National Food Waste Reduction Act
Bill: H.R.3652 | Sponsor: Rep. Axne, Cynthia (D-IA)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
National Food Waste Reduction Act
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture's Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison to establish a Food Waste Research Program in partnership with five regional institutions of higher education.
The program must focus on food waste reduction and food recovery issues on a national, regional, and local level and support certain areas of study, such as the diversion of surplus food to those in need and the use of food waste for environmental purposes. The program must share best practices for food waste reduction with governmental entities, agriculture organizations, farmers, and other relevant entities, and must post research and resources on its website.
The bill also establishes a grant program for research centers and nonprofits to support other cooperative efforts relating to food loss and waste reduction.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a food waste 
 research and technical assistance program and grant program, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Food Waste Reduction Act''.

SEC. 2. FOOD WASTE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison of 
the Department of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the 
``Liaison'') shall establish a partnership with 5 regional partner 
institutions, selected under subsection (c), to carry out a Food Waste 
Research Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program'').
    (b) Food Waste Research Program Requirements.--
            (1) Duties.--In carrying out the Program, the Liaison, in 
        partnership with the 5 regional partner institutions selected 
        under subsection (c), shall--
                    (A) plan, conduct, and arrange for public research, 
                data, education, and recommendations within the areas 
                of study specified in paragraph (2), as such areas 
                relate to food waste reduction and food recovery issues 
                nationwide, regionally, and locally;
                    (B) carry out the activities of the Program within 
                a variety of regions in the United States, which are 
                identified and categorized by the Liaison based on the 
                specific food recovery and food waste reduction issues 
                of such regions;
                    (C) identify areas to increase efficiency in the 
                allocation of resources, coordination, cooperation, and 
                consolidation of efforts as they relate to local, 
                statewide, Tribal, regional, and Federal food recovery 
                and food waste reduction efforts;
                    (D) create a Program website, as described in 
                paragraph (4), to disseminate information to the 
                public; and
                    (E) collaborate with other colleges, universities, 
                and nonprofit organizations in the regions selected by 
                the Liaison that have demonstrated capability for 
                research, information dissemination, and professional 
                training in order to develop regional networks that are 
                knowledgeable in food waste reduction issues.
            (2) Areas of study.--In carrying out the duties listed in 
        subsection (a), the Liaison and the regional partner 
        institutions shall consider the following areas of study:
                    (A) Reducing the volume of surplus food produced.
                    (B) Feeding individuals in need to utilize excess 
                food, including through the use of donations of surplus 
                food.
                    (C) Diverting food unusable for purposes of 
                subparagraph (B) to feed animals.
                    (D) Utilizing food waste to create renewable energy 
                sources.
                    (E) Composting food waste to create nutrient rich 
                soil.
                    (F) Diminishing the deposits of food waste in 
                landfills and reducing the incineration of food waste.
            (3) Use of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--The Liaison may make funds 
                available under this section to improve the facilities 
                of the regional partner institutions to a level that 
                meets the requirements of the role of a regional 
                partner institution.
                    (B) Plan.--A regional partner institution may not 
                receive any funding for any facility upgrade under 
                subparagraph (A), unless--
                            (i) the regional partner institution 
                        submits to the Liaison a plan detailing the 
                        type of facility construction or improvements 
                        to take place (including any land acquisition, 
                        engineering, design, and staffing and equipment 
                        needs, in addition to other information as 
                        required by the Liaison); and
                            (ii) the Liaison approves such plan.
                    (C) Non-federal cost share for facility 
                improvement.--A regional partner institutions shall be 
                required to provide at least a 20 percent non-Federal 
                cost share for facility improvement or construction 
                projects pursued by a regional partner institution 
                under subparagraph (A).
                    (D) Matching funds for operating expenses.--A 
                regional partner institution shall be required to 
                provide at least a 30 percent non-Federal cost share 
                for all Program operating expenses related to such 
                regional partner institution.
                    (E) Wage rate requirements.--A construction 
                activity carried out pursuant to this section shall 
                meet Federal prevailing wage requirements as determined 
                by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter 
                IV of chapter 31 of part A of subtitle II of title 40, 
                United States Code, (commonly referred to as the 
                ``Davis-Bacon Act'').
            (4) Food waste research program website.--The Liaison shall 
        establish a website that shall contain at least the following 
        information:
                    (A) Key findings and best practices.
                    (B) A list of collaborations and partnerships 
                carried out pursuant to this section.
                    (C) Annual reports and other pertinent information 
                on the duties of the Program.
                    (D) The location and contact information for 
                regional partner institutions.
