I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8138 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2024 Mr. Soto (for himself and Mr. Scott Franklin of Florida ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a disaster response training program to train certain Farm Service Agency employees to provide outreach and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

1. Disaster response training program for certain Farm Service Agency employees (a) In general Subtitle E of title I of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 7 U.S.C. 9081 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 1502. Disaster response training program for certain Farm Service Agency employees (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, shall— (1) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, establish a disaster response training program— (A) to train covered employees— (i) to provide outreach and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by a natural disaster, including by providing information on available disaster relief assistance; and (ii) with respect to the appropriate protocols for assisting such farmers and ranchers; and (B) that, with respect to a natural disaster, provides on-demand trainings on— (i) the conditions and effects of each such natural disaster; (ii) the needs of farmers and ranchers in responding to each such natural disaster; and (iii) the disaster relief assistance that may be available with respect to addressing each such natural disaster; and (2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and at least annually thereafter— (A) provide the training required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) to each covered employee; and (B) make the on-demand trainings required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) available to covered employees. (b) Format of training Training sessions required by subsection (a)(1)(A) may be conducted in-person or through teleconference or other virtual means. (c) Survey required The Secretary shall establish and offer a completion survey to each covered employee who completes a training session or on-demand training provided under the training program established under subsection (a)(1) to solicit feedback with respect to such session or on-demand training. (d) Exit survey for farmers and ranchers The Secretary shall offer an exit survey to each farmer and rancher provided outreach and technical assistance pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) that allows the farmer or rancher to— (1) evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of such outreach and technical assistance; and (2) summarize the outcome of such farmer or rancher with respect to receiving disaster relief assistance. (e) Report required Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report describing— (1) the training program established under subsection (a)(1); (2) with respect to the year preceding the report— (A) the number of trainings carried out pursuant to each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(2); (B) the number of covered employees who received each such training; and (C) the level of the General Schedule and the position of each such employee; (3) the results of the completion surveys offered under subsection (c); and (4) the results of the exit surveys offered under subsection (d). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered employee The term covered employee means any employee of the Farm Service Agency who could be deployed to carry out disaster relief assistance with respect to farmers and ranchers. (2) Disaster relief assistance The term disaster relief assistance means assistance under any program— (A) to address natural disasters; and (B) that is administered by the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. (3) Natural disaster The term natural disaster includes— (A) any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought; and (B) such other natural disaster as may be determined appropriate by the Administrator. . (b) Technical amendment The table of contents for the Agricultural Act of 2014 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1501 the following: 1502. Disaster response training program for certain Farm Service Agency employees. .