expended for nonemergency food assistance 
programs.’’. 
SEC. 3115. TERMINATION DATE FOR MICRONUTRIENT FORTIFICATION 
PROGRAMS. 
Section 415(c) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1736g– 
2(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3116. JOHN OGONOWSKI AND DOUG BEREUTER FARMER-TO- 
FARMER PROGRAM. 
Section 501 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1737) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
‘‘section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, or’’ after 
‘‘Notwithstanding’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘technical’’ before 
‘‘assistance’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
inserting ‘‘employees or staff of a State cooperative 
institution (as such term is defined in paragraph 18 
of section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3103), except that subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) of 
such paragraph shall not apply),’’ after ‘‘private cor-
porations,’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of clause 
(viii); and
H. R. 2—119 
(II) by striking clause (ix) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(ix) agricultural education and extension; 
‘‘(x) selection of seed varieties and plant stocks; 
‘‘(xi) knowledge of insecticide and sanitation proce-
dures to prevent crop destruction; 
‘‘(xii) use and maintenance of agricultural equip-
ment and irrigation systems; and 
‘‘(xiii) selection of fertilizers and methods of soils 
treatment; and’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) GRANT PROGRAM TO CREATE NEW PARTNERS AND INNOVA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Agency for 
International Development shall develop a grant program to 
be carried out in fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to facilitate 
new and innovative partnerships and activities under this title. 
‘‘(2) USE
OF
FUNDS.—A grant recipient under this sub-
section shall use funds received under this subsection to— 
‘‘(A) prioritize new implementing partners; 
‘‘(B) develop innovative volunteer models; 
‘‘(C) develop, improve, or maintain strategic partner-
ships with other United States development programs; and 
‘‘(D) expand the footprint and impact of the programs 
and activities under this title, and diversity among program 
participants, including land-grant colleges and universities 
and cooperative extension services (as such terms are 
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricultural 
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3103)).’’. 
Subtitle B—Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
SEC. 3201. AGRICULTURAL TRADE PROMOTION AND FACILITATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act 
of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 203. AGRICULTURAL TRADE PROMOTION AND FACILITATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall carry out activities 
under this section— 
‘‘(1) to access, develop, maintain, and expand markets for 
United States agricultural commodities; and 
‘‘(2) to promote cooperation and the exchange of informa-
tion. 
‘‘(b) MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE TRADE ORGANIZATION.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘eligible trade organization’ means— 
‘‘(A) a United States agricultural trade organization 
or regional State-related organization that promotes the 
export and sale of United States agricultural commodities 
and that does not stand to profit directly from specific 
sales of United States agricultural commodities;
H. R. 2—120 
‘‘(B) a cooperative organization or State agency that 
promotes the sale of United States agricultural commod-
ities; or 
‘‘(C) a private organization that promotes the export 
and sale of United States agricultural commodities if the 
Secretary determines that such organization would signifi-
cantly contribute to United States export market develop-
ment. 
‘‘(2) IN GENERAL.—The Commodity Credit Corporation shall 
establish and carry out a program, to be known as the ‘Market 
Access Program’, to encourage the development, maintenance, 
and expansion of commercial export markets for United States 
agricultural commodities (including commodities that are 
organically produced (as defined in section 2103 of the Organic 
Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502))) through cost- 
share assistance to eligible trade organizations that implement 
a foreign market development program. 
‘‘(3) PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) MARKETING
PLAN
AND
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS.— 
To be eligible for cost-share assistance under this sub-
section, an eligible trade organization shall— 
‘‘(i) prepare and submit a marketing plan to the 
Secretary that meets the guidelines governing such 
a marketing plan specified in this paragraph or other-
wise established by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) meet any other requirements established by 
the Secretary; and 
‘‘(iii) enter into an agreement with the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) PURPOSE OF MARKETING PLAN.—A marketing plan 
submitted under this paragraph shall describe the adver-
tising or other market oriented export promotion activities 
to be carried out by the eligible trade organization with 
respect to which assistance under this subsection is being 
requested. 
‘‘(C) SPECIFIC ELEMENTS.—To be approved by the Sec-
retary, a marketing plan submitted under this paragraph 
shall— 
‘‘(i) specifically describe the manner in which 
assistance received by the eligible trade organization, 
in conjunction with funds and services provided by 
the eligible trade organization, will be expended in 
implementing the marketing plan; 
‘‘(ii) establish specific market goals to be achieved 
under the marketing plan; and 
‘‘(iii) contain whatever additional requirements are 
determined by the Secretary to be necessary. 
‘‘(D) 
BRANDED
PROMOTION.—A 
marketing 
plan 
approved by the Secretary may provide for the use of 
branded advertising to promote the sale of United States 
agricultural commodities in a foreign country under such 
terms and conditions as may be established by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(E) AMENDMENTS.—An approved marketing plan may 
be amended by the eligible trade organization at any time, 
subject to the approval of the amendment by the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) LEVEL
OF
ASSISTANCE
AND
COST-SHARE
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
H. R. 2—121 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall justify in 
writing the level of assistance to be provided to an eligible 
trade organization under this subsection and the level of 
cost sharing required of the organization. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION ON BRANDED PROMOTION.—Assistance 
provided under this subsection for activities described in 
paragraph (3)(D) shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost 
of implementing the marketing plan, except that the Sec-
retary may determine not to apply such limitation in the 
case of United States agricultural commodities with respect 
to which there has been a favorable decision by the United 
States Trade Representative under section 301 of the Trade 
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411). Criteria used by the Secretary 
for determining that the limitation shall not apply shall 
be consistent and documented. 
‘‘(5) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(A) MULTIYEAR
BASIS.—The Secretary may provide 
assistance under this subsection on a multiyear basis, sub-
ject to annual review by the Secretary for compliance with 
the approved marketing plan. 
‘‘(B) TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
terminate any assistance made, or to be made, available 
under this subsection if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(i) the eligible trade organization is not adhering 
to the terms and conditions applicable to the provision 
of the assistance; 
‘‘(ii) the eligible trade organization is not imple-
menting the approved marketing plan or is not ade-
quately meeting the established goals of the plan; 
‘‘(iii) the eligible trade organization is not ade-
quately 
contributing 
its 
own 
resources 
to 
the 
implementation of the plan; or 
‘‘(iv) the Secretary determines that termination 
of assistance in a particular instance is in the best 
interests of the Market Access Program. 
‘‘(C) EVALUATIONS.—Beginning not later than 15 
months after the initial provision of assistance under this 
subsection to an eligible trade organization, the Secretary 
shall monitor the expenditures by the eligible trade 
organization of such assistance, including the following: 
‘‘(i) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the mar-
keting plan of the eligible trade organization in devel-
oping or maintaining markets for United States agri-
cultural commodities. 
‘‘(ii) An evaluation of whether assistance provided 
under this subsection is necessary to maintain such 
markets. 
‘‘(iii) A thorough accounting of the expenditure 
by the eligible trade organization of the assistance 
provided under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF FUNDS.—Assistance provided 
under this subsection to an eligible trade organization may 
not be used— 
‘‘(A) to provide direct assistance to any foreign for- 
profit corporation for the corporation’s use in promoting 
foreign-produced products; or
H. R. 2—122 
‘‘(B) to provide direct assistance to any for-profit cor-
poration that is not recognized as a small business concern 
(as described in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 632(a))), excluding— 
‘‘(i) a cooperative; 
‘‘(ii) an association described in the first section 
of the Act entitled ‘An Act To authorize association 
of producers of agricultural products’, approved Feb-
ruary 18, 1922 (7 U.S.C. 291); or 
‘‘(iii) a nonprofit trade association. 
