Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives Establishment Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-6183
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]
Introduced: 2023-11-02
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Advisory bodies

Community life and organization

Department of Agriculture

Executive agency funding and structure

Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6183 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 2, 2023 Mr. Cuellar (for himself, Ms. Escobar , and Ms. Crockett ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To establish an Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives within the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives Establishment Act of 2023 . 2. Establishment of Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives (a) In general Title III of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by adding after section 309 ( 7 U.S.C. 6921 ) the following: 310. Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish and maintain in the Department an Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives (referred to in this subsection as the Office ) to— (1) improve engagement with, and service to, border colonias communities, farmworkers, and the family members and children of farmworkers; (2) improve collaboration between the Department and National, State, and local colonias and farmworker programs and nonprofit organizations; and (3) carry out other such functions as the Secretary determines appropriate. (b) Duties The Office shall ensure that border colonias communities, farmworkers, the family members and children of farmworkers, and nonprofit organizations representing or assisting such communities and individuals have equitable access to, and equitable participation in, programs and services of the Department by— (1) establishing and monitoring the goals and objectives of the Department to increase participation of such communities, individuals, and nonprofit organizations in Department programs; (2) assessing the effectiveness of Department outreach programs to such communities, individuals, and nonprofit organizations; (3) developing and implementing a plan to coordinate outreach activities and services to such communities, individuals, and nonprofit organizations provided by— (A) the Department; and (B) other Federal agencies, including services related to housing, education, health care, and infrastructure development; (4) providing input to the Department and other Federal agencies on programmatic and policy decisions relating to such communities, individuals, and nonprofit organizations, including— (A) identifying obstacles for access to programs and resources; and (B) elevating Federal, State, and local best practices; (5) measuring outcomes of the programs and activities of the Department to serve such communities and individuals; (6) recommending new initiatives and programs to the Secretary; (7) providing technical assistance to such organizations with respect to Departmental programs and resources; and (8) carrying out any other related duties that the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Colonias coordinator (1) In general The Secretary shall establish within the Office the position of Colonias Coordinator (referred to in this subsection as the Coordinator ). (2) Duties The Secretary shall delegate to the Coordinator responsibility for the following: (A) Serving as a liaison to nonprofit organizations that represent and have demonstrated experience serving and working in colonias communities. (B) Coordinating with the Department, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments to ensure that the needs of colonias communities are assessed and met, including during declared disasters and other emergencies. (C) Consulting within the Office and with other entities to better integrate perspectives, concerns, and interest of colonias communities into the ongoing programs of the Department. 311. Colonias and farmworker initiatives coordinating committee (a) Establishment of committee The Secretary shall establish and convene a Federal coordinating committee, to be known as the Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives Coordinating Committee (referred to in this subsection as the Committee ) to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary on matters relating to colonias and farmworker affairs. (b) Membership and composition The Committee shall be composed— (1) of such representatives not described in subparagraph (B) as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (2) of representatives from each of the following: (A) The Department of Housing and Urban Development. (B) The Department of the Treasury. (C) The Environmental Protection Agency. (D) The Department of Health and Human Services. (E) The Department of Education. (F) The Small Business Administration. (G) The Department of Labor. (H) The Federal Emergency Management Agency. (c) Duties of committee The Committee shall— (1) direct a working group composed of members of the Committee (or designees of such members) and representatives from other Federal agencies and mission areas within the Department (such as the Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, Rural Business Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and the Farm Service Agency); (2) engage stakeholders and identify State and municipal best practices to assist colonias communities, farmworkers, and farmworkers’ family members and children; (3) submit to the Secretary recommendations or, and solutions to— (A) the issues identified raised under subparagraph (B); and (B) issues raised at the local, regional, or national level; and (4) identify and propose solutions to any interdepartmental barrier between the Department and other Federal agencies. (d) Federal advisory committee act exemption Section 1013 of title V, United States Code, shall not apply to the Committee. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2024 through 2029 to carry out this section. . (b) Transfer of position of Farmworker Coordinator (1) In general The Farmworker Coordinator position established under section 226B(f) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6934(f) ) is transferred to the Office of Colonias and Farmworker Initiatives under section 310 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, as added by this Act. (2) Transfer of legal provisions Subsection (f) of section 226B of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6934 ) is transferred so as to read as subsection (d) of section 310 of the Federal Crop Insurance Reform and Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994, as added by this Act.