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(e) 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 insert-
ing ‘‘$200,000,000’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (1) 
and (2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that additional re-
sources are available to carry out the program, in ad-
dition to the funds made available under subsection 
(a), for each fiscal year the Secretary shall transfer 
7 percent of the funds and acres made available for 
the following programs: 
‘‘(A) The conservation stewardship program 
established under subchapter B of chapter 2 of 
subtitle D. 
‘‘(B) The environmental quality incentives 
program established under chapter 4 of subtitle 
D. 
‘‘(C) The agricultural conservation easement 
program established under subtitle H. 
‘‘(2) DURATION OF AVAILABILITY.—Any funds or 
acres transferred under paragraph (1) shall remain
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(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2); and 
(D) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), 
by striking ‘‘35 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘60 per-
cent’’; 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘None of the funds’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), none of the funds’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH.— 
Under a partnership agreement, the Secretary may 
advance reasonable amounts of funding for technical 
assistance to eligible partners to conduct project devel-
opment and outreach activities in a project area, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) providing outreach and education to 
eligible producers for potential participation in 
the project; 
‘‘(B) developing a watershed or habitat 
plan; 
‘‘(C) establishing baseline metrics to support 
the development of the assessment required under 
section 1271B(c)(1)(E); or
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) providing technical assistance to eligi-
ble producers. 
‘‘(3) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Secretary may re-
imburse reasonable amounts of funding for activities 
conducted during the period beginning on the date on 
which the Secretary announces the approval of an ap-
plication under section 1271B(e) and ending on the 
day before the effective date of the partnership agree-
ment.’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the time of project selec-
tion, the Secretary shall identify and make publically 
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 partners pursuant to a 
partnership agreement.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1271E of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2018’’; 
(B) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting 
‘‘eligible’’ before ‘‘producers’’ each place it ap-
pears; 
(C) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (4) as paragraphs (2) through (5), re-
spectively; and 
(D) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(1) a summary of— 
‘‘(A) the progress made towards addressing 
the 1 or more natural resource concerns defined 
for the projects; and 
‘‘(B) any other related environmental, so-
cial, or economic outcomes of the projects;’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.— 
The Secretary may not provide assistance under the pro-
gram to an eligible producer unless the eligible producer
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† HR 2 EAS 
agrees, during the program year for which the assistance 
is provided— 
‘‘(1) to comply with applicable conservation re-
quirements under subtitle B; and 
‘‘(2) to comply with applicable wetland protec-
tion requirements under subtitle C. 
‘‘(d) HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS.—To 
the maximum extent practicable, in carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall work with eligible partners to 
maintain eligible benefits available through the covered pro-
grams for beginning farmers and ranchers, veteran farmers 
and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, 
and limited resource farmers and ranchers. 
‘‘(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue regula-
tions to carry out the program.’’. 
(g) 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 subsections (b), (c), and (e), respectively; 
(2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CRITICAL CONSERVATION AREA.—The term 
‘critical conservation area’ means a geographical area
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† HR 2 EAS 
that contains a critical conservation condition that 
can be addressed through the program. 
‘‘(2) CRITICAL CONSERVATION CONDITION.—The 
term ‘critical conservation condition’ means— 
‘‘(A) a condition of land that would benefit 
from water quality improvement, including 
through reducing erosion, promoting sediment 
control, and addressing nutrient management 
activities affecting large bodies of water of re-
gional, national, or international significance; 
and 
‘‘(B) a condition of land that would benefit 
from water quantity improvement, including im-
provement relating to— 
‘‘(i) drought; 
‘‘(ii) groundwater, surface water, aqui-
fer, or other water sources; or 
‘‘(iii) water retention and flood pre-
vention.’’; 
(3) in subsection (b) (as so redesignated)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘producer’’ and inserting 
‘‘program’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘that address each critical 
conservation condition for which the critical con-
201 
† HR 2 EAS 
servation 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), re-
spectively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall identify 
1 or more critical conservation conditions that apply 
to each critical conservation area designated under 
this section after the date of enactment of the Agricul-
tural 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 critical conservation conditions.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)— 
(i) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 
(D) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) contains a critical conservation condi-
tion; or’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) 
as subparagraph (D); and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) in subparagraph (D) (as so redes-
ignated), by inserting ‘‘eligible’’ before ‘‘pro-
ducers’’; and 
(D) by striking paragraph (3) (as so redes-
ignated) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(3) REVIEW AND WITHDRAWAL.—The Secretary 
may— 
‘‘(A) review designations of critical con-
servation areas under this section not more fre-
quently than once every 5 years; and 
‘‘(B) withdraw designation of a critical 
conservation area only if the Secretary deter-
mines that the area is no longer a critical con-
servation area.’’; 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redes-
ignated) the following: 
‘‘(d) OUTREACH TO ELIGIBLE PARTNERS AND ELIGI-
BLE PRODUCERS.—The Secretary shall provide outreach 
and education to eligible partners and eligible producers in 
critical conservation areas designated under this section to 
encourage the development of projects to address each crit-
ical conservation condition identified by the Secretary for 
that critical conservation area.’’; 
(6) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘pro-
ducer’’ and inserting ‘‘program’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and 
(7) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—Not later than December 31, 2018, 
and each year thereafter, 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 a report describing the status of each critical 
conservation condition for each critical conservation area 
designated under this section, including— 
‘‘(1) the conditions for which each critical con-
servation area is designated; 
‘‘(2) conservation goals and outcomes sufficient 
to demonstrate that progress is being made to address 
the critical conservation conditions; 
‘‘(3) the partnership agreements selected to ad-
dress each conservation goal and outcome; and 
‘‘(4) the extent to which each conservation goal 
and outcome is being addressed by the partnership 
agreements.’’. 
(h) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1271E of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871e) (as amended by subsection 
(f)) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) 
in 
subsection 
(a), 
by 
striking 
‘‘1271B(d)’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘1271B(e)’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(5), in the matter pre-
ceding 
subparagraph 
(A), 
by 
striking 
‘‘1271C(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘1271C(d)’’. 
(2) Section 1271F of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3871f) is amended in subsection (b) 
(as redesignated by subsection (g)(1)) by striking 
‘‘1271D(d)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘1271D(d)(2)’’. 
SEC. 2412. WETLAND CONVERSION. 
Section 1221(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3821(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Except as’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) DUTY
OF
THE
SECRETARY.—No person 
shall become ineligible under paragraph (1) if the 
Secretary determines that an exemption under section 
1222(b) applies to that person.’’. 
SEC. 2413. DELINEATION OF WETLANDS. 
(a) IDENTIFICATION
OF MINIMAL EFFECT EXEMP-
TIONS.—Section 1222(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3822(d)) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘For pur-
poses’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1) (as so designated)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, in ac-
cordance with paragraph (2),’’ before ‘‘the Sec-
retary’’; and 
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary shall carry 
out paragraph (1)— 
‘‘(A) in compliance with applicable Federal 
environmental laws, including the National En-
vironmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.); 
‘‘(B) in accordance with subsections (d) and 
(e) of section 12.31 of title 7, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the date of enact-
ment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 
2018); and 
‘‘(C) in consultation with— 
‘‘(i) State technical committees estab-
lished under section 1261(a);
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) State wildlife and water resource 
agencies; 
‘‘(iii) the Director of the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service; 
‘‘(iv) State Committees of the Farm 
Service Agency; and 
‘‘(v) agricultural commodity organiza-
tions. 
‘‘(3) TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES.—The Secretary’’. 
(b) MITIGATION BANKING.—Section 1222(k)(1) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3822(k)(1)) is amend-
ed by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to carry out this paragraph 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023.’’. 
SEC. 2414. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) WATERSHED
PROTECTION
PROGRAM.—Section 
403 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203) 
is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘MEAS-
URES’’ and inserting ‘‘WATERSHED PROTECTION 
PROGRAM’’; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘SEC. 404. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized’’; 
(5) in subsection (a) (as so designated), by in-
serting ‘‘, to remain available until expended’’ before 
the period at the end; and 
(6) by inserting after subsection (a) (as so des-
ignated) 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. 2415. WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVEN-
TION. 
Section 10 of the Watershed Protection and Flood Pre-
vention Act (16 U.S.C. 1007) is amended by striking the 
section designation and all that follows through ‘‘No appro-
priation’’ in the second sentence and inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 10. FUNDING. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.—No appropriation’’. 
SEC. 2416. SMALL WATERSHED REHABILITATION PROGRAM. 
Section 14(h)(2) of the Watershed Protection and 
Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1012(h)(2)) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2425. 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 the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act, in accordance with— 
(1) the document entitled ‘‘Partnership Agree-
ment Between the United States Department of Agri-
culture 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 Con-
servation Service on September 15, 2016, and by the 
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice on August 4, 2016, as in effect on September 15, 
2016; and 
(2) United States Fish and Wildlife Service Di-
rector’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 partner-
ship agreement between the Farm Service Agency and the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the purpose of 
carrying out conservation activities for species conserva-
tion.
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(c) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF REGULATORY PREDICT-
ABILITY.— 
(1) DEFINITION
OF
PERIOD
OF
REGULATORY 
PREDICTABILITY.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘pe-
riod of regulatory predictability’’ means the period of 
regulatory predictability under the Endangered Spe-
cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) initially de-
termined in accordance with the document and order 
described in paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, of 
subsection (a). 
(2) EXTENSION.—After the period of regulatory 
predictability, on request of the Secretary, the Sec-
retary of the Interior, acting through the Director of 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, may pro-
vide 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 appli-
cable, with the Chief of the Natural Resources Con-
servation Service or the Administrator of the Farm 
Service Agency, as applicable, to extend the period of 
regulatory predictability. 
(d) REGULATORY CERTAINTY.—Section 1244 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(n) REGULATORY CERTAINTY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to technical and 
programmatic information that the Secretary is oth-
erwise authorized 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 Fed-
eral agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local 
government to support specifically the develop-
ment of mechanisms that would provide regu-
latory certainty, regulatory predictability, safe 
harbor protection, or other similar regulatory as-
surances to a farmer, rancher, or private non-
industrial forest landowner under a regulatory 
requirement— 
‘‘(i) that relates to soil, water, or wild-
life; and 
‘‘(ii) over which that Federal agency, 
State, Indian tribe, or unit of local govern-
ment has authority; and 
‘‘(B) relating to conservation practices or 
activities that could be implemented by a farmer, 
rancher, or private nonindustrial forest land-
owner to address a targeted soil, water, or wild-
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† HR 2 EAS 
life resource concern that is the direct subject of 
a regulatory requirement enforced by that Fed-
eral agency, State, Indian tribe, or unit of local 
government, as applicable. 
‘‘(2) MECHANISMS.—The Secretary shall only 
provide additional technical and programmatic infor-
mation under paragraph (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 con-
servation practices or activities that effectively 
addresses the soil, water, or wildlife resource con-
cern identified under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) the on-site confirmation that the ap-
plicable conservation practices or activities iden-
tified under subparagraph (A) have been imple-
mented; 
‘‘(C) a plan for a periodic audit, as appro-
priate, of the continued implementation or 
maintenance of each of the conservation practices 
or activities identified under subparagraph (A); 
and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) notification to a farmer, rancher, or 
private nonindustrial forest landowner of, and 
an opportunity to correct, any noncompliance 
with a requirement to obtain regulatory cer-
tainty, regulatory predictability, safe harbor 
protection, or other similar regulatory assurance. 
‘‘(3) CONTINUING CURRENT COLLABORATION ON 
SOIL, WATER, OR
WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION
PRAC-
TICES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) continue collaboration with Federal 
agencies, States, Indian tribes, or local units of 
government on existing regulatory certainty, reg-
ulatory predictability, safe harbor protection, or 
other similar regulatory assurances in accord-
ance with paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) continue collaboration with the Sec-
retary of the Interior on consultation under sec-
tion 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or conference under 
section 
7(a)(4) 
of 
that 
Act 
(16 
U.S.C. 
1536(a)(4)), as applicable, for wildlife conserva-
tion efforts, including the Working Lands for 
Wildlife model of conservation on working land-
scapes, as implemented on the day before the
216 
† HR 2 EAS 
date of enactment of the Agriculture Improve-
ment Act of 2018, in accordance with— 
‘‘(i) the document entitled ‘Partnership 
Agreement Between the United States De-
partment of Agriculture Natural Resources 
Conservation Service and the United States 
Department of the Interior Fish and Wild-
life Service’, numbered A–3A75–16–937, 
and formalized by the Chief of the Natural 
Resources Conservation Service on Sep-
tember 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 
‘‘(ii) United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service Director’s Order No. 217, dated Au-
gust 9, 2016, as in effect on August 9, 2016. 
‘‘(4) SAVINGS
CLAUSE.—Nothing in this sub-
section— 
‘‘(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 displaces— 
‘‘(i) any cause of action; or
217 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(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 Depart-
ment of Agriculture is the originating agency re-
questing a consultation 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 
administered by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 2426. HEALTHY FORESTS RESERVE PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSES.—Section 501(a) of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6571(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) to conserve forest land that provides habitat 
for species described in section 502(b)(2).’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 502 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6572) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘private 
land’’ and all that follows through ‘‘which will’’ 
and inserting ‘‘private land, including private 
forest land or land being restored to forest, the 
enrollment of which will maintain,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘private land’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘which will’’ and 
inserting ‘‘private land, including private 
forest land or land being restored to forest, 
the enrollment of which will maintain,’’; 
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B)(i) are candidates for such listing, 
State-listed species, or special concern species; or 
‘‘(ii) are deemed a species of greatest con-
servation need under a State wildlife action 
plan.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following:
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(3) conserve forest land that provides habitat 
for species described in section 502(b)(2).’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (2); and 
(C) in paragraph (2)(B) (as redesignated 
by subparagraph (A))— 
(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; and 
(ii) by striking clause (iii) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(iii) a permanent easement; or 
‘‘(iv) any combination of the options 
described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).’’; 
and 
(4) in subsection (f)(1)(B), by striking clause (ii) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii)(I) are candidates for such listing, 
State-listed species, or special concern spe-
cies; or 
‘‘(II) are deemed a species of greatest 
conservation need under a State wildlife ac-
tion plan.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(c) RESTORATION
PLANS.—Section 503(b) of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 
6573(b)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; 
(2) by striking the subsection designation and all 
that follows through ‘‘restoration practices’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(b) PRACTICES AND MEASURES.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
PRACTICES
AND
MEAS-
URES.—In this subsection, the term ‘practices and 
measures’ includes land management practices, vege-
tative treatments, structural practices and measures, 
practices to improve biological diversity, practices to 
increase carbon sequestration, and other appropriate 
activities, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) 
RESTORATION
PLANS.—The 
restoration 
plan may require such restoration practices and 
measures’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (A) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (1)), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(4) in subparagraph (B) (as redesignated by 
paragraph (1)), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘, or a species deemed a species of greatest
221 
† HR 2 EAS 
conservation need under a State wildlife action 
plan.’’. 
SEC. 2427. WATERSHED PROTECTION. 
(a) WATERSHED AREAS.—Section 2 of the Watershed 
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1002) is 
amended in the undesignated matter following paragraph 
(3) by inserting ‘‘(except in cases in which the Secretary 
determines that the undertaking is necessary in a larger 
watershed or subwatershed in order to address regional 
drought concerns)’’ after ‘‘fifty thousand acres’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—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 insert-
ing 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 water-
shed plan for works of improvement if the Secretary deter-
mines the watershed plan is unnecessary or duplicative.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2428. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO INCREASED 
WATERSHED-BASED COLLABORATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government 
should recognize and encourage partnerships at the water-
shed level between nonpoint sources and regulated point 
sources to advance the goals of the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) and provide benefits 
to farmers, landowners, and the public. 
SEC. 2429. MODIFICATIONS TO CONSERVATION EASEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after subtitle E the 
following: 
‘‘Subtitle F—Other Conservation 
Provisions 
‘‘SEC. 1251. MODIFICATIONS TO CONSERVATION EASEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF COVERED PROGRAM.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘covered program’ means wetland reserve 
easements under section 1265C. 
‘‘(b) MODIFICATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law applicable to the covered program, subject 
to subsection (c), if requested by the landowner, the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(1) allow land enrolled in the covered program 
to be—
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‘‘(A) modified for water management, gen-
eral maintenance, vegetative cover control, wild-
life habitat management, or any other purpose, 
subject to the condition that the modification 
shall be approved jointly by— 
‘‘(i) the State department of natural 
resources (or equivalent State agency); and 
‘‘(ii) the technical committee estab-
lished under section 1261(a) of the State; or 
‘‘(B) exchanged for land that has equal or 
greater conservation, wildlife, ecological, and eco-
nomic values, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(2) provide for the modification of an easement 
under the covered program if the Secretary determines 
that the modification— 
‘‘(A) would facilitate the practical adminis-
tration and management of the land covered by 
the easement; and 
‘‘(B) would not adversely affect the func-
tions and values for which the easement was es-
tablished. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—
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‘‘(2) the repayment of the costs paid by the Sec-
retary for any restoration of land removed from the 
covered program; 
‘‘(3) if applicable, a survey of property bound-
aries, including review and approval by the applica-
ble agency; 
‘‘(4) preparation and recording in accordance 
with standard real estate practices of any exchange, 
including requirements for title approval by the Sec-
retary, subordination of liens, and amended warranty 
easement deed recording; and 
‘‘(5) any applicable recording and legal fees.’’. 