‘‘(7) PERMISSIVE USE OF FUNDS.—Assistance provided under 
this subsection to a United States agricultural trade association, 
cooperative, or small business may be used for individual 
branded promotional activity related to a United States branded 
product, if the beneficiaries of the activity have provided funds 
for the activity in an amount that is at least equivalent to 
the amount of such assistance. 
‘‘(8) PRIORITY.—In providing assistance for branded pro-
motion, the Secretary should give priority to small-sized enti-
ties. 
‘‘(9) CONTRIBUTION LEVEL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary should require a min-
imum contribution level of 10 percent from an eligible 
trade organization that receives assistance for nonbranded 
promotion. 
‘‘(B) INCREASES
IN
CONTRIBUTION
LEVEL.—The Sec-
retary may increase the contribution level in any subse-
quent year that an eligible trade organization receives 
assistance for nonbranded promotion. 
‘‘(10) ADDITIONALITY.—The Secretary should require each 
participant in the Market Access Program to certify that any 
Federal funds received supplement, but do not supplant, private 
or third party participant funds or other contributions to Pro-
gram activities. 
‘‘(11) INDEPENDENT AUDITS.—If as a result of an evaluation 
or audit of activities of a participant under the Market Access 
Program, the Secretary determines that a further review is 
justified in order to ensure compliance with the requirements 
of the Program, the Secretary should require the participant 
to contract for an independent audit of the Program activities, 
including activities of any subcontractor. 
‘‘(12) TOBACCO.—No funds made available under the 
Market Access Program may be used for activities to develop, 
maintain, or expand foreign markets for tobacco. 
‘‘(c) FOREIGN MARKET DEVELOPMENT COOPERATOR PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE TRADE ORGANIZATION.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘eligible trade organization’ means a 
United States trade organization that— 
‘‘(A) promotes the export of 1 or more United States 
agricultural commodities; and 
‘‘(B) does not have a business interest in or receive 
remuneration from specific sales of agricultural commod-
ities. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish and, 
in cooperation with eligible trade organizations, carry out a 
program to be known as the ‘Foreign Market Development
H. R. 2—123 
Cooperator Program’ to maintain and develop foreign markets 
for United States agricultural commodities. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available to carry out 
this subsection shall be used only to provide— 
‘‘(A) cost-share assistance to an eligible trade organiza-
tion under a contract or agreement with the eligible trade 
organization; and 
‘‘(B) assistance for other costs that are appropriate 
to carry out the Foreign Market Development Cooperator 
Program, including contingent liabilities that are not other-
wise funded. 
‘‘(d) E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA EMERGING MARKETS PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF EMERGING MARKET.—In this subsection, 
the term ‘emerging market’ means any country, foreign terri-
tory, customs union, or other economic market that the Sec-
retary determines— 
‘‘(A) is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy 
through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors 
of its economy; and 
‘‘(B) has the potential to provide a viable and signifi-
cant market for United States agricultural commodities. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish and 
carry out a program, to be known as the ‘E (Kika) de la 
Garza Emerging Markets Program’— 
‘‘(A) to develop agricultural markets in emerging mar-
kets; and 
‘‘(B) to promote cooperation and exchange of informa-
tion between agricultural institutions and agribusinesses 
in the United States and emerging markets. 
‘‘(3) DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(i) IMPLEMENTATION.—To develop, maintain, or 
expand markets for exports of United States agricul-
tural commodities, the Secretary shall make available 
to emerging markets the expertise of the United 
States— 
‘‘(I) to make assessments of food and rural 
business systems needs; 
‘‘(II) to make recommendations on measures 
necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the food 
and rural business systems described in subclause 
(I), including potential reductions in trade barriers; 
and 
‘‘(III) to identify and carry out specific 
opportunities and projects to enhance the effective-
ness of the food and rural business systems 
described in subclause (I). 
‘‘(ii) EXTENT
OF
PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall 
implement this subparagraph with respect to at least 
3 emerging markets in each fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) EXPERTS
FROM
THE
UNITED
STATES.—The Sec-
retary may implement subparagraph (A) by providing— 
‘‘(i) assistance to teams (consisting primarily of 
agricultural consultants, agricultural producers, other 
persons from the private sector, and government offi-
cials expert in assessing the food and rural business 
systems of other countries) to enable those teams to
H. R. 2—124 
conduct the assessments, make the recommendations, 
and identify the opportunities and projects described 
in subparagraph (A)(i) in emerging markets; 
‘‘(ii) for necessary subsistence and transportation 
expenses of— 
‘‘(I) United States food and rural business 
system experts, including United States agricul-
tural producers and other United States individ-
uals knowledgeable in agricultural and agri-
business matters, to enable such United States 
food and rural business system experts to assist 
in transferring knowledge and expertise to entities 
from emerging markets; and 
‘‘(II) individuals designated by emerging mar-
kets to enable such designated individuals to con-
sult with such United States experts to enhance 
food and rural business systems of such emerging 
markets and to transfer knowledge and expertise 
to such emerging markets. 
‘‘(C) COST-SHARING.—The Secretary shall encourage the 
nongovernmental experts described in subparagraph (B) 
to share the costs of, and otherwise assist in, the participa-
tion of those experts in the E (Kika) de la Garza Emerging 
Markets Program. 
‘‘(D) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary is author-
ized to provide, or pay the necessary costs for, technical 
assistance (including the establishment of extension serv-
ices) to enable individuals or other entities to carry out 
recommendations, projects, and opportunities in emerging 
markets, 
including 
recommendations, 
projects, 
and 
opportunities described in subclauses (II) and (III) of 
subparagraph (A)(i). 
‘‘(E) REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—A team that receives 
assistance under subparagraph (B)(i) shall prepare and 
submit to the Secretary such reports as the Secretary may 
require. 
‘‘(F) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—To provide the Secretary 
with information that may be useful to the Secretary in 
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may establish 
an advisory committee composed of representatives of the 
various sectors of the food and rural business systems 
of the United States. 
‘‘(G) EFFECT.—The authority provided under this sub-
section shall be in addition to and not in place of any 
other authority of the Secretary or the Commodity Credit 
Corporation. 
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
establish an export assistance program, in this subsection 
referred to as the ‘program’, to address existing or potential 
unique barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of United 
States specialty crops. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The program shall provide direct assistance 
through public and private sector projects and technical assist-
ance, including through the program under section 2(e) of the 
Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 
U.S.C. 3157(e)), to remove, resolve, or mitigate existing or
H. R. 2—125 
potential sanitary, phytosanitary, and technical barriers to 
trade. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The program shall address time sensitive 
and strategic market access projects based on— 
‘‘(A) trade effect on market retention, market access, 
and market expansion; and 
‘‘(B) trade impact. 
‘‘(4) MULTIYEAR
PROJECTS.—The Secretary may provide 
assistance under the program to a project for longer than 
a 5-year period if the Secretary determines that further assist-
ance would effectively support the purpose described in para-
graph (2). 
‘‘(5) OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) conduct outreach to inform eligible organizations 
of the requirements of the program and the process by 
which such organizations may submit proposals for 
funding; 
‘‘(B) provide technical assistance to eligible organiza-
tions to assist in developing proposals and complying with 
the requirements of the program; and 
‘‘(C) solicit input from eligible organizations on 
improvements to streamline and facilitate the provision 
of assistance under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act 
of 2018, the Secretary shall review program regulations, 
procedures, and guidelines for assistance under this sub-
section and make revisions to streamline, improve, and 
clarify the application, approval and compliance processes 
for such assistance, including revisions to implement the 
requirements of paragraph (5). 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In reviewing and making revi-
sions under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall con-
sider— 
‘‘(i) establishing accountability standards that are 
appropriate for the size and scope of a project; and 
‘‘(ii) establishing streamlined application and 
approval processes, including for smaller-scale projects 
or projects to address time-sensitive trade barriers. 