                    (E) Federal, State, local, and regionally specific 
                public research, data, education, and policy 
                recommendations that shall be updated in a timely 
                manner with new information.
                    (F) Tools for tracking reduction efforts and 
                measuring food waste production.
    (c) Selection of Regional Partner Institutions.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this section, the Liaison shall select 5 
        regional partner institutions to partner with to carry out the 
        requirements of the Program.
            (2) Criteria for regional partner institutions.--In making 
        a selection under paragraph (1), the Liaison shall select an 
        institution of higher education that--
                    (A) has a focus or expertise in at least one of the 
                areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
                    (B) has the ability to plan, conduct, and arrange 
                for public research, data, education, and 
                recommendations related to food waste reduction and the 
                areas of study described in subsection (b)(2);
                    (C) can assist the Liaison in fulfilling the duties 
                listed in subsection (b)(1);
                    (D) can contribute the required non-Federal funding 
                to maintain a regional partner institution center; and
                    (E) satisfies any other criteria determined by the 
                Liaison.
            (3) Eligible sub-awardees.--A State, Tribal, or local 
        government, local educational agency, agricultural or commodity 
        organization, farmer, or other organization focused on food 
        waste prevention may serve as an eligible sub-awardee of a 
        regional partner institution if the entity meets the 
        requirements of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (2).
            (4) Employment status.--Members of regional partner 
        institutions shall not be considered Federal employees for any 
        purpose.
    (d) Collaboration With Federal, Regional, State, Tribal, and Local 
Governments and Organizations.--The Liaison, in conjunction with the 5 
regional partner institutions selected under subsection (c) shall 
collaborate and share best practices on regional, State, Tribal, and 
locally specific food waste and food waste reduction issues with--
            (1) State and county governments;
            (2) Tribal governments;
            (3) units of local government;
            (4) local educational entities;
            (5) colleges and universities;
            (6) agricultural and commodity organizations;
            (7) farmers; and
            (8) organizations focused on food waste prevention.
    (e) Information Collection and Dissemination.--
            (1) Report of regional partner institutions.--Not later 
        than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, 
        and annually thereafter, the regional partnership institutions 
        shall submit to the Liaison a report containing the activities, 
        partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy recommendations, 
        previous and continuing budgets, findings, and any other 
        applicable information carried out under the Program.
            (2) Liaison report.--Not later than 15 months after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, 
        the Liaison shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and publish on the 
        Program website an annual report containing a compilation of 
        the activities, partnerships, collaborations, Federal policy 
        recommendations, previous and continuing budgets, findings, and 
        any other applicable information relating to the Program.
            (3) Review of report.--The Liaison shall review the annual 
        report from the regional partner institutions to ensure that 
        funds are being used efficiently according to the duties of the 
        Program and that the Program is producing utilizable public 
        research, data, education, and recommendations related to food 
        waste and food waste reduction issues.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
2022.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO RESEARCH CENTERS OR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Grant Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison of 
the Department of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the 
``Liaison'') shall establish a grant program under which the Liaison 
shall make grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to 
establish contracts or cooperative agreements described in subsection 
(c) of section 224 of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act 
of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924(c)) with such eligible entities to carry out the 
duties described in subsection (b) of such section.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Liaison an application 
at such time and in such manner as the Liaison may require.
    (c) Criteria.--In making grants under this section, the Liaison 
shall consider, with respect to each applicant, the following:
            (1) The alignment of food loss and recovery programs and 
        resources developed by such applicant with the Environmental 
        Protection Agency Food Recovery Hierarchy.
            (2) The ability of the facilities and resources of such 
        applicant to develop and deliver food loss reduction and 
        recovery programs.
            (3) The experience of such applicant in developing high-
        impact food loss reduction and recovery programs and resources 
        at the State, Tribal, regional, or national scale.
            (4) Previous collaboration of such applicant with other 
        food loss reduction and recovery focused organizations in the 
        private, nonprofit, and government sectors.
            (5) Any other information that the Liaison shall require.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use such grant to carry out the activities described 
in subsection (c) of section 224 of the Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6924(c)) to accomplish the duties 
described in subsection (b) of such section.
    (e) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be for a period 
of 3 years.
    (f) Grant Renewal.--The Liaison may renew a grant under this 
section for an additional period of 3 years.
    (g) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant under this section 
shall not exceed 70 percent of the costs of the activities carried out 
under this section.
    (h) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Liaison shall 
submit to Congress a report describing the activities conducted under 
this section and the effects of such activities on food loss and waste 
reduction nationally.
    (i) Eligible Entity Defined.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
research center or nonprofit organization described in section 224(c) 
of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 
6924(c)).
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
2022.
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