Subtitle E—Funding and 
Administration 
SEC. 2501. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1241(a) of the Food Secu-
rity 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 ‘‘$11,000,000 for
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† HR 2 EAS 
the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023’’; 
and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘$33,000,000 for the pe-
riod of fiscal years 2014 through 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$50,000,000 for the period of fis-
cal 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 ‘‘con-
tract holders’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraphs 
(A) through (E) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) $400,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2021; 
‘‘(B) $425,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(C) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’; 
and 
(4) in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraphs 
(A) through (E) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) $1,473,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(B) $1,478,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(C) $1,541,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) $1,571,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
and 
‘‘(E) $1,595,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 
(b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Section 1241(b) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(b)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2018 (and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the 
program specified in subsection (a)(5))’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
(c) ALLOCATIONS REVIEW
AND UPDATE.—Section 
1241(g) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3841(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘REVIEW AND UPDATE’’ 
in the subsection heading and all that follows through ‘‘The 
Secretary’’ in paragraph (2) and inserting ‘‘UPDATE.—The 
Secretary’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN FARMERS OR RANCHERS 
FOR CONSERVATION ACCESS.—Section 1241(h)(1) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(h)(1)) is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘5 percent’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘15 percent’’. 
(e) 
CONSERVATION
STANDARDS
AND
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841) is amended by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(j) CONSERVATION
STANDARDS
AND
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements 
of this title, the Natural Resources Conservation Serv-
ice 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; 
‘‘(C) standards for conservation plans; and 
‘‘(D) payment rates for conservation prac-
tices and activities under programs carried out 
under this title. 
‘‘(2) CONSISTENCY
OF
FARM
SERVICE
AGENCY 
STANDARDS.—The Administrator of the Farm Service 
Agency shall ensure that the standards and require-
ments of programs administered by the Farm Service 
Agency incorporate and are consistent with the stand-
ards and requirements established by the Natural Re-
sources Conservation Service under paragraph (1).
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‘‘(3) LOCAL FLEXIBILITY.—The Secretary shall 
establish a procedure to allow, on request of a State 
committee of the Farm Service Agency or a State 
technical committee established under section 1261(a) 
to modify any standard or requirement established 
under paragraph (1), that modification if the modi-
fication— 
‘‘(A) addresses a specific and local natural 
resource concern; 
‘‘(B) is based on science; and 
‘‘(C) maintains the conservation benefits of 
the standards and requirements established 
under paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 2502. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3842) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and heading and all that follows through ‘‘the 
term’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT.—The term’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER.—The term ‘third- 
party provider’ means a commercial entity (including
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a farmer cooperative, agriculture retailer, or other 
commercial entity, as determined by the Secretary), a 
nonprofit entity, a State, a unit of local government 
(including a conservation district), or a Federal agen-
cy, that has expertise in the technical aspect of con-
servation planning, including nutrient management 
planning, watershed planning, or environmental engi-
neering.’’; 
(2) in subsection (e), 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 Secretary, 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 Sec-
retary shall provide a streamlined certification proc-
ess for a third-party provider that has an appropriate 
specialty certification, including a sustainability spe-
cialty certification and a 4R nutrient management 
specialty certification from the American Society of 
Agronomy.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (h)—
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(A) 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 Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary 
shall develop an administrative process for— 
‘‘(A) expediting the establishment and revi-
sion of conservation practice standards; and 
‘‘(B) considering conservation innovations 
with respect to any establishment or revision 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(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 paragraph (3); 
‘‘(B) conservation practice standards that 
were established or revised under that process; 
and 
‘‘(C) conservation innovations that were 
considered under that process.’’.
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SEC. 2503. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR CON-
SERVATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) INCENTIVES FOR ACEQUIAS.—Section 1244(a) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘RANCHERS
AND
INDIAN
TRIBES’’ and inserting 
‘‘RANCHERS, INDIAN TRIBES, AND ACEQUIAS’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(F) Acequias.’’. 
(b) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—Section 1244(f) of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(f)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘10’’ and 
inserting ‘‘15’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘the Agriculture Im-
provement Act of 2018’’. 
(c) FUNDING FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—Section 1244(l) of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844(l)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
(d) EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Section 1244(m) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3844(m)) is amended—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or com-
modity’’ after ‘‘conservation’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or the Farm 
Service Agency’’ before the period at the end. 
(e) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION.—Section 1244 of the 
Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) (as amended 
by section 2425(d)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(o) SOURCE WATER PROTECTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the con-
servation stewardship program under subchapter B of 
chapter 2 of subtitle D and the environmental quality 
incentives program under chapter 4 of subtitle D, the 
Secretary shall encourage water quality and water 
quantity practices that— 
‘‘(A) protect sources of potable water, in-
cluding protecting against public health threats; 
and 
‘‘(B) mutually benefit agricultural pro-
ducers. 
‘‘(2) COLLABORATION
AND
PAYMENTS.—In en-
couraging practices under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(A) work collaboratively with drinking 
water utilities, community water systems, and
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† HR 2 EAS 
State technical committees established under sec-
tion 1261 to identify local priority areas for the 
protection of source waters for drinking water; 
and 
‘‘(B) subject to limitations under the pro-
grams described in paragraph (1), provide pay-
ment rates to producers for water quality prac-
tices or enhancements that primarily result in 
off-farm benefit at a rate sufficient to encourage 
greater adoption of those practices or enhance-
ments by producers.’’. 
(f) PAYMENTS MADE TO ACEQUIAS.—Section 1244 of 
the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) (as amend-
ed by subsection (e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(p) PAYMENTS MADE TO ACEQUIAS.— 
‘‘(1) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may 
waive the applicability of the limitations in section 
1001D(b) or section 1240G for a payment made 
under a contract under this title entered into with an 
acequia if the Secretary determines that the waiver is 
necessary to fulfill the objectives of the project under 
the contract. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACT LIMITATIONS.—If the Secretary 
grants a waiver under paragraph (1), the Secretary
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† HR 2 EAS 
shall impose a separate payment limitation, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, for the contract to which the 
waiver applies.’’. 
SEC. 2504. DEFINITION OF ACEQUIA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1201(a) of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (27) 
as paragraphs (2) through (28), respectively; 
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(1) ACEQUIA.—The term ‘acequia’ means an 
entity that— 
‘‘(A) is a political subdivision of a State; 
‘‘(B) is organized for the purpose of man-
aging the operation of an irrigation ditch; and 
‘‘(C) does not have the authority to impose 
taxes or levies.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (19)(B) (as so redesignated), 
by inserting ‘‘acequia,’’ before ‘‘or other’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 363 of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
2006e) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘section 1201(a)(16)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 1201(a)’’; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) by striking ‘‘(16 U.S.C. 3801(a)(16))’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(16 U.S.C. 3801(a))’’. 
SEC. 2505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
WATER BANK PROGRAM. 
Section 11 of the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1310) 
is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘without fis-
cal year’’ and all that follows through ‘‘necessary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2019 through 2023, to remain available until ex-
pended,’’; and 
(2) by striking the second sentence. 
SEC. 2506. REPORT ON LAND ACCESS, TENURE, AND TRAN-
SITION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with 
the Chief Economist, shall submit to Congress and make 
publicly available a report identifying— 
(1) the barriers that prevent or hinder the ability 
of beginning farmers and ranchers and historically 
underserved producers to acquire or access farmland; 
(2) the extent to which Federal programs, includ-
ing agricultural conservation easement programs, 
land transition programs, and financing programs, 
are improving—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) farmland access and tenure for begin-
ning farmers and ranchers and historically un-
derserved producers; and 
(B) farmland transition and succession; 
and 
(3) the regulatory, operational, or statutory 
changes that are necessary to improve— 
(A) the ability of beginning farmers and 
ranchers and historically underserved producers 
to acquire or access farmland; 
(B) farmland tenure for beginning farmers 
and ranchers and historically underserved pro-
ducers; and 
(C) farmland transition and succession. 
SEC. 2507. REPORT ON SMALL WETLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service shall submit to Congress a report de-
scribing 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. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—In the report under subsection 
(a), the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service 
shall list the number of wetlands acres in each State de-
scribed in the report by tenths of an acre, and ensure the 
report is based on based available science.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2508. STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. 
Section 1262(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3862(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) RECOMMENDATIONS TO SECRETARY.—Each 
State technical committee shall regularly review new 
and innovative technologies and practices, including 
processes to conserve water and improve water quality 
and quantity, and make recommendations to the Sec-
retary for further consideration of and possible devel-
opment of conservation practice standards that incor-
porate those technologies and practices.’’. 
Subtitle F—Technical Corrections 
SEC. 2601. 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. 
SEC. 2602. REPORT ON PROGRAM ENROLLMENTS AND AS-
SISTANCE. 
Section 1241(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3841(i)) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (4); and 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (5), and (6) 
as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 2603. DELIVERY OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3842) is amended in subsections (e)(3)(B) and (f)(4) 
by striking ‘‘third party’’ each place it appears and insert-
ing ‘‘third-party’’. 
SEC. 2604. STATE TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. 
Section 1261(b)(2) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3861(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘under sec-
tion 1262(b)’’. 
TITLE III—TRADE 
Subtitle A—Food for Peace Act 
SEC. 3101. FOOD AID QUALITY. 
Section 202(h)(3) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1722(h)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 3102. GENERATION AND USE OF CURRENCIES BY PRI-
VATE VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS AND CO-
OPERATIVES. 
Section 203 of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 1723) 
is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) LOCAL SALES.—In carrying out agreements of the 
type referred to in subsection (a), the Administrator may 
permit private voluntary organizations and cooperatives to 
sell, in 1 or more recipient countries, or in 1 or more coun-
tries in the same region, commodities distributed under
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† HR 2 EAS 
nonemergency programs under this title for each fiscal year 
to generate proceeds to be used as provided in this section.’’. 
SEC. 3103. 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’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3104. 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 in-
serting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3105. 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 percent, but not less than $17,000,000,’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘2018’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 3106. ASSISTANCE FOR STOCKPILING AND RAPID 
TRANSPORTATION, 
DELIVERY, 
AND 
DIS-
TRIBUTION OF SHELF-STABLE PREPACKAGED 
FOODS. 
Section 208(f) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1726b(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3107. ALLOWANCE OF DISTRIBUTION COSTS. 
Section 406(b)(6) of the Food for Peace Act (7 U.S.C. 
1736(b)(6)) is amended by striking ‘‘distribution costs’’ and 
inserting ‘‘distribution costs, including the types of activi-
ties for which costs were paid under this subsection prior 
to fiscal year 2017’’. 
SEC. 3108. PREPOSITIONING OF AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITIES. 
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. 3109. ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING FOOD AID PRO-
GRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. 
Section 407(f)(1)(A) of the Food for Peace Act (7 
U.S.C. 1736a(f)(1)(A)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or each separately’’ after 
‘‘jointly’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘by the Administrator, the Sec-
retary, or both, as applicable,’’ after ‘‘Act’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et 
seq.) may be considered amounts expended for those 
nonemergency food assistance programs if the funds 
are made available through grants or cooperative 
agreements that— 
‘‘(A) strengthen food security in developing 
countries; and 
‘‘(B) are consistent with the goals of title 
II.’’. 
SEC. 3112. 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. 3113. JOHN OGONOWSKI AND DOUG BEREUTER FARM-
ER-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’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘employ-
ees or staff of a State cooperative institution (as 
defined in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of sec-
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† HR 2 EAS 
tion 1404(18) of the National Agricultural Re-
search, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103(18)),’’ after ‘‘private cor-
porations,’’; 
(2) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e)(1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle B—Agricultural Trade Act 
of 1978 
SEC. 3201. PRIORITY TRADE PROMOTION, DEVELOPMENT, 
AND ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5621 et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘Subtitle C—Priority Trade Pro-
motion, Development, and Assist-
ance 
‘‘SEC. 221. ESTABLISHMENT. 
‘‘The Secretary shall carry out activities under this 
subtitle—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) to access, develop, maintain, and expand 
markets for United States agricultural commodities; 
and 
‘‘(2) to promote cooperation and the exchange of 
information. 
‘‘SEC. 222. MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commodity Credit Corpora-
tion shall establish and carry out a program to encourage 
the development, maintenance, and expansion of commer-
cial export markets for 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 devel-
opment program. 
‘‘(b) TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.—Assistance under this sec-
tion may be provided in the form of funds of, or commod-
ities owned by, the Commodity Credit Corporation, as de-
termined appropriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION.—To be eli-
gible for cost-share assistance under this section, an organi-
zation shall— 
‘‘(1) be an eligible trade organization;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) prepare and submit a marketing plan to the 
Secretary that meets the guidelines governing such 
plans established by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(3) meet any other requirements established by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.—An eligible 
trade organization shall be— 
‘‘(1) a United States agricultural trade organi-
zation or regional State-related organization that— 
‘‘(A) promotes the export and sale of agri-
cultural commodities; and 
‘‘(B) does not stand to profit directly from 
specific sales of agricultural commodities; 
‘‘(2) a cooperative organization or State agency 
that promotes the sale of agricultural commodities; or 
‘‘(3) a private organization that promotes the ex-
port and sale of agricultural commodities if the Sec-
retary determines that such organization would sig-
nificantly contribute to United States export market 
development. 
‘‘(e) APPROVED MARKETING PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A marketing plan submitted 
by an eligible trade organization under this section 
shall describe the advertising or other market oriented 
export promotion activities to be carried out by the
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† HR 2 EAS 
eligible trade organization with respect to which as-
sistance under this section is being requested. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—To be approved by the 
Secretary, a marketing plan submitted under this 
subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) specifically describe the manner in 
which assistance received by the eligible trade or-
ganization in conjunction with funds and serv-
ices provided by the eligible trade organization 
will be expended in implementing the marketing 
plan; 
‘‘(B) establish specific market goals to be 
achieved as a result of the market access pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(C) contain any additional requirements 
that the Secretary determines to be necessary. 
‘‘(3) AMENDMENTS.—A marketing plan may be 
amended by the eligible trade organization at any 
time, with the approval of the Secretary. 
‘‘(4) BRANDED PROMOTION.—An agreement en-
tered into under this section may provide for the use 
of branded advertising to promote the sale of agricul-
tural commodities in a foreign country under such 
terms and conditions as may be established by the 
Secretary.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(f) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) MULTIYEAR
BASIS.—The Secretary may 
provide assistance under this section on a multiyear 
basis, subject to annual review by the Secretary for 
compliance with the approved marketing plan. 
‘‘(2) TERMINATION
OF
ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary may terminate any assistance made, or to be 
made, available under this section if the Secretary de-
termines that— 
‘‘(A) the eligible trade organization is not 
adhering to the terms and conditions of the pro-
gram established under this section; 
‘‘(B) the eligible trade organization is not 
implementing the approved marketing plan or is 
not adequately meeting the established goals of 
the market access program; 
‘‘(C) the eligible trade organization is not 
adequately contributing its own resources to the 
market access program; or 
‘‘(D) the Secretary determines that termi-
nation of assistance in a particular instance is 
in the best interests of the program. 
‘‘(3) MONITORING AND EVALUATIONS.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) MONITORING.—The Secretary shall 
monitor the expenditure of funds received under 
this section by recipients of those funds. 
‘‘(B) EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
make evaluations of the expenditure of funds re-
ceived under this section, including— 
‘‘(i) an evaluation of the effectiveness 
of the program in developing or maintain-
ing markets for United States agricultural 
commodities; 
‘‘(ii) an evaluation of whether assist-
ance provided under this section is nec-
essary to maintain markets for United 
States agricultural commodities; and 
‘‘(iii) a thorough accounting of the ex-
penditure of those funds by the recipient. 
‘‘(C) INITIAL EVALUATION.—The Secretary 
shall make an initial evaluation of expenditures 
of a recipient under this paragraph not later 
than 15 months after the initial provision of 
funds to the recipient. 
‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available to 
carry out this section— 
‘‘(A) shall not be used to provide direct as-
sistance to any foreign for-profit corporation for
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† HR 2 EAS 
the use of the corporation in promoting foreign- 
produced products; 
‘‘(B) shall not be used to provide direct as-
sistance to any for-profit corporation that is not 
recognized as a small-business concern 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 agri-
cultural products’, approved February 18, 
1922 (7 U.S.C. 291); and 
‘‘(iii) a nonprofit trade association; 
and 
‘‘(C) may be used by a United States trade 
association, cooperative, or small business for in-
dividual branded promotional activity related to 
a United States branded product, if the bene-
ficiaries of the activity have provided funds for 
the activity in an amount that is at least equiv-
alent to the amount of assistance provided under 
this section. 
‘‘(g) LEVEL OF MARKETING ASSISTANCE.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall justify 
in writing the level of assistance provided to an eligi-
ble trade organization under the program under this 
section and the level of cost-sharing required of the or-
ganization. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), assistance provided under 
this section for activities described in subsection 
(e)(4) shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of 
implementing the marketing plan. 
‘‘(B) ACTION
BY
UNITED
STATES
TRADE 
REPRESENTATIVE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
determine not to apply the limitation de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) in the case of 
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). 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.—Criteria for de-
termining that the limitation shall not 
apply under clause (i) shall be consistent 
and documented.
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‘‘SEC. 223. FOREIGN MARKET DEVELOPMENT COOPERATOR 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION
OF ELIGIBLE TRADE ORGANIZA-
TION.—In this section, the term ‘eligible trade organization’ 
means a United States trade organization that— 
‘‘(1) promotes the export of 1 or more United 
States agricultural commodities; and 
‘‘(2) does not have a business interest in or re-
ceive remuneration from specific sales of agricultural 
commodities. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
and, in cooperation with eligible trade organizations, carry 
out a foreign market development cooperator program to 
maintain and develop foreign markets for United States ag-
ricultural commodities, with a continued significant em-
phasis on the importance of the export of value-added 
United States agricultural commodities into emerging mar-
kets. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available to carry 
out this section shall be used only to provide— 
‘‘(1) cost-share assistance to an eligible trade or-
ganization under a contract or agreement with the el-
igible trade organization; and 
‘‘(2) assistance for other costs that are appro-
priate to carry out the foreign market development co-
253 
† HR 2 EAS 
operator program, including contingent liabilities 
that are not otherwise funded. 
‘‘SEC. 224. E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA AGRICULTURAL FELLOW-
SHIP PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION OF EMERGING MARKET.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘emerging market’ means any country, for-
eign territory, customs union, or other economic market 
that the Secretary determines— 
‘‘(1) is taking steps toward a market-oriented 
economy through the food, agriculture, or rural busi-
ness sectors of the economy of that country, territory, 
customs union, or other economic market, as applica-
ble; and 
‘‘(2) has the potential to provide a viable and 
significant market for United States agricultural 
commodities. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program, to be known as the ‘E (Kika) de la Garza Agri-
cultural Fellowship Program’— 
‘‘(1) to develop agricultural markets in emerging 
markets; and 
‘‘(2) to promote cooperation and exchange of in-
formation between agricultural institutions and agri-
businesses in the United States and emerging mar-
kets.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(c) DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
PROGRAM.—To 
develop, maintain, or expand markets for exports 
of United States agricultural commodities, the 
Secretary shall make available to emerging mar-
kets 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 effective-
ness of the food and rural business systems 
described in clause (i), including potential 
reductions in trade barriers; and 
‘‘(iii) to identify and carry out specific 
opportunities and projects to enhance the ef-
fectiveness of the food and rural business 
systems described in clause (i). 
‘‘(B) EXTENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
shall implement this paragraph with respect to 
at least 3 emerging markets in each fiscal year. 
‘‘(2) EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.—The 
Secretary may implement paragraph (1) by pro-
viding—
255 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) assistance to teams (consisting pri-
marily of agricultural consultants, agricultural 
producers, other persons from the private sector, 
and government officials expert in assessing the 
food and rural business systems of other coun-
tries) to enable those teams to conduct the assess-
ments, make the recommendations, and identify 
the opportunities and projects described in para-
graph (1)(A) in emerging markets; 
‘‘(B) necessary subsistence expenses in the 
United States and necessary transportation ex-
penses by individuals designated by emerging 
markets to enable those individuals to consult 
with food and rural business system experts in 
the United States to enhance those systems of 
those emerging markets; 
‘‘(C) necessary subsistence expenses in 
emerging markets and necessary transportation 
expenses of United States food and rural busi-
ness system experts, agricultural producers, and 
other individuals knowledgeable in agricultural 
and agribusiness matters to assist in transfer-
ring knowledge and expertise to entities in 
emerging markets; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) necessary subsistence expenses and 
necessary transportation expenses of United 
States food and rural business system experts, 
including United States agricultural producers 
and other United States individuals knowledge-
able in agriculture and agribusiness matters, 
and of individuals designated by emerging mar-
kets, to enable those designated individuals to 
consult with those United States experts— 
‘‘(i) to enhance food and rural business 
systems of emerging markets; and 
‘‘(ii) to transfer knowledge and exper-
tise to emerging markets. 
‘‘(3) COST-SHARING.—The Secretary shall en-
courage the nongovernmental experts described in 
paragraph (2) to share the costs of, and otherwise as-
sist in, the participation of those experts in the pro-
gram under this subsection. 
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary is 
authorized to provide, or pay the necessary costs for, 
technical assistance (including the establishment of 
extension services) to enable individuals or other enti-
ties to carry out recommendations, projects, and op-
portunities in emerging markets, including rec-
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† HR 2 EAS 
ommendations, projects, and opportunities described 
in clauses (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (1)(A). 
‘‘(5) REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—A team that re-
ceives assistance under paragraph (2)(A) shall pre-
pare and submit to the Secretary such reports as the 
Secretary may require. 
‘‘(6) ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—To provide the 
Secretary with information that may be useful to the 
Secretary in carrying out this subsection, the Sec-
retary may establish an advisory committee composed 
of representatives of the various sectors of the food 
and rural business systems of the United States. 
‘‘(7) EFFECT.—The authority provided under 
this subsection shall be in addition to and not in 
place of any other authority of the Secretary or the 
Commodity Credit Corporation. 
‘‘SEC. 225. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY CROPS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Agriculture 
shall establish an export assistance program (referred to in 
this section as the ‘program’) to address existing or poten-
tial unique barriers that prohibit or threaten the export of 
United States specialty crops. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The program shall provide direct as-
sistance through public and private sector projects and tech-
nical assistance, including through the program under sec-
258 
† HR 2 EAS 
tion 2(e) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Re-
search Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 3157(e)), to remove, resolve, or 
mitigate existing or potential sanitary and phytosanitary 
and technical barriers to trade. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITY.—The program shall address time sen-
sitive and strategic market access projects based on— 
‘‘(1) trade effect on market retention, market ac-
cess, and market expansion; and 
‘‘(2) trade impact. 
‘‘(d) MULTIYEAR PROJECTS.—The Secretary may pro-
vide assistance under the program to a project for longer 
than a 5-year period if the Secretary determines that fur-
ther assistance would effectively support the purpose of the 
program described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(e) 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 de-
scription of— 
‘‘(1) each factor that affects the export of spe-
cialty crops, including each factor relating to any— 
‘‘(A) significant sanitary or phytosanitary 
issue; 
‘‘(B) trade barrier; or 
‘‘(C) emerging sanitary or phytosanitary 
issue or trade barrier; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2)(A) any funds provided under section 
226(c)(4) that were not obligated in a fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) a description of why the funds described in 
subparagraph (A) were not obligated. 
‘‘SEC. 226. FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION. 
‘‘(a) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—The Sec-
retary shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this subtitle. 
‘‘(b) FUNDING AMOUNT.—For each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023, of the funds of, or an equal value of commod-
ities owned by, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Sec-
retary shall use to carry out this subtitle $259,500,000, to 
remain available until expended. 
‘‘(c) ALLOCATION.—For each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023, the Secretary shall allocate funds to carry 
out this subtitle in accordance with the following: 
‘‘(1) MARKET
ACCESS
PROGRAM.—For market 
access activities authorized under section 222, 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. 
‘‘(2) FOREIGN
MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
COOP-
ERATOR PROGRAM.—To carry out section 223, of the 
funds of, or an equal value of commodities owned by,
260 
† HR 2 EAS 
the Commodity Credit Corporation, not less than 
$34,500,000 for each fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA AGRICULTURAL FEL-
LOWSHIP
PROGRAM.—To provide assistance under 
section 224, of the funds of the Commodity Credit 
Corporation, not more than $10,000,000 for each fis-
cal year. 
‘‘(4) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
SPECIALTY 
CROPS.—To carry out section 225, of the funds of the 
Commodity 
Credit 
Corporation, 
not 
less 
than 
$9,000,000 for each fiscal year, to remain available 
until expended. 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY TRADE FUND.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to the 
amounts allocated under paragraphs (1) through 
(4), and notwithstanding any limitations in 
those paragraphs, as determined by the Sec-
retary, for 1 or more programs under this sub-
title for authorized activities to access, develop, 
maintain, and expand markets for United States 
agricultural commodities, $6,000,000 for each 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
allocating 
funds made available under subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary may consider providing a greater
261 
† HR 2 EAS 
allocation to 1 or more programs under this sub-
title for which the amounts requested under ap-
plications exceed available funding for the 1 or 
more programs. 
‘‘(d) CUBA.—Notwithstanding section 908 of the Trade 
Sanctions 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 sections 222 and 223 in Cuba. 
Funds may not be used as described in the previous sentence 
in contravention with directives set forth under the Na-
tional 
Security 
Presidential 
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. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.—In ad-
dition to any other amounts provided under this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary to carry out the programs and authorities under 
subsection (c)(5) and sections 222 through 225.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM.— 
(A) Section 203 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623) is repealed.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(B) Section 211 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5641) is amended by strik-
ing subsection (c). 
(C) 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 ‘‘222’’. 
(D) 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 Agri-
cultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 222 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978’’. 
(E) 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 222 of the Agricultural Trade 
Act of 1978’’. 
(F) Section 1302(b) of the Agricultural Rec-
onciliation Act of 1993 (7 U.S.C. 5623 note; 
Public Law 103–66) is amended— 
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘section 203 of the Agricul-
263 
† HR 2 EAS 
tural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5623)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘section 222 of the Agricul-
tural Trade Act of 1978’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), in the matter 
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘section 203 of such Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 222 of that Act’’. 
(2) FOREIGN
MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
COOP-
ERATOR
PROGRAM.—Title VII of the Agricultural 
Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5721 et seq.) is repealed. 
(3) E (KIKA) DE LA GARZA AGRICULTURAL FEL-
LOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(A) Section 1542 of the Food, Agriculture, 
Conservation, 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 subsections (d) and (e), respec-
tively; and 
(iii) in subsection (e) (as so redesig-
nated)— 
(I) in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘country’’ and 
inserting ‘‘country, foreign territory,
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† HR 2 EAS 
customs union, or economic market’’; 
and 
(II) in paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘the country’’ and inserting ‘‘that 
country, foreign territory, customs 
union, or economic market, as applica-
ble’’. 
(B) Section 1543(b)(5) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 3293(b)(5)) is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
tion 1542(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1542(e)’’. 
(C) Section 1543A(c)(2) of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5679(c)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and 
section 224 of the Agricultural 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 re-
pealed. 
Subtitle C—Other Agricultural 
Trade Laws 
SEC. 3301. FOOD FOR PROGRESS ACT OF 1985. 
The Food for Progress Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1736o) 
is amended—
265 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) by striking ‘‘President’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Secretary’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘and’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) a land-grant college or university (as 
defined in section 1404 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)).’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘food’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘entities to furnish’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘entities— 
‘‘(1) to furnish’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(C) in paragraph (1) (as so designated), by 
striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
or’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) to provide financial assistance under sub-
section (l)(5) to eligible entities.’’; 
(4) in subsection (f)(3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(5) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; 
(6) in subsection (k), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; 
(7) in subsection (l)— 
(A) by striking the subsection designation 
and heading and all that follows through ‘‘(1) To 
enhance’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(l) SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To enhance’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ‘‘in-
ternal’’ before ‘‘transportation’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) FLEXIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, as necessary to carry out this sec-
267 
† HR 2 EAS 
tion, the following funds shall be used to pay for the 
costs described in paragraph (4): 
‘‘(A) Of the funds of the Corporation de-
scribed in subsection (f)(3), 30 percent. 
‘‘(B) Of the funds for administrative ex-
penses under paragraph (1), 30 percent. 
‘‘(C) Of the funds of the Corporation, 
$26,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 
2023.’’; 
(8) in subsection (m), in the subsection heading, 
by striking ‘‘PRESIDENTIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘SECRE-
TARIAL’’; 
(9) in subsection (n)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter 
preceding clause (i), by inserting ‘‘and as-
sistance’’ after ‘‘commodities’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and assistance made available under this 
section’’ after ‘‘commodities’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
268 
† HR 2 EAS 
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary 
shall issue regulations and revisions to agency 
guidance and procedures necessary to implement 
the amendments made to this section by that Act. 
‘‘(B) CONSULTATIONS.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Secretary 
shall consult with the Committee on Agriculture 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate relating to regulations issued and agency 
guidance and procedures revised under subpara-
graph (A).’’; and 
(10) in subsection (o), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(acting through the Sec-
retary)’’. 
SEC. 3302. 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’’.
269 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 3303. PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO 
EMERGING MARKETS. 
Section 1542(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5622 note; Public 
Law 101–624) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 3304. COCHRAN EMERGING MARKET FELLOWSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 1543 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 3293) is amended— 
(1) 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 in-
serting the following: ‘‘enhance— 
‘‘(A) trade’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so des-
ignated) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) linkages between agricultural interests 
in the United States and regulatory systems gov-
270 
† HR 2 EAS 
erning sanitary and phytosanitary standards for 
agricultural products that— 
‘‘(i) may enter the United States; and 
‘‘(ii) may pose risks to human, ani-
mal, or plant life or health.’’; and 
(2) 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’’. 
SEC. 
3305. 
BORLAUG 
INTERNATIONAL 
AGRICULTURAL 
SCIENCE 
AND 
TECHNOLOGY 
FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
Section 1473G of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, 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;
271 
† HR 2 EAS 
(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 exten-
sion services in eligible countries.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(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 engage-
ment with fellowship recipients who have completed 
training under the program to provide advice regard-
ing, and participate in, new or ongoing agricultural 
development projects, with a priority for capacity- 
building projects, that are sponsored by— 
‘‘(A) Federal agencies; and 
‘‘(B) institutions of higher education in the 
eligible country of the fellowship recipient.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 3306. 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 
ASSISTANCE. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITION
OF INTERNATIONAL FOOD SECU-
RITY.—In this section, the term ‘international food security’ 
means access by any person at any time to food and nutri-
tion that is sufficient for a healthy and productive life. 
‘‘(b) COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary of 
Agriculture (referred to in this section as the ‘Secretary’) 
shall compile information from appropriate mission areas 
of the Department of Agriculture (including the Food, Nu-
trition, 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 Sec-
retary shall organize the information described in sub-
section (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;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) an agency or instrumentality of the 
government of a foreign country; 
‘‘(C) a domestic or international organiza-
tion, including a domestic or international non-
governmental organization; and 
‘‘(D) an intergovernmental organization. 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request by an enti-
ty 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 sec-
tion, the Secretary 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.’’. 
SEC. 3307. MCGOVERN-DOLE INTERNATIONAL FOOD FOR 
EDUCATION AND CHILD NUTRITION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 3107 of the Farm Security and Rural Invest-
ment 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—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(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 re-
gion as a recipient country; and 
‘‘(B) at a minimum, meets each nutritional, 
quality, and labeling standard of the recipient coun-
try, 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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(vi) the costs associated with trans-
porting the commodities described in sub-
section (a)(2) from a developing country de-
scribed in subparagraph (A)(ii) of that sub-
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section 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), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
following: 
‘‘(E) ensure to the maximum extent prac-
ticable that assistance— 
‘‘(i) is provided under this section in a 
timely manner; and 
‘‘(ii) is available when needed through-
out 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 available to carry out this section, not more 
than 10 percent shall be used to purchase agricultural 
commodities described in subsection (a)(2).’’. 
SEC. 3308. GLOBAL CROP DIVERSITY TRUST. 
Section 3202(c) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (22 U.S.C. 2220a note; Public Law 110–246)
276 
† HR 2 EAS 
is amended by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and inserting 
‘‘2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 3309. LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD AID PROCUREMENT 
PROJECTS. 
Section 3206(e)(1) of the Food, Conservation, and En-
ergy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 1726c(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘to the Secretary’’ after ‘‘appro-
priated’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2014 through 2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2019 through 2023’’. 
SEC. 3310. 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 Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6921) (as added by section 12304(2)) (referred to in 
this section as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’), shall 
seek— 
(A) to support the greater inclusion of Trib-
al agricultural and food products in Federal 
trade-related activities; and 
(B) to increase the collaboration between 
Federal trade promotion efforts and other Fed-
eral trade-related activities in support of the
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† HR 2 EAS 
greater inclusion sought under subparagraph 
(A). 
(2) INTERDEPARTMENTAL
COORDINATION.—In 
carrying out activities to increase the collaboration 
described in paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall co-
ordinate 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 enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall sub-
mit 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 Representatives; 
(C) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives; 
(D) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate;
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(E) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; and 
(F) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the 
Senate. 
(2) GOALS.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
tablish goals for measuring, in an objective and quan-
tifiable format, the extent to which Indian Tribes and 
Tribal agricultural and food products are included in 
the trade-related activities of the Department of Agri-
culture. 
TITLE IV—NUTRITION 
Subtitle A—Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program 
SEC. 4101. DEFINITION OF CERTIFICATION PERIOD. 
Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2012) is amended by striking subsection (f) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(f) CERTIFICATION PERIOD.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘certification pe-
riod’ means the period for which a household shall be 
eligible to receive benefits. 
‘‘(2) TIME LIMITS.—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (C), the certification period shall 
not exceed 12 months. 
‘‘(B) CONTACT.—A State agency shall have 
at least 1 contact with each certified household 
every 12 months. 
‘‘(C) ELDERLY OR DISABLED HOUSEHOLD 
MEMBERS.—The certification period may be for 
a duration of— 
‘‘(i) not more than 24 months if each 
adult household member is elderly or dis-
abled; or 
‘‘(ii) not more than 36 months if— 
‘‘(I) each adult household member 
is elderly or disabled; and 
‘‘(II) the household of the adult 
household member has no earned in-
come at the time of certification. 
‘‘(D) EXTENSION
OF
LIMIT.—The limits 
under this paragraph may be extended until the 
end of any transitional benefit period established 
under section 11(s).’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 4102. FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM ON INDIAN RES-
ERVATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4(b) of the Food and Nutri-
tion 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.—The Secretary shall pay 
not less than 80 percent of administrative costs 
and distribution costs on Indian reservations as 
the Secretary determines necessary for effective 
administration 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 Sec-
retary determines that— 
‘‘(i) the tribal organization is finan-
cially unable to provide a greater non-Fed-
eral 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
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† HR 2 EAS 
under this subsection to any tribal organization 
that is granted a waiver under subparagraph 
(B). 
‘‘(D) TRIBAL
CONTRIBUTION.—The Sec-
retary may allow a tribal organization to use 
funds provided to the tribal organization through 
a Federal agency or other Federal benefit to sat-
isfy 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)(F), 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 available for obliga-
tion by the State agency or tribal organization 
for a period of 2 fiscal years.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR TRIBAL ORGANI-
ZATIONS.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.—The term 
‘‘demonstration project’’ means the demonstra-
tion project established under paragraph (2). 
(B) FOOD
DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘food distribution program’’ means the food 
distribution program on Indian reservations car-
ried out under section 4(b) of the Food and Nu-
trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2013(b)). 
(C) INDIAN RESERVATION.—The term ‘‘In-
dian reservation’’ 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 Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(E) SELF-DETERMINATION CONTRACT.—The 
term ‘‘self-determination contract’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 4 of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
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(F) 
TRIBAL
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term 
‘‘tribal organization’’ 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 avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish 
a demonstration project under which 1 or more tribal 
organizations may enter into self-determination con-
tracts to purchase agricultural commodities under the 
food distribution program for the Indian reservation 
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 cri-
teria under which a tribal organization may 
participate in the demonstration project. 
(B) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall select 
for participation in the demonstration project 
tribal organizations that— 
(i) are successfully administering the 
food distribution program of the tribal orga-
nization under section 4(b)(2)(B) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2013(b)(2)(B));
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† HR 2 EAS 
(ii) have the capacity to purchase agri-
cultural commodities in accordance with 
paragraph (4) for the food distribution pro-
gram of the tribal organization; and 
(iii) meet any other criteria deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Interior and In-
dian tribes. 
(4) PROCUREMENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMOD-
ITIES.—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 pack-
ages 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 Secretary. 
(5) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
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† HR 2 EAS 
culture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee 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
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—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 appropriated under subparagraph (A) in 
advance specifically to carry out this subsection 
shall be available to carry out this subsection. 
(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. 4103. WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NU-
TRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-BODIED ADULTS 
WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.—Section 6 of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended—
286 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking the second sentence; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, as amended’’ each 
place it appears; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘(F) a person’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(vi) a person’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘(E) employed’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(v) employed’’; 
(v) by striking ‘‘(D) a regular’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(iv) a regular’’; 
(vi) by striking ‘‘(C) a bona fide stu-
dent’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(iii) a bona fide student’’; 
(vii) by striking ‘‘(B) a parent’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) a parent’’; 
(viii) by striking ‘‘(A) currently’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) currently’’; and
287 
† HR 2 EAS 
(ix) by striking ‘‘(2) A person who’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘if he or she is’’ 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(E) EXEMPTIONS.—A person who other-
wise would be required to comply with the re-
quirements of subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
shall be exempt from such requirements if the 
person is—’’; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as 
amended by subparagraph (A)) the following: 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL WORK REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITION OF WORK PROGRAM.—In 
this paragraph, the term ‘work program’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) a program under title I of the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; 
‘‘(ii) a program under section 236 of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296); 
‘‘(iii) a program of employment and 
training operated or supervised by a State 
or political subdivision of a State that 
meets standards approved by the Governor 
of the State, including a program under 
paragraph (4), other than a job search pro-
gram or a job search training program; and
288 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iv) a workforce partnership under 
paragraph (4)(N). 
‘‘(B) WORK REQUIREMENT.—Subject to the 
other provisions of this paragraph, no individual 
shall be eligible to participate in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program as a mem-
ber of any household if, during the preceding 36- 
month period, the individual received supple-
mental nutrition assistance program benefits for 
not less than 3 months (consecutive or otherwise) 
during which the individual did not— 
‘‘(i) work 20 hours or more per week, 
averaged monthly; 
‘‘(ii) participate in and comply with 
the requirements of a work program for 20 
hours or more per week, as determined by 
the State agency; 
‘‘(iii) participate in and comply with 
the requirements of a program under section 
20 or a comparable program established by 
a State or political subdivision of a State; 
or 
‘‘(iv) receive benefits pursuant to sub-
paragraph (C), (D), (E), or (F).
289 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (B) shall 
not apply to an individual if the individual is— 
‘‘(i) under 18 or over 50 years of age; 
‘‘(ii) medically certified as physically 
or mentally unfit for employment; 
‘‘(iii) a parent or other member of a 
household with responsibility for a depend-
ent child; 
‘‘(iv) otherwise exempt under para-
graph (1)(E); or 
‘‘(v) a pregnant woman. 
‘‘(D) WAIVER.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On the request of a 
State agency, the Secretary may waive the 
applicability of subparagraph (B) to any 
group of individuals in the State if the Sec-
retary makes a determination that the area 
in which the individuals reside— 
‘‘(I) has an unemployment rate of 
over 10 percent; or 
‘‘(II) does not have a sufficient 
number of jobs to provide employment 
for the individuals. 
‘‘(ii) REPORT.—The Secretary shall re-
port the basis for a waiver under clause (i)
290 
† HR 2 EAS 
to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate. 
‘‘(E) SUBSEQUENT ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(i) REGAINING ELIGIBILITY.—An in-
dividual denied eligibility under subpara-
graph (B) shall regain eligibility to partici-
pate in the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program if, during a 30-day period, 
the individual— 
‘‘(I) works 80 or more hours; 
‘‘(II) participates in and complies 
with the requirements of a work pro-
gram for 80 or more hours, as deter-
mined by a State agency; or 
‘‘(III) participates in and com-
plies with the requirements of a pro-
gram under section 20 or a comparable 
program established by a State or po-
litical subdivision of a State. 
‘‘(ii) MAINTAINING
ELIGIBILITY.—An 
individual who regains eligibility under 
clause (i) shall remain eligible as long as
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† HR 2 EAS 
the individual meets the requirements of 
clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(iii) LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—An individual 
who regained eligibility under clause 
(i) and who no longer meets the re-
quirements of clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of 
subparagraph (B) shall remain eligible 
for a consecutive 3-month period, be-
ginning on the date the individual first 
notifies the State agency that the indi-
vidual no longer meets the require-
ments of clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of sub-
paragraph (B). 
‘‘(II) 
LIMITATION.—An 
indi-
vidual shall not receive any benefits 
pursuant to subclause (I) for more 
than a single 3-month period in any 
36-month period. 
‘‘(F) 15-PERCENT EXEMPTION.— 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(I) CASELOAD.—The term ‘case-
load’ means the average monthly num-
ber of individuals receiving supple-
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† HR 2 EAS 
mental nutrition assistance program 
benefits during the 12-month period 
ending the preceding June 30. 
‘‘(II) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The 
term ‘covered individual’ means a 
member of a household that receives 
supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits, or an individual denied 
eligibility for supplemental nutrition 
assistance program benefits solely due 
to subparagraph (B), who— 
‘‘(aa) is not eligible for an 
exception 
under 
subparagraph 
(C); 
‘‘(bb) does not reside in an 
area covered by a waiver granted 
under subparagraph (D); 
‘‘(cc) is not complying with 
clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subpara-
graph (B); 
‘‘(dd) is not receiving supple-
mental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits during the 3 months 
of eligibility provided under sub-
paragraph (B); and
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ee) is not receiving supple-
mental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits under subparagraph 
(E). 
‘‘(ii) 
GENERAL
RULE.—Subject 
to 
clauses (iii) through (vii), a State agency 
may provide an exemption from the re-
quirements of subparagraph (B) for covered 
individuals. 
‘‘(iii) FISCAL YEAR 1998.—Subject to 
clauses (v) and (vii), for fiscal year 1998, 
a State agency may provide a number of 
exemptions such that the average monthly 
number of the exemptions in effect during 
the fiscal year does not exceed 15 percent of 
the number of covered individuals in the 
State in fiscal year 1998, as estimated by 
the Secretary, based on the survey conducted 
to carry out section 16(c) for fiscal year 
1996 and such other factors as the Secretary 
considers appropriate due to the timing and 
limitations of the survey. 
‘‘(iv) SUBSEQUENT
FISCAL
YEARS.— 
Subject to clauses (v) through (vii), for fis-
cal year 1999 and each subsequent fiscal
294 
† HR 2 EAS 
year, a State agency may provide a number 
of exemptions such that the average monthly 
number of the exemptions in effect during 
the fiscal year does not exceed 15 percent of 
the number of covered individuals in the 
State, as estimated by the Secretary under 
clause (iii), adjusted by the Secretary to re-
flect changes in the State’s caseload and the 
Secretary’s estimate of changes in the pro-
portion of members of households that re-
ceive supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits covered by waivers granted 
under subparagraph (D). 
‘‘(v) CASELOAD
ADJUSTMENTS.—The 
Secretary shall adjust the number of indi-
viduals estimated for a State under clause 
(iii) or (iv) during a fiscal year if the num-
ber of members of households that receive 
supplemental nutrition assistance program 
benefits in the State varies from the State’s 
caseload by more than 10 percent, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(vi) 
EXEMPTION
ADJUSTMENTS.— 
During fiscal year 1999 and each subse-
quent fiscal year, the Secretary shall in-
295 
† HR 2 EAS 
crease or decrease the number of individuals 
who may be granted an exemption by a 
State agency under this subparagraph to 
the extent that the average monthly number 
of exemptions in effect in the State for the 
preceding fiscal year under this subpara-
graph is lesser or greater than the average 
monthly number of exemptions estimated 
for the State agency for such preceding fis-
cal year under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(vii) REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—A 
State agency shall submit such reports to 
the Secretary as the Secretary determines 
are necessary to ensure compliance with 
this subparagraph. 
‘‘(G) OTHER PROGRAM RULES.—Nothing in 
this paragraph shall make an individual eligible 
for benefits under this Act if the individual is 
not otherwise eligible for benefits under the other 
provisions of this Act.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (o). 
(b) 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—
296 
† HR 2 EAS 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, in consultation with 
the State workforce development board, or, 
if the State demonstrates that consultation 
with private employers or employer organi-
zations would be more effective or efficient, 
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 following: ‘‘that will— 
‘‘(I) increase the ability of the 
household members to obtain regular 
employment; and 
‘‘(II) meet State or local workforce 
needs.’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘and imple-
mented to meet the purposes of clause (i)’’ after 
‘‘under this paragraph’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in clause (iv), by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) and (bb), re-
spectively, and indenting appropriately;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(B) by redesignating clauses (i) through 
(vii) and clause (viii) as subclauses (I) through 
(VII) and subclause (IX), respectively, and in-
denting appropriately; 
(C) by inserting after subclause (VII) (as so 
redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(VIII) Programs or activities de-
scribed in subclauses (I) through (XII) 
of clause (iv) of section 16(h)(1)(F) 
that the Secretary determines, based on 
the results of the applicable inde-
pendent evaluations conducted under 
clause (vii)(I) of that section, are effec-
tive at increasing employment or earn-
ings for households participating in a 
pilot project under that section.’’; 
(D) in the matter preceding subclause (I) 
(as so redesignated)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘this subparagraph’’ 
and inserting ‘‘this clause’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and a program con-
taining a component under subclause (I) 
shall contain at least 1 additional compo-
nent’’ before the colon; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by striking ‘‘(B) For purposes of 
this Act, an’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
‘‘(i) EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PRO-
GRAM.—The term’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(I) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
term 
‘workforce partnership’ means a pro-
gram that— 
‘‘(aa) is operated by a pri-
vate employer, an organization 
representing private employers, or 
a nonprofit organization pro-
viding services relating to work-
force development; 
‘‘(bb) the Secretary or the 
State agency certifies— 
‘‘(AA) subject to sub-
paragraph (N)(ii), would as-
sist participants who are 
members of households par-
ticipating in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance 
program in gaining high-
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† HR 2 EAS 
quality, work-relevant skills, 
training, work, or experience 
that will increase the ability 
of the participants to obtain 
regular employment; 
‘‘(BB) subject to sub-
paragraph 
(N)(ii), 
would 
provide 
participants 
with 
not fewer than 20 hours per 
week of training, work, or ex-
perience under subitem (AA); 
‘‘(CC) would not use 
any funds authorized to be 
appropriated by this Act; 
‘‘(DD) would provide 
sufficient information, on re-
quest by the State agency, for 
the State agency to determine 
that participants who are 
members of households par-
ticipating in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance 
program are fulfilling any 
applicable work requirement 
under this subsection;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(EE) would be willing 
to serve as a reference for 
participants who are mem-
bers of households partici-
pating in the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program 
for future employment or 
work-related programs; and 
‘‘(FF) meets any other 
criteria established by the 
Secretary, on the condition 
that the Secretary shall not 
establish any additional cri-
teria that would impose sig-
nificant 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 
partnership’ 
includes 
a 
multistate program.’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(A) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘Such requirements’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) VARIATION.—The requirements 
under clause (i)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘(E) Each State’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(E) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
PARTICIPATION 
FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Each State’’; and 
(C) adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(iii) APPLICATION
TO
WORKFORCE 
PARTNERSHIPS.—To the extent that a State 
agency requires an individual to partici-
pate in an employment and training pro-
gram, the State agency shall consider an in-
dividual participating in a workforce part-
nership to be in compliance with the em-
ployment and training requirements.’’; 
(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) IN GENERAL.—A work registrant 
may participate in a workforce partnership
302 
† HR 2 EAS 
to comply with the requirements of para-
graph (1)(A)(ii) and paragraph (2). 
‘‘(ii) 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 sub-
mit to the Secretary or State agency suffi-
cient information that describes— 
‘‘(I) the services and activities of 
the program that would provide par-
ticipants with not fewer than 20 hours 
per week of training, work, or experi-
ence under those subitems; and 
‘‘(II) how the program would pro-
vide services and activities described in 
subclause (I) that would directly en-
hance the employability or job readi-
ness of the participant. 
‘‘(iii) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.— 
A State agency may use a workforce part-
nership to supplement, not to supplant, the 
employment and training program of the 
State agency.
303 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iv) PARTICIPATION.—A State agency 
may provide information on workforce part-
nerships, if available, to any member of a 
household participating in the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program, but may not 
require any member of a household to par-
ticipate in a workforce partnership. 
‘‘(v) EFFECT.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—A workforce 
partnership shall not replace the em-
ployment or training of an individual 
not participating in the workforce 
partnership. 
‘‘(II) 
SELECTION.—Nothing 
in 
this subsection affects the criteria or 
screening process for selecting partici-
pants by a workforce partnership. 
‘‘(vi) LIMITATION ON REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENTS.—In carrying out this sub-
paragraph, the Secretary and each applica-
ble State agency shall limit the reporting 
requirements of a workforce partnership 
to— 
‘‘(I) on notification that an indi-
vidual is receiving supplemental nutri-
304 
† HR 2 EAS 
tion assistance program benefits, noti-
fying the applicable State agency that 
the individual is participating in the 
workforce partnership; 
‘‘(II) identifying participants who 
have completed or are no longer par-
ticipating in the workforce partner-
ship; 
‘‘(III) identifying changes to the 
workforce partnership that result in 
the workforce partnership no longer 
meeting the certification requirements 
of the Secretary or the State agency 
under 
subparagraph 
(B)(ii)(I)(bb); 
and 
‘‘(IV) providing sufficient infor-
mation, 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. 
‘‘(O) REFERRAL
OF
CERTAIN
INDIVID-
UALS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with 
such regulations as may be issued by the
305 
† HR 2 EAS 
Secretary, with respect to any individual 
who is not eligible for an exemption under 
paragraph (1)(E) and who is determined by 
an employment and training program com-
ponent to be ill-suited to participate in the 
employment and training program compo-
nent, the State agency shall— 
‘‘(I) refer the individual to an ap-
propriate 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 Fed-
eral, State, or local workforce or assist-
ance programs to identify work oppor-
tunities or assistance for the indi-
vidual. 
‘‘(ii) 
PROCESS.—In 
carrying 
out 
clause (i), the State agency shall ensure that 
an individual undergoing and complying
306 
† HR 2 EAS 
with the process established under that 
clause shall not be found to have refused 
without good cause to participate in an em-
ployment and training program.’’. 
(c) UPDATING WORK-RELATED PILOT PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 16(h) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘6(o)’’ and inserting ‘‘6(d)(2)’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (E)— 
(I) in clause (i)— 
(aa) in subclause (I), by 
striking ‘‘6(o)(3)’’ and inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)(C)’’; and 
(bb) in subclause (II), by 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (B) or (C) 
of section 6(o)(2)’’ and inserting 
‘‘clause (ii) or (iii) of section 
6(d)(2)(B)’’; and 
(II) in clause (ii)— 
(aa) in the matter preceding 
subclause (I), by striking ‘‘sub-
paragraph (B) or (C) of section
307 
† HR 2 EAS 
6(o)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause (ii) 
or (iii) of section 6(d)(2)(B)’’; 
(bb) in subclause (I), by 
striking ‘‘6(o)(2)’’ and inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)(B)’’; 
(cc) in subclause (II), by 
striking ‘‘6(o)(3)’’ and inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)(C)’’; 
(dd) in subclause (III), by 
striking ‘‘6(o)(4)’’ and inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)(D)’’; and 
(ee) in subclause (IV), by 
striking ‘‘6(o)(6)’’ and inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)(F)’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (F)— 
(I) in clause (ii)(III)(ee)(AA), by 
striking 
‘‘6(o)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘6(d)(2)’’; 
(II) in clause (viii)— 
(aa) in subclause (III), by 
striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2023, for— 
‘‘(aa) the continuation of 
pilot projects being carried out
308 
† HR 2 EAS 
under this subparagraph as of the 
date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, 
if the pilot projects meet the limi-
tations described in subclause (II); 
and 
‘‘(bb) 
additional 
pilot 
projects authorized under clause 
(x).’’; and 
(bb) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(IV) FUNDS
FOR
ADDITIONAL 
PILOT
PROJECTS.—From 
amounts 
made available under section 18(a)(1), 
the Secretary shall use to carry out 
clause (x) $92,500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 and 2020, to remain avail-
able until expended.’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(x) AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT ADDI-
TIONAL PILOT PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the 
availability of funds under clause 
(viii), the Secretary may carry out 8
309 
† HR 2 EAS 
or more additional pilot projects using 
a competitive grant process. 
‘‘(II) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as 
otherwise provided in this clause, a 
pilot project under this clause shall 
meet the criteria described in clauses 
(i), (ii)(II)(bb), and (iii) through (vi) 
and items (aa) through (dd) of clause 
(ii)(III). 
‘‘(III) EVALUATION AND REPORT-
ING.— 
‘‘(aa) 
OPTIONAL
EVALUA-
TION.— 
‘‘(AA) IN
GENERAL.— 
The Secretary shall have the 
option to conduct an inde-
pendent longitudinal evalua-
tion of pilot projects carried 
out under this clause, in ac-
cordance with clause (vii)(I). 
‘‘(BB) QUALIFYING CRI-
TERIA.—If the Secretary de-
termines to conduct an inde-
pendent longitudinal evalua-
tion under subitem (AA), to
310 
† HR 2 EAS 
be eligible to participate in a 
pilot 
project 
under 
this 
clause, a State agency shall 
agree to participate in the 
evaluation 
described 
in 
clause (vii), including pro-
viding 
evidence 
that 
the 
State has a robust data col-
lection system for program 
administration and is co-
operating to make available 
State data on the employ-
ment activities and post-par-
ticipation employment, earn-
ings, and public benefit re-
ceipt of participants to en-
sure proper and timely eval-
uation. 
‘‘(bb) 
REPORTING.—If 
the 
Secretary determines not to con-
duct an independent longitudinal 
evaluation under item (aa), sub-
ject to such terms and conditions 
as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate and not less fre-
311 
† HR 2 EAS 
quently than annually, each State 
agency participating in a pilot 
project carried out under this 
clause shall submit to the Sec-
retary a report that describes the 
results of the pilot project. 
‘‘(IV) VOLUNTARY
ACTIVITIES.— 
Except as provided in subclause (VIII), 
employment and training activities 
under a pilot project carried out under 
this clause shall be voluntary for work 
registrants. 
‘‘(V) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible 
to participate in a pilot project carried 
out under this clause, a State agency 
shall commit to maintain at least the 
amount of State funding for employ-
ment and training programs and serv-
ices under paragraphs (2) and (3) and 
under section 20 as the State expended 
for fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(VI) LIMITATION.—In carrying 
out pilot projects under this clause, the 
Secretary shall not be subject to the
312 
† HR 2 EAS 
limitation 
described 
in 
clause 
(viii)(II)(aa). 
‘‘(VII) 
PRIORITY.—In 
selecting 
pilot projects under this clause, the 
Secretary may give priority to pilot 
projects that— 
‘‘(aa) are targeted to— 
‘‘(AA) individuals 50 
years of age or older; 
‘‘(BB) formerly incar-
cerated individuals; 
‘‘(CC) individuals par-
ticipating in a substance 
abuse treatment program. 
‘‘(DD) homeless individ-
uals; 
‘‘(EE) people with dis-
abilities seeking to enter the 
workforce; or 
‘‘(FF) other individuals 
with substantial barriers to 
employment; or 
‘‘(bb) support employment 
and 
workforce 
participation 
through an integrated and family-
313 
† HR 2 EAS 
focused approach in providing 
supportive services. 
‘‘(VIII) PILOT
PROJECTS
FOR 
MANDATORY
PARTICIPATION
IN
EM-
PLOYMENT
AND
TRAINING
ACTIVI-
TIES.—A State agency may be eligible 
to participate in a pilot project under 
this clause to test programs that assign 
work registrants to mandatory partici-
pation in employment and training 
activities, on the conditions that— 
‘‘(aa) the pilot project pro-
vides individualized case manage-
ment designed to help remove bar-
riers to employment for partici-
pants; and 
‘‘(bb) a work registrant is 
not assigned to employment and 
training activities primarily con-
sisting of job search, job search 
training, or workforce activities.’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)—
314 
† HR 2 EAS 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘section 6(d)(4)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘this paragraph’’; and 
(II) by redesignating clauses (i) 
and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), re-
spectively, 
and 
indenting 
appro-
priately; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (ii), by redesignating 
subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) 
and (bb), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; 
(II) in clause (iv)— 
(aa) in the matter preceding 
subclause (I), by striking ‘‘clause 
(iii)’’ and inserting ‘‘subclause 
(III)’’; 
(bb) in subclause (IV)— 
(AA) in item (cc), by 
striking ‘‘section 6(b)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’; 
and 
(BB) by redesignating 
items (aa) through (cc) as 
subitems (AA) through (CC),
315 
† HR 2 EAS 
respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; and 
(cc) by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) through (V) as items 
(aa) through (ee), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately; 
(III) by redesignating clauses (i) 
through (iv) as subclauses (I) through 
(IV), respectively, and indenting ap-
propriately; and 
(IV) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(V) STATE
OPTION.—The State 
agency may report relevant data from 
a workforce partnership carried out 
under subparagraph (N) to dem-
onstrate the number of program par-
ticipants served by the workforce part-
nership.’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) in clause (iii), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(II) in clause (iv)— 
(aa) in the matter preceding 
subclause (I)—
316 
† HR 2 EAS 
(AA) by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)(E)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (E) of section 
16(h)(1)’’; and 
(BB) by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)’’ and inserting 
‘‘that section’’; 
(bb) in subclause (I)— 
(AA) by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)(E)(ii)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘section 16(h)(1)(E)(ii)’’; 
and 
(BB) by striking ‘‘sub-
paragraph (B) or (C) of sec-
tion 6(o)(2)’’ and inserting 
‘‘clause (ii) or (iii) of para-
graph (2)(B)’’; 
(cc) in subclause (II), by 
striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(E)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘section 16(h)(1)(E)’’; 
and 
(dd) by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) through (III) as items 
(aa) through (cc), respectively, 
and indenting appropriately;
317 
† HR 2 EAS 
(III) by redesignating clauses (i), 
(ii), (iii), and (iv) as subclauses (I), 
(II), (IV), and (VI), respectively, and 
indenting appropriately; 
(IV) by inserting after subclause 
(II) (as so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(III) that the State agency has 
consulted with the State workforce 
board or, if appropriate, private em-
ployers or employer organizations, in 
the design of the employment and 
training program;’’; and 
(V) by inserting after subclause 
(IV) (as so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(V) that the employment and 
training program components of the 
State agency are responsive to State or 
local workforce needs; and’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause 
(ii)’’; 
(v) in subparagraph (E), by inserting 
‘‘or that the employment and training pro-
gram is not adequately meeting State or 
local workforce needs’’ after ‘‘is inadequate’’;
318 
† HR 2 EAS 
(vi) in subparagraph (F)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘October 1, 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘October 1, 2020’’; 
(II) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(III) in clause (ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; 
(IV) by redesignating clauses (i) 
and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), re-
spectively, 
and 
indenting 
appro-
priately; and 
(V) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(III) are meeting State or local 
workforce needs.’’; 
(vii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) through (F) (as so amended) as clauses 
(i) through (vi), respectively, and indenting 
appropriately; and 
(viii) by redesignating the paragraph 
as subparagraph (P), indenting the sub-
paragraph appropriately, and moving the 
subparagraph so as to appear after sub-
319 
† HR 2 EAS 
paragraph (O) of section 6(d)(4) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(d)(4)) (as added by subsection (b)(5)). 
(2) RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATION, AND EVALUA-
TIONS.—Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(b)(1)(A) The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS; PILOT PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; 
(iii) in paragraph (1) (as so des-
ignated)— 
(I) in subparagraph (D)— 
(aa) in clause (i), in the 
matter preceding subclause (I), by 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(bb) in clause (ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘clause (i)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (A)’’; and 
(cc) in clause (iii), by strik-
ing ‘‘clause (i)(III)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subparagraph (A)(iii)’’;
320 
† HR 2 EAS 
(II) by redesignating subpara-
graph (D) as paragraph (4), and in-
denting appropriately; 
(III) in subparagraph (C), by 
striking ‘‘(C)(i) No waiver’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(3) RESTRICTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—No waiver’’; 
(IV) in subparagraph (B)— 
(aa) in clause (i), in the 
matter preceding subclause (I), by 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(bb) in clause (ii)— 
(AA) in the matter pre-
ceding subclause (I), by strik-
ing ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
and 
(BB) in subclause (IV), 
by striking ‘‘this paragraph’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘this 
sub-
section’’; 
(cc) in clause (iii), in the 
matter preceding subclause (I), by
321 
† HR 2 EAS 
striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(dd) in clause (iv)— 
(AA) in the matter pre-
ceding subclause (I), by strik-
ing ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)’’; 
(BB) in subclause (I), 
by striking ‘‘the date of en-
actment of this subpara-
graph’’ and inserting ‘‘Au-
gust 22, 1996’’; 
(CC) 
in 
subclause 
(III)(aa), by striking ‘‘3(n)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3(q)’’; 
(DD) 
in 
subclause 
(III)(dd), 
by 
striking 
‘‘(2)(B)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘(1)(E)(ii)’’; 
(EE) 
in 
subclause 
(III)(ii), by striking ‘‘this 
paragraph’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘this subsection’’; and 
(FF) 
in 
subclause 
(IV)(bb), by striking ‘‘this
322 
† HR 2 EAS 
subclause’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘this clause’’; and 
(ee) in clause (vi), by strik-
ing ‘‘this paragraph’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘this subsection’’; and 
(V) by redesignating subpara-
graph (B) as paragraph (2) and in-
denting appropriately; 
(iv) in paragraph (2) (as so redesig-
nated)— 
(I) by redesignating clauses (i) 
through (vi) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (F), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; 
(II) in subparagraph (A) (as so 
redesignated), by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and 
(ii), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; 
(III) in subparagraph (B) (as so 
redesignated), by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) through (IV) as clauses (i) 
through (iv), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately;
323 
† HR 2 EAS 
(IV) in subparagraph (C) (as so 
redesignated), by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and 
(ii), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; and 
(V) in subparagraph (D) (as so 
redesignated)— 
(aa) by redesignating sub-
clauses 
(I) 
through 
(VII) 
as 
clauses (i) through (vii), respec-
tively, 
and 
indenting 
appro-
priately; 
(bb) in clause (iii) (as so re-
designated), 
by 
redesignating 
items (aa) through (jj) as sub-
clauses (I) through (X), respec-
tively, 
and 
indenting 
appro-
priately; and 
(cc) in clause (iv) (as so re-
designated), 
by 
redesignating 
items (aa) and (bb) as subclauses 
(I) and (II), respectively, and in-
denting appropriately; 
(v) in paragraph (3) (as so redesig-
nated)—
324 
† HR 2 EAS 
(I) in subparagraph (A) (as so re-
designated)— 
(aa) in the matter preceding 
subclause (I), by striking ‘‘the 
date of enactment of this subpara-
graph’’ and inserting ‘‘November 
28, 1990’’; and 
(bb) in clause (ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘(ii) Clause (i)’’ and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—Subparagraph (A)’’; 
and 
(II) in subparagraph (A) (as so 
redesignated), by redesignating sub-
clauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and 
(ii), respectively, and indenting appro-
priately; and 
(vi) in paragraph (4) (as so redesig-
nated)— 
(I) by redesignating clauses (i) 
through (iii) as subparagraphs (A) 
through (C), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; and 
(II) in subparagraph (A) (as so 
redesignated), by redesignating sub-
325 
† HR 2 EAS 
clauses (I) through (IV) as clauses (i) 
through (iv), respectively, and indent-
ing appropriately; 
(B) by striking subsection (d); 
(C) by redesignating subsections (e) through 
(l) as subsections (d) through (k), respectively; 
and 
(D) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), 
in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)’’. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
18 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2027) 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(i) RESTRICTION.—No funds authorized to be appro-
priated under this Act shall be used to operate a workforce 
partnership under section 6(d)(4)(N).’’. 
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(a)) is amended in the second 
sentence 
by 
striking 
‘‘(d)(2)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘(d)(1)(E)’’. 
(2) Section 6(i)(3) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(i)(3)) is amended by striking 
‘‘(d)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)(1)’’.
326 
† HR 2 EAS 
(3) Section 7(h)(6) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(6)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘17(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘17(e)’’. 
(4) Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘6(o)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘6(d)(2)(B)’’. 
(5) Section 7(j)(1)(G) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(j)(1)(G)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘17(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘17(e)’’. 
(6) Section 11(n) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(n)) is amended by striking 
‘‘17(b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘17(b)’’. 
(7) Section 16(b)(4) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(b)(4)) is amended by 
striking 
‘‘section 
6(d)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘section 
6(d)(1)’’. 
(8) Section 20(b)(1) of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2029(b)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘clause (B), (C), (D), (E), or (F) of section 
6(d)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or 
(vi) of section 6(d)(1)(E)’’. 
(9) Section 103(a)(2)(D) of the Workforce Inno-
vation 
and 
Opportunity 
Act 
(29 
U.S.C. 
3113(a)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 6(o) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C.
327 
† HR 2 EAS 
2015(o))’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2) of section 
6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(d))’’. 
(10) Section 121(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Workforce 
Innovation 
and 
Opportunity 
Act 
(29 
U.S.C. 
3151(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(o))’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2) of section 
6(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(d))’’. 
(11) Section 23(b)(7)(D)(ii) of the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 
1769d(b)(7)(D)(ii)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
17(b)(1)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B))’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2) 
of section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2026(b))’’. 
(12) Section 24(g)(3)(C) of the Richard B. Rus-
sell 
National 
School 
Lunch 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1769e(g)(3)(C)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 
17(b)(1)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)(B))’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2) 
of section 17(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2026(b))’’.
328 
† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 
4104. 
IMPROVEMENTS 
TO 
ELECTRONIC 
BENEFIT 
TRANSFER SYSTEM. 
(a) PROHIBITED FEES.—Section 7 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (f)(2)(C), in the subparagraph 
heading, by striking ‘‘INTERCHANGE’’ and inserting 
‘‘PROHIBITED’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h), by striking paragraph (13) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(13) PROHIBITED FEES.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITION OF SWITCHING.—In this 
paragraph, the term ‘switching’ means the rout-
ing of an intrastate or interstate transaction 
that consists of transmitting the details of a 
transaction electronically recorded through the 
use of an EBT card in 1 State to the issuer of 
the card in— 
‘‘(i) the same State; or 
‘‘(ii) another State. 
‘‘(B) PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(i) INTERCHANGE
FEES.—No inter-
change fee shall apply to an electronic ben-
efit transfer transaction under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(ii) OTHER FEES.—
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‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—No fee charged 
by a benefit issuer (including any af-
filiate of a benefit issuer), or by any 
agent or contractor when acting on be-
half of such benefit issuer, to a third 
party relating to the switching or rout-
ing of benefits to the same benefit 
issuer (including any affiliate of the 
benefit issuer) shall apply to an elec-
tronic 
benefit 
transfer 
transaction 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(II) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The pro-
hibition under subclause (I) shall be ef-
fective through fiscal year 2022.’’. 
(b) 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 DI-
RECT 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
330 
† HR 2 EAS 
same supplemental nutrition assistance program 
authorization, if— 
‘‘(i) the farmers’ market or direct mar-
keting farmer provides to the Secretary in-
formation on location and hours of oper-
ation at each location; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) the point of sale device used by 
the farmers’ market or direct marketing 
farmer is capable of providing location in-
formation of the device through the elec-
tronic benefit transfer system; or 
‘‘(II) if the Secretary determines that 
the technology 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 transactions processed using the point of 
sale device.’’. 
(c) EVALUATION
OF STATE ELECTRONIC BENEFIT 
TRANSFER SYSTEMS.—Section 7(h) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
331 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(15) GAO EVALUATION AND STUDY OF STATE 
ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(A) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Comptroller General of the 
United States (referred to in this paragraph 
as the ‘Comptroller General’) shall evaluate 
for each electronic benefit transfer system of 
a State agency selected in accordance with 
clause (ii)— 
‘‘(I) any type of fee charged— 
‘‘(aa) by the benefit issuer 
(or an affiliate, agent, or con-
tractor of the benefit issuer) of the 
State agency for electronic benefit 
transfer-related services, including 
electronic benefit transfer-related 
services that did not exist before 
February 7, 2014; and 
‘‘(bb) to any retail food 
stores, including retail food stores 
that are exempt under subsection 
(f)(2)(B)(i) for electronic benefit 
transfer-related services;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) in consultation with the Sec-
retary and the retail food stores within 
the State, any electronic benefit trans-
fer system outages affecting the EBT 
cards of the State agency; 
‘‘(III) in consultation with the 
Secretary, any type of entity that— 
‘‘(aa) provides electronic ben-
efit transfer equipment and re-
lated services to the State agency, 
any benefit issuers of the State 
agency, or any retail food stores 
within the State; 
‘‘(bb) 
routes 
or 
switches 
transactions through the electronic 
benefit transfer system of the 
State agency; or 
‘‘(cc) has access to trans-
action information in the elec-
tronic benefit transfer system of 
the State agency; and 
‘‘(IV) in consultation with the 
Secretary, any emerging entities, serv-
ices, or technologies in use with respect
333 
† HR 2 EAS 
to the electronic benefit transfer system 
of the State agency. 
‘‘(ii) 
SELECTION
CRITERIA.—The 
Comptroller General shall select for evalua-
tion under clause (i)— 
‘‘(I) with respect to each benefit 
issuer that provides electronic benefit 
transfer-related services to 1 or more 
State agencies, not fewer than 1 elec-
tronic benefit transfer system provided 
by that benefit issuer; and 
‘‘(II) any electronic benefit trans-
fer system of a State agency that has 
experienced significant or frequent out-
ages during the 2-year period pre-
ceding the date of enactment of this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(B) STUDY.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
Comptroller General shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate a report based 
on the evaluation carried out under subpara-
graph (A) that includes—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) a description of the types of enti-
ties that— 
‘‘(I) provide electronic benefit 
transfer equipment and related services 
to State agencies, benefit issuers, and 
retail food stores; 
‘‘(II) route or switch transactions 
through electronic benefit transfer sys-
tems of State agencies; or 
‘‘(III) have access to transaction 
information in electronic benefit trans-
fer systems of State agencies; 
‘‘(ii) a description of emerging entities, 
services, and technologies in use with re-
spect to electronic benefit transfer systems of 
State agencies; and 
‘‘(iii) a summary of— 
‘‘(I) the types of fees charged— 
‘‘(aa) by benefit issuers (or 
affiliates, agents, or contractors of 
benefit issuers) of State agencies 
for electronic benefit transfer-re-
lated services, including whether 
the types of fees existed before Feb-
ruary 7, 2014; and
335 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(bb) to any retail food 
stores, including retail food stores 
that are exempt under subsection 
(f)(2)(B)(i) for electronic benefit 
transfer-related services; 
‘‘(II)(aa) the causes of any elec-
tronic benefit transfer system outages 
affecting EBT cards; and 
‘‘(bb) potential solutions to mini-
mize the disruption of outages to par-
ticipating households. 
‘‘(16) REVIEW
OF
EBT
SYSTEMS
REQUIRE-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) REVIEW.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall review for 
each electronic benefit transfer system of a 
State agency selected under clause (ii)— 
‘‘(I) any contracts or other agree-
ments between the State agency and 
the benefit issuer of the State agency to 
determine— 
‘‘(aa) the customer service re-
quirements of the benefit issuer,
336 
† HR 2 EAS 
including 
call 
center 
require-
ments; and 
‘‘(bb) the consistency and 
compatibility of data provided by 
the benefit issuer to the Secretary 
for appropriate oversight of pos-
sible fraudulent transactions; and 
‘‘(II) the use of third-party appli-
cations that access the electronic benefit 
transfer system to provide electronic 
benefit transfer account information to 
participating households. 
‘‘(ii) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Sec-
retary shall select for the review under 
clause (i) not fewer than 5 electronic benefit 
transfer systems of State agencies, of 
which— 
‘‘(I) with respect to each benefit 
issuer that provides electronic benefit 
transfer-related services to 1 or more 
State agencies, not fewer than 1 shall 
be provided by that benefit issuer; and 
‘‘(II) not more than 4 shall have 
experienced significant or frequent out-
ages during the 2-year period pre-
337 
† HR 2 EAS 
ceding the date of enactment of this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(B) REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE.—Based 
on the study conducted by the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States under paragraph 
(15)(B) and the review conducted by the Sec-
retary under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
shall promulgate such regulations or issue such 
guidance as the Secretary determines appro-
priate— 
‘‘(i) to prohibit the imposition of any 
fee that is inconsistent with paragraph (13); 
‘‘(ii) to minimize electronic benefit sys-
tem outages; 
‘‘(iii) to update procedures to handle 
electronic benefit transfer system outages 
that minimize disruption to participating 
households and retail food stores while pro-
tecting against fraud and abuse; 
‘‘(iv) to develop cost-effective customer 
service standards for benefit issuers, includ-
ing benefit issuer call centers or other cus-
tomer service options equivalent to call cen-
ters, that would ensure adequate customer 
service for participating households;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(v) to address the use of third-party 
applications that access electronic benefit 
transfer systems to provide electronic benefit 
transfer account information to partici-
pating households, including by establishing 
safeguards consistent with sections 9(c) and 
11(e)(8) to protect the privacy of data relat-
ing to participating households and ap-
proved retail food stores; and 
‘‘(vi) to improve the reliability of elec-
tronic benefit transfer systems. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate a report that includes a de-
scription of the effects, if any, on an electronic 
benefit transfer system of a State agency from 
the use of third-party applications that access 
the electronic benefit transfer system to provide 
electronic benefit transfer account information to 
participating households.’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
(d) APPROVAL OF RETAIL FOOD STORES.—Section 9 
of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2018) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) in the fourth sentence, by striking ‘‘No 
retail food store’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) VISIT
REQUIRED.—No retail food 
store’’; 
(B) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘Ap-
proval’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) CERTIFICATE.—Approval’’; 
(C) in the second 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 exist-
ing electronic benefit transfer equipment 
and service provider of the applicant to pro-
vide sufficient information through the elec-
tronic benefit transfer system to minimize 
the risk of fraudulent transactions; and 
‘‘(v) the’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘concern; (C) whether’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘concern; 
‘‘(iii) whether’’;
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† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by striking ‘‘applicant; (B) the’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘applicant; 
‘‘(ii) the’’; 
(iv) by striking ‘‘following: (A) the na-
ture’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) the nature’’; and 
(v) in the matter preceding clause (i) 
(as so designated), by striking ‘‘In deter-
mining’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) FACTORS
FOR
CONSIDERATION.—In 
determining’’; and 
(D) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘(a)(1) 
Regulations’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AND REDEEM BENE-
FITS.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Regulations’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(4) ELECTRONIC
BENEFIT
TRANSFER
EQUIP-
MENT
AND
SERVICE
PROVIDERS.—Before imple-
menting clause (iv) of paragraph (1)(B), the Sec-
retary shall issue guidance for retail food stores on 
how to select electronic benefit transfer equipment and
341 
† HR 2 EAS 
service providers that are able to meet the require-
ments of that clause.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), in the first sentence, by in-
serting ‘‘records relating to electronic benefit transfer 
equipment and related services, transaction and re-
demption data provided through the electronic benefit 
transfer system,’’ after ‘‘purchase invoices,’’. 
SEC. 4105. RETAIL INCENTIVES. 
Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2018) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(i) INCENTIVES.— 
‘‘(1) 
DEFINITION
OF
ELIGIBLE
INCENTIVE 
FOOD.—In this subsection, the term ‘eligible incentive 
food’ means food that is— 
‘‘(A) identified for increased consumption 
by the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Ameri-
cans published under section 301 of the National 
Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act 
of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 5341); and 
‘‘(B) a fruit, a vegetable, low-fat dairy, or 
a whole grain. 
‘‘(2) REGULATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
promulgate regulations to clarify the process by 
which an approved retail food store may seek a
342 
† HR 2 EAS 
waiver to offer an incentive that may be used 
only for the purchase of eligible incentive food at 
the point of purchase to a household purchasing 
food with benefits issued under this Act. 
‘‘(B) 
REGULATIONS.—The 
regulations 
under subparagraph (A) shall establish a process 
under which an approved retail food store, prior 
to carrying out an incentive program under this 
subsection, shall provide to the Secretary infor-
mation describing the incentive program, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) the types of incentives that will be 
offered; 
‘‘(ii) the types of foods that will be 
incentivized for purchase; and 
‘‘(iii) an explanation of how the incen-
tive program intends to support meeting di-
etary intake goals. 
‘‘(3) NO LIMITATION ON BENEFITS.—A waiver 
granted under this subsection shall not be used to 
carry out any activity that limits the use of benefits 
under this Act or any other Federal nutrition law. 
‘‘(4) EFFECT.—Regulations promulgated under 
this subsection shall not affect any requirements 
under section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and
343 
† HR 2 EAS 
Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517) or section 4304 
of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, includ-
ing the eligibility of a retail food store to participate 
in a project funded under those sections. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—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 an annual report describ-
ing the types of incentives approved under this sub-
section.’’. 
SEC. 4106. REQUIRED ACTION ON DATA MATCH INFORMA-
TION. 
Section 11(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2020(e)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (24), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (25), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(26) that for a household participating in the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program, the State 
agency shall pursue clarification and verification, if 
applicable, of information relating to the cir-
cumstances of the household received from data 
matches for the purpose of ensuring an accurate eligi-
344 
† HR 2 EAS 
bility and benefit determination, only if the informa-
tion— 
‘‘(A) appears to present significantly con-
flicting information from the information that 
was used by the State agency at the time of cer-
tification of the household; 
‘‘(B) is obtained from data matches carried 
out under subsection (q), (r), or (w); or 
‘‘(C)(i) is fewer than 60 days old relative to 
the current month of participation of the house-
hold; and 
‘‘(ii) if accurate, would have been required 
to be reported by the household based on the re-
porting requirements assigned to the household 
by the State agency under section 6(c).’’. 
SEC. 4107. INCOME VERIFICATION. 
Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2026) (as amended by section 4103(c)(2)(C)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) PILOT PROJECTS FOR IMPROVING EARNED IN-
COME VERIFICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under such terms and condi-
tions as the Secretary considers to be appropriate, the 
Secretary shall establish a pilot program (referred to 
in this subsection as the ‘pilot program’) under which
345 
† HR 2 EAS 
not more than 8 States may carry out pilot projects 
to test strategies to improve the accuracy or efficiency 
of the process for verification of earned income at cer-
tification and recertification of applicant households 
for the supplemental nutrition assistance program. 
‘‘(2) CONTRACT OPTIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
pilot program, prior to soliciting applications 
for pilot projects from State agencies, the Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(i) assess the availability of up-to- 
date earned income information from dif-
ferent commercial data service providers; 
and 
‘‘(ii) make a determination regarding 
the overall cost-effectiveness to the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and the State agencies 
administering the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program of— 
‘‘(I) the Secretary entering into a 
contract with a commercial data serv-
ice provider to provide to State agen-
cies carrying out pilot projects up-to- 
date earned income information for 
verification of the earned income at
346 
† HR 2 EAS 
certification and recertification of ap-
plicant households for the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program; 
‘‘(II) the Secretary entering into 
an agreement with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to allow 
State agencies carrying out pilot 
projects to verify earned income infor-
mation at certification and recertifi-
cation of applicant households for the 
supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram in the State using up-to-date 
earned income information from a 
commercial 
data 
service 
provider 
under the electronic interface developed 
by the State and used by the State 
Medicaid agency to verify income eligi-
bility for the State Medicaid program 
under title XIX of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); or 
‘‘(III) a State agency carrying 
out a pilot project entering into a con-
tract with a commercial data service 
provider to obtain up-to-date earned 
income information to verify the
347 
† HR 2 EAS 
earned income at certification and re-
certification of applicant households 
for the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program in the State. 
‘‘(B) AUTHORITY
TO
ENTER
INTO
CON-
TRACTS.—If determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary, the Secretary may, based on the cost-ef-
fectiveness determination described in subpara-
graph (A)(ii)— 
‘‘(i) enter into a contract described in 
subclause (I) of that subparagraph; 
‘‘(ii) enter into an agreement described 
in subclause (II) of that subparagraph; or 
‘‘(iii) allow each State agency carrying 
out a pilot project to enter into a contract 
described in subclause (III) of that subpara-
graph, on the condition that the Federal 
share of the cost of the contract shall not ex-
ceed 75 percent of the total cost of the con-
tract. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
348 
† HR 2 EAS 
estry of the Senate a report that describes the re-
sults of the assessment and determination under 
subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) PILOT PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.—A State agency seeking 
to carry out a pilot project under the pilot pro-
gram shall submit to the Secretary an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may 
require, including— 
‘‘(i) an identification of the 1 or more 
proposed changes to the process for verifying 
earned income used by the State agency; 
‘‘(ii) a description of how the proposed 
changes under clause (i) would meet the 
purpose described in paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(iii) a plan to evaluate how the pro-
posed changes under clause (i) would im-
prove the accuracy or efficiency of the 
verification of earned income at certifi-
cation and recertification of applicant 
households for the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program in the State.
349 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary 
shall select to carry out pilot projects State agen-
cies that, as determined by the Secretary— 
‘‘(i) do not have access to up-to-date 
earned 
income 
information 
for 
the 
verification of earned income at certifi-
cation and recertification of applicant 
households for the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program in the State; 
‘‘(ii) would be able to access and use, 
for the verification of earned income at cer-
tification and recertification of applicant 
households for the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program in the State, up-to-date 
earned income information used to deter-
mine eligibility for another Federal assist-
ance program; or 
‘‘(iii) have cost-effective, innovative ap-
proaches to verifying earned income that 
would improve the accuracy or efficiency of 
the verification of earned income at certifi-
cation and recertification of applicant 
households for the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program in the State.
350 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(4) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants 
to a State agency to carry out a pilot project. 
‘‘(5) EFFECT
ON
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS.—A 
pilot project carried out under this subsection shall 
not alter the eligibility requirements under section 5 
or the reporting requirements under section 6(c). 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the pilot program terminates under 
paragraph (8), the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate a report that describes the re-
sults of the pilot projects carried out under the pilot 
program. 
‘‘(7) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Out of funds made 
available under section 18(a)(1), on October 1, 
2018, 
the 
Secretary 
shall 
make 
available 
$10,000,000 to carry out this subsection, to re-
main available until expended. 
‘‘(B) COSTS.—The Secretary shall allocate 
not more than 10 percent of the amounts made 
available under subparagraph (A) to carry out 
subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (2) 
and paragraph (6).
351 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(8) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall 
terminate not later than September 30, 2022.’’. 
SEC. 4108. PILOT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE HEALTHY DIE-
TARY PATTERNS RELATED TO FLUID MILK IN 
THE 
SUPPLEMENTAL 
NUTRITION 
ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2026) (as amended by section 4107) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(m) PILOT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE HEALTHY DIE-
TARY PATTERNS RELATED TO FLUID MILK CONSUMPTION 
AMONG PARTICIPANTS OR HOUSEHOLDS IN THE SUPPLE-
MENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT UNDER- 
CONSUME FLUID MILK.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF FLUID MILK.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘fluid milk’ means cow milk, without 
flavoring or sweeteners, consistent with the most re-
cent Dietary Guidelines for Americans published 
under section 301 of the National Nutrition Moni-
toring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
5341), that is packaged in liquid form. 
‘‘(2) PILOT
PROJECTS.—The Secretary shall 
carry out, under such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary considers to be appropriate, pilot projects to 
develop and test methods that would increase the pur-
352 
† HR 2 EAS 
chase of fluid milk, in a manner consistent with the 
most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans pub-
lished under section 301 of the National Nutrition 
Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5341), by individuals or households partici-
pating in the supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram that under-consume fluid milk by providing an 
incentive for the purchase of fluid milk at the point 
of purchase to a household purchasing food with sup-
plemental nutrition assistance program benefits. 
‘‘(3) GRANTS OR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out this 
subsection, the Secretary may enter into competi-
tively awarded cooperative agreements with, or 
provide grants to, a government agency or non-
profit organization for use in accordance with 
projects that meet the strategic goals of this sub-
section, including allowing the government agen-
cy or nonprofit organization to award subgrants 
to retail food stores authorized under this Act. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a cooperative agreement or grant under 
this paragraph, a government agency or non-
profit organization shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such manner,
353 
† HR 2 EAS 
and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(C) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Pilot projects 
shall be evaluated against publicly disseminated 
criteria that shall include— 
‘‘(i) incorporation of a scientifically 
based strategy that is designed to improve 
diet quality through the increased purchase 
of fluid milk for participants or households 
in the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program that under-consume fluid milk; 
‘‘(ii) a commitment to a pilot project 
that allows for a rigorous outcome evalua-
tion, including data collection; and 
‘‘(iii) other criteria, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(D) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Funds provided 
under this paragraph shall not be used for any 
project that limits the use of benefits under this 
Act. 
‘‘(E) DURATION.—Each pilot project car-
ried out under this subsection shall be in effect 
for not more than 24 months. 
‘‘(4) PROJECTS.—Pilot projects carried out 
under paragraph (2) shall include projects to deter-
354 
† HR 2 EAS 
mine whether incentives for the purchase of fluid milk 
by individuals or households participating in the sup-
plemental nutrition assistance program that under- 
consume fluid milk result in— 
‘‘(A) improved nutritional outcomes for 
participating individuals or households; 
‘‘(B) changes in purchasing and consump-
tion of fluid milk among participating individ-
uals or households; or 
‘‘(C) diets more closely aligned with healthy 
eating patterns consistent with the most recent 
Dietary Guidelines for Americans published 
under section 301 of the National Nutrition 
Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5341). 
‘‘(5) EVALUATION AND REPORTING.— 
‘‘(A) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(i) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall provide for an independent eval-
uation of projects selected under this 
subsection that measures the impact of 
the pilot program on health and nutri-
tion as described in paragraphs (2) 
through (4).
355 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(II) REQUIREMENT.—The inde-
pendent evaluation under subclause (I) 
shall use rigorous methodologies, par-
ticularly random assignment or other 
methods that are capable of producing 
scientifically valid information regard-
ing which activities are effective. 
‘‘(ii) COSTS.—The Secretary may use 
funds provided to carry out this subsection 
to pay costs associated with monitoring and 
evaluating each pilot project. 
‘‘(B) REPORTING.—Not later than 90 days 
after the last day of fiscal year 2019 and each 
fiscal year thereafter until the completion of the 
last evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Agri-
culture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate a report that includes a de-
scription of— 
‘‘(i) the status of each pilot project; 
‘‘(ii) the results of the evaluation com-
pleted during the previous fiscal year; and 
‘‘(iii) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable—
356 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(I) the impact of the pilot project 
on appropriate health, nutrition, and 
associated behavioral outcomes among 
households participating in the pilot 
project; 
‘‘(II) baseline information rel-
evant to the stated goals and desired 
outcomes of the pilot project; and 
‘‘(III) 
equivalent 
information 
about similar or identical measures 
among control or comparison groups 
that did not participate in the pilot 
project. 
‘‘(C) PUBLIC DISSEMINATION.—In addition 
to the reporting requirements under subpara-
graph (B), evaluation results shall be shared 
broadly to inform policy makers, service pro-
viders, other partners, and the public to promote 
wide use of successful strategies. 
‘‘(6) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this subsection $20,000,000, to re-
main available until expended.
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‘‘(B) APPROPRIATIONS IN ADVANCE.—Only 
funds appropriated under subparagraph (A) in 
advance specifically to carry out this subsection 
shall be available to carry out this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 4109. INTERSTATE DATA MATCHING TO PREVENT MUL-
TIPLE ISSUANCES. 
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(w) NATIONAL ACCURACY CLEARINGHOUSE.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF INDICATION OF MULTIPLE 
ISSUANCE.—In this subsection, the term ‘indication of 
multiple issuance’ means an indication, based on a 
computer match, that benefits are being issued to an 
individual under the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program from more than 1 State simulta-
neously. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an interstate data system, to be known as 
the ‘National Accuracy Clearinghouse’, to pre-
vent the simultaneous issuance of benefits to an 
individual by more than 1 State under the sup-
plemental nutrition assistance program. 
‘‘(B) DATA MATCHING.—The Secretary shall 
require that States make available to the Na-
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† HR 2 EAS 
tional Accuracy Clearinghouse only such infor-
mation as is necessary for the purpose described 
in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) DATA PROTECTION.—The information 
made available by States under subparagraph 
(B)— 
‘‘(i) shall be used only for the purpose 
described in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(ii) shall not be retained for longer 
than is necessary to accomplish that pur-
pose. 
‘‘(3) ISSUANCE
OF
INTERIM
FINAL
REGULA-
TIONS.—Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall pro-
mulgate regulations (which shall include interim 
final regulations) to carry out this subsection that— 
‘‘(A) incorporate best practices and lessons 
learned from the pilot program under section 
4032(c) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
2036c(c)); 
‘‘(B) require a State to take appropriate ac-
tion, as determined by the Secretary, with re-
spect to each indication of multiple issuance or 
indication that an individual receiving benefits 
in 1 State has applied to receive benefits in an-
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† HR 2 EAS 
other State, while ensuring timely and fair serv-
ice to applicants for, and participants in, the 
supplemental nutrition assistance program; 
‘‘(C) 
limit 
the 
information 
submitted 
through or retained by the National Accuracy 
Clearinghouse to information necessary to ac-
complish the purpose described in paragraph 
(2)(A); 
‘‘(D) establish safeguards to protect— 
‘‘(i) the information submitted through 
or retained by the National Accuracy Clear-
inghouse, including by limiting the period 
of time that information is retained to the 
period necessary to accomplish the purpose 
described in paragraph (2)(A); and 
‘‘(ii) the privacy of information that is 
submitted through or retained by the Na-
tional Accuracy Clearinghouse, which shall 
include— 
‘‘(I) prohibiting any contractor 
who has access to information that is 
submitted through or retained by the 
National Accuracy Clearinghouse from 
using that information for purposes
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† HR 2 EAS 
not directly related to the purpose de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(A); and 
‘‘(II) other safeguards, consistent 
with subsection (e)(8); 
‘‘(E) establish a process by which a State 
shall— 
‘‘(i) not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, conduct 
a computer match using the National Accu-
racy Clearinghouse; 
‘‘(ii) after the first computer match 
under clause (i), conduct computer matches 
on an ongoing basis, as determined by the 
Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) identify and take appropriate 
action, as determined by the Secretary, with 
respect to each indication of multiple 
issuance or indication that an individual 
receiving benefits in 1 State has applied to 
receive benefits in another State; and 
‘‘(iv) protect the identity and location 
of a vulnerable individual (including a vic-
tim of domestic violence) that is an appli-
cant to or participant of the supplemental 
nutrition assistance program; and
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‘‘(F) include other rules and standards, as 
determined by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 4110. QUALITY CONTROL. 
(a) RECORDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 11(a)(3)(B) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2020(a)(3)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding 
clause (i) by inserting ‘‘and systems containing those 
records’’ after ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’. 
(2) COST
SHARING
FOR
COMPUTERIZATION.— 
Section 16(g)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(g)(1)) is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) would be accessible by the Secretary 
for 
inspection 
and 
audit 
under 
section 
11(a)(3)(B); and’’. 
(b) QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM.—Section 16(c)(1) of 
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)) 
is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
following:
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) QUALITY
CONTROL
SYSTEM
INTEG-
RITY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of the Agri-
culture Improvement Act of 2018, the Sec-
retary shall issue interim final regulations 
that— 
‘‘(I) ensure that the quality con-
trol system established under this sub-
section produces valid statistical re-
sults; 
‘‘(II) provide for oversight of con-
tracts entered into by a State agency 
for the purpose of improving payment 
accuracy; 
‘‘(III) ensure the accuracy of data 
collected under the quality control sys-
tem established under this subsection; 
and 
‘‘(IV) to the maximum extent 
practicable, for each fiscal year, evalu-
ate the integrity of the quality control 
process of not fewer than 2 State agen-
cies, selected in accordance with cri-
teria determined by the Secretary.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(ii) 
DEBARMENT.—In 
accordance 
with the nonprocurement debarment proce-
dures under part 417 of title 2, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or successor regula-
tions), the Secretary shall bar any person 
that, in carrying out the quality control 
system established under this subsection, 
knowingly submits, or causes to be sub-
mitted, false information to the Secretary.’’. 
(c) ELIMINATION OF STATE BONUSES FOR ERROR 
RATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 16(d) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(d)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking the subsection heading and 
inserting ‘‘STATE
PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS 
AND BONUSES.—’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘subparagraph (B)(ii)’’ and inserting 
‘‘clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph 
(B)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘With respect’’ and all
364 
† HR 2 EAS 
that follows through the end of clause 
(i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT.— 
With respect to fiscal year 2005 and each 
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
measure the performance of each State 
agency with respect to the criteria estab-
lished under subparagraph (A)(i).’’; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘(ii) subject to paragraph (3),’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(ii) PERFORMANCE BONUSES FOR FIS-
CAL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2017.—With re-
spect to each of fiscal years 2005 through 
2017, subject to paragraph (3), the Sec-
retary shall’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) PERFORMANCE
BONUSES
FOR 
FISCAL YEARS 2018 AND THEREAFTER.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—With respect 
to fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year 
thereafter, subject to subclause (II) and 
paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
award performance bonus payments in
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† HR 2 EAS 
the following fiscal year, in a total 
amount of $6,000,000 for each fiscal 
year, to State agencies that meet 
standards for high or most improved 
performance established by the Sec-
retary under subparagraph (A)(ii) for 
the measure of application processing 
timeliness. 
‘‘(II) PERFORMANCE BONUS PAY-
MENTS
FOR
FISCAL
YEAR
2018
PER-
FORMANCE.—The 
Secretary 
shall 
award performance bonus payments in 
a total amount of $6,000,000 to State 
agencies in fiscal year 2019 for fiscal 
year 2018 performance, in accordance 
with subclause (I).’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 16(i)(1) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2025(i)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘(as defined in 
subsection (d)(1))’’.
367 
† HR 2 EAS 
and inserting the following: ‘‘implementation, includ-
ing a requirement that— 
‘‘(I) such testing shall be accom-
plished through pilot projects in lim-
ited areas for major systems changes 
(as determined under rules promul-
gated by the Secretary); 
‘‘(II) each pilot project described 
in subclause (I) that is carried out be-
fore the implementation of a system 
shall be conducted in a live-production 
environment; and 
‘‘(III) the data resulting from 
each pilot project carried out under 
this clause’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) operation of 1 or more automatic data 
processing and information retrieval systems 
that the Secretary determines may continue to be 
operated in accordance with clauses (i) through 
(vii) of subparagraph (A).’’. 
SEC. 4112. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 18(a)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2027(a)(1)) is amended in the first sentence by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 4113. ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS. 
Section 25(b)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2034(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘fiscal year 
2015 and each fiscal year thereafter.’’ and inserting 
‘‘each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.’’. 
SEC. 4114. NUTRITION EDUCATION STATE PLANS. 
Section 28(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2036a(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
by striking ‘‘Except as provided in subpara-
graph (C), a’’ and inserting ‘‘A’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as 
clause (iv); and 
(iv) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
following:
369 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(iii) describe how the State agency 
shall use an electronic reporting system that 
measures and evaluates the projects; and’’; 
and 
(B) by striking subparagraph (C); 
(2) in paragraph (3)(B), in the matter preceding 
clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, the Director of the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture,’’ before ‘‘and out-
side stakeholders’’; 
(3) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘the expanded 
food and nutrition education program or’’ before 
‘‘other health promotion’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) REPORT.—The State agency shall submit to 
the Secretary an annual evaluation report in accord-
ance with regulations issued by the Secretary.’’. 
SEC. 4115. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) STATE PLAN.—Section 202A(b) of the Emergency 
Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7503(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(5) at the option of the State agency, describe 
a plan of operation for 1 or more projects in partner-
ship with 1 or more emergency feeding organizations 
located in the State to harvest, process, and package 
donated commodities received under section 203D(d); 
and 
‘‘(6) describe a plan, which may include the use 
of a State advisory board established under subsection 
(c), that provides emergency feeding organizations or 
eligible recipient agencies within the State an oppor-
tunity to provide input on the commodity preferences 
and needs of the emergency feeding organization or el-
igible recipient agency.’’. 
(b) STATE AND LOCAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF COM-
MODITIES.—Section 203D of the Emergency Food Assist-
ance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PROJECTS TO HARVEST, PROCESS, AND PACKAGE 
DONATED COMMODITIES.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION
OF
PROJECT.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘project’ means the harvesting, proc-
essing, or packaging of unharvested, unprocessed, or 
unpackaged commodities donated by agricultural pro-
ducers, processors, or distributors for use by emer-
gency feeding organizations under subsection (a).
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL FUNDING FOR PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graphs (B) and (C) and paragraph (3), using 
funds made available under paragraph (5), the 
Secretary may provide funding to States to pay 
for the costs of carrying out a project. 
‘‘(B) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share 
of the cost of a project under subparagraph (A) 
shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the 
project. 
‘‘(C) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Each fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall allocate to States that 
have submitted under section 202A(b)(5) a 
State plan describing a plan of operation 
for a project the funds made available under 
subparagraph (A) based on a formula deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) REALLOCATION.—If the Secretary 
determines that a State will not expend all 
of the funds allocated to the State for a fis-
cal year under clause (i), the Secretary 
shall reallocate the unexpended funds to 
other States that have submitted under sec-
tion 202A(b)(5) a State plan describing a
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† HR 2 EAS 
plan of operation for a project during that 
fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year, as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) REPORTS.—Each State to which 
funds are allocated for a fiscal year under 
this subparagraph shall, on a regular basis, 
submit to the Secretary financial reports 
describing the use of the funds. 
‘‘(3) PROJECT PURPOSES.—A State may only 
use Federal funds received under paragraph (2) for a 
project the purposes of which are— 
‘‘(A) to reduce food waste at the agricul-
tural production, processing, or distribution level 
through the donation of food; 
‘‘(B) to provide food to individuals in need; 
and 
‘‘(C) to build relationships between agricul-
tural producers, processors, and distributors and 
emergency feeding organizations through the do-
nation of food. 
‘‘(4) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary may encourage a State agency that carries out 
a project using Federal funds received under para-
graph (2) to enter into cooperative agreements with 
State agencies of other States under section 203B(d)
373 
† HR 2 EAS 
to maximize the use of commodities donated under the 
project. 
‘‘(5) FUNDING.—Out of funds not otherwise ap-
propriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall trans-
fer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection 
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, 
to remain available until the end of the subsequent 
fiscal year.’’. 
(c) FOOD WASTE.—Section 203D of the Emergency 
Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7507) (as amended 
by subsection (b)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) FOOD WASTE.—The Secretary shall issue guid-
ance outlining best practices to minimize the food waste of 
the commodities donated under subsection (a).’’. 
(d) EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM INFRASTRUCTURE 
GRANTS.—Section 209(d) of the Emergency Food Assist-
ance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7511a(d)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
(e) AVAILABILITY OF COMMODITIES FOR THE EMER-
GENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—Section 27(a) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036(a)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2023’’; and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (D)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; 
(ii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(iii) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(iv) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) for fiscal year 2019, $23,000,000; 
‘‘(vi) for fiscal year 2020, $35,000,000; 
‘‘(vii) 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2021, 
$35,000,000; 
‘‘(viii) 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2022, 
$35,000,000; and 
‘‘(ix) for fiscal year 2023, $35,000,000; 
and’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (E)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting 
‘‘2024’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(D)(iv)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(D)(ix)’’; and
375 
† HR 2 EAS 
(iii) by striking ‘‘June 30, 2017’’ and 
inserting ‘‘June 30, 2023’’. 
SEC. 4116. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) Section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2012) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘7(i)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘7(h)’’; 
(2) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘7(i)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘7(h)’’; and 
(3) in subsection (o)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘(r)(1)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(q)(1)’’. 
(b) Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2014(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘3(n)(4)’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘3(m)(4)’’. 
(c) Section 8 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2017) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘3(n)(5)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3(m)(5)’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘3(n)(5)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘3(m)(5)’’. 
(d) Section 9(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2018(c)) is amended in the third sentence by 
striking ‘‘to any used by’’ and inserting ‘‘to, and used by,’’. 
(e) Section 10 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2019) is amended in the first sentence—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(1) by striking ‘‘or the Federal Savings and 
Loan Insurance Corporation’’ each place it appears; 
and 
(2) 
by 
striking 
‘‘3(p)(4)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘3(o)(4)’’. 
(f) Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘3(t)(1)’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘3(s)(1)’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘3(t)(2)’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘3(s)(2)’’. 
(g) Section 18(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2027(e)) is amended in the first sentence by strik-
ing ‘‘7(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘7(e)’’. 
(h) Section 25(a)(1)(B)(i)(I) of the Food and Nutri-
tion Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2034(a)(1)(B)(i)(I)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘service;;’’ and inserting ‘‘service;’’. 
Subtitle B—Commodity Distribution 
Programs 
SEC. 4201. COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. 
Section 4(a) of the Agriculture and Consumer Protec-
tion Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93–86) 
is amended in the first sentence by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 4202. COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM. 
Section 5 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection 
Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c note; Public Law 93–86) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘2023’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(2), in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(3) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Except’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITION
OF
CERTIFICATION
PE-
RIOD.—In this paragraph, the term ‘certification 
period’ means the period during which a partici-
pant in the commodity supplemental food pro-
gram in a State may continue to receive benefits 
under the commodity supplemental food program 
without a formal review of the eligibility of the 
participant.
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) MINIMUM
CERTIFICATION
PERIOD.— 
Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), a State 
shall establish for the commodity supplemental 
food program of the State a certification period 
of— 
‘‘(i) not less than 1 year; but 
‘‘(ii) not more than 3 years. 
‘‘(C) TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION.—An eli-
gible individual in the commodity supplemental 
food program in a State may be provided with 
a temporary monthly certification to fill any 
caseload slot resulting from nonparticipation by 
other certified participants. 
‘‘(D) APPROVALS.—A certification period of 
more than 1 year established by a State under 
subparagraph (B) shall be subject to the ap-
proval of the Secretary, who shall approve such 
a certification period on the condition that, with 
respect to each participant receiving benefits 
under the commodity supplemental food program 
of the State, the local agency in the State admin-
istering the commodity supplemental food pro-
gram, on an annual basis during the certifi-
cation period applicable to the participant—
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) verifies the address and continued 
interest of the participant; and 
‘‘(ii) has sufficient reason to determine 
that the participant still meets the income 
eligibility standards under paragraph (1), 
which may include a determination that the 
participant has a fixed income.’’. 
SEC. 4203. DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS COMMODITIES; SPE-
CIAL NUTRITION PROJECTS. 
Section 1114(a)(2)(A) of the Agriculture and Food Act 
of 1981 (7 U.S.C. 1431e(a)(2)(A)) is amended in the first 
sentence by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 4301. PURCHASE OF SPECIALTY CROPS. 
Section 10603(b) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 612c–4(b)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’. 
SEC. 4302. SENIORS FARMERS’ MARKET NUTRITION PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 4402(a) of the Farm Security and Rural In-
vestment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3007(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2023’’.
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† HR 2 EAS 
SEC. 4303. THE GUS SCHUMACHER FOOD INSECURITY NU-
TRITION INCENTIVE. 
Section 4405 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 7517) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘FOOD’’ 
and inserting ‘‘THE GUS SCHUMACHER FOOD’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘means’’ 
and all that follows through the end of subpara-
graph (L) and inserting ‘‘means a governmental 
agency or nonprofit organization.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘means the’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘means— 
‘‘(A) the’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the programs for nutrition assistance 
under section 19 of that Act (7 U.S.C. 2028).’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)—
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† HR 2 EAS 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), re-
spectively; 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(A) the following: 
‘‘(B) PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS.—An 
eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
subsection may partner with, or make subgrants 
to, public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit enti-
ties, including— 
‘‘(i) an emergency feeding organiza-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) an agricultural cooperative; 
‘‘(iii) a producer network or associa-
tion; 
‘‘(iv) a community health organiza-
tion; 
‘‘(v) a public benefit corporation; 
‘‘(vi) an economic development cor-
poration; 
‘‘(vii) a farmers’ market; 
‘‘(viii) a community-supported agri-
culture program; 
‘‘(ix) a buying club;
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† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(x) a retail food store participating 
in the supplemental nutrition assistance 
program; 
‘‘(xi) a State, local, or tribal agency; 
‘‘(xii) another eligible entity that re-
ceives a grant; and 
‘‘(xiii) any other entity the Secretary 
designates.’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C) (as so redes-
ignated), by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting 
‘‘Except as provided in subparagraph 
(D)(iii), the’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (D) (as so redes-
ignated), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) TRIBAL
AGENCIES.—The Sec-
retary may allow a tribal agency to use 
funds provided to the Indian Tribe of the 
tribal agency through a Federal agency (in-
cluding the Indian Health Service) or other 
Federal benefit to satisfy all or part of the 
non-Federal share described in clause (i), if 
such use is otherwise consistent with the 
purpose of such funds.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)—
383 
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘For purposes of’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘that’’ and in-
serting ‘‘To receive a grant under this 
subsection, an eligible entity shall’’; 
(II) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘meets’’ and inserting ‘‘meet’’; and 
(III) in clause (ii)— 
(aa) in the matter preceding 
subclause (I), by striking ‘‘pro-
poses’’ and inserting ‘‘propose’’; 
(bb) by striking subclauses 
(II) and (III) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(II) would increase the purchase 
of fruits and vegetables by low-income 
consumers participating in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program 
by providing an incentive for the pur-
chase of fruits and vegetables at the 
point of purchase to a household pur-
chasing food with supplemental nutri-
tion assistance program benefits;
384 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(III) except in the case of 
projects receiving $100,000 or less over 
1 year, would measure the purchase of 
fruits and vegetables by low-income 
consumers participating in the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program;’’; 
(cc) in subclause (IV), by 
striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(dd) by striking subclause 
(V) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(V) has adequate plans to collect 
data for reporting and agrees to pro-
vide that information for the report de-
scribed in paragraph (5); and 
‘‘(VI) would share information 
with the Training and Technical As-
sistance Centers and the Information 
and Evaluation Centers (as those terms 
are defined in paragraph (4)) for the 
purposes 
described 
in 
that 
para-
graph.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by striking clause (v); 
(II) by redesignating clause (vi) 
as clause (x); and
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† HR 2 EAS 
(III) by inserting after clause (iv) 
the following: 
‘‘(v) include a program design— 
‘‘(I) that provides incentives when 
fruits or vegetables are purchased using 
supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram benefits; and 
‘‘(II) in which the incentives 
earned may be used only to purchase 
fruits or vegetables; 
‘‘(vi) have demonstrated the ability to 
provide services to underserved commu-
nities; 
‘‘(vii) include coordination with mul-
tiple stakeholders, such as farm organiza-
tions, nutrition education programs, cooper-
ative extension services, public health de-
partments, health providers, private and 
public health insurance agencies, coopera-
tive grocers, grocery associations, and com-
munity-based and nongovernmental organi-
zations; 
‘‘(viii) offer supplemental services in 
high-need communities, including online or-
386 
† HR 2 EAS 
dering, transportation between home and 
store, and delivery services; 
‘‘(ix) include food retailers that are 
open— 
‘‘(I) for extended hours; and 
‘‘(II) most or all days of the year; 
or’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(4) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CEN-
TERS; INFORMATION AND EVALUATION CENTERS.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) INFORMATION
AND
EVALUATION 
CENTER.—The term ‘Information and Eval-
uation Center’ means any of the informa-
tion and evaluation centers established 
under subparagraph (B)(i)(II). 
‘‘(ii) TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL
AS-
SISTANCE
CENTER.—The term ‘Training 
and Technical Assistance Center’ means 
any of the training and technical assistance 
centers 
established 
under 
subparagraph 
(B)(i)(I). 
‘‘(B) ESTABLISHMENT.—
387 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—To provide services 
to eligible entities applying for or receiving 
a grant under this subsection or to partners 
or collaborators applying for or receiving a 
subgrant under paragraph (1)(B), the Sec-
retary shall establish, in accordance with 
clause (ii)— 
‘‘(I) 1 or more training and tech-
nical centers, each of which shall be 
known as a ‘Food Insecurity Nutrition 
Incentive Program Training and Tech-
nical Assistance Center’; and 
‘‘(II) 1 or more information and 
evaluation centers, each of which shall 
be known as a ‘Food Insecurity Nutri-
tion Incentive Program Information 
and Evaluation Center’. 
‘‘(ii) CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall establish the Training and Tech-
nical Assistance Centers and the Infor-
mation and Evaluation Centers under 
clause (i) by designating as a Training 
and Technical Assistance Center or an 
Information or Evaluation Center, as
388 
† HR 2 EAS 
applicable, 1 or more entities that meet 
the criteria described in subclause (II) 
or (III), as applicable. 
‘‘(II) TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE CENTERS.—To be eligible 
to be designated as a Training and 
Technical Assistance Center— 
‘‘(aa) an entity shall— 
‘‘(AA) have the capacity 
to effectively implement and 
track outreach, training, and 
coordination functions; 
‘‘(BB) 
be 
able 
to 
produce instructional mate-
rials that can easily be rep-
licated 
and 
distributed 
through multiple formats; 
‘‘(CC) have working re-
lationships with nonprofit 
and private organizations, 
State and local governments, 
and tribal organizations (as 
defined in section 4 of the In-
dian Self-Determination and
389 
† HR 2 EAS 
Education Assistance Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304)); 
‘‘(DD) have the ability 
to work in underserved or 
rural communities; and 
‘‘(EE) have an organi-
zational 
mission 
aligned 
with the needs of eligible en-
tities receiving grants under 
this subsection; or 
‘‘(bb) for purposes of car-
rying out subclauses (VII) and 
(VIII) of subparagraph (C)(i), an 
entity shall— 
‘‘(AA) have experience 
developing or supporting the 
development of point of sale 
technology; and 
‘‘(BB) meet any other 
criteria, as determined by the 
Secretary, to effectively carry 
out subclauses (VII) and 
(VIII) 
of 
subparagraph 
(C)(i).
390 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(III) INFORMATION AND EVALUA-
TION CENTERS.—To be eligible to be 
designated as an Information and 
Evaluation Center, an entity shall— 
‘‘(aa) have experience design-
ing, creating, and maintaining 
an online, publicly searchable re-
porting and informational clear-
inghouse; and 
‘‘(bb) be able to conduct sys-
tematic analysis of the impacts 
and outcomes of projects using a 
grant under this subsection. 
‘‘(C) SERVICES.— 
‘‘(i) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSIST-
ANCE CENTERS.—The Training and Tech-
nical Assistance Centers shall provide serv-
ices that include— 
‘‘(I) assisting eligible entities ap-
plying for a grant or partners or col-
laborators applying for a subgrant 
under this subsection in— 
‘‘(aa) assessing the food sys-
tem in the geographical area of 
the eligible entity; and
391 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(bb) designing a proposed 
project; 
‘‘(II) collecting and providing to 
eligible entities applying for or receiv-
ing a grant or to partners or collabo-
rators applying for or receiving a 
subgrant under this subsection infor-
mation on best practices from existing 
projects, including best practices re-
garding 
communications, 
signage, 
record-keeping, incentive instruments, 
integration with point of sale systems, 
and reporting; 
‘‘(III) disseminating information 
and facilitating communication among 
eligible entities receiving a grant or 
partners or collaborators receiving a 
subgrant under this subsection; 
‘‘(IV)(aa) 
identifying 
common 
challenges faced by eligible entities re-
ceiving a grant or partners or collabo-
rators receiving a subgrant under this 
subsection; and 
‘‘(bb) coordinating the work to-
wards solutions to those challenges;
392 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(V) communicating with farms, 
direct to consumer markets, and gro-
cery organizations to share informa-
tion and partner on projects using a 
grant or subgrant under this sub-
section; 
‘‘(VI) assisting with collaboration 
among eligible entities receiving a 
grant or partners or collaborators re-
ceiving a subgrant under this sub-
section, State agencies, and the Food 
and Nutrition Service; 
‘‘(VII) identifying and providing 
to eligible entities applying for or re-
ceiving a grant or partners or collabo-
rators applying for or receiving a 
subgrant under this subsection infor-
mation on point of sale technology that 
could reduce cost and increase effi-
ciency of supplemental nutrition as-
sistance program and incentive trans-
action processing at participating au-
thorized retailers;
393 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(VIII) supporting the develop-
ment of the technology described in 
clause (VII); and 
‘‘(IX) other services identified by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) INFORMATION
AND
EVALUATION 
CENTERS.—The Information and Evalua-
tion Centers shall provide services that in-
clude— 
‘‘(I) using standard metrics based 
on outcome measures used for existing 
projects, and in collaboration with the 
Director of the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture and the Admin-
istrator of the Food and Nutrition 
Service, creating a system to collect 
and compile core data sets from eligible 
entities receiving a grant and partners 
or collaborators receiving a subgrant, 
as appropriate, under this subsection; 
‘‘(II) beginning with fiscal year 
2020, preparing an annual report with 
summary data and an evaluation of 
each project receiving a grant under 
this subsection during the fiscal year
394 
† HR 2 EAS 
preceding the report, that includes the 
amount of grant funds used for the 
project and the measurement of the 
outcomes of the project, for submission 
to the Secretary; and 
‘‘(III) other services identified by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(D) GRANTS
AND
COOPERATIVE
AGREE-
MENTS.—In carrying out this paragraph, the 
Secretary, on a competitive basis, shall make 
grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements 
with— 
‘‘(i) State cooperative extension serv-
ices; 
‘‘(ii) nongovernmental organizations; 
‘‘(iii) Federal, State, or tribal agencies; 
‘‘(iv) 2-year and 4-year degree-grant-
ing institutions of higher education (as de-
fined in section 101(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) 
and land-grant colleges and universities (as 
defined in section 1404 of the National Ag-
ricultural Research, Extension, and Teach-
ing Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)); 
and
395 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(v) other appropriate partners, as de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) ANNUAL EVALUATION AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Annually beginning 
with fiscal year 2020, the Secretary shall con-
duct, and submit to Congress an evaluation of 
each project receiving a grant under this sub-
section, including— 
‘‘(i) the results of the project; 
‘‘(ii) the amount of grant funds used 
for the project; and 
‘‘(iii) a measurement of the outcomes 
of the project. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENT.—The evaluation con-
ducted under subparagraph (A) shall be based on 
uniform data provided by eligible entities receiv-
ing a grant under this subsection. 
‘‘(C) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary 
shall make the evaluation conducted under sub-
paragraph (A), including the data provided by 
eligible entities under subparagraph (B), pub-
licly available online in an anonymized format 
that protects confidential, personal, or other sen-
sitive data.
396 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(D) REPORTING
MECHANISM.—The Sec-
retary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
include eligible entities receiving a grant under 
this subsection, grocers, farmers, health profes-
sionals, researchers, and employees of the De-
partment of Agriculture with direct experience 
with implementation of the supplemental nutri-
tion assistance program in the design of— 
‘‘(i) the instrument through which data 
will be collected from eligible entities under 
subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(ii) the mechanism for reporting by 
eligible entities.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) MANDATORY FUNDING.—Of the funds of the 
Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall 
use to carry out subsection (b) $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter. 
‘‘(3) COSTS.—Of the funds made available under 
paragraph (2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
allocate not more than 15 percent— 
‘‘(A) to carry out paragraphs (4) and (5) of 
subsection (b); and
397 
† HR 2 EAS 
‘‘(B) to pay for the administrative costs of 
carrying out this section.’’. 
SEC. 4304. HARVESTING HEALTH PILOT PROJECTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a nonprofit organization; or 
(B) a State or unit of local government. 
(2) 
HEALTHCARE
PARTNER.—The 
term 
‘‘healthcare partner’’ means a healthcare provider, in-
cluding— 
(A) a hospital; 
(B) a Federally-qualified health center (as 
defined in section 1905(l) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(l))); 
(C) a hospital or clinic operated by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs; or 
(D) a health care provider group. 
(3) MEMBER.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘member’’ 
means, as determined by the applicable eligible 
entity or healthcare partner carrying out a pilot 
project in accordance with procedures established 
by the Secretary— 
(i) an individual eligible for—
398 
† HR 2 EAS 
(I) benefits under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.); or 
(II) medical assistance under a 
State plan or a waiver of such a plan 
under title XIX of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) and en-
rolled under such plan or waiver; and 
(ii) a member of a low-income house-
hold that suffers from, or is at risk of devel-
oping, a diet-related health condition. 
(B) SCOPE
OF
ELIGIBILITY
DETERMINA-
TIONS.—A determination by an eligible entity or 
healthcare partner that an individual is a mem-
ber for purposes of subparagraph (A) shall not— 
(i) constitute a determination that the 
individual is eligible for benefits or assist-
ance under title XIX of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.), as applicable; or 
(ii) be a factor in determining whether 
the individual is eligible for such benefits or 
assistance.
399 
† HR 2 EAS 
(4) PILOT PROJECT.—The term ‘‘pilot project’’ 
means a pilot project that is awarded a grant under 
subsection (b)(1). 
(5) PRODUCE
PRESCRIPTION
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘produce prescription program’’ means a pro-
gram that— 
(A) prescribes fresh fruits and vegetables to 
members; 
(B) may provide— 
(i) financial or non-financial incen-
tives for members to purchase or procure 
fresh fruits and vegetables; and 
(ii) educational resources on nutrition 
to members; and 
(C) may establish additional accessible loca-
tions for members to procure fresh fruits and 
vegetables. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a grant program under which the Sec-
retary shall award grants to eligible entities to 
conduct pilot projects that demonstrate and 
evaluate the impact of a produce prescription 
program on—
400 
† HR 2 EAS 
(i) the improvement of dietary health 
through increased consumption of fruits and 
vegetables; 
(ii) the reduction of individual and 
household food insecurity; and 
(iii) the reduction in health care use 
and associated costs. 
(B) HEALTHCARE PARTNERS.—In carrying 
out a pilot project using a grant received under 
subparagraph (A), an eligible entity shall part-
ner with 1 or more healthcare partners. 
(C) GRANT APPLICATIONS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under subparagraph (A), an 
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
an application containing such information 
as the Secretary may require, including the 
information described in clause (ii). 
(ii) 
APPLICATION.—An 
application 
under clause (i) shall— 
(I) 
identify 
the 
or 
more 
healthcare partners with which the eli-
gible entity is partnering under sub-
paragraph (B); and 
(II) include—
401 
† HR 2 EAS 
(aa) a description of the 
methods by which an eligible enti-
ty shall— 
(AA) screen and verify 
eligibility for members for 
participation in a produce 
prescription program, in ac-
cordance with procedures es-
tablished 
under 
subsection 
(a)(3)(A); 
(BB) implement an ef-
fective produce prescription 
program, including the role 
of each healthcare partner in 
implementing 
the 
produce 
prescription program; 
(CC) evaluate members 
participating in a produce 
prescription program with 
respect to the issues described 
in clauses (i) through (iii) of 
subparagraph (A); 
(DD) 
provide 
edu-
cational opportunities relat-
ing to nutrition to members
402 
† HR 2 EAS 
participating in a produce 
prescription program; and 
(EE) inform members of 
the 
availability 
of 
the 
produce 
prescription 
pilot 
project; 
(bb) a description of any ad-
ditional nonprofit or emergency 
feeding organizations that shall be 
involved in the pilot project and 
the role of each additional non-
profit or emergency feeding orga-
nization in implementing and 
evaluating an effective produce 
prescription program; 
(cc) documentation of a part-
nership agreement with a relevant 
State Medicaid agency or other 
appropriate entity, as determined 
by the Secretary, to evaluate the 
effectiveness of a produce prescrip-
tion program in reducing health 
care use and associated costs; and 
(dd) any other data nec-
essary to analyze the impact of a
403 
† HR 2 EAS 
produce prescription program, as 
determined by the Secretary. 
(2) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the grant 
program established under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services and the heads of other appro-
priate Federal agencies that carry out activities relat-
ing to healthcare partners. 
(3) PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
grant program under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary may enter into 1 or more memoranda of 
understanding with a Federal agency, a State, 
or a private partner to ensure the effective im-
plementation and evaluation of each pilot 
project. 
(B) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—A 
memorandum of understanding entered into 
under subparagraph (A) shall include— 
(i) a description of a plan to provide 
educational opportunities relating to nutri-
tion to members participating in the 
produce prescription program; 
(ii) a description of the role of the Fed-
eral agency, State, or private partner, as
404 
† HR 2 EAS 
applicable, in implementing and evaluating 
an effective produce prescription program; 
(iii) documentation of a partnership 
agreement with a relevant State Medicaid 
agency or other appropriate entity, as de-
termined by the Secretary, to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the produce prescription pro-
gram in reducing health care use and asso-
ciated costs; and 
(iv) any other data necessary to ana-
lyze the impact of the produce prescription 
program, as determined by the Secretary. 
(c) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the funds of the Com-
modity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to 
carry out this section $4,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023, to remain available until 
expended. 
(2) COSTS.—The Secretary may use not greater 
than 10 percent of the amounts provided under para-
graph (1) to pay for the costs of administering, moni-
toring, and evaluating each pilot project.
405 
† HR 2 EAS 
TITLE V—CREDIT 
Subtitle A—Farm Ownership Loans 
SEC. 5101. MODIFICATION OF THE 3-YEAR EXPERIENCE RE-
QUIREMENT FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY 
FOR FARM OWNERSHIP LOANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302(b) of the Consolidated 
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(b)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(5)’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘(not exceeding 2 years)’’ 
after ‘‘period of time’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) OTHER ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE.—In de-
termining whether a farmer or rancher has other ac-
ceptable experience under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary may count any of— 
‘‘(A) not less than 16 hours of post-sec-
ondary education in a field related to agri-
culture;