‘‘(7) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Each year, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
that contains, for the period covered by the report, a description 
of— 
‘‘(A) each factor that affects the export of specialty 
crops, including each factor relating to any— 
‘‘(i) significant sanitary or phytosanitary issue; 
‘‘(ii) trade barrier; or 
‘‘(iii) emerging sanitary or phytosanitary issue or 
trade barrier; and 
‘‘(B)(i) any funds provided under subsection (f)(3)(A)(iv) 
that were not obligated in a fiscal year; and 
‘‘(ii) the reason such funds were not obligated. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION.—
H. R. 2—126 
‘‘(1) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—The Secretary shall 
use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity 
Credit Corporation to carry out this section. 
‘‘(2) FUNDING
AMOUNT.—For each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023, of the funds of, or an equal value of commodities 
owned by, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary 
shall use to carry out this section $255,000,000, to remain 
available until expended. 
‘‘(3) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023, the Secretary shall allocate funds to carry 
out this section in accordance with the following: 
‘‘(i) MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.—For market access 
activities authorized under subsection (b), of the funds 
of, or an equal value of commodities owned by, the 
Commodity 
Credit 
Corporation, 
not 
less 
than 
$200,000,000 for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) FOREIGN MARKET DEVELOPMENT COOPERATOR 
PROGRAM.—To carry out subsection (c), of the funds 
of, or an equal value of commodities owned by, the 
Commodity 
Credit 
Corporation, 
not 
less 
than 
$34,500,000 for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(iii) E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA EMERGING MARKETS 
PROGRAM.—To provide assistance under subsection (d), 
of the funds of, or an equal value of commodities owned 
by, the Commodity Credit Corporation, not more than 
$8,000,000 for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(iv) 
TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
SPECIALTY 
CROPS.—To carry out subsection (e), of the funds of, 
or an equal value of the commodities owned by, the 
Commodity Credit Corporation, $9,000,000 for each 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(v) PRIORITY TRADE FUND.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the amounts 
allocated under clauses (i) through (iv), and not-
withstanding any limitations in those clauses, as 
determined by the Secretary, for 1 or more pro-
grams under this section for authorized activities 
to access, develop, maintain, and expand markets 
for 
United 
States 
agricultural 
commodities, 
$3,500,000 for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(II) CONSIDERATIONS.—In allocating funds 
made available under subclause (I), the Secretary 
may consider providing a greater allocation to 1 
or more programs under this section for which 
the amounts requested under applications exceed 
available funding for the 1 or more programs. 
‘‘(B) 
REALLOCATION.—Any 
funds 
allocated 
under 
clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A) that remain 
unobligated one year after the end of the fiscal year in 
which they are first made available shall be reallocated 
to the priority trade fund under subparagraph (A)(v). To 
the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall allo-
cate such reallocated funds to support exports of those 
types of United States agricultural commodities eligible 
for assistance under the program for which the funds were 
originally allocated under subparagraph (A).
H. R. 2—127 
‘‘(4) CUBA.—Notwithstanding section 908 of the Trade Sanc-
tions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 
7207) or any other provision of law, funds made available 
under this section may be used to carry out the programs 
authorized under subsections (b) and (c) in Cuba. Funds may 
not be used as described in the previous sentence in contraven-
tion with directives set forth under the National Security Presi-
dential Memorandum entitled ‘Strengthening the Policy of the 
United States Toward Cuba’ issued by the President on June 
16, 2017, during the period in which that memorandum is 
in effect. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—In addition to 
any other amounts provided under this subsection, there are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out the programs and authorities under paragraph 
(3)(A)(v) and subsections (b) through (e).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.— 
(A) Section 211 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
(7 U.S.C. 5641) is amended by striking subsection (c). 
(B) Section 402(a)(1) of the Agricultural Trade Act 
of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5662(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘203’’ 
and inserting ‘‘203(b)’’. 
(C) Section 282(f)(2)(C) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638a(f)(2)(C)) is amended by striking 
‘‘section 203 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
5623)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 203(b) of the Agricultural 
Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623(b))’’. 
(D) Section 718 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1999 (7 U.S.C. 5623 note; Public Law 
105–277) is amended by striking ‘‘section 203 of the Agricul-
tural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 203(b) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 
U.S.C. 5623(b)’’. 
(E) Section 1302 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1993 is repealed. 
(2) FOREIGN
MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATOR
PRO-
GRAM.—Title VII of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 
5721 et seq.) is repealed. 
(3) E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA EMERGING MARKETS PROGRAM.— 
(A) Section 1542 of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C 5622 note; Public 
Law 101–624) is amended— 
(i) by striking subsection (d); 
(ii) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as sub-
sections (d) and (e), respectively; and 
(iii) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— 
(I) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘country’’ and inserting ‘‘country, foreign 
territory, customs union, or other economic 
market’’; and 
(II) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the economy 
of the country’’ and inserting ‘‘its economy’’. 
(B) Section 1543(b)(5) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3293(b)(5))
H. R. 2—128 
is amended by striking ‘‘section 1542(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘sec-
tion 1542(e)’’. 
(C) Section 1543A(c)(2) of the Food, Agriculture, Con-
servation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5679(c)(2)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and section 203(d) of the Agricul-
tural Trade Act of 1978’’ after ‘‘section 1542’’. 
(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS.—Section 
3205 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(7 U.S.C. 5680) is repealed. 
Subtitle C—Other Agricultural Trade Laws 
SEC. 3301. GROWING AMERICAN FOOD EXPORTS. 
Section 1543A of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5679) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ‘‘or new agricultural 
production technologies’’ after ‘‘biotechnology’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘$6,000,000’’ and all that 
follows through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 3302. FOOD FOR PROGRESS ACT OF 1985. 
Section 1110 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (also known 
as the Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘President’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘Secretary’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(E); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subpara-
graph (G); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) a college or university (as such terms are defined 
in section 1404(4) of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 
(7 U.S.C. 3103(4)); and’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(10) RATE
OF
RETURN.—For purposes of applying sub-
section (j)(3), the rate of return for an eligible commodity shall 
be equal to the proportion that— 
‘‘(A) the proceeds eligible entities generate through 
monetization of such commodity, bears to 
‘‘(B) the cost to the Federal Government to procure 
and ship the commodity to the country where it is mone-
tized. 
‘‘(11) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means the Sec-
retary of Agriculture.’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)(3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(5) in subsection (j)(3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘December 1’’ and inserting ‘‘April 1’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘of the Senate a list of programs’’ and 
inserting ‘‘of the Senate—
H. R. 2—129 
‘‘(A) a list of programs’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘approved to date for the fiscal year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘approved during the prior fiscal year’’; 
(D) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
a semicolon; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graphs: 
‘‘(B) a description of the actual rate of return for each 
commodity made available under this section for the pre-
vious fiscal year including— 
‘‘(i) factors that influenced the rate of return; and 
‘‘(ii) with respect to the commodity, the costs of 
bagging or further processing, ocean transportation, 
inland transportation, storage costs, and any other 
information that the Secretary determines to be nec-
essary; and 
‘‘(C) for each instance in which a commodity was made 
available under this section at a rate of return less than 
70 percent, an explanation for the rate of return realized.’’. 
