Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act

Bill: 118-s-372
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2023-02-09
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act </strong></p> <p>This bill expands the research and extension grant program for the macadamia tree health initiative. Under current law, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) may provide competitive grants under the initiative to support research and extension activities to combat the insect known as the macadamia felted coccid (Eriococcus ironsidei).</p> <p>Specifically, the bill authorizes USDA to provide competitive grants for</p> <ul> <li>developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact macadamia trees;</li> <li>establishing an area-wide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or at risk of being affected by, the invasive plant pests or noxious weeds;</li> <li>surveying and collecting data on macadamia tree production and health;</li> <li>investigating macadamia tree biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and</li> <li>conducting research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with macadamia tree immune systems and other serious threats to macadamia trees.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 372 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 9, 2023 Mr. Schatz (for himself and Ms. Hirono ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to modify the macadamia tree health initiative, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act . 2. Macadamia tree health initiative Section 1672(d) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 5925(d) ) is amended by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following: (11) Macadamia tree health initiative (A) Definitions In this paragraph, the terms noxious weed and plant pest have the meanings given those terms in section 403 of the Plant Protection Act ( 7 U.S.C. 7702 ). (B) High-priority research and extension Research and extension grants may be made under this section for the purposes of— (i) developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact macadamia trees; (ii) establishing an areawide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or areas at risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or noxious weeds; (iii) surveying and collecting data on macadamia tree production and health; (iv) investigating macadamia tree biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, and bioinformatics; and (v) conducting research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with macadamia tree immune systems, and other serious threats to macadamia trees, including— (I) the sublethal effects of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on beneficial insects and plants to macadamia tree growth; and (II) the development of mitigative and preventative measures to improve habitat conservation and best management practices in macadamia tree growing regions. (C) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2035. .