I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8676 
To reduce enteric methane emissions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 11, 2024 
Ms. CROCKETT (for herself and Mr. MOLINARO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To reduce enteric methane emissions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Enteric Methane Innovation Tools for Lower Emissions 
and Sustainable Stock Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘EMIT LESS 
Act of 2024’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definition of Secretary. 
TITLE I—ENABLING ENTERIC METHANE RESEARCH 
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Sec. 101. Creation of enteric methane product and practice testing capacity 
through the Agricultural Research Service. 
Sec. 102. Training programs for enteric methane livestock emissions. 
TITLE II—ON-FARM ENTERIC METHANE EMISSION REDUCTIONS 
Sec. 201. On-farm conservation innovation trials. 
Sec. 202. Review of conservation practice standards. 
Sec. 203. Environmental quality incentives program payments. 
Sec. 204. Conservation Stewardship Program payments. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SECRETARY. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. 
TITLE I—ENABLING ENTERIC 
METHANE RESEARCH 
SEC. 101. CREATION OF ENTERIC METHANE PRODUCT AND 
PRACTICE TESTING CAPACITY THROUGH THE 
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, 
shall— 
(1) establish and operate laboratory and testing 
facilities to conduct studies to enhance the under-
standing of baseline enteric methane emissions and 
the safety and efficacy of enteric methane-mitigating 
products and practices; 
(2) develop the ongoing capacity of personnel of 
the Agricultural Research Service with expertise in 
conducting the studies described in paragraph (1); 
and 
(3) regularly assess— 
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(A) baseline enteric methane emissions; 
(B) the impacts of enteric methane produc-
tion on animal productivity and animal health 
and welfare; and 
(C) the impacts of enteric methane-miti-
gating products and practices on greenhouse 
gas emissions, animal productivity, and animal 
health and welfare. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator of the Agricultural Research Service, may 
use amounts made available to carry out this section, in 
accordance with subsection (a)— 
(1) to construct federally owned testing facili-
ties; 
(2) to purchase assessment technologies; 
(3) to retrofit or renovate existing facilities; and 
(4) to contract with independent or academic 
facilities to conduct research. 
SEC. 102. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ENTERIC METHANE 
LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS. 
Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
Education Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting 
before section 404 (7 U.S.C. 7624) the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 401. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ENTERIC METHANE 
LIVESTOCK EMISSIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish or 
expand at eligible institutions training programs relating 
to, with respect to enteric methane emissions from live-
stock— 
‘‘(1) livestock management and nutrition; 
‘‘(2) greenhouse gas monitoring, verification, 
and reporting technologies; 
‘‘(3) testing skills and capacity; 
‘‘(4) innovation; and 
‘‘(5) livestock health and welfare. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An institution eligible for a 
training program under this section is an 1862 In-
stitution, an 1890 Institution, or a 1994 Institution. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish or expand a training program under this sec-
tion at not less than one 1862 Institution, not less 
than one 1890 Institution, and not less than one 
1994 Institution.’’. 
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TITLE 
II—ON-FARM 
ENTERIC 
METHANE EMISSION REDUC-
TIONS 
SEC. 201. ON-FARM CONSERVATION INNOVATION TRIALS. 
Section 1240H(c) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–8(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)— 
(A) in subclause (VI), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) by redesignating subclause (VII) as 
subclause (VIII); and 
(C) by inserting after subclause (VI) the 
following: 
‘‘(VII) livestock-related practices 
that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 
including enteric methane emissions; 
and’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) ENTERIC
METHANE
EMISSIONS
STUD-
IES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
the Secretary shall carry out one or more stud-
ies on changes in methane emissions and, if fea-
sible, economic outcomes, generated as a result 
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of livestock-related practices that reduce green-
house gas emissions, including enteric methane 
emissions. 
‘‘(B) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this paragraph 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the progress and re-
sults of the studies under subparagraph (A).’’. 
SEC. 202. REVIEW OF CONSERVATION PRACTICE STAND-
ARDS. 
Section 1242(h) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3842(h)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5) ENTERIC METHANE EMISSIONS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) complete a review of conservation 
practice standards in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of this paragraph to con-
sider any revisions to conservation practice 
standards, including for feed management, or 
new conservation practice standards that would 
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be appropriate to assist in reducing enteric 
methane emissions; 
‘‘(B) revise appropriate conservation prac-
tice standards in effect on the day before the 
date of enactment of this paragraph as nec-
essary to assist in reducing enteric methane 
emissions; and 
‘‘(C) establish any appropriate new con-
servation practice standards to assist in reduc-
ing enteric methane emissions.’’. 
SEC. 203. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PRO-
GRAM PAYMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1240A of the Food Secu-
rity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–1) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘management’’ after 
‘‘means a’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘land or livestock man-
agement’’ after ‘‘set of’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (6)(A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
livestock’’ after ‘‘land’’. 
(b) PAYMENTS.—Section 1240B(d) of the Food Se-
curity Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)) is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (3)(E), by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing greenhouse gas emission reductions’’ before the 
semicolon; and 
(2) in paragraph (7)(A)— 
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause 
(v); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iv) provides reduction of greenhouse 
gas emissions, including enteric methane 
emissions from livestock; or’’. 
SEC. 204. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM PAY-
MENTS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.— 
Section 1240I(2)(B)(i) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(16 U.S.C. 3839aa–21(2)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘livestock or’’ after ‘‘measures, and’’. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS
FOR RESOURCE- 
CONSERVING CROP ROTATIONS, ADVANCED GRAZING 
MANAGEMENT, AND LIVESTOCK FEED MANAGEMENT.— 
Section 1240L(d) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 
U.S.C. 3839aa–24(d)) is amended— 
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(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘AND 
ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT’’ and inserting 
‘‘, ADVANCED GRAZING MANAGEMENT, AND LIVE-
STOCK FEED MANAGEMENT’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
and (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following: 
‘‘(B) LIVESTOCK
FEED
MANAGEMENT.— 
The term ‘livestock feed management’ means 
providing livestock with forage and feed that— 
‘‘(i) manipulates and controls the 
quantity and quality of available nutrients, 
feedstuffs, ingredients, or additives fed to 
livestock; 
‘‘(ii) minimizes excess nutrients in 
surface water and ground water by reduc-
ing the quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, 
sulfur, salts, or other nutrients excreted in 
manure; or 
‘‘(iii) reduces emissions of ammonia, 
odors, greenhouse gases, volatile organic 
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components, or dust from animal feeding 
operations.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) livestock feed management.’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘, livestock 
feed management,’’ after ‘‘crop rotations’’. 
Æ 
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