120 
on industry guidelines published by animal 
trade associations, prohibit routine caging, crat-
ing, and tethering of animals, and include, at a 
minimum, provisions for daily free access to an 
outdoor vegetated range area for a majority of 
animals’ lives, indoor and outdoor space allow-
ance, environmental enrichment, ability to en-
gage in natural behaviors, pain control and 
physical alterations, animal handling and trans-
port, and responsible antibiotic use. 
‘‘(D) The auditors used in such program 
have no vested or financial interest in audit 
outcomes and possess a background in animal 
welfare science, or have received equivalent 
training, and are able to recognize and apply 
established farm animal welfare standards and 
protocols. 
‘‘(E) Such program requires producers to 
comply with 100 percent of standards to receive 
certification. 
‘‘(d) RECAPTURE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any taxpayer 
with respect to which a credit of $75,000 or more 
is determined under this section for any taxable year 
and which ceases to be in compliance with an inde-
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pendent animal welfare certification at any time dur-
ing the recapture period, the taxpayer may be sub-
ject to recapture of some or all of the credit, at the 
discretion of the Internal Revenue Service. 
‘‘(2) RECAPTURE
PERIOD.—For purposes of 
this section, the term ‘recapture period’ means the 
5-taxable-year period beginning with the taxable 
year two years after the taxable year for which a 
credit of $75,000 or more is determined under this 
section.’’. 
(b) CREDIT TO BE PART OF GENERAL BUSINESS 
CREDIT.—Section 38(b) of such Code is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘plus’’ at the end of paragraph 
(32); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (33) and inserting ‘‘, plus’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(34) in the case of an eligible taxpayer (as de-
fined in section 45U(c)(1), the independent animal 
welfare certification credit determined under section 
45U.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
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of such Code is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘Sec. 45U. Independent animal welfare certification credit.’’.’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred during 
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023. 
Subtitle B—Reforming Animal Wel-
fare in Agricultural Research 
Endeavors 
SEC. 811. ANIMAL WELFARE. 
Section 14 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 
2144) is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘Any’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), 
any Federal research facility or any other’’; 
(2) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘Any’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) ANIMAL EXHIBITION.—Any’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) EXCLUSIONS NOT APPLICABLE.—For pur-
poses of the application of standards and other re-
quirements described in paragraph (1) to a Federal 
research facility or any other department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the United States having labora-
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tory animal facilities, the exclusions contained in 
section 2(g)(3) shall not apply.’’. 
SEC. 812. ESTABLISHING A RESEARCH AND EXTENSION 
PROGRAM FOR HUMANELY RAISED LIVE-
STOCK AND POULTRY CERTIFICATIONS. 
(a) CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND 
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS.—Section 
1402(6) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, 
and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101(6)) is 
amended by inserting before the semicolon the following: 
‘‘, and meet growing consumer demand for animal welfare, 
environmental sustainability, pasture-based rearing, and 
compliance with independent animal welfare certifi-
cations’’. 
(b) INDEPENDENT
ANIMAL
WELFARE
CERTIFI-
CATION PROGRAM DEFINED.—Section 1404 of the Na-
tional Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(21) INDEPENDENT
ANIMAL
WELFARE
CER-
TIFICATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘Independent ani-
mal welfare certification program’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 801(1) of the Food and 
Farm Act.’’. 
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(c) FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP AND COORDINA-
TION.—Section 1409A of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 3124a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘and 
environmental’’ and inserting ‘‘environmental, ani-
mal welfare, and marketplace demand’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘pasture- 
based rearing systems,’’ after ‘‘cooperatives,’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘improving 
animal well-being, facilitating enrollment in inde-
pendent animal welfare certification programs,’’ 
after ‘‘marketing systems,’’. 
(d) ANIMAL WELL-BEING RESEARCH.—The heading 
of subtitle E of the National Agricultural Research, Ex-
tension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (title XIV of 
Public Law 93–113) is amended to read as follows: ‘‘Ani-
mal Health, Well-Being, and Disease Re-
search’’. 
(e) AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY TO ACT.—Sec-
tion 1431(b)(2) of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
3193(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (B); 
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(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (C), and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) improve the flow of information to 
producers regarding enrollment in, compliance 
with, and marketing benefits of independent 
animal welfare certification programs.’’. 
(f) SMALL FARM RESEARCH AND EXTENSION.— 
(1) SMALL FARM EXTENSION PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 502 of the Rural Development Act of 1972 (7 
U.S.C. 2662) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘, im-
proved animal husbandry techniques including 
enrollment in independent animal welfare cer-
tification programs,’’ after ‘‘marketing tech-
niques’’; and 
(B) in subsection (h)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (E); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph 
(F) as subparagraph (H); and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(E) the following new subparagraphs: 
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store, process, market, and distribute food, particu-
larly in rural areas. 
(2) Local and regional food systems provide 
meaningful access to healthy, fresh, and affordable 
foods that are grown and processed closer to mar-
kets, especially in food deserts and other under-
served areas. 
(3) Local and regional food systems lower the 
carbon footprint of America’s food system by grow-
ing, processing, distributing, and consuming prod-
ucts locally and reducing the use of fossil fuels. 
(4) Local and regional food systems foster 
American resiliency and independence by helping 
communities become less dependent on external food 
sources. 
(5) Local and regional food systems increase 
accountability for farmers, ranchers, and others em-
ployed in the field to engage in sustainable and eth-
ical practices. 
(6) By supporting the growth and advancement 
of local and regional food systems, the people of the 
United States are investing in an environmentally 
and economically resilient food and agriculture sys-
tem that provides opportunity and livelihoods for 
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farmers, 
ranchers, 
businesses, 
and 
employees 
throughout the economy. 
SEC. 902. EXPANDING THE FOOD LEVERAGING INVEST-
MENT FOR NETWORK COORDINATION (LINC) 
PROGRAM. 
(a) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VALUE CHAIN COOR-
DINATORS.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall expand 
Rural Development Agency participation in the Food 
Leveraging Investment for Network Coordination (LINC) 
program, a public-private partnership to enhance regional 
food-value chains, to deploy during each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028 at least 25 full-time value chain coor-
dinators to provide local food sector coordination services. 
(b) LOCATION OF VALUE CHAIN COORDINATORS.— 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that at least 5 
value chain coordinators deployed under subsection (a) are 
located in each of the following: 
(1) The Pacific Northwest region of the United 
States. 
(2) The Northeast region of the United States. 
(3) The Western region of the United States. 
(4) The Midwest region of the United States. 
(5) The Southern region of the United States. 
(c) COORDINATION SERVICES DESCRIBED.—The du-
ties of a value chain coordinator include the following: 
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(1) Identifying and connecting interested per-
sons through short-term engagement, helping to 
build relationships across the food value chain by en-
gaging interested persons, maintaining communica-
tion channels, and fostering a trusting environment 
among interested persons. 
(2) Identifying and pursuing resources, such as 
grants, loans, and services to support value-chain 
collaborators as they develop their enterprises. 
(3) Raising policy issues and partnering with 
interested persons to address policies and procure-
ment requirements. 
(4) Working with food chain members to build 
capacity through education and training programs in 
such areas as organics and other sustainable produc-
tion practices, food safety, marketing, and branding. 
(5) Utilizing grants and other external re-
sources to test new business models to help lower 
the financial risk of businesses engaged in the value 
chain. 
(d) FUNDING.—Of the funds of the Commodity Cred-
it Corporation, the Secretary of the Agriculture shall use 
to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028. 
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SEC. 
903. 
ENSURING 
SUCCESS 
OF 
REGIONAL 
FOOD 
PROJECTS UNDER THE BUSINESS AND IN-
DUSTRY GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM. 
(a) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 310B(g)(9)(B) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1932(g)(9)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(v) OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—Not more than 5 percent of 
the amounts reserved under clause (iv) for 
each fiscal year shall be used for outreach, 
and to provide marketing and technical as-
sistance through Federal entities, and 
through State and private universities and 
nonprofit entities (including by contract), 
to potential recipients of a loan or loan 
guarantee under this subparagraph, to en-
sure the full utilization of any such loan or 
loan guarantee.’’. 
(b) 
INCREASE
IN
FUNDING.—Section 
310B(g)(9)(B)(iv)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(7 
U.S.C. 
1932(g)(9)(B)(iv)(I)) is amended by striking ‘‘5’’ and in-
serting ‘‘10’’. 
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SEC. 904. INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIALTY CROP 
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 101 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness 
Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2028’’; and 
(2) in subsection (l)— 
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and 
each fiscal year thereafter.’’ and inserting a 
semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
and 
‘‘(G) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 
and each fiscal year thereafter.’’. 
Subtitle B—Enhancing Regional 
Food Infrastructure 
SEC. 911. SUPPORTING REGIONAL FOOD INFRASTRUCTURE 
ASSESSMENT AND COLLABORATIVE PLAN-
NING. 
(a) SUPPORT FOR REGION-WIDE ASSESSMENT AND 
COLLABORATIVE PLANNING PROJECTS.—Section 6(b) of 
the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 
(7 U.S.C. 3005(b)) is amended— 
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