Protecting Fairs During Coronavirus Act

Bill: 116-s-4611
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2020-09-17
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural education

Agricultural marketing and promotion

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers

State and local finance

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Protecting Fairs During Coronavirus Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a program to address the effects of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on state and local fairs.</p> <p>In carrying out the program, USDA may provide competitive grants to states (i.e., the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States).</p> <p>A state may only use grant funds provided under the program to assist a state agricultural agency to address cost coverage issues related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and local fairs, including by identifying opportunities to provide virtual education and entertainment related to agriculture.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4611 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 17, 2020 Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to address the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Fairs During Coronavirus Act . 2. State and local fair grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered entity The term covered entity means a State agricultural agency with responsibility for operating a State or local fair. (2) Program The term Program means the program established under subsection (b). (3) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (4) State The term State means— (A) a State; (B) the District of Columbia; and (C) a territory of the United States. (b) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to address the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs. (c) Grant authority and eligible entities In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may make, on a competitive basis, grants to States in accordance with this section. (d) Applications To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (e) Grant uses A State may only use grant funds provided under the Program to assist a covered entity in addressing cost coverage issues relating to the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on State and local fairs, including by identifying opportunities to provide virtual education and entertainment relating to agriculture. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Program $5,000,000,000 for each of— (1) fiscal year 2021; and (2) each fiscal year thereafter any portion of which occurs during the period of the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19).