I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6712 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 11, 2023 Mr. Ruiz (for himself and Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to provide recovery payments to seasonal and perishable crop growers who experienced low prices caused by imports, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Seasonal and Perishable Crop Support Act . 2. Seasonal and perishable insurance programs The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 ( Public Law 108–465 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: V Seasonal and Perishable Insurance Programs 501. Seasonal and perishable crop loss program (a) Seasonal and perishable crop loss (1) In general Beginning with marketing year 2024, with respect to a producer of a seasonal and perishable crop in a geographic region described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make crop loss payments in accordance with this section for a marketing year if the Secretary determines that— (A) the effective price for the seasonal and perishable crop for such marketing year is less than the reference price for such crop; and (B) the crop loss described in subparagraph (A) is caused by imports of the seasonal and perishable crop. (2) Geographic coverage A geographic region described in this paragraph is a geographic region for which at least 50 percent of the producers that produce at least one seasonal and perishable crop make a one-time election to participate in the seasonal perishable crop loss payment program under this section with respect to a marketing year. (3) Election For each marketing year, the Secretary shall allow producers of seasonal and perishable crops to make a one-time election to participate in the seasonal and perishable crop loss program under this section with respect to such marketing year. (b) Effective price The effective price for a seasonal and perishable crop for a marketing year shall be the national average market price for the seasonal and perishable crop. (c) Payments (1) In general The amount of a payment to a producer for a marketing year under this section shall be equal to the payment rate determined under paragraph (2) with respect to the seasonal and perishable crops of such producer multiplied by 85 percent of the 5-year Olympic average with respect to such seasonal and perishable crops. (2) Payment rate The payment rate shall be equal to the difference between— (A) the reference price for the covered seasonal and perishable crop; and (B) the effective price determined under subsection (b) for the seasonal and perishable crop. (d) Payment amount If seasonal perishable crop loss program payments are required to be provided under this section for the last seasonal marketing year for a covered seasonal and perishable crop, the amount of the seasonal perishable crop loss program payment to be paid to the producers on a farm for the seasonal marketing year shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying— (1) the payment rate for the covered seasonal and perishable crop under subsection (c); and (2) the previous three-year average production for the seasonal and perishable crop. (e) Eligibility No producer may be eligible for a payment under this section unless such producer— (1) has an average adjusted gross income of less than $900,000 for the 3 tax years preceding the most recent tax year; and (2) derives at least 75 percent of the adjusted gross income of such producer from farming, ranching, or forestry. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Marketing season The term marketing season means, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop, the season— (A) in which such crop is normally marketed; and (B) that concludes on the date that is not later than 8 weeks after the last day on which such crops are harvested during a marketing year. (2) Marketing year The term marketing year means, with respect to a seasonal and perishable crop, the period beginning on the date the seasonal and perishable crop is first harvested and ending on the last day on which such crop is marketed. (3) Reference price The term reference price means regional average market price received by producers during the marketing season for a seasonal and perishable crop for the period of the most recent three marketing years. (4) Seasonal and perishable crop The term seasonal and perishable crop means a crop that is— (A) a fresh or chilled specialty crop; (B) marketed in raw form for consumption without further processing; and (C) normally marketed not later than 8 weeks after harvesting. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. .