Livestock Disaster Relief Act
Bill: S.2707 | Sponsor: Sen. Hoeven, John (R-ND)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Livestock Disaster Relief Act
This bill modifies the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), with a particular focus on addressing the needs of agricultural producers during droughts. (The Department of Agriculture carries out these programs to assist agricultural producers affected by natural disasters.)
The changes include increasing the number of months a producer may receive LFP assistance and allowing transportation costs for feed and water as covered losses under ELAP.

To amend the Agricultural Act of 2014 to improve a program that 
     provides livestock disaster assistance, 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 ``Livestock Disaster Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 1501(a)(4)(A) of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(a)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and unweaned 
cattle'' after ``dairy cattle''.
    (b) Livestock Forage Disaster Program.--Section 1501(c)(3) of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9081(c)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C)(iii)(I)--
                    (A) in item (aa), by striking ``or'' at the end;
                    (B) in item (bb), by striking ``by'' at the end and 
                inserting ``or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                                            ``(cc) the national average 
                                        corn price per bushel for the 
                                        3-month period immediately 
                                        preceding that March 1; by''; 
                                        and
            (2) in subparagraph (D)(ii)(II)--
                    (A) in item (aa), by striking ``3'' and inserting 
                ``4'';
                    (B) in item (bb), by striking ``4 monthly'' and 
                inserting ``6 monthly''; and
                    (C) in item (cc), by striking ``an amount equal 
                to'' and all that follows through the period at the end 
                and inserting the following: ``an amount equal to--

                                                    ``(AA) in the case 
                                                of a county with a 
                                                normal grazing period 
                                                of not less than 8 
                                                months, 8 monthly 
                                                payments using the 
                                                monthly payment rate 
                                                determined under 
                                                subparagraph (B); or

                                                    ``(BB) in the case 
                                                of a county with a 
                                                normal grazing period 
                                                of less than 8 months, 
                                                1 monthly payment for 
                                                each month of the 
                                                normal grazing period 
                                                for that county, using 
                                                the monthly payment 
                                                rate determined under 
                                                that subparagraph.''.

    (c) Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised 
Fish.--Section 1501(d) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9081(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(including drought)'' after 
                ``adverse weather''; and
                    (B) by striking ``, that are not covered under 
                subsection (b) or (c)''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``(including 
        transportation costs)'' after ``shortages''.
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