(6) in subsection (k), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(7) in subsection (l)(1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; 
(8) in the heading of subsection (m), by striking ‘‘PRESI-
DENTIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘SECRETARIAL’’; 
(9) in subsection (o), by striking ‘‘(acting through the Sec-
retary)’’; 
(10) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ‘‘subparagraphs (C) 
and (F)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (C) and (G)’’; and 
(11) by adding at the end the following new subsection:. 
‘‘(p) PILOT AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023, subject to the availability of appropriations pursuant 
to the authorization in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall enter 
into 1 or more pilot agreements with 1 or more eligible entities 
through which the Secretary shall provide financial assistance 
to the eligible entities to carry out activities consistent with 
subsection (l)(4)(A). 
‘‘(2) REPORT
REQUIRED.—In each of fiscal years 2020 
through 2024, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
describing, with respect to the previous fiscal year— 
‘‘(A) the amount provided to eligible entities under 
each pilot agreement pursuant to paragraph (1) and how 
the funds were used; 
‘‘(B) the activities carried out under each pilot agree-
ment; 
‘‘(C) the number of direct and indirect beneficiaries 
of those activities; and 
‘‘(D) the effectiveness of the pilot agreements, including 
as applicable the impact on food security and agricultural 
productivity. 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to carry out pilot agreements pursuant 
to this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023.’’.
H. R. 2—130 
SEC. 3303. BILL EMERSON HUMANITARIAN TRUST ACT. 
Section 302 of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act (7 
U.S.C. 1736f–1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3304. PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO EMERGING 
MARKETS. 
Section 1542(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and 
Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note; Public Law 101–624) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3305. COCHRAN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 1543 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3293) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘for study in the United 
States.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘for study— 
‘‘(1) in the United States; or 
‘‘(2) at a college or university located in an eligible country 
that the Secretary determines— 
‘‘(A) has sufficient scientific and technical facilities; 
‘‘(B) has established a partnership with at least one 
college or university in the United States; and 
‘‘(C) has substantial participation by faculty members 
of the United States college or university in the design 
of the fellowship curriculum and classroom instruction 
under the fellowship.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(which may include 
agricultural extension services)’’ after ‘‘systems’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘enhance trade’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘enhance— 
‘‘(A) trade’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated) by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) linkages between agricultural interests in the 
United States and regulatory systems governing sanitary 
and phytosanitary standards for agricultural products 
that— 
‘‘(i) may enter the United States; and 
‘‘(ii) may pose risks to human, animal, or plant 
life or health.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$3,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$4,000,000’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$2,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$3,000,000’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘$5,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$6,000,000’’.
H. R. 2—131 
SEC. 3306. BORLAUG INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
Section 1473G of the National Agricultural Research, Exten-
sion, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3319j) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘shall support’’ and inserting ‘‘support’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) the development of agricultural extension services 
in eligible countries.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) LEVERAGING ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT.—In carrying out 
the purposes and programs under this section, the Secretary 
shall encourage ongoing engagement with fellowship recipients 
who have completed training under the program to provide 
advice regarding, and participate in, new or ongoing agricul-
tural development projects, with a priority for capacity-building 
projects.’’. 
SEC. 3307. INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
(a) FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM
ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary 
shall establish a fellowship program to be known as the Inter-
national Agricultural Education Fellowship Program to provide 
fellowships to citizens of the United States to assist eligible coun-
tries in developing school-based agricultural education and youth 
extension programs. 
(b) ELIGIBLE COUNTRY DESCRIBED.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, an eligible country is a developing country, as determined 
by the Secretary using a gross national income per capita test 
selected by the Secretary. 
(c) PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIPS.—The goals of providing a fellow-
ship under this section are to— 
(1) develop globally minded United States agriculturists 
with experience living abroad; 
(2) focus on meeting the food and fiber needs of the domestic 
population of eligible countries; and 
(3) strengthen and enhance trade linkages between eligible 
countries and the United States agricultural industry. 
(d) ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.—The Secretary may provide fellow-
ships to citizens of the United States who— 
(1) hold at least a bachelors degree in an agricultural 
related field of study; and 
(2) have an understanding of United States school-based 
agricultural education and youth extension programs, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(e) CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with the National FFA Organization, the National 4–H Council, 
and other entities as the Secretary determines are appropriate 
to identify candidates for fellowships.
H. R. 2—132 
(f) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall provide 
for the management, coordination, evaluation, and monitoring of 
the Fellowship Program, except that the Secretary may contract 
out the management of the fellowship program to an outside 
organization with experience in implementing fellowship programs 
focused on building capacity for school-based agricultural education 
and youth extension programs in developing countries. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023. 
(2) DURATION.—Any funds made available under this sub-
section shall remain available until expended. 
SEC. 3308. INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 
is amended by inserting after section 1543A (7 U.S.C. 5679) the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 1543B. INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECURITY.—In this 
section, the term ‘international food security’ means access by any 
person at any time to food and nutrition that is sufficient for 
a healthy and productive life. 
‘‘(b) COLLECTION
OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture (referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’) shall compile 
information from appropriate mission areas of the Department of 
Agriculture (including the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services 
mission area) relating to the improvement of international food 
security. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—To benefit programs for the 
improvement of international food security, the Secretary shall 
organize the information described in subsection (b) and make 
the information available in a format suitable for— 
‘‘(1) public education; and 
‘‘(2) use by— 
‘‘(A) a Federal, State, or local agency; 
‘‘(B) an agency or instrumentality of the government 
of a foreign country; 
‘‘(C) a domestic or international organization, including 
a domestic or international nongovernmental organization; 
and 
‘‘(D) an intergovernmental organization. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request by an entity described 
in subsection (c)(2), the Secretary may provide technical assistance 
to the entity to implement a program for the improvement of 
international food security. 
‘‘(e) PROGRAM PRIORITY.—In carrying out this section, the Sec-
retary shall give priority to programs relating to the development 
of food and nutrition safety net systems with a focus on food 
insecure countries. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’.
H. R. 2—133 
SEC. 3309. MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR EDUCATION 
AND CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM. 
Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o–1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘that is’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘that— 
‘‘(1) is’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2)(A) is produced in and procured from— 
‘‘(i) a developing country that is a recipient country; 
or 
‘‘(ii) a developing country in the same region as a 
recipient country; and 
‘‘(B) at a minimum, meets each nutritional, quality, and 
labeling standard of the recipient country, as determined by 
the Secretary.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(A)— 
(A) in clause (v)(IV), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (v) the following: 
‘‘(vi) the costs associated with transporting the 
commodities described in subsection (a)(2) from a devel-
oping country described in subparagraph (A)(ii) of that 
subsection to any designated point of entry within 
the recipient country; and’’; 
(3) in subsection (f)(1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: 
‘‘(E) ensure to the maximum extent practicable that 
assistance— 
‘‘(i) is provided under this section in a timely 
manner; and 
‘‘(ii) is available when needed throughout the 
applicable school year;’’; and 
(4) in subsection (l)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) PURCHASE OF COMMODITIES.—Of the funds made avail-
able to carry out this section, not more than 10 percent shall 
be used to purchase agricultural commodities described in sub-
section (a)(2).’’. 
SEC. 3310. GLOBAL CROP DIVERSITY TRUST. 
Section 3202 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (22 U.S.C. 2220a note; Public Law 110–246) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTION LIMIT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The aggregate contributions of funds 
of the Federal Government provided to the Trust shall not 
exceed—
H. R. 2—134 
‘‘(A) for the period of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, 
25 percent of the total amount of funds contributed to 
the Trust from all sources; and 
‘‘(B) subject to paragraph (2), effective beginning with 
fiscal year 2019, 33 percent of the total amount of funds 
contributed to the Trust from all sources. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL LIMITATION.—The contributions of funds of 
the Federal Government provided to the Trust shall not exceed 
$5,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 
3311. 
LOCAL 
AND 
REGIONAL 
FOOD 
AID 
PROCUREMENT 
PROJECTS. 
Section 3206(e)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 1726c(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘to the Secretary’’ after ‘‘appropriated’’; 
and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2019 
through 2023’’. 
SEC. 3312. FOREIGN TRADE MISSIONS. 
(a) TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON TRADE MISSIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Tribal Advisory Committee established under subsection (b)(2) 
of section 309 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6921(b)(2)) (as added by section 12303(2)) (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’), shall seek— 
(A) to support the greater inclusion of Tribal agricul-
tural and food products in Federal trade-related activities; 
and 
(B) to increase the collaboration between Federal trade 
promotion efforts and other Federal trade-related activities 
in support of the greater inclusion sought under subpara-
graph (A). 
(2) INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION.—In carrying out 
activities to increase the collaboration described in paragraph 
(1)(B), the Secretary shall coordinate with— 
(A) the Secretary of Commerce; 
(B) the Secretary of State; 
(C) the Secretary of the Interior; and 
(D) the heads of any other relevant Federal agencies. 
(b) REPORT; GOALS.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report describing 
the efforts of the Department of Agriculture and other Federal 
agencies under this section to— 
(A) the Advisory Committee; 
(B) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives; 
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives; 
(D) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate; 
(E) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate; and 
(F) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate.
H. R. 2—135 
(2) GOALS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish goals for meas-
uring, in an objective and quantifiable format, the extent to 
which Indian Tribes and Tribal agricultural and food products 
are included in the trade-related activities of the Department 
of Agriculture. 
TITLE IV—NUTRITION 
Subtitle A—Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program 
SEC. 4001. REQUIREMENTS FOR ONLINE ACCEPTANCE OF BENEFITS. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 3(o)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(o)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘or house- 
to-house trade route’’ and inserting ‘‘, house-to-house trade route, 
or online entity’’. 
(b) ACCEPTANCE OF BENEFITS.—Section 7(k) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(k)) is amended— 
(1) by striking the heading and inserting ‘‘ACCEPTANCE 
OF PROGRAM BENEFITS THROUGH ONLINE TRANSACTIONS’’, 
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking subparagraph (C), and 
(3) by striking paragraph (5). 
SEC. 4002. RE-EVALUATION OF THRIFTY FOOD PLAN. 
Section 3(u) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2012(u)) is amended by inserting after the 1st sentence the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘By 2022 and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary shall 
re-evaluate and publish the market baskets of the thrifty food 
plan based on current food prices, food composition data, consump-
tion patterns, and dietary guidance.’’. 
SEC. 4003. FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(4) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
Secretary shall pay not less than 80 percent of administra-
tive costs and distribution costs on Indian reservations 
as the Secretary determines necessary for effective adminis-
tration of such distribution by a State agency or tribal 
organization. 
‘‘(B) WAIVER.—The Secretary shall waive up to 100 
percent of the non-Federal share of the costs described 
in subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(i) the tribal organization is financially unable 
to provide a greater non-Federal share of the costs; 
or 
‘‘(ii) providing a greater non-Federal share of the 
costs would be a substantial burden for the tribal 
organization. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not reduce any 
benefits or services under the food distribution program 
on Indian reservations under this subsection to any tribal
H. R. 2—136 
organization that is granted a waiver under subparagraph 
(B). 
‘‘(D) TRIBAL CONTRIBUTION.—The Secretary may allow 
a tribal organization to use funds provided to the tribal 
organization through a Federal agency or other Federal 
benefit to satisfy all or part of the non-Federal share of 
the costs described in subparagraph (A) if that use is 
otherwise consistent with the purpose of the funds.’’, 
(2) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘LOCALLY-GROWN’’ and 
inserting ‘‘LOCALLY- AND REGIONALLY-GROWN’’, 
(B) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘locally-grown’’ 
and inserting ‘‘locally- and regionally-grown’’, 
(C) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) in the heading by striking ‘‘LOCALLY GROWN’’ 
and inserting ‘‘LOCALLY- AND REGIONALLY-GROWN’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘locally-grown’’ and inserting 
‘‘locally- and regionally-grown’’, 
(D) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows: 
‘‘(D) PURCHASE OF FOODS.—In carrying out this para-
graph, the Secretary shall purchase or offer to purchase 
those traditional foods that may be procured cost-effec-
tively.’’, 
(E) by striking subparagraph (E), and 
(F) in subparagraph (F)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(F)’’ and inserting ‘‘(E)’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’, and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Funds made available for a fiscal 
year to carry out this subsection shall remain available 
for obligation for a period of 2 fiscal years. 
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Funds made available for 
a fiscal year to carry out paragraph (4) shall remain avail-
able for obligation by the State agency or tribal organiza-
tion for a period of 2 fiscal years.’’. 
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The term ‘‘demonstra-
tion project’’ means the demonstration project established 
under paragraph (2). 
(B) FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘food dis-
tribution program’’ means the food distribution program 
on Indian reservations carried out under section 4(b) of 
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)). 
(C) INDIAN RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘Indian reserva-
tion’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘reservation’’ in 
section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2012). 
(D) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self- 
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
5304). 
(E) SELF-DETERMINATION CONTRACT.—The term ‘‘self- 
determination contract’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
H. R. 2—137 
(F) TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘tribal organiza-
tion’’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012). 
(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration project 
under which 1 or more tribal organizations may enter into 
self-determination contracts to purchase agricultural commod-
ities under the food distribution program for the Indian reserva-
tion of that tribal organization. 
(3) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with 
the Secretary of the Interior and Indian tribes to determine 
the process and criteria under which a tribal organization 
may participate in the demonstration project. 
(B) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall select for participa-
tion in the demonstration project tribal organizations 
that— 
(i) are successfully administering the food distribu-
tion program of the tribal organization under section 
4(b)(2)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2013(b)(2)(B)), 
(ii) have the capacity to purchase agricultural 
commodities in accordance with paragraph (4) for the 
food distribution program of the tribal organization, 
and 
(iii) meet any other criteria determined by the 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior and Indian tribes. 
(4) PROCUREMENT
OF
AGRICULTURAL
COMMODITIES.—Any 
agricultural commodities purchased by a tribal organization 
under the demonstration project shall— 
(A) be domestically produced, 
(B) supplant, not supplement, the type of agricultural 
commodities in existing food packages for that tribal 
organization, 
(C) be of similar or higher nutritional value as the 
type of agricultural commodities that would be supplanted 
in the existing food package for that tribal organization, 
and 
(D) meet any other criteria determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(5) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
funds are appropriated under paragraph (6) and annually there-
after, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report 
describing the activities carried out under the demonstration 
project during the preceding year. 
(6) FUNDING.— 
(A) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this subsection $5,000,000, to remain available until 
expended. 
(B) APPROPRIATIONS IN ADVANCE.—Only funds appro-
priated under subparagraph (A) in advance specifically to 
carry out this subsection shall be available to carry out 
this subsection.
H. R. 2—138 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3(v) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(v)) is amended by striking 
‘‘the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(b))’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)’’. 
SEC. 4004. SIMPLIFIED HOMELESS HOUSING COSTS. 
Section 5(e)(6)(D) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(D)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii), and 
(2) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) ALTERNATIVE DEDUCTION.—The State agency 
shall allow a deduction of $143 a month for house-
holds— 
‘‘(I) in which all members are homeless 
individuals; 
‘‘(II) that are not receiving free shelter 
throughout the month; and 
‘‘(III) that do not opt to claim an excess shelter 
expense deduction under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(ii) ADJUSTMENT.—For fiscal year 2019 and each 
subsequent fiscal year the amount of the homeless 
shelter deduction specified in clause (i) shall be 
adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period 
ending the preceding November 30 in the Consumer 
Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of 
Labor.’’. 
SEC. 4005. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT MEET STATE 
AND LOCAL WORKFORCE NEEDS.—Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, in consultation with the State 
workforce development board, or, if the State dem-
onstrates that consultation with private employers or 
employer organizations would be more effective or effi-
cient, in consultation with private employers or 
employer organizations,’’ after ‘‘designed by the State 
agency’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘that will increase their ability 
to obtain regular employment.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘that will— 
‘‘(I) increase the ability of the household mem-
bers to obtain regular employment; and 
‘‘(II) meet State or local workforce needs.’’, 
and 
(B) in clause (ii) by inserting ‘‘and implemented to 
meet the purposes of clause (i)’’ after ‘‘under this para-
graph’’, 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
‘‘case management services such as comprehensive intake
H. R. 2—139 
assessments, individualized service plans, progress moni-
toring, or coordination with service providers and’’ after 
‘‘contains’’, 
(B) in clause (iv) by redesignating subclauses (I) and 
(II) as items (aa) and (bb), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately, 
(C) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vii) and clause 
(viii) as subclauses (I) through (VII) and subclause (IX), 
respectively, and indenting appropriately, 
(D) by striking subclause (I), as so redesignated, and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(I) Supervised job search programs that occur 
at State-approved locations at which the activities 
of participants shall be directly supervised and 
the timing and activities of participants tracked 
in accordance with guidelines issued by the State.’’, 
(E) in subclause (II), as so redesignated, by striking 
‘‘jobs skills assessments, job finding clubs, training in tech-
niques for’’ and inserting ‘‘employability assessments, 
training in techniques to increase’’, 
(F) in subclause (IV), as so redesignated, in the first 
sentence, by inserting ‘‘, including subsidized employment 
and apprenticeships’’ before the period at the end, 
(G) in subclause (VII), as so redesignated, by inserting 
‘‘not less than 30 days but’’ after ‘‘period of’’, 
(H) by inserting after subclause (VII), as so redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(VIII) Programs and activities under clause 
(iv) of section 16(h)(1)(F) that the Secretary deter-
mines, based on results from the independent 
evaluations conducted under clause (vii)(I) of such 
section, have the most demonstrable impact on 
the ability of participants to find and retain 
employment that leads to increased household 
income and reduced reliance on public assistance.’’, 
(I) in the matter preceding subclause (I), as so redesig-
nated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this subparagraph’’ and inserting 
‘‘this clause’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(B) For purposes of this Act, an’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
‘‘(i) EMPLOYMENT
AND
TRAINING
PROGRAM.—The 
term’’, and 
(J) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘workforce part-
nership’ means a program that— 
‘‘(aa) is operated by— 
‘‘(AA) a private employer, an organiza-
tion representing private employers, or a 
nonprofit organization providing services 
relating to workforce development; or 
‘‘(BB) an entity identified as an 
eligible provider of training services under 
section 122(d) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3152(d));
H. R. 2—140 
‘‘(bb) the Secretary certifies, or the State 
agency certifies to the Secretary— 
‘‘(AA) subject to subparagraph (N)(ii), 
would assist participants who are mem-
bers of households participating in the 
supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram in gaining high-quality, work-rel-
evant skills, training, work, or experience 
that will increase the ability of the partici-
pants to obtain regular employment; 
‘‘(BB) subject to subparagraph (N)(ii), 
would provide participants with not less 
than 20 hours per week of training, work, 
or experience under subitem (AA); 
‘‘(CC) would not use any funds author-
ized to be appropriated by this Act; 
‘‘(DD) 
would 
provide 
sufficient 
information, on request by the State 
agency, for the State agency to determine 
that participants who are members of 
households participating in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program are 
fulfilling any applicable work requirement 
under this subsection or subsection (o); 
‘‘(EE) would be willing to serve as 
a reference for participants who are mem-
bers of households participating in the 
supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram for future employment or work- 
related programs; and 
‘‘(FF) meets any other criteria estab-
lished by the Secretary, on the condition 
that the Secretary shall not establish any 
additional criteria that would impose 
significant paperwork burdens on the 
workforce partnership; and 
‘‘(cc) is in compliance with the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), 
if applicable. 
‘‘(II) INCLUSION.—The term ‘workforce partner-
ship’ includes a multistate program.’’, 
(3) in subparagraph (E)— 
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘Such require-
ments’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) VARIATION.—The requirements under clause 
(i)’’, 
(B) by striking ‘‘(E) Each State’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(E) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION FOR CERTAIN 
INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Each State’’, and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) APPLICATION TO WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS.— 
To the extent that a State agency requires an indi-
vidual to participate in an employment and training 
program, the State agency shall consider an individual 
participating in a workforce partnership to be in
H. R. 2—141 
compliance with the employment and training require-
ments.’’, 
(4) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘(B)(v)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(B)(i)(V)’’, and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(N) WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(i) CERTIFICATION.—In certifying that a program 
meets the requirements of subitems (AA) and (BB) 
of subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb) to be certified as a 
workforce partnership, the Secretary or the State 
agency shall require that the program submit to the 
Secretary or State agency sufficient information that 
describes— 
‘‘(I) the services and activities of the program 
that would provide participants with not less than 
20 hours per week of training, work, or experience 
under those subitems; and 
‘‘(II) how the program would provide services 
and activities described in subclause (I) that would 
directly enhance the employability or job readiness 
of the participant. 
‘‘(ii) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—A State agency 
may use a workforce partnership to supplement, not 
to supplant, the employment and training program 
of the State agency. 
‘‘(iii) PARTICIPATION.—A State agency— 
‘‘(I) shall— 
‘‘(aa) maintain a list of workforce partner-
ships 
certified 
under 
subparagraph 
(B)(ii)(I)(bb); and 
‘‘(bb) not less frequently than at certifi-
cation and recertification, provide to a house-
hold member subject to work requirements 
under subsection (d)(1) or subsection (o), elec-
tronically or by other means, the list described 
in item (aa); but 
‘‘(II) may not require any member of a house-
hold participating in the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program to participate in a workforce 
partnership. 
‘‘(iv) EFFECT.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—A workforce partnership 
shall not replace the employment or training of 
an individual not participating in the workforce 
partnership. 
‘‘(II) SELECTION.—Nothing in this subsection 
or subsection (o) affects the criteria or screening 
process for selecting participants by a workforce 
partnership. 
‘‘(v) LIMITATION ON REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
In carrying out this subparagraph, the Secretary and 
each applicable State agency shall limit the reporting 
requirements of a workforce partnership to— 
‘‘(I) on notification that an individual is 
receiving supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits, notifying the applicable State
H. R. 2—142 
agency that the individual is participating in the 
workforce partnership; 
‘‘(II) identifying participants who have com-
pleted or are no longer participating in the 
workforce partnership; 
‘‘(III) identifying changes to the workforce 
partnership that result in the workforce partner-
ship no longer meeting the certification require-
ments of the Secretary or the State agency under 
subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)(bb); and 
‘‘(IV) providing sufficient information, on 
request by the State agency, for the State agency 
to verify that a participant is fulfilling any 
applicable work requirements under this sub-
section or subsection (o). 
‘‘(O) REFERRAL OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with such regula-
tions as may be issued by the Secretary, with respect 
to any individual who is not eligible for an exemption 
under paragraph (2) and who is determined by the 
operator of an employment and training program 
component to be ill-suited to participate in that employ-
ment and training program component, the State 
agency shall— 
‘‘(I) refer the individual to an appropriate 
employment and training program component; 
‘‘(II) refer the individual to an appropriate 
workforce partnership, if available; 
‘‘(III) reassess the physical and mental fitness 
of the individual under paragraph (1)(A); or 
‘‘(IV) to the maximum extent practicable, 
coordinate with other Federal, State, or local 
workforce or assistance programs to identify work 
opportunities or assistance for the individual. 
‘‘(ii) PROCESS.—In carrying out clause (i), the State 
agency shall ensure that an individual undergoing and 
complying with the process established under that 
clause shall not be found to have refused without good 
cause to participate in an employment and training 
program.’’. 
(b) WORK REQUIREMENTS.—Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end, 
(B) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘job search pro-
gram or a job search training program.’’ and inserting 
‘‘supervised job search program or job search training pro-
gram;’’, and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) a program of employment and training for vet-
erans operated by the Department of Labor or the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, and approved by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(E) 
a 
workforce 
partnership 
under 
subsection 
(d)(4)(N).’’, 
(2) in paragraph (4)(A) by inserting ‘‘and with the support 
of the chief executive officer of the State’’ after ‘‘agency’’, and
H. R. 2—143 
(3) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) in the heading by striking ‘‘15-PERCENT EXEMPTION’’ 
and inserting ‘‘EXEMPTIONS’’, 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘(G)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(H)’’, 
(C) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘(E) and (G)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(F) and (H)’’ , 
(D) in subparagraph (D)— 
(i) in the heading by striking ‘‘SUBSEQUENT FISCAL 
YEARS’’ and inserting ‘‘FISCAL
YEARS
1999
THROUGH 
2019’’, 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(E) through (G)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(F) through (H)’’, and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘year,’’ and inserting ‘‘year through 
fiscal year 2019,’’, 
(E) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘or (D)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘, (D), or (E)’’, 
(F) by redesignating subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) 
as subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), respectively, and 
(G) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: 
‘‘(E) SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEARS.—Subject to subpara-
graphs (F) through (H), for fiscal year 2020 and each subse-
quent fiscal year, a State agency may provide a number 
of exemptions such that the average monthly number of 
exemptions in effect during the fiscal year does not exceed 
12 percent of the number of covered individuals in the 
State, as estimated by the Secretary under subparagraph 
(C), adjusted by the Secretary to reflect changes in the 
State’s caseload and the Secretary’s estimate of changes 
in the proportion of members of households that receive 
supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits covered 
by waivers granted under paragraph (4).’’. 
(c) STATE PLANS.—Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(19) by inserting ‘‘the extent to which 
such programs will be carried out in coordination with the 
activities carried out under title I of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.),’’ before ‘‘and 
the basis,’’, and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(w) For households containing at least one adult, with no 
elderly or disabled members and with no earned income at their 
last certification or required report, a State agency shall, at the 
time of recertification, be required to advise members of the house-
hold not exempt under section 6(d)(2) regarding available employ-
ment and training services.’’. 
(d) FUNDING OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.—Sec-
tion 16(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘$90,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$103,900,000’’, 
(B) in subparagraph (C)— 
(i) in clause (i) by inserting ‘‘, subject to clauses 
(ii) through (v),’’ after ‘‘(B), the Secretary’’, and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 2—144 
‘‘(iv) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall reallocate 
funds under this subparagraph as follows: 
‘‘(I)(aa) Subject to items (bb) and (cc), not less 
than 50 percent shall be reallocated to State agen-
cies requesting such funds to conduct employment 
and training programs and activities for which 
such State agencies had previously received 
funding under subparagraph (F)(viii) that the Sec-
retary determines have the most demonstrable 
impact on the ability of participants to find and 
retain employment that leads to increased house-
hold income and reduced reliance on public assist-
ance. 
‘‘(bb) The Secretary shall base the determina-
tion under item (aa) on— 
‘‘(AA) project results from the independent 
evaluations conducted under subparagraph 
(F)(vii)(I); or 
‘‘(BB) if the project results from the inde-
pendent evaluations conducted under subpara-
graph (F)(vii)(I) are not yet available, the 
reports under subparagraph (F)(vii)(II) or 
other information relating to performance of 
the programs and activities funded under 
subparagraph (F)(viii). 
‘‘(cc) Employment and training activities 
funded under this subclause are not subject to 
subparagraph (F)(vii), but are subject to moni-
toring under paragraph (h)(5). 
‘‘(II) Not less than 30 percent shall be reallo-
cated to State agencies requesting such funds to 
implement or continue employment and training 
programs and activities under section 6(d)(4)(B)(i) 
that the Secretary determines have the most 
demonstrable impact on the ability of participants 
to find and retain employment that leads to 
increased household income and reduced reliance 
on public assistance, including programs and 
activities that are targeted to— 
‘‘(aa) individuals 50 years of age or older; 
‘‘(bb) formerly incarcerated individuals; 
‘‘(cc) individuals participating in a sub-
stance abuse treatment program; 
‘‘(dd) homeless individuals; 
‘‘(ee) people with disabilities seeking to 
enter the workforce; 
‘‘(ff) other individuals with substantial 
barriers to employment; or 
‘‘(gg) households facing multi-generational 
poverty, to support employment and workforce 
participation 
through 
an 
integrated 
and 
family-focused approach in providing sup-
portive services. 
‘‘(III) The Secretary shall reallocate any 
remaining funds available under this subpara-
graph, to State agencies requesting such funds 
to use for employment and training programs and
H. R. 2—145 
activities that the Secretary determines have the 
most demonstrable impact on the ability of partici-
pants to find and retain employment that leads 
to increased household income and reduced reli-
ance 
on 
public 
assistance 
under 
section 
6(d)(4)(B)(i). 
‘‘(v) CONSIDERATION.—In reallocating funds under 
this subparagraph, a State agency that receives reallo-
cated funds under clause (iv)(I) may also be considered 
for reallocated funding under clause (iv)(II).’’, and 
(C) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘$50,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$100,000’’, and 
(2) in paragraph (5)(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) STATE OPTION.—The State agency may report 
relevant data from a workforce partnership carried 
out under section 6(d)(4)(N) to demonstrate the number 
of program participants served by the workforce part-
nership.’’. 
(e) EXPIRED AUTHORITY.—Section 17(b) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2), and 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2). 
SEC. 4006. IMPROVEMENTS TO ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER 
SYSTEM. 
(a) EBT PORTABILITY.—Section 7(f)(5) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(f)(5)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(C) OPERATION OF INDIVIDUAL POINT OF SALE DEVICE 
BY FARMERS’ MARKETS AND DIRECT MARKETING FARMERS.— 
A farmers’ market or direct marketing farmer that is 
exempt under paragraph (2)(B)(i) shall be allowed to 
operate an individual electronic benefit transfer point of 
sale device at more than 1 location under the same supple-
mental nutrition assistance program authorization, if— 
‘‘(i) the farmers’ market or direct marketing farmer 
provides to the Secretary information on location and 
hours of operation at each location; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) the point of sale device used by the farmers’ 
market or direct marketing farmer is capable of pro-
viding location information of the device through the 
electronic benefit transfer system; or 
‘‘(II) if the Secretary determines that the tech-
nology is not available for a point of sale device to 
meet the requirement under subclause (I), the farmers’ 
market or direct marketing farmer provides to the 
Secretary any other information, as determined by the 
Secretary, necessary to ensure the integrity of trans-
actions processed using the point of sale device.’’. 
(b) MODERNIZATION OF ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER REGU-
LATIONS.—The 1st sentence of section 7(h)(2) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(2)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘and shall periodically review such regulations and modify such 
regulations to take into account evolving technology and comparable 
industry standards’’ before the period at the end. 
(c) BENEFIT RECOVERY.—Section 7(h)(12) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(12)) is amended—
H. R. 2—146 
(1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘, or due to the death 
of all members of the household’’ after ‘‘inactivity’’, and 
(2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) BENEFIT STORAGE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A State agency may store recov-
ered electronic benefits off-line in accordance with 
clause (ii), if the household has not accessed the 
account after 3 months. 
‘‘(ii) NOTICE OF BENEFIT STORAGE.—A State agency 
shall— 
‘‘(I) send notice to a household the benefits 
of which are stored under clause (i); and 
‘‘(II) not later than 48 hours after request 
by the household, make the stored benefits avail-
able to the household. 
‘‘(C) BENEFIT EXPUNGING.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), a State 
agency shall expunge benefits that have not been 
accessed by a household after a period of 9 months, 
or upon verification that all members of the household 
are deceased. 
‘‘(ii) NOTICE
OF
BENEFIT
EXPUNGING.—Not later 
than 30 days before benefits are to be expunged under 
clause (i), a State agency shall— 
‘‘(I) provide sufficient notice to the household 
that benefits will be expunged due to inactivity, 
and the date upon which benefits will be expunged; 
‘‘(II) for benefits stored off-line in accordance 
with subparagraph (B), provide the household an 
opportunity to request that such benefits be 
restored to the household; and 
‘‘(III) not later than 48 hours after request 
by the household, make the benefits available to 
the household.’’. 
(d) PROHIBITED FEES.—Section 7 of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (h)(13) to read as follows: 
‘‘(13) FEES.— 
‘‘(A) INTERCHANGE
FEES.—No interchange fees shall 
apply to electronic benefit transfer transactions under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(B) OTHER FEES.—Effective through fiscal year 2023, 
neither a State, nor any agent, contractor, or subcontractor 
of a State who facilitates the provision of supplemental 
nutrition assistance program benefits in such State may 
impose a fee for switching (as defined in subsection 
(j)(1)(H)) or routing such benefits.’’, and 
(2) by amending subsection (j)(1)(H) to read as follows: 
‘‘(H) SWITCHING.—The term ‘switching’ means the 
routing of an intrastate or interstate transaction that con-
sists of transmitting the details of a transaction electroni-
cally recorded through the use of an electronic benefit 
transfer card in one State to the issuer of the card that 
may be in the same or different State.’’. 
(e) MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES.—Section 7(h)(14) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(14)) is amended—
H. R. 2—147 
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
Secretary shall authorize the use of mobile technologies 
for the purpose of accessing supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program benefits.’’, 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by striking the heading and inserting ‘‘DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECTS ON ACCESS OF BENEFITS THROUGH MOBILE 
TECHNOLOGIES’’, 
(B) by amending clause (i) to read as follows: 
‘‘(i) DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.—Before author-
izing implementation of subparagraph (A) in all States, 
the Secretary shall approve not more than 5 dem-
onstration project proposals submitted by State agen-
cies that will pilot the use of mobile technologies for 
supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits 
access.’’, 
(C) in clause (ii)— 
(i) in the heading by striking ‘‘DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS’’ and inserting ‘‘PROJECT REQUIREMENTS’’, 
(ii) by striking ‘‘retail food store’’ the first place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘State agency’’, 
(iii) by striking ‘‘includes’’, 
(iv) by striking subclauses (I), (II), (III), and (IV), 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(I) provides recipient protections regarding 
privacy, ease of use, household access to benefits, 
and support similar to the protections provided 
under existing methods; 
‘‘(II) ensures that all recipients, including 
those without access to mobile payment technology 
and those who shop across State borders, have 
a means of benefit access; 
‘‘(III) requires retail food stores, unless exempt 
under section 7(f)(2)(B), to bear the costs of 
acquiring and arranging for the implementation 
of point-of-sale equipment and supplies for the 
redemption of benefits that are accessed through 
mobile technologies; 
‘‘(IV) requires that foods purchased with bene-
fits issued under this section through mobile tech-
nologies are purchased at a price not higher than 
the price of the same food purchased by other 
methods used by the retail food store, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; 
‘‘(V) ensures adequate documentation for each 
authorized transaction, adequate security meas-
ures to deter fraud, and adequate access to retail 
food stores that accept benefits accessed through 
mobile technologies, as determined by the Sec-
retary; 
‘‘(VI) provides for an evaluation of the dem-
onstration project, including, but not limited to, 
an evaluation of household access to benefits; 
‘‘(VII) requires that the State demonstration 
projects are voluntary for all retail food stores
H. R. 2—148 
and that all recipients are able to use benefits 
in non-participating retail food stores; and 
‘‘(VIII) meets other criteria as established by 
the Secretary.’’, 
(D) by amending clause (iii) to read as follows: 
‘‘(iv) DATE OF PROJECT APPROVAL.—The Secretary 
shall solicit and approve the qualifying demonstration 
projects required under subparagraph (B)(i) not later 
than January 1, 2021.’’, and 
(E) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) PRIORITY.—The Secretary may prioritize dem-
onstration project proposals that would— 
‘‘(I) reduce fraud; 
‘‘(II) encourage positive nutritional outcomes; 
and 
‘‘(III) meet such other criteria as determined 
by the Secretary.’’, and 
(3) in subparagraph (C)(i)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting ‘‘2022’’, and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘requires further study by way of 
an extended pilot period or’’ after ‘‘States’’ the 2d place 
it appears. 
(f) APPROVAL OF RETAIL FOOD STORES.—Section 9 of the Food 
and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2018) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) in the 4th sentence by striking ‘‘No retail food 
store’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) VISIT REQUIRED.—No retail food store’’, 
(B) in the 3d sentence by striking ‘‘Approval’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) CERTIFICATE.—Approval’’, 
(C) in the 2d sentence— 
(i) by striking ‘‘food; and (D) the’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘food; 
‘‘(iv) any information, if available, about the ability 
of the anticipated or existing electronic benefit transfer 
equipment and service provider of the applicant to 
provide sufficient information through the electronic 
benefit transfer system to minimize the risk of fraudu-
lent transactions; and 
‘‘(v) the’’, 
(ii) by striking ‘‘concern; (C) whether’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘concern; 
‘‘(iii) whether’’, 
(iii) by striking ‘‘applicant; (B) the’’ and inserting 
the following: ‘‘applicant; 
‘‘(ii) the’’, 
(iv) by striking ‘‘following: (A) the nature’’ and 
inserting the following: ‘‘following: 
‘‘(i) the nature’’, and 
(v) in the matter preceding clause (i), as so des-
ignated, by striking ‘‘In determining’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In determining’’, 
and 
(D) in the 1st sentence by striking ‘‘(a)(1) Regulations’’ 
and inserting the following: