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(B) with the organizational structure with-
in the Department of Agriculture in effect as of 
such date; and 
(2) the funding levels for the National Poultry 
Improvement Plan for Commercial Poultry (estab-
lished under part 146 of title 9, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations or a successor regulation) at the fiscal year 
2013 funding levels for the Plan. 
SEC. 12109. REPORT ON BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS IN TEXAS. 
Not later than December 31, 2014, the Secretary of Ag-
riculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on 
the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Texas. The 
report shall cover the period beginning on January 1, 1997, 
and ending on December 31, 2013. 
SEC. 12110. ECONOMIC FRAUD IN WILD AND FARM-RAISED 
SEAFOOD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Office of the Chief Economist, 
shall submit to Congress a report on the economic implica-
tions for consumers, fishermen, and aquaculturists of fraud 
and mislabeling in wild and farm-raised seafood.
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(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include, with respect to fraud and mislabeling in 
wild and farm-raised seafood, an analysis of the impact 
on consumers and producers in the United States of— 
(1) sales of imported seafood that is misrepre-
sented as domestic product; 
(2) country of origin labeling that allows seafood 
harvested outside the United States to be labeled as a 
product of the United States; 
(3) the lack of seafood product traceability 
through the supply chain; and 
(4) the inadequate use of DNA testing and other 
technology to address seafood safety and fraud, in-
cluding traceability. 
Subtitle B—Socially Disadvantaged 
Producers and Limited Resource 
Producers 
SEC. 12201. OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY 
DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS 
AND VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS. 
(a) OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOCIALLY DIS-
ADVANTAGED FARMERS
AND RANCHERS
AND VETERAN 
FARMERS AND RANCHERS.—Section 2501 of the Food, Ag-
riculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
2279) is amended—
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(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘AND 
VETERAN
FARMERS
AND
RANCHERS’’ after 
‘‘RANCHERS’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and 
veteran farmers or ranchers’’ after ‘‘ranchers’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting 
‘‘and veteran farmers or ranchers’’ after ‘‘ranch-
ers’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in the heading of such sub-
paragraph, by striking ‘‘2012’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2018’’; 
(II) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(III) in clause (ii), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(IV) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(iii) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2014 through 2018.’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
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‘‘(E) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2014 through 2018.’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ‘‘or veteran 
farmers and ranchers’’ after ‘‘socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘vet-
eran farmers or ranchers and’’ before ‘‘members’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘vet-
eran farmers or ranchers and’’ before ‘‘members’’; 
and 
(5) in subsection (e)(5)(A)— 
(A) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘and veteran 
farmers or ranchers’’ after ‘‘ranchers’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘and veteran 
farmers or ranchers’’ after ‘‘ranchers’’. 
(b) DEFINITION OF VETERAN FARMER OR RANCH-
ER.—Section 2501(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(e)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) VETERAN FARMER OR RANCHER.—The term 
‘veteran farmer or rancher’ means a farmer or ranch-
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er who served in the active military, naval, or air 
service, and who was discharged or released from the 
service under conditions other than dishonorable.’’. 
SEC. 12202. OFFICE OF ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH. 
Paragraph (3) of section 226B(f) of the Department 
of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6934(f)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this subsection— 
‘‘(A) such sums as are necessary for each of 
fiscal years 2009 through 2013; and 
‘‘(B) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2014 through 2018.’’. 
SEC. 12203. SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND 
RANCHERS POLICY RESEARCH CENTER. 
Section 2501 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, 
and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279), as amended by 
section 12201, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(i) 
SOCIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS
AND 
RANCHERS POLICY RESEARCH CENTER.—The Secretary 
shall award a grant to a college or university eligible to 
receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 
321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, to establish a
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
policy research center to be known as the ‘Socially Dis-
advantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center’ 
for the purpose of developing policy recommendations for 
the protection and promotion of the interests of socially dis-
advantaged farmers and ranchers.’’. 
SEC. 12204. RECEIPT FOR SERVICE OR DENIAL OF SERVICE 
FROM 
CERTAIN 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
AGRI-
CULTURE AGENCIES. 
Section 2501A(e) of the Food, Agriculture, Conserva-
tion, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279–1(e)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘and, at the time of the request, also requests 
a receipt’’. 
Subtitle C—Other Miscellaneous 
Provisions 
SEC. 12301. GRANTS TO IMPROVE SUPPLY, STABILITY, SAFE-
TY, AND TRAINING OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR 
FORCE. 
Subsection (d) of section 14204 of the Food, Conserva-
tion, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2008q–1) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion— 
‘‘(1) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2013; and
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‘‘(2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 
through 2018.’’. 
SEC. 12302. PROGRAM BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY STATUS FOR 
PARTICIPANTS 
IN 
HIGH 
PLAINS 
WATER 
STUDY. 
Section 2901 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 1818) is 
amended by striking ‘‘this Act or an amendment made by 
this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘this Act, an amendment made by 
this Act, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Manage-
ment Act of 2013, or an amendment made by the Federal 
Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 12303. OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title III of the Federal Crop Insur-
ance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganiza-
tion Act of 1994 is amended by adding after section 308 
(7 U.S.C. 3125a note; Public Law 103–354) the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 309. OFFICE OF TRIBAL RELATIONS. 
‘‘The Secretary shall establish in the Office of the Sec-
retary an Office of Tribal Relations to advise the Secretary 
on policies related to Indian tribes.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 296(b) of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by inserting after paragraph 
(8), as added by section 3207, the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(9) the authority of the Secretary to establish in 
the Office of the Secretary the Office of Tribal Rela-
tions in accordance with section 309; and’’. 
SEC. 12304. MILITARY VETERANS AGRICULTURAL LIAISON. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of the Department of Ag-
riculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by insert-
ing after section 218 (7 U.S.C. 6918) the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘SEC. 219. MILITARY VETERANS AGRICULTURAL LIAISON. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary shall establish 
in the Department the position of Military Veterans Agri-
cultural Liaison. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Military Veterans Agricultural Li-
aison shall— 
‘‘(1) provide information to returning veterans 
about, and connect returning veterans with, beginning 
farmer training and agricultural vocational and re-
habilitation programs appropriate to the needs and 
interests of returning veterans, including assisting 
veterans in using Federal veterans educational bene-
fits for purposes relating to beginning a farming or 
ranching career;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(2) provide information to veterans concerning 
the availability of and eligibility requirements for 
participation in agricultural programs, with par-
ticular emphasis on beginning farmer and rancher 
programs; 
‘‘(3) serve as a resource for assisting veteran 
farmers and ranchers, and potential farmers and 
ranchers, in applying for participation in agricul-
tural programs; and 
‘‘(4) advocate on behalf of veterans in inter-
actions with employees of the Department.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 296(b) of the 
Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 
U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by inserting after paragraph 
(9), as added by section 11303, the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(10) the authority of the Secretary to establish 
in the Department the position of Military Veterans 
Agricultural Liaison in accordance with section 
219.’’. 
SEC. 12305. PROHIBITION ON KEEPING GSA LEASED CARS 
OVERNIGHT. 
Effective immediately, a Federal employee of a State 
office of the Farm Service Agency in the field and non-Fed-
eral employees of county and area committees established
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
under section 8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic 
Allotment Act (16 U.S.C. 590h(b)(5)) shall keep leased 
interagency motor pool vehicles at a location listed on the 
General Services Administration inventory of owned and 
leased properties or a location owned or leased by the De-
partment of Agriculture overnight unless the employee as-
signed the vehicle is on overnight, approved travel status 
involving per diem. 
SEC. 12306. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement 
and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333), as amended by 
section 11013(b), is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) COVERAGES.—In the case of an eligi-
ble crop described in paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall operate a noninsured 
crop disaster assistance program to provide cov-
erages based on individual yields (other than for 
value-loss crops) equivalent to— 
‘‘(i) catastrophic risk protection avail-
able under section 508(b) of the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508(b)); or
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‘‘(ii) additional coverage available 
under subsections (c) and (h) of section 508 
of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1508) that does not 
exceed 65 percent. 
‘‘(B) 
ADMINISTRATION.—The 
Secretary 
shall carry out this section through the Farm 
Service Agency (referred to in this section as the 
‘Agency’).’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end; 
(II) by redesignating clause (ii) 
as clause (iii); and 
(III) by inserting after clause (i) 
the following new clause: 
‘‘(ii) for which additional coverage 
under subsections (c) and (h) of section 508 
of that Act (7 U.S.C. 1508) is not available; 
and’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘sweet sorghum, biomass sorghum,’’ before 
‘‘and industrial crops’’;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(i) in the case of a crop that is pro-
duced with a significant and variable har-
vesting expense, the decreasing cost incurred 
in the production cycle for the crop that is, 
as applicable— 
‘‘(I) harvested; 
‘‘(II) planted but not harvested; or 
‘‘(III) prevented from being plant-
ed because of drought, flood, or other 
natural disaster, as determined by the 
Secretary; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a crop that is pro-
duced without a significant and variable 
harvesting expense, such rate as shall be de-
termined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) PREMIUM.—To be eligible to receive a pay-
ment under this subsection, a producer shall pay— 
‘‘(A) the service fee required by subsection 
(k); and 
‘‘(B) a premium for the applicable crop 
year that is equal to the product obtained by 
multiplying— 
‘‘(i) the number of acres devoted to the 
eligible crop;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(ii) the established yield for the eligi-
ble crop, as determined by the Secretary 
under subsection (e); 
‘‘(iii) the coverage level elected by the 
producer; 
‘‘(iv) the average market price, as de-
termined by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(v) .0525. 
‘‘(3) LIMITED RESOURCE, BEGINNING, AND SO-
CIALLY
DISADVANTAGED
FARMERS.—The additional 
coverage made available under this subsection shall be 
available to limited resource, beginning, and socially 
disadvantaged producers, as determined by the Sec-
retary, in exchange for a premium that is 50 percent 
of the premium determined for a producer under 
paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) PREMIUM
PAYMENT
AND
APPLICATION 
DEADLINE.— 
‘‘(A) 
PREMIUM
PAYMENT.—A 
producer 
electing additional coverage under this subsection 
shall pay the premium amount owed for the ad-
ditional coverage by September 30 of the crop 
year for which the additional coverage is pur-
chased.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION
DEADLINE.—The latest 
date on which additional coverage under this 
subsection may be elected shall be the application 
closing date described in subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(5) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—Additional coverage 
under this subsection shall be available beginning 
with the 2015 crop.’’. 
SEC. 12307. ENSURING HIGH STANDARDS FOR AGENCY USE 
OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. 
(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR FINAL GUIDELINES.—Not 
later than January 1, 2014, each Federal agency shall have 
in effect guidelines for ensuring and maximizing the qual-
ity, objectivity, utility, and integrity of scientific informa-
tion relied upon by such agency. 
(b) CONTENT
OF GUIDELINES.—The guidelines de-
scribed in subsection (a), with respect to a Federal agency, 
shall ensure that— 
(1) when scientific information is considered by 
the agency in policy decisions— 
(A) the information is subject to well-estab-
lished scientific processes, including peer review 
where appropriate; 
(B) the agency appropriately applies the 
scientific information to the policy decision;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(C) except for information that is protected 
from disclosure by law or administrative prac-
tice, the agency makes available to the public the 
scientific information considered by the agency; 
(D) the agency gives greatest weight to in-
formation that is based on experimental, empir-
ical, quantifiable, and reproducible data that is 
developed in accordance with well-established sci-
entific processes; and 
(E) with respect to any proposed rule issued 
by the agency, such agency follows procedures 
that include, to the extent feasible and permitted 
by law, an opportunity for public comment on 
all relevant scientific findings; 
(2) the agency has procedures in place to make 
policy decisions only on the basis of the best reason-
ably obtainable scientific, technical, economic, and 
other evidence and information concerning the need 
for, consequences of, and alternatives to the decision; 
and 
(3) the agency has in place procedures to iden-
tify and address instances in which the integrity of 
scientific information considered by the agency may 
have been compromised, including instances in which
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
such information may have been the product of a sci-
entific process that was compromised. 
(c) APPROVAL NEEDED FOR POLICY DECISIONS TO 
TAKE EFFECT.—No policy decision issued after January 
1, 2014, by an agency subject to this section may take effect 
prior to such date that the agency has in effect guidelines 
under subsection (a) that have been approved by the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
(d) POLICY DECISIONS NOT IN COMPLIANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), a 
policy decision of an agency that does not comply 
with guidelines approved under subsection (c) shall be 
deemed to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discre-
tion, and otherwise not in accordance with law. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—This subsection shall not apply 
to policy decisions that are deemed to be necessary be-
cause of an imminent threat to health or safety or be-
cause of another emergency. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 551(1) of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) POLICY DECISION.—The term ‘‘policy deci-
sion’’ means, with respect to an agency, an agency 
action as defined in section 551(13) of title 5, United
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
States Code, (other than an adjudication, as defined 
in section 551(7) of such title), and includes— 
(A) the listing, labeling, or other identifica-
tion of a substance, product, or activity as haz-
ardous or creating risk to human health, safety, 
or the environment; and 
(B) agency guidance. 
(3) AGENCY GUIDANCE.—The term ‘‘agency guid-
ance’’ means an agency statement of general applica-
bility and future effect, other than a regulatory ac-
tion, that sets forth a policy on a statutory, regu-
latory, or technical issue or on an interpretation of 
a statutory or regulatory issue. 
SEC. 12308. EVALUATION REQUIRED FOR PURPOSES OF 
PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION 
OF COUNTY OFFICES FOR THE FARM SERVICE 
AGENCY. 
(a) PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION OF 
OFFICES WITH HIGH WORKLOAD VOLUME.—Section 14212 
of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 6932a) is amended by striking subsection (a) and 
inserting the following new subsection: 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OR RELOCATION OF 
OFFICES WITH HIGH WORKLOAD VOLUME.—The Secretary 
of Agriculture may not close or relocate a county or field
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
office of the Farm Service Agency in a State if the Secretary 
determines, after conducting the evaluation required under 
subsection (b)(1)(B), that the office has a high workload vol-
ume compared with other county offices in the State.’’. 
(b) WORKLOAD EVALUATION.—Section 14212(b)(1) of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and moving the 
margins of such clauses two ems to the right; 
(2) by striking ‘‘the Farm Service Agency, to the 
maximum extent practicable’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
Farm Service Agency— 
‘‘(A) to the maximum extent practicable’’; 
(3) in clause (ii) (as redesignated by paragraph 
(1))— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act’’ after ‘‘employees’’; and 
(B) by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(B) conduct and complete an evaluation of 
all workload assessments for Farm Service Agen-
cy county offices that were open and operational 
as of January 1, 2012, during the period that
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
begins on a date that is not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Federal Ag-
riculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 
2013 and ends on the date that is 18 months 
after such date of enactment.’’. 
(c) NOTICE REQUIRED.—Section 14212(b)(2) of such 
Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘After the period referred to in subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary of Agriculture may not close a 
county or field office of the Farm Service Agency un-
less—’’ and inserting ‘‘After carrying out each of the 
activities required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
of Agriculture shall, before closing a county or field 
office of the Farm Service Agency—’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary holds’’ and inserting ‘‘hold’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary notifies’’ and inserting ‘‘notify’’. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 14212(b)(1) 
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 6932a(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘After the period referred to in subsection (a)(1), the Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary’’.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
SEC. 12309. ACER ACCESS AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may make competitive grants to States, tribal gov-
ernments, and research institutions to support the efforts 
of such States, tribal governments, and research institutions 
to promote the domestic maple syrup industry through the 
following activities: 
(1) Promotion of research and education related 
to maple syrup production. 
(2) Promotion of natural resource sustainability 
in the maple syrup industry. 
(3) Market promotion for maple syrup and 
maple-sap products. 
(4) Encouragement of owners and operators of 
privately held land containing species of trees in the 
genus Acer— 
(A) to initiate or expand maple-sugaring 
activities on the land; or 
(B) to voluntarily make the land available, 
including by lease or other means, for access by 
the public for maple-sugaring activities. 
(b) APPLICATION.—In submitting an application for 
a competitive grant under this section, a State, tribal gov-
ernment, or research institution shall include— 
(1) a description of the activities to be supported 
using the grant funds;
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(2) a description of the benefits that the State, 
tribal government, or research institution intends to 
achieve as a result of engaging in such activities; and 
(3) an estimate of the increase in maple-sug-
aring activities or maple syrup production that the 
State, tribal government, or research institution an-
ticipates will occur as a result of engaging in such ac-
tivities. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed so as to preempt a State or tribal govern-
ment law, including a State or tribal government liability 
law. 
(d) DEFINITION OF MAPLE-SUGARING.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘maple-sugaring’’ means the collection of sap 
from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the purpose 
of boiling to produce food. 
(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out 
this section. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
SEC. 12310. REGULATORY REVIEW BY THE SECRETARY OF 
AGRICULTURE. 
(a) REVIEW
OF REGULATORY AGENDA.—The Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall review publications that may 
give notice that the Environmental Protection Agency is 
preparing or plans to prepare any guidance, policy, memo-
randum, regulation, or statement of general applicability 
and future effect that may have a significant impact on 
a substantial number of agricultural entities, including— 
(1) any regulatory agenda of the Environmental 
Protection Agency published pursuant to section 602 
of title 5, United States Code; 
(2) any regulatory plan or agenda published by 
the Environmental Protection Agency or the Office of 
Management and Budget pursuant to an Executive 
order, including Executive Order No. 12866; and 
(3) any other publication issued by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency or the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget that may reasonably be foreseen to 
contain notice of plans by the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to prepare any guidance, policy, memo-
randum, regulation, or statement of general applica-
bility and future effect that may have a significant 
impact on a substantial number of agricultural enti-
ties.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(b) INFORMATION GATHERING.—For a publication 
item reviewed under subsection (a) that the Secretary deter-
mines may have a significant impact on a substantial num-
ber of agricultural entities, the Secretary shall— 
(1) solicit from the Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency any information the 
Administrator may provide to facilitate a review of 
the publication item; 
(2) utilize the Chief Economist of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture to produce an economic impact 
statement for the publication item that contains a de-
tailed estimate of potential costs to agricultural enti-
ties; 
(3) identify individuals representative of poten-
tially affected agricultural entities for the purpose of 
obtaining advice and recommendations from such in-
dividuals about the potential impacts of the publica-
tion item; and 
(4) convene a review panel for analysis of the 
publication item that includes the Secretary, any full- 
time Federal employee of the Department of Agri-
culture appointed to the panel by the Secretary, and 
any employee of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy or the Office of Information and Regulatory Af-
fairs within the Office of Management and Budget
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
that accepts an invitation from the Secretary to par-
ticipate in the panel. 
(c) DUTIES OF THE REVIEW PANEL.—A review panel 
convened for a publication item under subsection (b)(4) 
shall— 
(1) review any information or material obtained 
by the Secretary and prepared in connection with the 
publication item, including any draft proposed guid-
ance, policy, memorandum, regulation, or statement 
of general applicability and future effect; 
(2) collect advice and recommendations from ag-
ricultural entity representatives identified by the Ad-
ministrator after consultation with the Secretary; 
(3) compile and analyze such advice and rec-
ommendations; and 
(4) make recommendations to the Secretary 
based on the information gathered by the review panel 
or provided by agricultural entity representatives. 
(d) COMMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date the Secretary convenes a review panel pursu-
ant to subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall submit to 
the Administrator comments on the planned or pro-
posed guidance, policy, memorandum, regulation, or 
statement of general applicability and future effect for
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
consideration and inclusion in any related adminis-
trative record, including— 
(A) a report by the Secretary on the con-
cerns of agricultural entities; 
(B) the findings of the review panel; 
(C) the findings of the Secretary, including 
any adopted findings of the review panel; and 
(D) recommendations of the Secretary. 
(2) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall publish 
the comments in the Federal Register and make the 
comments available to the public on the public Inter-
net website of the Department of Agriculture. 
(e) WAIVERS.—The Secretary may waive initiation of 
the review panel under subsection (b)(4) as the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
(f) DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL ENTITY.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘agricultural entity’’ means any entity 
involved in or related to agricultural enterprise, including 
enterprises that are engaged in the business of production 
of food and fiber, ranching and raising of livestock, aqua-
culture, and all other farming and agricultural related in-
dustries.
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SEC. 12311. PROHIBITION ON ATTENDING AN ANIMAL 
FIGHTING VENTURE OR CAUSING A MINOR TO 
ATTEND AN ANIMAL FIGHTING VENTURE. 
Section 26(a)(1) of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 
2156(a)(1)) is amended by striking the period and inserting 
‘‘or to knowingly attend or knowingly cause a minor to at-
tend an animal fighting venture.’’. 
SEC. 12312. PROHIBITION AGAINST INTERFERENCE BY 
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH PRO-
DUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF ITEMS IN 
OTHER STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with Article I, section 
8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States, the gov-
ernment of a State or locality therein shall not impose a 
standard or condition on the production or manufacture 
of any agricultural product sold or offered for sale in inter-
state commerce if— 
(1) such production or manufacture occurs in 
another State; and 
(2) the standard or condition is in addition to 
the standards and conditions applicable to such pro-
duction or manufacture pursuant to— 
(A) Federal law; and 
(B) the laws of the State and locality in 
which such production or manufacture occurs.
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(b) AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘agricultural product’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 207 of the Agricultural Mar-
keting Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1626). 
SEC. 12313. INCREASED PROTECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL 
INTERESTS IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Record runoff occurred in the Missouri River 
basin during 2011 as a result of historic rainfall over 
portions of the upper basin coupled with heavy plains 
and mountain snowpack. 
(2) Runoff above Sioux City, Iowa, during the 5- 
month period of March through July totaled an esti-
mated 48.4 million acre-feet (referred to in this sec-
tion as ‘‘MAF’’). This runoff volume was more than 
20 percent greater than the design storm for the Mis-
souri River Mainstem Reservoir System (referred to 
in this section as the ‘‘System’’), which was based on 
the 1881 runoff of 40.0 MAF during the same 5- 
month period. 
(3) During the 2011 runoff season, nearly 61 
million acre-feet of water entered the Missouri River 
system, far surpassing the previous record of 49 MAF 
in runoff that was set during the flood of 1997.
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(4) Given the incredible amount of water enter-
ing the System, the summer months were spent work-
ing to evacuate as much water from the System as 
possible, ultimately leading to record high water re-
leases from Gavins Point Dam of 160,000 cubic feet 
per second, a rate that more than doubled the pre-
vious release record of 70,000 cubic feet per second set 
in 1997. 
(5) For nearly four months, those extremely high 
releases from Gavins Point were maintained, result-
ing in severe and sustained flooding, with much of 
western Iowa and eastern Nebraska as well as por-
tions of South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri inun-
dated by a flooding river three to five feet deep, up 
to 11 miles wide, and flowing at a rate of 4 to 11 
miles per hour. 
(6) Thousands of homes and businesses were 
damaged or destroyed and hundreds of millions of 
dollars in damage was done to roads and other public 
infrastructure. 
(7) In addition to the homes, businesses, and in-
frastructure impacted by the flooding, hundreds of 
thousands of acres of cropland were affected.
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(8) The Department of Agriculture has estimated 
that 400,000 to 500,000 acres of some of the most pro-
ductive crop land in the world was flooded in 2011. 
(9) Local Farm Services Agency representatives 
have estimated that $82,100,000 was lost in 2011 
alone due to damaged or lost crops and unplanted 
acres. 
(10) Not only did the flooding eliminate the 2011 
crop, but it is highly unlikely that many farmers will 
be able to put that land back into production at any 
point in the near future. 
(11) Producers will have to contend with large 
piles of sand, silt, and other debris that have been de-
posited in their fields, meaning the impact of the 
2011 flood will be felt in the agricultural communities 
up and down the Missouri River for many years to 
come. 
(12) Currently, the amount of storage capacity 
in the System that is set aside for flood control is 
based upon the vacated space required to control the 
1881 flood, because prior to the 2011 flood, the 1881 
flood was seen as the ‘‘high water mark’’. 
(13) Given the historic flooding that took place 
in 2011, it is clear that year’s flooding now represents
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a new ‘‘high water mark’’, surpassing the flooding of 
even the 1881 flood. 
(14) It is important that the flood control related 
functions of the System management be adjusted to 
reflect the reality of the 2011 flood as the new ‘‘worst 
case scenario’’ for flooding along the Missouri River. 
(15) System management may begin to be ad-
justed to account for the 2011 flood through a recal-
culation of the amount of storage space within the 
System that is allocated to flood control, using the 
model not of the 1881 flood, but of the greatest flood 
experienced—the flood of 2011. 
(16) As a result of the flooding in 2011, many 
States received disaster declarations from the Depart-
ment of Agriculture to help farmers and producers re-
cover from the damage done by the high water. 
(17) Though helpful, even the assistance provided 
by the Department of Agriculture will not provide 
many in the agriculture community with the re-
sources to put their land back into production any 
time soon. 
(18) Without the protection that will come from 
a fundamental change in the System’s flood control 
storage allocations, farmers, producers, and other ag-
ricultural interests who may be in a position to re-
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start their operations will find it difficult to justify 
doing so, given the fact that they will not be protected 
from similar flooding in the future. 
(b) UPDATED MANAGEMENT OF THE MISSOURI RIVER 
TO PROTECT AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.—In order to 
strengthen the agricultural economy, revitalize the rural 
communities, and conserve the natural resources of the Mis-
souri River basin, the Congress directs that the Secretary 
of Agriculture take action to promote immediate increased 
flood protection to farmers, producers, and other agricul-
tural interests in the Missouri River basin by working with-
in its jurisdiction to support efforts— 
(1) to recalculate the amount of space within the 
System that is allocated to flood control storage using 
the 2011 flood as the model; and 
(2) to increase the Missouri River’s channel ca-
pacity between the reservoirs and below Gavins Point. 
SEC. 12314. INCREASED PROTECTION FOR AGRICULTURAL 
INTERESTS IN THE BLACK DIRT REGION. 
In order to strengthen the agricultural economy, revi-
talize the rural communities, and conserve the natural re-
sources of the Black Dirt region, the Congress directs that 
the Secretary of Agriculture take action to promote imme-
diate increased flood protection to farmers, producers, and
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other agricultural interests around the Wallkill River and 
in the Black Dirt region. 
SEC. 12315. PROTECTION OF HONEY BEES AND OTHER POL-
LINATORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out such ac-
tivities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to 
protect and ensure the long-term viability of populations 
of honey bees, wild bees, and other beneficial insects of agri-
cultural crops, horticultural plants, wild plants, and other 
plants, including— 
(1) providing technical expertise relating to pro-
posed agency actions that may threaten pollinator 
health or jeopardize the long-term viability of popu-
lations of pollinators; 
(2) providing formal guidance on national poli-
cies relating to— 
(A) permitting managed honey bees to for-
age on National Forest Service lands where com-
patible with other natural resource management 
priorities; and 
(B) planting and maintaining managed 
honey bee and native pollinator forage on Na-
tional Forest Service lands where compatible
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with other natural resource management prior-
ities; 
(3) making use of the best available peer-re-
viewed science regarding environmental and chemical 
stressors on pollinator health; and 
(4) regularly monitoring and reporting on the 
health and population status of managed and native 
pollinators including bees, birds, bats, and other spe-
cies. 
(b) TASK FORCE ON BEE HEALTH AND COMMERCIAL 
BEEKEEPING.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a task force— 
(A) to coordinate Federal efforts carried out 
on or after the date of enactment of this Act to 
address the serious worldwide decline in bee 
health, especially honey bees and declining na-
tive bees; and 
(B) to assess Federal efforts to mitigate pol-
linator losses and threats to the United States 
commercial beekeeping industry. 
(2) AGENCY CONSULTATION.—The task force es-
tablished under this subsection shall seek ongoing con-
sultation from any Federal agency carrying out ac-
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tivities important to bee health and commercial bee-
keeping, including officials from— 
(A) the Department of Agriculture; 
(B) the Department of the Interior; 
(C) the Environmental Protection Agency; 
(D) the Food and Drug Administration; 
(E) the Department of Commerce; and 
(F) U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
(3) STAKEHOLDER
CONSULTATION.—The task 
force established under this subsection shall consult 
with beekeeper, conservation, scientist, and agricul-
tural stakeholders. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the task force estab-
lished under subsection (b) shall submit to Congress a report 
that— 
(1) summarizes Federal activities carried out 
pursuant to subsection (f) of section of the Food, Agri-
culture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 5925) (as redesignated by section 7209) or any 
other provision of law (including regulations) to ad-
dress bee decline; 
(2) summarizes international efforts to address 
the decline of managed honey bees and native polli-
nators; and
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(3) provides recommendations to Congress re-
garding how to better coordinate Federal agency ef-
forts to address the decline of managed honey bees and 
native pollinators. 
(d) 
POLLINATOR
RESEARCH
LAB
FEASIBILITY 
STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator of the Agricultural Research Serv-
ice, may conduct feasibility studies regarding— 
(A) re-locating existing honey bee and na-
tive pollinator research from Federal laboratories 
to a cooperator-run facility in a location most 
geographically appropriate for pollinator re-
search; and 
(B) modernizing existing honey bee research 
laboratories identified by the Agricultural Re-
search Service in the capital investment strategy 
document dated 2012. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the feasi-
bility studies under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall consult with— 
(A) beekeeper, native bee, agricultural, re-
search institution, and bee conservation stake-
holders regarding new research laboratory needs 
under paragraph (1)(A); and
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(B) commercial beekeepers regarding the 
modernizing of existing honey bee laboratories 
under paragraph (1)(B). 
SEC. 12316. PRODUCE REPRESENTED AS GROWN IN THE 
UNITED STATES WHEN IT IS NOT IN FACT 
GROWN IN THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CBP.—The Secretary 
of Agriculture shall make available to U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection technical assistance related to the identi-
fication of produce represented as grown in the United 
States when it is not in fact grown in the United States. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry of the Senate a report on produce represented 
as grown in the United States when it is not in fact grown 
in the United States. 
SEC. 12317. URBAN AGRICULTURE COORDINATION. 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall coordinate opportu-
nities for urban agriculture, by— 
(1) compiling a list of all programs adminis-
tered by the Secretary or by the head of any other de-
partment, agency, or instrumentality of the United 
States to which urban farmers can apply for assist-
ance or participation;
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(2) examining and implementing opportunities 
to adjust the regulations governing the programs to 
enable urban farmers to participate in more of the 
programs; 
(3) developing a process for streamlining the 
process by which urban farmers may apply for assist-
ance from, or for participation in, the programs, in-
cluding through the use of a single, harmonized appli-
cation for multiple programs; and 
(4) such other methods as the Secretary deems 
appropriate. 
SEC. 12318. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INCREASED BUSINESS 
OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR 
BLACK 
FARMERS, 
WOMEN, 
MINORITIES, 
AND 
SMALL 
BUSI-
NESSES. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government 
should increase the number of contracts the Federal Govern-
ment awards to black farmers, businesses owned and con-
trolled by women, businesses owned and controlled by mi-
norities, and small business concerns. 
SEC. 
12319. 
SENSE 
OF 
CONGRESS 
REGARDING 
AGRI-
CULTURE SECURITY PROGRAMS. 
It is the sense of Congress that—
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(1) agricultural nutrients and other agricultural 
chemicals are essential to ensuring the most efficient 
production of food, fuel, and fiber; 
(2) these products must be properly stored, han-
dled, transported, and used to ensure that they are 
not misused or cause harm either accidentally or in-
tentionally; 
(3) the Department of Agriculture is the Federal 
agency with the staffing and technical expertise to 
understand the important role these products play in 
agriculture; 
(4) other Federal departments and agencies have 
been given lead responsibility to develop and imple-
ment security programs affecting the availability, 
storage, transportation, and use of a variety of chemi-
cals and products used in agriculture; 
(5) it is critical that the Department of Agri-
culture participates fully in the development of any 
such security programs to ensure that they do not un-
necessarily restrict the availability of the most effi-
cient and beneficial products needed to sustain agri-
culture in the United States; 
(6) the Secretary of Agriculture should review 
staffing at the Department to ensure that the agency 
has senior employees within the Department at the
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
Senior Executive Service level or higher, who have re-
sponsibility for coordinating with other Federal, 
State, and international agencies in the development 
of regulations, guidance, and procedures for the secure 
handling of agricultural chemicals; and 
(7) such employees shall— 
(A) work with manufacturers, retailers, and 
the general farm community to review existing 
and proposed Federal, State, and international 
agricultural chemical security regulations; 
(B) coordinate with manufacturers, retail-
ers, transporters, and farmers to evaluate how 
existing and proposed security regulations, in-
cluding systems to track the sale, transportation, 
delivery, and use of agricultural products, can be 
designed to minimize any adverse impact on ag-
ricultural productivity; 
(C) evaluate how existing and proposed se-
curity regulations will affect the ability of agri-
cultural producers to have timely access to nutri-
ents, chemicals, and other products that are af-
fordable and best suited to the producers’ oper-
ations; 
(D) develop recommendations on best prac-
tices, policies, and regulatory mechanisms relat-
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
ing to existing and proposed security programs 
to ensure that there is minimal adverse impact 
on agricultural productivity; and 
(E) engage with Federal agencies with re-
sponsibility for establishing security programs to 
ensure that they have the information needed to 
develop procedures for effective security adminis-
tration and enforcement that minimize any ad-
verse impact on domestic or international agri-
cultural productivity. 
SEC. 12320. REPORT ON WATER SHARING. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to Congress a report on— 
(1) efforts by Mexico to meet its treaty deliveries 
of water to the Rio Grande in accordance with the 
Treaty between the United States and Mexico Re-
specting Utilization of waters of the Colorado and Ti-
juana Rivers and of the Rio Grande (done at Wash-
ington, February 3, 1944); and 
(2) the benefits to the United States of the In-
terim International Cooperative Measures in the Colo-
rado River Basin through 2017 and Extension of 
Minute 318 Cooperative Measures to Address the Con-
tinued Effects of the April 2010 Earthquake in the
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Mexicali Valley, Baja, California (done at Coronado, 
California, November 20, 2012; commonly referred to 
as ‘‘Minute No. 319’’). 
SEC. 12321. SCIENTIFIC AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE 
FDA FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) may not enforce any regulations promulgated 
under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (Public Law 
111–353) until the Secretary publishes in the Federal Reg-
ister the following: 
(1) An analysis of the scientific information used 
in the final rule to implement the FDA Food Safety 
Modernization Act with a particular focus on— 
(A) agricultural businesses of a variety of 
sizes; 
(B) regional differences of agriculture pro-
duction, processing, marketing, and value added 
production; 
(C) agricultural businesses that are diverse 
livestock and produce producers; and 
(D) what, if any, negative impact on the 
agricultural businesses would be created, or exac-
erbated, by implementation of the FDA Food 
Safety Modernization Act.
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•HR 2642 EAH1S 
(K) cost sharing; and 
(L) alignment with existing Chesapeake 
Bay Agreement and Chesapeake Executive Coun-
cil goals and priorities. 
(b) MINIMUM FUNDING LEVELS.—The Director shall 
only describe restoration activities in the report required 
under subsection (a) that— 
(1) for Federal restoration activities, have fund-
ing amounts greater than or equal to $100,000; and 
(2) for State restoration activities, have funding 
amounts greater than or equal to $50,000. 
(c) DEADLINE.—The Director shall submit to Congress 
the report required by subsection (a) not later than 30 days 
after the submission by the President of the President’s an-
nual budget to Congress. 
(d) REPORT.—Copies of the financial report required 
by subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Committees on 
Appropriations, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, 
and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committees on Appropriations, Envi-
ronment and Public Works, and Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply begin-
ning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment