I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4612 
To provide technical assistance to improve infrastructure in foreign markets 
for United States agricultural commodities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2023 
Mr. FEENSTRA (for himself, Mr. MANN, Mr. COSTA, and Mr. CARBAJAL) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agri-
culture 
A BILL 
To provide technical assistance to improve infrastructure in 
foreign markets for United States agricultural commodities. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fortifying Refrigera-
tion Infrastructure and Developing Global Exports Act of 
2023’’ or the ‘‘FRIDGE Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) One of the largest limiting factors to grow-
ing export markets for United States food and agri-
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culture products is insufficient infrastructure capa-
bilities. 
(2) Current trade programs are focused on pro-
moting specific commodities or products, all of which 
are reliant on a functioning supply chain. 
(3) There is a need for dedicated resources to 
focus on supply chain enhancement in developing 
countries to enable market expansion and diver-
sification. 
(4) Each year, billions of tons of fresh and fro-
zen food products and millions of dollars’ worth of 
United States exports are lost due to poor cold chain 
systems in developing markets. 
(5) Strengthening global infrastructure plays an 
important role in promoting trade, reducing food 
loss and waste, and improving nutrition. 
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE INFRA-
STRUCTURE 
IN 
FOREIGN 
MARKETS 
FOR 
UNITED STATES AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITIES. 
Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 
(7 U.S.C. 5623(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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‘‘(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE IN-
FRASTRUCTURE IN FOREIGN MARKETS FOR UNITED 
STATES AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As part of the pro-
gram established under this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall enter into contracts or other agree-
ments with eligible trade organizations to pro-
vide needs assessments, training, and other 
technical assistance to enhance the capabilities 
of infrastructure in new and developing foreign 
markets, including infrastructure relating to 
cold chain capacity, port improvements, and 
other developments, to ensure United States ag-
ricultural commodities are not damaged or lost 
due to deficiencies of such infrastructure. 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to carry out this 
paragraph $1,000,000 for each of the fis-
cal years 2024 through 2028. 
‘‘(ii) 
RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.— 
Amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under this subparagraph may be used only 
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for the purposes described in subparagraph 
(A). 
‘‘(iii) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts au-
thorized to be appropriated under this sub-
paragraph that are not used to carry out 
this paragraph are authorized to be made 
available to carry out the program estab-
lished under this subsection.’’. 
Æ 
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