117 SRES 331 ATS: Designating August 11, 2021, as “Hip Hop Celebration Day”, designating August 2021 as “Hip Hop Recognition Month”, and designating November 2021 as “Hip Hop History Month”.
U.S. Senate
2021-07-29
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 331IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 29, 2021Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. Padilla) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed toRESOLUTIONDesignating August 11, 2021, as Hip Hop Celebration Day, designating August 2021 as Hip Hop Recognition Month, and designating November 2021 as Hip Hop History Month.Whereas, on August 11, 1973, at a Back To School Jam organized by his sister Cindy Campbell and held at the recreation room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York, Clive DJ Kool Herc Campbell introduced his innovative style of disk jockeying and, together with the master of ceremonies engaging the crowd with rap on the microphone while partygoers known as B-boys and B-girls danced, introduced a new style, later known as Hip Hop, which combined the elements of a disk jockey (commonly known as a DJ), a master of ceremonies (commonly known as an MC), music, art, fashion, and dance;Whereas, from its humble beginnings in New York City, the music, lyricism, dance, fashion, and art of Hip Hop has become a culture, now found in communities across the United States, and has long been a worldwide phenomenon;Whereas the art and culture of Hip Hop is an original American creation;Whereas Hip Hop and other genres of music, such as jazz from New Orleans, Louisiana, blues from Mississippi, country from the South, and gospel, soul, rock and roll, and indigenous music from across the United States, have all transcended boundaries;Whereas the Hip Hop genre has been reinvented often over the years since 1973, reflecting the State, city, and region of the music, from G-funk and Hyphy on the West Coast, to Bass and Trap in the South, to Drill in the Midwest, to many other sounds from coast to coast and from abroad, including the New School, which continues that trend;Whereas Hip Hop artists and supporters, originally of African heritage, now transcend many different ages, ethnicities, religions, locations, political affiliations, and socioeconomic statuses, which demonstrates the melting-pot quality of Hip Hop art and culture;Whereas the art and culture of Hip Hop have been adapted in many innovative forms that are inspirational, challenging, humorous, thought-provoking, and spiritual;Whereas Hip Hop has provided opportunities for extracurricular activities, youth counseling, creative outlets, physical fitness, vocabulary exercises, poetry, analytical thinking, entertainment, employment, and economic impact, and has become an industry that generates more than a billion dollars annually;Whereas Hip Hop art, education, and culture have positive effects on society;Whereas, on August 11, 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Celebration Day;Whereas, during the month of August 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Recognition Month; andWhereas, during the month of November 2021, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop History Month: Now, therefore, be itThat the Senate— (1)designates August 11, 2021, as Hip Hop Celebration Day; (2)designates the month of August 2021 as Hip Hop Recognition Month;(3)designates the month of November 2021 as Hip Hop History Month;(4)recognizes the contributions of Hip Hop to art and culture;(5)encourages Senators to plan appropriate activities that support the objective of the Back to School Jam of August 11, 1973; and(6)encourages local governments in the United States to build partnerships with local Hip Hop entities and other members of the creative arts and music communities.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1868
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 15, 2011
			Mr. Menendez (for
			 himself, Mr. Reid,
			 Mr. Rubio, Mrs.
			 Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer,
			 Mr. Casey, Mr.
			 Akaka, Mrs. Hagan, and
			 Mr. Udall of New Mexico) introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Rules and
			 Administration

		A BILL
		To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the
		  Smithsonian American Latino Museum, and for other purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Smithsonian American Latino Museum
			 Act.
		2.Establishment of
			 museumThere is established
			 within the Smithsonian Institution a museum to be known as the
			 Smithsonian American Latino Museum.
		3.Location and
			 authorization
			(a)Arts and
			 Industries BuildingThe Arts and Industries Building of the
			 Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall at 900 Jefferson Drive,
			 Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia, including a new underground annex
			 facility, is designated as the location of the Smithsonian American Latino
			 Museum.
			(b)Planning and
			 ConstructionThe Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution,
			 in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission of Fine
			 Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission, and with other appropriate
			 Federal and local agencies, is authorized to prepare plans, design, renovate,
			 rehabilitate, and construct the Smithsonian American Latino Museum facility, as
			 referred to in the May 2011 Report to Congress of the Commission to Study the
			 Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.
			(c)Schedule and
			 funding
				(1)In
			 generalThe Board of Regents is authorized to prepare a plan of
			 action for the Smithsonian American Latino Museum, and to identify and evaluate
			 viable funding models for both construction and operation of the Museum.
				(2)TimingThe
			 plan of action authorized in paragraph (1) shall be concluded not later than 18
			 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
				4.Agreement with
			 Secretary of the interiorThe
			 Secretary of the Interior and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
			 Institution shall enter into an agreement that—
			(1)allows for the
			 planning, design, and construction of the underground annex facility by the
			 Board of Regents, in a manner harmonious with and to protect the open space and
			 visual sightlines of the Mall; and
			(2)provides a
			 timeline for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction, if necessary, of the
			 appropriate subsurface area from the Secretary of the Interior to the
			 Smithsonian Institution.
			5.Consideration of
			 recommendations of commissionIn carrying out its duties under this Act,
			 the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall take into
			 consideration the reports and plans submitted by the Commission to Study the
			 Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino under section
			 333 of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–229; 122
			 Stat. 784).


113 HR 2182 IH: Half in Ten Act of 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-05-23
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2182
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 23, 2013
			Ms. Lee of California
			 (for herself, Mr. Hoyer,
			 Ms. Brownley of California,
			 Ms. Chu, Mr. Hastings of Florida,
			 Mr. Serrano,
			 Mr. Nadler,
			 Mr. Conyers,
			 Mr. Vela, Ms. Clarke, Mr.
			 Rush, Ms. Moore,
			 Ms. Sewell of Alabama,
			 Ms. Kaptur,
			 Mrs. Beatty,
			 Mr. Cicilline,
			 Mr. Ellison,
			 Mr. Grijalva,
			 Ms. Fudge,
			 Mr. Connolly,
			 Mr. Rangel,
			 Ms. Schakowsky,
			 Mr. Langevin,
			 Mr. Sires,
			 Mr. Cárdenas,
			 Ms. Edwards,
			 Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois,
			 Mr. Richmond,
			 Ms. Wilson of Florida,
			 Mr. Carson of Indiana,
			 Ms. Brown of Florida,
			 Mr. Tonko,
			 Mr. Veasey,
			 Ms. Kelly of Illinois,
			 Mr. Clay, Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr.
			 Heck of Washington, Mr.
			 Honda, Ms. DeLauro,
			 Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania,
			 Ms. Norton, and
			 Ms. Jackson Lee) introduced the
			 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
			 Reform

		A BILL
		To establish the Federal Interagency Working Group on
		  Reducing Poverty which will create and carry out a national plan to cut poverty
		  in America in half in ten years.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Half in Ten Act of
			 2013.
		2.FindingsCongress finds the following:
			(1)The persistence of
			 poverty, and especially intergenerational poverty, in America can be seen as a
			 deep, structural problem that implicates our value system and our educational
			 and economic institutions.
			(2)Poverty may be
			 defined as the lack of basic necessities of life such as food, shelter,
			 clothing, health care, education, economic security, and economic
			 opportunity.
			(3)Policy initiatives
			 and many safety net programs addressing poverty have not kept pace with the
			 needs of millions of Americans.
			(4)The lack of an
			 equitable distribution of housing choices across the country leads to isolation
			 and concentrated poverty.
			(5)The number of
			 Americans living in poverty rose by over 2.6 million from 2009 to 2010 (U.S.
			 Census Bureau, September 2011).
			(6)There were 46.2
			 million Americans living in poverty in 2010, consisting of 15.1 percent of the
			 American people (U.S. Census Bureau, September 2011).
			(7)Poverty has a
			 disproportionate impact on minority communities in America with 27.4 percent of
			 African-Americans, 26.6 percent of Hispanics, 12.1 percent of Asian Americans,
			 and 9.9 percent of Whites living in poverty in the United States in 2010 (U.S.
			 Census Bureau, September 2011).
			(8)In 2010 a family
			 of 4 was considered poor under the U.S. Census Bureau’s official measure if the
			 family’s income was below $22,314.
			(9)The economic
			 consequences of poverty in the United States are estimated to be at least $500
			 billion per year (Center for American Progress, 2007).
			(10)Children who grow
			 up in poverty experience higher crime rates, decreased productivity, and higher
			 health costs over their lives (Center for American Progress, 2007).
			(11)3,500,000 seniors
			 lived in poverty in 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011).
			(12)Young Americans,
			 ages 18–24, experience a higher poverty rate than the national average (U.S.
			 Census Bureau, 2011).
			(13)16,400,000
			 children lived in poverty in 2010—more than one in every five American children
			 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011).
			(14)Almost 35 percent
			 of African-American children and over 30 percent of Hispanic children lived in
			 poverty in 2009 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011).
			(15)The 46,180,000 of
			 Americans in poverty in 2010 was the largest number yet recorded in the 52
			 years for which poverty estimates are available (U.S. Census Bureau,
			 2011).
			(16)Individuals and
			 families in poverty are more socially vulnerable to natural disasters, extreme
			 weather and impacts of climate change and have greater difficulty preparing
			 for, responding to and recovering from such events (Oxfam America,
			 2009).
			(17)Children who live
			 in families who fall into poverty for even short periods of time are at greater
			 risk of a lifetime of lower earnings, lower educational attainment, and
			 increased reliance on public services and increased rates of incarceration
			 (First Focus, 2008).
			(18)It is estimated
			 that the additional 3 million children who were forced into poverty due to the
			 recession of 2008, resulted in $35 billion in economic losses annually, and
			 will cause at least $1.7 trillion in economic losses to the United States
			 during their lifetimes (First Focus, 2008).
			(19)Reducing poverty,
			 especially child poverty, not only reduces costs for Federal, State, and local
			 social services and benefits programs, but also increases tax revenue at all
			 levels of government (Children’s Defense Fund, 2009).
			(20)The House of
			 Representatives, on January 22, 2008, has resolved that it is the sense of
			 Congress that the United States should set a national goal of cutting poverty
			 in half over the next 10 years.
			3.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)Federal
			 agencyThe term Federal agency means any executive
			 department, Government corporation, Government-controlled corporation, or other
			 establishment in the executive branch of the Government (including the
			 Executive Office of the President), or any independent regulatory
			 agency.
			(2)PovertyThe
			 term poverty means an income level and living standard associated
			 with and based on the official poverty measure as established and updated by
			 the U.S. Census Bureau which establishes a threshold of minimum income
			 necessary to achieve a standard of living free from deprivation of basic
			 needs.
			(3)Extreme
			 PovertyThe term extreme poverty means having an
			 income level or living standard at a level of extreme deprivation based on
			 living with income below 50 percent of the Federal poverty line as established
			 by the U.S. Census.
			(4)Near
			 PovertyThe term near poverty means having a level
			 of household income below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line.
			(5)Child
			 PovertyThe term child poverty means poverty which
			 impacts those persons under 18 years of age.
			(6)DeprivationThe
			 term deprivation means lacking some or all basic human
			 needs.
			(7)Decent Living
			 StandardThe term decent living standard means the
			 amount of annual income that would allow an individual to live beyond
			 deprivation at a safe and decent, but modest, standard of living.
			(8)Alternative
			 Poverty MeasuresThe term
			 alternative poverty measures means measures and indicators, other
			 than the traditional income based measure of poverty, which can provide a more
			 detailed picture of the low-income and poverty stricken populations, such as
			 the number of people who were kept above poverty by Government supports, the
			 number of people who are poor due to medical expenses, child care, and work
			 expenses, the rates of food insecurity, the number of people who are asset poor
			 (with less than three months of income saved), the number of disconnected
			 youth, teen birth rates, participation rates in Federal anti-poverty programs
			 for all eligible populations, and the number of people who are unbanked.
			(9)Regional Costs
			 of LivingThe term regional costs of living means a
			 measure of the differing costs of maintaining a given living standard in
			 varying regional, geographic, urban or rural regions.
			(10)Economic
			 InsecurityThe term economic insecurity means the
			 inability of individuals and households to cope with routine adverse or costly
			 life events and the lack of means to maintain a decent standard of living and
			 to recover from the costly consequences of those events.
			(11)Economic
			 StabilityThe term economic stability means
			 individuals and households have access to the means and support systems
			 necessary to effectively cope with adverse or costly life events and have the
			 ability to effectively recover from the consequences of those events while
			 maintaining their standard of living or maintaining a decent standard of
			 living.
			(12)Digital
			 DivideThe term digital divide means the gap between
			 individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different
			 socio-economic levels with regard to both their access information and
			 communications technologies and including the imbalance both in physical access
			 to technology and the resources, education and skills needed to effectively use
			 computer technology and the Internet for a wide variety of activities.
			(13)OutcomesThe
			 term outcomes means change in the economic status, economic
			 instability or economic security of an individual, household or other
			 population which is attributable to a planned intervention, benefit, or service
			 or series of interventions, benefits, and services, regardless of whether such
			 an intervention was intended to change such economic status.
			(14)Disparate
			 ImpactThe term disparate impact refers to the
			 historic and ongoing impacts of the pattern and practice of discrimination in
			 employment, education, housing, banking and nearly every other aspect of
			 American life in the economy, society or culture that have an adverse impact on
			 minorities, women, or other protected groups, regardless of whether such
			 practices were motivated by discriminatory intent.
			4.Establishment of
			 the Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty
			(a)Establishment of
			 Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing PovertyThere is
			 established within the Department of Health and Human Services, a Federal
			 Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty, which shall be chaired by the
			 Secretary of Health and Human Services, and whose members shall be selected by
			 their respective agency heads from the senior ranks of their agencies, which
			 shall—
				(1)develop, within 180 days of enactment, a
			 National Strategy to reduce the number of persons living in poverty in America
			 in half within 10 years of the release of the 2012 Census report on Income,
			 Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011, that includes
			 goals and objectives relating to—
					(A)reducing in half the number of Americans
			 living in poverty as reported by the 2012 Census report on Income, Poverty and
			 Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011;
					(B)eliminating child
			 poverty in America;
					(C)eliminating
			 extreme poverty in America;
					(D)improving the
			 effectiveness and outcomes of poverty related programs by improving our
			 understanding of the root causes of poverty, the social, economic, and the
			 cultural contributors to persistent intergenerational poverty;
					(E)improving the
			 measure of poverty to include more indicators and measures that can
			 meaningfully account for other aspects relating to the measure of poverty, such
			 as regional differences in costs of living, the impact of rising income
			 inequality, the impact of the persistent digital divide,
			 expanding the understanding of poverty by distinguishing a standard that
			 measures a level of freedom from deprivation versus a standard that measures a
			 standard of economic adequacy provided by a living wage and access to a decent
			 living standard, and the impact of poverty on other measures of economic
			 stability and economic outcomes, such as educational attainment, rates of
			 incarceration, lifetime earnings, access to health care, health care outcomes,
			 access to housing, and including other measures as necessary to improve our
			 understanding of why poverty persists in America;
					(F)eliminating the
			 disparate rates of poverty based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, or sexual
			 orientation and identity, especially among children in those households so
			 impacted;
					(G)measuring
			 effectiveness of poverty related programs on the basis of long-term outcomes,
			 including the long-term savings and value of preventive practice and policy,
			 and employing fact based measures of programs to make improvements;
					(H)improving the
			 accessibility of benefit and social services programs, reducing the complexity
			 and difficulty of enrollment, and improving the rates of enrollment in need
			 based programs for all eligible recipients to maximize the impact of benefits
			 and social services programs on reducing the impacts of poverty and improving
			 economic outcomes;
					(I)making more
			 uniform eligibility requirements to improve the coordination of service
			 delivery, reduce gaps in eligibility, and improve outcomes of programs
			 addressing poverty in the Federal Government;
					(J)reducing the
			 negative impacts of asset limits for eligibility which impact Federal, State
			 and local poverty programs on the effectiveness of programs where limited
			 eligibility creates gaps in necessary service and benefit delivery, and
			 restricts access to benefits as individuals and families attempt to transition
			 off of assistance programs and which can prevent needy beneficiaries from
			 improving long-term outcomes and achieving long-term economic independence from
			 need based programs;
					(K)identifying
			 Federal programs, including those related to disaster relief, hazard
			 mitigation, extreme weather and climate change, and necessary reforms to better
			 target resources towards disproportionately impacted socially vulnerable, low
			 income and disadvantaged communities may provide greater socio-economic
			 benefits;
					(L)improving the
			 ability of community-based organizations to participate in the development,
			 oversight and implementation of Federal poverty-related programs;
					(M)improving access
			 to good jobs with adequate wages and benefits by individuals living in poverty,
			 low-income households, and the unemployed;
					(N)expanding and
			 stabilizing poor and low income persons connection to work and access to
			 critical job training and/or skills upgrade training that will lead to re-entry
			 in the workforce;
					(O)developing a
			 comprehensive strategy to connect low-income young people and to re-connect
			 currently disconnected youth to education, work, and their community;
			 and
					(P)shifting the focus
			 of poverty and means tested programs across the Federal Government beyond the
			 relief of deprivation and instead setting goals, measures, and outcomes more
			 focused on measuring the success of programs in supporting and improving how
			 capable individuals and families can access educational and economic
			 opportunities to successfully transition away from accessing public assistance
			 and benefits and achieving long-term economic stability which will reduce
			 long-term costs in domestic social needs programs, reduce long-term health care
			 costs due to the improved health of formerly poverty stricken households,
			 increase the number of taxpaying individuals which will increase revenue, and
			 lower the enrollment and costs in need based benefits and services programs,
			 thus improving the economy and reducing long-term deficits for Federal, State,
			 and local governments;
					(2)oversee,
			 coordinate, and integrate all policies and activities of the Federal
			 Government, in coordination and consultation with the Domestic Policy Council
			 and the National Economic Council, across all agencies relating to reducing the
			 number of individuals, families, and children living below the Federal poverty
			 line, in extreme poverty or near poverty and increasing the number of
			 households able to achieve long-term economic stability with assets sufficient
			 to maintain a decent living standard without relying on public supports—
					(A)economic,
			 commercial, and programmatic policies that can effect or relieve the effects of
			 poverty through job creation, and economic development targeted to low income,
			 minority, rural, urban and other populations who suffer disparate rates of
			 poverty, among Federal agencies; and
					(B)services and
			 benefits including emergency programs, discretionary economic programs, and
			 other policies and activities necessary to ensure that the Federal Government
			 is able to mount effective responses to economic downturns and increases in the
			 rates of poverty;
					(3)ensure that all
			 relevant Federal agencies comply with appropriate guidelines, policies, and
			 directives from the Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty and
			 the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies with
			 responsibilities relating to poverty reduction or improving economic stability
			 and independence;
				(4)ensure that
			 Federal agencies, State governments and relevant congressional committees have
			 access to, receive, and appropriately disseminate best practices in the
			 administration of programs, have adequate resources to maximize the public
			 awareness of programs, increase the reach of those programs, especially into
			 historically disenfranchised communities, maximize enrollment for all eligible
			 Americans, share relevant data, and issue relevant guidance in consultation
			 with non-government organizations and policy experts in the field and State and
			 local government officials who administer or direct policy for anti-poverty
			 programs in increasing and maximizing the enrollment into and administration of
			 programs and services designed to alleviate poverty;
				(5)enact best
			 practices for improved data collection, relevant to—
					(A)reducing
			 poverty;
					(B)reducing the
			 racial, ethnic, age, gender, and sexual orientation or sexual identity based
			 disparities in the rates of poverty;
					(C)adequately
			 measuring the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of programs on the outcomes
			 for individuals, families and communities who receive benefits and
			 services;
					(D)streamlining
			 enrollment and eligibility for programs;
					(E)improving
			 long-term outcomes for individuals who are enrolled in service and benefit
			 programs;
					(F)reducing reliance
			 on public programs;
					(G)improving
			 connections to work;
					(H)improving economic
			 stability;
					(I)improving savings
			 and investment, access to capital, increasing rates of entrepreneurship;
					(J)improving our
			 understanding of the impact of extreme weather and natural disasters on
			 economically vulnerable communities and improving those communities’ resilience
			 to and recovery from extreme weather and natural disasters;
					(K)improving access
			 to living wage employment; and
					(L)improving access
			 to employment based benefits; and
					(6)study the
			 feasibility of and test different interagency, State and local, public/private
			 models of cooperative service and benefit delivery by creating necessary
			 exemptions, waivers and funding sources to allow improved cooperation and
			 innovation in the development of programs, practices, policies and procedures
			 that advance the goal of reducing poverty and increasing economic
			 opportunity.
				(b)Director of
			 National Poverty PolicyThere
			 shall be a Staff Director of National Poverty Policy, who shall be the head of
			 the Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty.
			5.Appointment and
			 responsibilities of the Director
			(a)Appointment
				(1)In
			 generalThe Staff Director shall be appointed by the Secretary of
			 Housing and Urban Development.
				(2)QualificationsThe
			 Secretary shall appoint the Staff Director from among individuals who have
			 demonstrated ability and knowledge in social policy, improving outcome based
			 management, issues of equity and equal opportunity and access to services and
			 economic opportunity.
				(b)ResponsibilitiesThe
			 Staff Director shall—
				(1)advise the
			 Secretary and all relevant cabinet secretaries, and agency officials regarding
			 the establishment of policies, goals, objectives, and priorities for reducing
			 poverty in America in half in ten years, ending child poverty, ending extreme
			 poverty and eliminating racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identity and
			 orientation based disparities in the rates of poverty;
				(2)advise the Secretary, when directed by the
			 Secretary, advise relevant cabinet secretaries, heads of independent Federal
			 agencies and other entities within the Executive Office of the President
			 regarding mechanisms to improve the effectiveness, coordination, impact, and
			 outcomes of social services, benefits, and other poverty reduction and economic
			 opportunity programs, in collaboration with experts in the field,
			 non-governmental organizations, and other governments;
				(3)work with Federal
			 agencies to oversee, coordinate, and integrate the implementation of the
			 National Plan or Strategy, including consultation with independent
			 non-governmental policy experts and service provider groups engaged in serving
			 low-income persons, children and households, State and local government
			 officials who administer or direct policy for anti-poverty programs, and with
			 as many groups that directly represent low-income people, such as public
			 housing tenants’ associations, or other similar groups; and
				(4)resolve any
			 disputes that arise between Federal agencies relating to the National Plan to
			 reduce poverty in half in ten years or other matters within the responsibility
			 of the Office.
				6.Consultation
			(a)In
			 generalThe Director may
			 consult and obtain recommendations from, as needed, such Presidential and other
			 advisory entities such as consultation with independent non-governmental policy
			 experts and service provider groups engaged in serving low-income persons,
			 children, and households; State and local government officials who administer
			 or direct policy for anti-poverty programs, and groups made up of low-income
			 people, such as public housing tenants’ associations, or other similar groups
			 as the Director determines will assist in carrying out the mission of the
			 Office, including, but not limited to—
				(1)the Administration
			 for Children and Families (ACF);
				(2)the Administration on Aging (AoA);
				(3)the Department of Agriculture
			 (USDA);
				(4)the Bankruptcy Courts;
				(5)the Bureau of Consumer Financial
			 Protection;
				(6)the Bureau of Economic Analysis
			 (BEA);
				(7)the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA);
				(8)the Bureau of the Census;
				(9)the Center for Nutrition Policy and
			 Promotion;
				(10)the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
			 Services (formerly the Health Care Financing Administration);
				(11)the Commission on Civil Rights;
				(12)the Office of Community Planning and
			 Development;
				(13)the Consumer Financial Protection
			 Bureau;
				(14)the Coordinating Council on Juvenile
			 Justice and Delinquency Prevention;
				(15)the Corporation for National and Community
			 Service;
				(16)the Council of Economic Advisers;
				(17)the Department of Agriculture
			 (USDA);
				(18)the Department of Commerce (DOC);
				(19)the Department of Defense (DOD);
				(20)the Department of Education (ED);
				(21)the Department of Health and Human Services
			 (HHS);
				(22)the Department of Housing and Urban
			 Development (HUD);
				(23)the Department of Justice (DOJ);
				(24)the Department of Labor (DOL);
				(25)the Department of the Treasury;
				(26)the Department of Transportation
			 (DOT);
				(27)the Department of Veterans Affairs
			 (VA);
				(28)the Disability Employment Policy
			 Office;
				(29)the Domestic Policy Council;
				(30)the Drug Enforcement Administration
			 (DEA);
				(31)the Economic Development
			 Administration;
				(32)the Economic Research Service;
				(33)the English Language Acquisition
			 Office;
				(34)the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
			 (EEOC);
				(35)the Fair Housing and Equal
			 Opportunity;
				(36)the Federal Bureau of Prisons;
				(37)the Federal Housing Finance Board;
				(38)the Federal Labor Relations
			 Authority;
				(39)the Federal Trade Commission (FTC);
				(40)the Food and Nutrition Service;
				(41)the Indian Health Service;
				(42)the Interagency Council on
			 Homelessness;
				(43)the Internal Revenue Service (IRS);
				(44)the Legal Services Corporation;
				(45)the National AIDS Policy Office;
				(46)the National Credit Union
			 Administration;
				(47)the National Economic Council;
				(48)the National Institutes of Health
			 (NIH);
				(49)the National Labor Relations Board;
				(50)the Occupational Safety & Health
			 Administration (OSHA);
				(51)the Office of Management and Budget
			 (OMB);
				(52)the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
				(53)the Office of Policy Development and
			 Research (Housing and Urban Development Department);
				(54)the Small Business Administration
			 (SBA);
				(55)the Social Security Administration
			 (SSA);
				(56)the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
			 Services Administration;
				(57)the Veterans’ Employment and Training
			 Service; and
				(58)the Women’s Bureau (Labor
			 Department).
				(b)National
			 strategyIn developing and updating the National Strategy the
			 Executive Director shall consult with the Domestic Policy Council, the National
			 Economic Council, and, as appropriate, hold regional public hearings around the
			 country to collect information and feedback from the public on their efforts
			 and experience for the development and updating of the National Strategy and
			 make this information available to the public.
			7.Reports to
			 Congress and the public
			(a)In
			 generalThe Chair of the
			 Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty shall submit an annual
			 report to the appropriate congressional committees describing the activities,
			 ongoing projects, and plans of the Federal Government designed to meet the
			 goals and objectives of the National Strategy on Poverty. The report shall
			 include an accounting of the savings to the Government from any increased
			 efficiencies in the delivery of services, any savings from reducing the numbers
			 of Americans living in poverty and reductions in the demand for need based
			 services and benefits for which persons living in and near poverty are
			 eligible, as well as an accounting of any increase in revenue collections due
			 to the numbers of persons who become gainfully employed and pay taxes into the
			 Treasury instead of drawing benefits and services from it.
			(b)National academy
			 of sciences workshopWithin 90 days after funds are made
			 available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
			 shall contract with the National Academy of Sciences (hereinafter in this
			 subsection referred to as the NAS) to initiate a workshop series
			 to provide necessary background information to enable the Working Group on
			 Reducing Poverty to develop and finalize its plan.
				(1)The NAS shall
			 convene a steering committee to organize, plan, and conduct a public workshop
			 on what is known about the economic and social costs of poverty, including, but
			 not limited to the following:
					(A)Macroeconomic
			 costs (effects on productivity and economic output).
					(B)Health costs
			 (effects on health expenditures and health status).
					(C)Crime and other
			 social costs.
					(D)Direct Federal
			 budget effects (e.g., outlays for income support and other poverty reduction
			 programs).
					(E)Natural Disaster
			 related risks and costs.
					(F)The workshop shall
			 also consider poverty metrics (e.g., income poverty, food insecurity, and other
			 measures of deprivation), and their role in assessing the effects of poverty
			 and the performance of anti-poverty programs.
					The NAS
			 shall commission experts to prepare papers that summarize and critique the
			 relevant literature estimating monetary and non-monetary economic and social
			 impacts of poverty. A workshop summary shall be produced that, along with the
			 papers, shall be available electronically on the NAS website. This workshop
			 shall be convened within 6 months of receipt of a contract, the papers posted
			 immediately, and the summary released by the end of month.(2)The NAS steering
			 committee shall organize, plan, and conduct a second public workshop on what is
			 known about the economic and social costs and benefits of a variety of programs
			 and strategies to reduce and prevent poverty. It shall take account of such
			 issues as the following:
					(A)Short-term versus
			 long-term effects, including budget implications.
					(B)Effects for
			 different population groups, such as children, the elderly, immigrants,
			 long-term single-parent families, displaced older workers, young people with
			 large loans, people in areas of concentrated poverty and other social ills
			 (e.g., Indian reservations, some inner city areas, some rural areas).
					(C)Effects by depth
			 of poverty and near-poverty (e.g., income to poverty ratios of less than 50
			 percent, less than 100 percent, less than 200 percent).
					This second
			 workshop shall be convened within 9 months of receipt of a contract, the papers
			 posted immediately, and a summary released by the end of month 12.(c)ReportThe
			 relevant sections of the report shall be posted on each agency’s website on the
			 plans and impacts specific to their agency.
			(d)Public
			 reportA version of each report submitted under this section
			 shall be made available to the public.
			(e)Legislative
			 languageThe Working Group on Reducing Poverty shall submit, as
			 necessary, legislative language, including specific legislative recommendations
			 to the Congress of the United States towards achieving the national
			 goals.


		II
		112th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 488
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			March 3, 2011
			Mr. Cardin introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
			 Affairs

		A BILL
		To require the FHA to equitably treat homebuyers who have
		  repaid in full their FHA-insured mortgages, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Reduce Excessive Interest Payments
			 Act or the REIP
			 Act.
		2.Prohibition on
			 interest charges for on-time principal paymentsSection 203 of the National Housing Act (12
			 U.S.C. 1709) is amended by adding at the end the following:

				(z)Prohibition on
				interest charges for on-time principal paymentsEach mortgagee
				(or servicer) with respect to a mortgage under this section may not impose, nor
				may the Secretary require the imposition of, any interest charge on such a
				mortgage as a result of the loss of any time period provided by the mortgagee
				(or servicer) within which the mortgagor may fully repay the principal balance
				amount of the mortgage, with respect to—
					(1)any days in the
				billing cycle that precedes the most recent billing cycle in which such amounts
				were repaid; or
					(2)any amounts
				repaid in the current billing cycle that were repaid within such time
				period.
					.


103 HR 3606 IH: National Institutes of Clean Energy Act of 2021
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-05-28
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3606IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 28, 2021Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyA BILLTo establish the National Institutes of Clean Energy.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the National Institutes of Clean Energy Act of 2021.2.National Institutes of Clean Energy(a)DefinitionsIn this section:(1)Advanced energy technologyThe term advanced energy technology means a technology that—(A)reduces greenhouse gas emissions with high conversion efficiency; (B)minimizes energy, water, and material resource use; (C)was produced by or helps generate a renewable energy source; and(D)minimizes environmental harms to or negative public health impacts on frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities.(2)Frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communityThe term frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged community means a community—(A)in an area described in section 301(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)); and(B)in which climate change, pollution, or environmental destruction have exacerbated systemic racial, regional, social, environmental, gender, and economic injustices by disproportionately affecting Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples, other communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, or youth. (3)InstitutesThe term Institutes means the National Institutes of Clean Energy established under subsection (b).(4)Land-grant college or universityThe term land-grant college or university means—(A)an institution that is eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (commonly known as the First Morrill Act) (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (commonly known as the Second Morrill Act) (26 Stat. 417, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University; and(B)a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note; Public Law 103–382)).(5)Minority-serving institutionThe term minority-serving institution means an institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). (6)Renewable energy sourceThe term renewable energy source means energy generated from a renewable source, including the following renewable energy sources:(A)Solar, including electricity.(B)Wind.(C)Ocean, including tidal, wave, current, and thermal.(D)Geothermal, including electricity and heat pumps.(E)Hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project that was placed in service on or after January 1, 1999.(F)Hydrogen derived from a renewable energy source. (G)Thermal energy generated by any of the sources described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). (b)EstablishmentNot later than January 1, 2025, there shall be established the National Institutes of Clean Energy, which shall be an agency of the Department of Energy.(c)Activities(1)In generalThe Institutes shall—(A)invest in clean energy science, climate science, innovation, and research and development to reduce emissions and build climate resilience; and(B)support—(i)clean energy research areas, including—(I)demonstration projects for clean energy and climate research and development priorities, including microgrids, energy storage, electric vehicles, and advanced energy technologies in hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as the aviation and shipping sectors; and(II)clean energy research areas that are underrepresented in existing Federal research and development funding, such as long-duration grid storage;(ii)research and development projects focusing on the impacts of energy production in frontline communities, including communities of color and low-income communities, that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices; and(iii)research and development projects focused on impacts of clean energy and energy production on job loss, job creation, and workforce development, particularly in heavily unionized workforce sectors. (2)PriorityIn carrying out paragraph (1), the Institutes shall give priority to—(A)the development of technologies that will—(i)minimize environmental harms to or negative public health impacts on frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities; (ii)improve the public health of frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities; or(iii)create high-quality jobs with strong labor standards in frontline, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities; (B)research and development of advanced energy technologies; (C)climate science and innovation and clean energy technology;(D)research and development that will be conducted at—(i)public universities and colleges; (ii)land-grant colleges and universities;(iii)minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities; and(iv)consortia comprising 1 or more of the entities described in clauses (i) through (iii); and(E)research and development in geographic areas that have seen the worst job losses between 2016 and 2021, including rural areas and areas impacted by deindustrialization.(d)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2031 to establish and operate the Institutes.


117 S2644 IS: Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-08-05
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2644IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESAugust 5, 2021Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to members of the National Guard who perform certain full-time duty, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021 or the GRAD VA Educational Assistance Parity Act of 2021.2.Expansion of eligibility for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to members of the National Guard who perform certain full-time dutySection 3301(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—(1)by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:(B)In the case of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces—(i)service on active duty (as defined in section 101(d) of title 10), but not including inactive duty training (as defined in section 101(d) of title 10); or(ii)service on active duty under a call or order to active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12301(h), 12302, 12304, 12304a, or 12304b of title 10 or section 3713 of title 14, but not including inactive duty training (as defined in section 101(d) of title 10).; and(2)in subparagraph (C)—(A)in clause (i), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; and(B)by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new clauses:(ii)in the National Guard when performing full-time National Guard duty (as defined in section 101 of title 32); or(iii)in the National Guard when performing active duty (as defined in section 101 of title 32)..


		II
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 1412
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			May 16, 2007
			Mr. Harkin introduced
			 the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
			 Forestry

		A BILL
		To amend the Farm Security and Rural Development Act of
		  2002 to support beginning farmers and ranchers, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short
			 title; table of contents
			(a)Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited
			 as the Beginning Farmer and Rancher
			 Opportunity Act of 2007.
			(b)Table of
			 contentsThe table of contents for this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of
				contents.
					Sec. 2. Beginning farmer and rancher development
				program.
					Sec. 3. Beginning farmer and rancher individual development
				accounts pilot program.
					Sec. 4. Down payment loan program.
					Sec. 5. Beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales
				program.
					Sec. 6. Inventory sales preferences.
					Sec. 7. Agricultural loans.
					Sec. 8. Loan authorization levels and fund
				set-asides.
					Sec. 9. Soil and water conservation and protection.
					Sec. 10. Conservation Reserve Program transition
				incentives.
					Sec. 11. Conservation cost sharing.
					Sec. 12. Research programs.
					Sec. 13. Risk management education for beginning farmers or
				ranchers.

			2.Beginning farmer
			 and rancher development program
			(a)GrantsSection
			 7405(c) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
			 3319f(c)) is amended—
				(1)in paragraph
			 (1)—
					(A)in subparagraph
			 (I), by inserting , including energy conservation and efficiency
			 before the semicolon; and
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (K), by inserting , including transition to organic and other
			 source-verified and value-added alternative production and marketing
			 systems;
					(2)by striking
			 paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

						(3)Maximum term
				and size of grant
							(A)In
				generalA grant under this subsection shall—
								(i)have a term that
				is not more than 3 years; and
								(ii)be in an amount
				that is not more than $250,000 a year.
								(B)Consecutive
				grantsAn eligible recipient may receive consecutive grants under
				this
				subsection.
							;
				(3)by redesignating
			 paragraphs (5) through (7) as paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively;
				(4)by inserting
			 after paragraph (4) the following:

						(5)Evaluation
				criteriaIn making grants under this subsection, the Secretary
				shall evaluate—
							(A)relevancy;
							(B)technical
				merit;
							(C)achievability;
							(D)the expertise and
				track record of the principal partners;
							(E)the adequacy of
				plans for participatory evaluation process, outcome-based reporting, and the
				communication of findings and results beyond the immediate target audience;
				and
							(F)other appropriate
				factors, as determined by the Secretary.
							(6)Regional
				balanceIn making grants under this section, the Secretary shall,
				to the maximum extent practicable, ensure geographic diversity.
						(7)Organic
				conversionThe Secretary may make grants under this section to
				support projects that provide comprehensive technical assistance to beginning
				farmers or ranchers who are in the process of converting to certified organic
				production.
						(8)PriorityIn
				making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to
				partnerships and collaborations that are led by or include non-governmental and
				community-based organizations with expertise in new farmer training and
				outreach.
						;
				and
				(5)in paragraph (9)
			 (as redesignated by paragraph (3))—
					(A)in subparagraph
			 (B), by striking and at the end;
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (C), by striking the period and adding ; and; and
					(C)by adding at the
			 end the following:

							(D)farmers or
				ranchers that are refugees or immigrants (as those terms are defined in section
				101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
				1101(a)).
							.
					(6)Education
			 teamsSection 7405(d)(2) of the Farm Security and Rural
			 Investment At of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f(d)(2)) is amended by inserting and
			 including sustainable and organic farming production and marketing
			 methods before the period at the end.
				(b)Stakeholder
			 inputSection 7405(f) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
			 At of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 3319f(f)) is amended—
				(1)by redesignating
			 paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and
			 indenting appropriately;
				(2)by striking
			 In carrying out and inserting the following:

						(1)In
				generalIn carrying out
						;
				and
				(3)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(2)Review
				panelsIn forming review panels to evaluate proposals submitted
				under this section, the Secretary shall include individuals from the categories
				described in paragraph
				(1).
						.
				(c)FundingSection
			 7405(h) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment At of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
			 3319f(h)) is amended to read as follows:

					(h)Funding
						(1)In
				generalOn October 1, 2007, and on each October 1 thereafter
				through October 1, 2011, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
				appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
				carry out this section $25,000,000, to remain available for 2 fiscal
				years.
						(2)Receipt and
				acceptanceThe Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall
				accept, and shall use to carry out this section the funds transferred under
				paragraph (1), without further appropriation.
						(3)LimitationThe Secretary shall use not more
				than 10 percent of the total funds made available under paragraph (1) to carry
				out subsections (d) and
				(e).
						.
			3.Beginning farmer
			 and rancher individual development accounts pilot programThe Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
			 Act is amended by adding after section 333A (7 U.S.C. 1983a) the
			 following:

				333B.Beginning
				farmer and rancher individual development accounts pilot program
					(a)DefinitionsIn
				this section:
						(1)Demonstration
				programThe term demonstration program means a
				demonstration program carried out by a qualified entity under the pilot program
				established in subsection (b)(1).
						(2)Eligible
				participantThe term eligible participant means a
				qualified beginning farmer or rancher that—
							(A)has knowledge,
				experience, and a demonstrated commitment to agriculture;
							(B)lacks significant
				financial resources or assets; and
							(C)has an income
				that is less than—
								(i)80 percent of the
				median income of the area in which the eligible participant is located;
				or
								(ii)200 percent of
				the most recent Federal Poverty Income Guidelines published by the Department
				of Health and Human Services.
								(3)Individual
				development accountThe term individual development
				account means a savings account described in subsection
				(b)(4)(A).
						(4)Qualified
				entity
							(A)In
				generalThe term qualified entity means—
								(i)1
				or more organizations—
									(I)described in
				section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
									(II)exempt from
				taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; or
									(ii)a State, local,
				or tribal government submitting an application jointly with an organization
				described in clause (i).
								(B)No prohibition
				on collaborationAn organization described in subparagraph (A)(i)
				may collaborate with a financial institution or for-profit community
				development corporation to carry out the purposes of this section.
							(b)Pilot
				program
						(1)In
				generalThe Secretary shall establish a pilot program to be known
				as the New Farmer Individual Development Accounts Pilot Program
				under which the Secretary shall work through qualified entities to establish
				demonstration programs—
							(A)of at least 5
				years in duration; and
							(B)in at least 15
				States.
							(2)CoordinationThe
				Secretary shall operate the pilot program through, and in coordination with the
				farm loan programs of, the Farm Service Agency.
						(3)Reserve
				funds
							(A)In
				generalEach demonstration program shall establish a reserve fund
				consisting of a non-Federal match of 25 percent of the total amount of the
				grant awarded to the demonstration program under this section.
							(B)Federal
				fundsAfter a demonstration program has deposited in the reserve
				fund the non-Federal matching funds described in subparagraph (A), the
				Secretary shall provide to the demonstration program for deposit in the reserve
				fund the total amount of the grant awarded under this section.
							(C)Use of
				fundsOf the Federal funds deposited in a reserve fund under
				subparagraphs (A) and (B), a demonstration program—
								(i)may use up to 20
				percent for administrative expenses; and
								(ii)shall use the
				remainder to make matching awards described in paragraph (4)(B)(ii)(I).
								(D)InterestAny
				interest earned on amounts in a reserve fund established under subparagraph (A)
				may be used as additional matching funds for, or to administer, the
				demonstration program.
							(E)GuidanceThe
				Secretary shall implement guidance regarding the investment requirements of
				reserve funds established under this paragraph.
							(4)Individual
				development accounts
							(A)In
				generalA demonstration program shall establish and administer an
				individual development account for each eligible participant.
							(B)Contract
				requirementsTo be eligible to receive funds under this section,
				each eligible participant shall enter into a contract with a demonstration
				program under which—
								(i)the eligible
				participant shall agree—
									(I)to deposit a
				certain amount of funds of the eligible participant in a personal savings
				account, as prescribed by the contractual agreement between the eligible
				participant and the demonstration program;
									(II)to use the funds
				described in subclause (I) only for 1 or more eligible expenditures described
				in paragraph (5)(A);
									(III)to forfeit any
				right to amounts in the individual development account in any case in which the
				eligible participant is more than 1 month delinquent in fulfilling the
				obligation under subclause (I) or in which the eligible participant uses funds
				described in that subclause for a purpose other than an eligible expenditure;
				and
									(IV)to complete
				qualified financial training; and
									(ii)the
				demonstration program shall agree—
									(I)to deposit not
				later than 1 month after a deposit described in clause (i)(I) a 300-percent
				match of that amount into the individual development account established for
				the eligible participant;
									(II)to use the funds
				described in subclause (I) only for 1 or more eligible expenditures selected by
				the eligible participant; and
									(III)to provide a
				financial education course to all eligible participants.
									(C)Limitation
								(i)In
				generalA demonstration program may provide not more than $9,000
				for each fiscal year in matching funds to any eligible participant.
								(ii)Treatment of
				amountAn amount provided under clause (i) shall not be
				considered to be a gift or loan.
								(D)ForfeitsAny
				amounts forfeited under subparagraph (B)(i)(III) shall be returned to the
				reserve fund of the demonstration program.
							(E)InterestAny
				interest earned on amounts in an individual development account shall be
				compounded with amounts otherwise deposited in the individual development
				account.
							(F)Treatment of
				funds
								(i)In
				generalOf the funds described in this paragraph, only the funds
				deposited by the eligible participant in a personal savings account under
				subparagraph (A)(i)(I) (including interest accruing on those funds) may be
				considered to be income.
								(ii)Determination
				of eligibility and amountFor purposes of determining eligibility
				for, or the amount of assistance provided under, any need-based Federal or
				federally-assisted program, amounts held in an individual development account
				shall be excluded.
								(5)Eligible
				expenditures
							(A)In
				generalAn eligible expenditure described in this subparagraph is
				an expenditure—
								(i)to purchase
				farmland;
								(ii)to make a down
				payment on an accepted purchase offer for farmland;
								(iii)to make
				mortgage payments for up to 180 days after the date of purchase of
				farmland;
								(iv)to purchase farm
				equipment or production, storage, or marketing infrastructure;
								(v)to purchase
				breeding stock;
								(vi)to purchase
				fruit or nut trees or trees to harvest for timber;
								(vii)to purchase
				other assets that improve the financial viability of the farming
				operation;
								(viii)to make a
				transition to organic production;
								(ix)to pay training
				or mentorship expenses to facilitate specific entrepreneurial agricultural
				activities; and
								(x)for other similar
				expenditures, as determined by the Secretary.
								(B)Timing
								(i)In
				generalAn eligible expenditure may be made at any time during
				the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the last matching funds are
				provided under paragraph (4)(B)(ii)(I).
								(ii)Unexpended
				fundsFunds remaining in an individual development account after
				the period described in clause (i) shall revert to the reserve fund of the
				demonstration program.
								(c)Applications
						(1)Announcement of
				demonstration programsNot later than 180 days after the date of
				enactment of this section, the Secretary shall—
							(A)publicly announce
				the availability of funding under this section for demonstration programs;
				and
							(B)ensure that
				applications to carry out demonstration programs are widely available to
				qualified entities.
							(2)SubmissionNot
				later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, a qualified
				entity may submit to the Secretary an application to carry out a demonstration
				program.
						(3)CriteriaIn
				considering whether to approve an application to carry out a demonstration
				program, the Secretary shall assess—
							(A)the degree to
				which the demonstration program described in the application is likely to aid
				eligible participants in successfully pursuing new farming
				opportunities;
							(B)the experience
				and ability of the qualified entity to responsibly administer the
				project;
							(C)the experience
				and ability of the qualified entity in recruiting, educating, and assisting
				eligible participants to increase economic independence and pursue or advance
				farming opportunities;
							(D)the aggregate
				amount of direct funds from non-Federal public sector and private sources that
				are formally committed to the demonstration program as matching
				contributions;
							(E)the adequacy of
				the plan for providing information relevant to an evaluation of the
				demonstration program; and
							(F)such other
				factors as the Secretary considers to be appropriate.
							(4)PreferencesIn
				considering an application to conduct a demonstration program under this part,
				the Secretary shall give preference to an application from a qualified entity
				that—
							(A)demonstrates—
								(i)a
				track record of serving targeted clients; and
								(ii)expertise in
				dealing with financial management aspects of farming; or
								(B)(i)targets underserved and
				socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and
								(ii)demonstrates a track record of
				reaching and serving those clients.
								(5)Approval
							(A)In
				generalNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
				section, in accordance with this section, the Secretary shall, on a competitive
				basis, approve such applications to conduct demonstration programs as the
				Secretary considers appropriate.
							(B)DiversityThe
				Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that approved
				applications involve demonstration programs for a range of geographic areas and
				diverse populations.
							(6)Term of
				authorityIf the Secretary approves an application to carry out a
				demonstration program, the Secretary shall authorize the applying qualified
				entity to carry out the project for a period of 5 years, plus an additional 2
				years for the making of eligible expenditures in accordance with subsection
				(b)(5)(B).
						(d)Grant
				authority
						(1)In
				generalFor each year during which a demonstration program is
				carried out under this section, the Secretary shall make a grant to the
				qualified entity authorized to carry out the demonstration program.
						(2)Maximum amount
				of grantsThe aggregate amount of grant funds provided to a
				demonstration program carried out under this section shall not exceed
				$300,000.
						(e)Reports
						(1)Annual progress
				reports
							(A)In
				generalNot later than 60 days after the end of the calendar year
				in which the Secretary authorizes a qualified entity to carry out a
				demonstration program, and annually thereafter until the conclusion of the
				demonstration program, the qualified entity shall prepare an annual report that
				includes, for the period covered by the report—
								(i)an evaluation of
				the progress of the demonstration program;
								(ii)information
				about the demonstration program and eligible participants;
								(iii)the number and
				characteristics of individuals that have made 1 or more deposits into an
				individual development account;
								(iv)the amounts in
				the reserve fund established with respect to the program;
								(v)the amounts
				deposited in the individual development accounts;
								(vi)the amounts
				withdrawn from the individual development accounts and the purposes for which
				the amounts were withdrawn;
								(vii)the balances
				remaining in the individual development accounts;
								(viii)(I)the development account
				characteristics (such as threshold amounts and match rates) required to
				stimulate participation in the demonstration program; and
									(II)how the characteristics vary among
				different populations or communities;
									(ix)(I)what service
				configurations of the qualified entity (such as peer support, structured
				planning exercises, mentoring, and financial management) increased the rate and
				consistency of participation in the demonstration program; and
									(II)how the configurations varied among
				different populations or communities; and
									(x)such other
				information as the Secretary may require.
								(B)Submission of
				reportsA qualified entity shall submit each report required
				under subparagraph (A) to the Secretary.
							(C)5-year
				evaluationIn addition to the annual evaluations required under
				subparagraph (A)(i), not later than 5 years after the date on which a qualified
				entity begins to carry out a demonstration program, the qualified entity shall
				submit to the Secretary a comprehensive evaluation of the demonstration
				program.
							(2)Reports by the
				secretary
							(A)Interim
				reportsNot later than 90 days after the end of the calendar year
				in which the Secretary first authorizes a qualified entity to carry out a
				demonstration program under this section, and annually thereafter until all
				demonstration programs are completed, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an
				interim report that describes the reports submitted by each demonstration
				program under paragraph (1).
							(B)Final
				reportsNot later than 1 year after the date on which all
				demonstration programs under this section are concluded, the Secretary shall
				submit to Congress a final report that describes the results and findings of
				all reports and evaluations carried out under this section.
							(f)RegulationsThe
				Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section, including
				regulations relating to—
						(1)the termination
				of demonstration programs;
						(2)control of the
				reserve funds in the case of such a termination;
						(3)transfer of
				demonstration programs to other qualified entities; and
						(4)remissions from a
				reserve fund in a case in which a demonstration program is terminated without
				transfer to a new qualified entity.
						(g)Funding
						(1)In
				generalOn October 1, 2007, and on each October 1 thereafter
				through October 1, 2012, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise
				appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to
				carry out this section $5,000,000, to remain available until expended.
						(2)Administration and trainingOf the total funds made available under
				paragraph (1), not more than 5 percent for administration and 5 percent for
				training may be used by the Secretary—
							(A)to administer the pilot program; and
							(B)to provide training, or hire 1 or more
				consultants to provide training, to instruct qualified entities in carrying out
				demonstration programs, including payment of reasonable costs incurred with
				respect to that training for—
								(i)staff or
				consultant travel;
								(ii)lodging;
								(iii)meals;
				and
								(iv)materials.
								(3)Receipt and
				acceptanceThe Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall
				accept, and shall use to carry out this section the funds transferred under
				paragraph (1), without further
				appropriation.
						.
		4.Down payment
			 loan programSection 310E of
			 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1935) is
			 amended—
			(1)in subsection
			 (b)—
				(A)by striking
			 paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

						(1)Principal
							(A)Purchase price
				of $500,000 or lessExcept as provided in subparagraph (C), each
				loan made under this section for a purchase price that is $500,000 or less,
				shall be in an amount that does not exceed 45 percent of the lesser of—
								(i)the purchase
				price; or
								(ii)the appraised
				value of the farm or ranch to be acquired.
								(B)Purchase price
				greater than $500,000Except as provided in subparagraph (C),
				each loan made under this section for a purchase price that is greater than
				$500,000, shall be in an amount that does not exceed 45 percent of the lesser
				of—
								(i)$500,000;
				or
								(ii)the appraised
				value of the farm or ranch to be acquired.
								(C)Borrower
				requestA borrower may request a lower loan amount than an amount
				specified in subparagraph (A) or
				(B).
							;
				(B)by striking
			 paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

						(2)Interest
				rateThe interest rate on any loan made by the Secretary under
				this section shall be a rate equal to the greater of—
							(A)the difference
				obtained by subtracting 4 percent from the interest rate for regular ownership
				loans under this subtitle; or
							(B)1
				percent.
							;
				and
				(C)in paragraph
			 (4)—
					(i)by
			 striking Each and inserting the following:

							(A)In
				generalEach
							;
				and
					(ii)by
			 adding at the end the following:

							(B)First
				installmentThe first installment for a loan made under this
				section shall be due 2 years after the date on which the loan is made, with
				annual installments being due
				thereafter.
							;
					(2)in subsection
			 (c)—
				(A)by striking
			 paragraph (2); and
				(B)by redesignating
			 paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
				(3)in subsection
			 (d)—
				(A)in paragraph (3),
			 by striking the and at the end;
				(B)in paragraph (4),
			 by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
			 and
				(C)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(5)establish annual
				performance goals to promote the use of the down payment loan program and other
				joint financing participation loans as the preferred choice for direct real
				estate loans made by any lender to a qualified beginning farmer or
				rancher.
						.
				5.Beginning farmer
			 or rancher contract land sales programSection 310F of the Consolidated Farm and
			 Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1936) is amended to read as follows:

				310F.Beginning
				farmer or rancher contract land sales program
					(a)In
				generalSubject to subsection (c), the Secretary shall, in
				accordance with each condition described in subsection (b), guarantee any loan
				made by a private seller of a farm or ranch to a qualified beginning farmer or
				rancher on a contract land sale basis.
					(b)Conditions for
				guaranteeTo receive a guarantee for a loan by the Secretary
				under subsection (a)—
						(1)the qualified
				beginning farmer or rancher shall—
							(A)on the date on
				which the contract land sale that is the subject of the loan is complete, own
				or operate the farm or ranch that is the subject of the contract land
				sale;
							(B)have a credit
				history that—
								(i)includes a record
				of satisfactory debt repayment, as determined by the Secretary; and
								(ii)is acceptable to
				the Secretary; and
								(C)demonstrate to
				the Secretary that the qualified beginning farmer or rancher is unable to
				obtain sufficient credit without a guarantee to finance any actual need of the
				qualified beginning farmer or rancher at a reasonable rate or term;
							(2)the loan made by
				the private seller of a farm or ranch to the qualified beginning farmer or
				rancher on a contract land sale basis shall meet applicable underwriting
				criteria, as determined by the Secretary; and
						(3)to carry out the
				loan—
							(A)a commercial
				lending institution shall agree to serve as an escrow agent; or
							(B)the private
				seller of a farm or ranch, in cooperation with the qualified beginning farmer
				or rancher, shall use an appropriate alternate arrangement, as determined by
				the Secretary.
							(c)Limitations
						(1)Down
				paymentThe Secretary shall not guarantee a loan made by a
				private seller of a farm or ranch to a qualified beginning farmer or rancher
				under subsection (a) if the contribution of the qualified beginning farmer or
				rancher to the down payment for the farm or ranch that is the subject of the
				contract land sale would be an amount less than 5 percent of the purchase price
				of the farm or ranch.
						(2)Maximum
				purchase priceThe Secretary shall not guarantee a loan made by a
				private seller of a farm or ranch to a qualified beginning farmer or rancher
				under subsection (a) if the purchase price or the appraisal value of the farm
				or ranch that is the subject of the contract land sale is an amount greater
				than $500,000.
						(d)Period of
				guaranteeThe Secretary shall guarantee a loan made by a private
				seller of a farm or ranch to a qualified beginning farmer or rancher under
				subsection (a) for a 10-year period beginning on the date on which the
				Secretary guarantees the loan.
					(e)Guarantee
				plansA private seller of a farm or ranch who makes a loan to a
				qualified beginning farmer or rancher that is guaranteed by the Secretary under
				subsection (a) may select—
						(1)a prompt payment
				guarantee plan, which shall cover—
							(A)3 amortized
				annual installments; or
							(B)an amount equal
				to 3 annual installments (including an amount equal to the total cost of any
				tax and insurance incurred during the period covered by the annual
				installments); or
							(2)a standard
				guarantee plan, which shall cover an amount equal to 90 percent of the
				outstanding principal of the loan made by the private seller of a farm or ranch
				to the qualified beginning farmer or
				rancher.
						.
		6.Inventory sales
			 preferencesSection 335(c) of
			 the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1985(c)) is
			 amended—
			(1)in paragraph
			 (1)—
				(A)in subparagraph
			 (B)—
					(i)in
			 the subparagraph heading, by inserting ; socially disadvantaged farmer or
			 rancher after or rancher;
					(ii)in
			 clause (i), by inserting  or a socially disadvantaged farmer or
			 rancher after or rancher;
					(iii)in clause (ii),
			 by inserting or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher after
			 or rancher;
					(iv)in
			 clause (iii), by inserting or a socially disadvantaged farmer or
			 rancher after or rancher; and
					(v)in
			 clause (iv), by inserting and socially disadvantaged farmers and
			 ranchers after and ranchers; and
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (C), by inserting or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
			 after or rancher;
				(2)in paragraph
			 (5)(B)—
				(A)in clause
			 (i)—
					(i)in
			 the clause heading, by inserting ; socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
			 after or
			 rancher;
					(ii)by
			 inserting or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher after
			 a beginning farmer or rancher; and
					(iii)by inserting
			 or the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher after the
			 beginning farmer or rancher; and
					(B)in clause
			 (ii)—
					(i)in
			 the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting or a socially
			 disadvantaged farmer or rancher after or rancher;
			 and
					(ii)in
			 subclause (II), by inserting or the socially disadvantaged farmer or
			 rancher after or rancher; and
					(3)in paragraph
			 (6)—
				(A)in subparagraph
			 (A), by inserting or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher
			 after or rancher; and
				(B)in subparagraph
			 (C)—
					(i)in
			 clause (i)(I), by inserting and socially disadvantaged farmers and
			 ranchers after and ranchers; and
					(ii)in
			 clause (ii), by inserting or socially disadvantaged farmers or
			 ranchers after or ranchers.
					7.Agricultural
			 loans
			(a)Direct
			 loansSection 302 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
			 Act (7 U.S.C. 1922) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the
			 following:

					(b)Direct
				loansThe Secretary may make a direct loan under this subtitle
				only to a farmer or rancher who has participated in the business operations of
				a farm or ranch for not less than 3
				years.
					.
			(b)Limitations on
			 amount of farm ownership loansSection 305(a)(2) of the
			 Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1925(a)(2)) is amended by
			 striking $200,000 and inserting $300,000.
			(c)Limitations on amount of operating
			 loansSection 311 of the
			 Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941) is amended by
			 striking subsection (c).
			(d)Limitations on
			 amount of operating loansSection 313(a)(1) of the Consolidated
			 Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1943(a)(1)) is amended by striking
			 $200,000 and inserting $300,000.
			(e)Transition to
			 private commercial or other sources of creditSubtitle D of the
			 Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is amended by inserting after
			 section 344 (7 U.S.C. 1992) the following:

					345.Transition to
				private commercial or other sources of credit
						(a)In
				generalIn making or insuring a farm loan under subtitle A or B,
				the Secretary shall establish a plan and promulgate regulations (including
				performance criteria) that promote the goal of transitioning borrowers to
				private commercial credit and other sources of credit in the shortest
				practicable period of time.
						(b)CoordinationIn
				carrying out this section, the Secretary shall integrate and coordinate the
				transition policy described in subsection (a) with—
							(1)the borrower
				training program established by section 359;
							(2)the loan
				assessment process established by section 360;
							(3)the supervised
				credit requirement established by section 361;
							(4)the market
				placement program established by section 362; and
							(5)other appropriate
				programs and authorities, as determined by the
				Secretary.
							.
			8.Loan
			 authorization levels and fund set-asides
			(a)Authorization
			 of loansSection 346(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
			 Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b)) is amended—
				(1)in paragraph
			 (1)—
					(A)in the matter
			 preceding subparagraph (A), by striking $3,796,000,000 and
			 inserting $4,226,000,000; and
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (A)—
						(i)in
			 the matter preceding clause (i), by striking $770,000,000 and
			 inserting $1,200,000,000;
						(ii)in
			 clause (i), by striking $205,000,000 and inserting
			 $350,000,000; and
						(iii)in clause (ii),
			 by striking $565,000,000 and inserting
			 $850,000,000;
						(2)in paragraph
			 (2)—
					(A)in the paragraph
			 heading, by striking and
			 ranchers and inserting or ranchers or socially disadvantaged farmers or
			 ranchers;
					(B)in subparagraph
			 (A)—
						(i)in
			 clauses (i)(I), (ii), and (iii), by striking and ranchers each
			 place it appears and inserting or ranchers or socially disadvantaged
			 farmers or ranchers;
						(ii)in
			 clause (i)—
							(I)in subclause (I),
			 by striking 70 percent and inserting an amount that is
			 not less than 75 percent of the total amount made available under paragraph
			 (1); and
							(II)in subclause
			 (II)—
								(aa)in
			 the subclause heading, by inserting ; participation loans after
			 payment
			 loans;
								(bb)by
			 striking 60 percent and inserting an amount not less than
			 2/3 of the amount reserved under subclause (I);
			 and
								(cc)by
			 inserting and participation loans after section
			 310E;
								(iii)in clause
			 (ii)(III), by striking 2003 through 2007, 35 percent and
			 inserting 2008 through 2012, an amount that is not less than 50 percent
			 of the total amount made available under paragraph (1); and
						(iv)in
			 clause (iii)—
							(I)in the clause
			 heading, by striking september 1 and inserting
			 august
			 15; and
							(II)by striking
			 September 1 and inserting August 15;
							(C)in subparagraph
			 (B)—
						(i)in clause (i), by
			 striking 25 percent and inserting an amount that is not
			 less than 40 percent of the total amount made available under paragraph
			 (1); and
						(ii)in
			 clauses (i) and (ii), by striking farmers and ranchers each
			 place it appears and inserting farmers or ranchers; and
						(D)in the
			 subparagraph heading of subparagraph (C), by striking farmers and ranchers
			 and inserting farmers
			 or ranchers;
					(3)by striking
			 paragraph (3); and
				(4)by redesignating
			 paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).
				(b)ReallocationSection
			 346(b) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1994(b))
			 (as amended by subsection (a)) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following:

					(4)Reallocation
						(A)Qualified
				beginning farmers or ranchersAny funds reserved and allocated
				under paragraph (2) for qualified beginning farmers or ranchers in a State but
				not used within the State as of the applicable date specified in subparagraph
				(A)(iii) or (B)(iii) of paragraph (2), shall be redistributed by the Secretary,
				in order of priority, to make or guarantee loans for—
							(i)pending
				applications from qualified beginning farmers or ranchers in other States for
				the same type and category of loan under this title as the unused funds were
				originally made available;
							(ii)pending
				applications from qualified beginning farmers or ranchers within the State or
				in other States for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or operating
				loans or loan guarantees under this title;
							(iii)pending
				applications from socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers within the State
				or in other States for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or
				operating loans or loan guarantees under this title;
							(iv)pending
				applications within the State for farm ownership (including down payment loans)
				or operating loans or loan guarantees under this title; and
							(v)pending
				applications for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or operating
				loans or loan guarantees under this title in other States, as determined by the
				Secretary.
							(B)Socially
				disadvantaged farmers or ranchersAny funds reserved and
				allocated under paragraph (2) for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in
				a State but not used within the State as of the applicable date specified in
				subparagraph (A)(iii) or (B)(iii) of paragraph (2), shall be redistributed by
				the Secretary, in order of priority, to make or guarantee loans for—
							(i)pending
				applications from socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers in other States
				for the same type and category of loan under this title as the unused funds
				were made available;
							(ii)pending
				applications from socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers within the State
				or in other States for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or
				operating loans or loan guarantees under this title;
							(iii)pending
				applications from beginning farmers or ranchers within the State or in other
				States for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or operating loans or
				loan guarantees under this title;
							(iv)pending
				applications within the State for farm ownership (including down payment loans)
				or operating loans or loan guarantees under this title; and
							(v)pending
				applications for farm ownership (including down payment loans) or operating
				loans or loan guarantees under this title in other States, as determined by the
				Secretary.
							.
			9.Soil and water
			 conservation and protectionSection 304 of the Consolidated Farm and
			 Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1924) is amended by striking subsections (b)
			 and (c) and inserting the following:

				(b)PriorityIn
				making or guaranteeing loans under this section, the Secretary shall give
				priority to—
					(1)qualified
				beginning farmers or ranchers;
					(2)socially
				disadvantaged farmers or ranchers;
					(3)owners or tenants
				who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production
				systems; and
					(4)producers who use
				the loans to build conservation structures or establish conservation practices
				to comply with section 1212 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C.
				3812).
					.
		10.Conservation
			 Reserve Program transition incentivesSection 1235(c) of the Food Security Act of
			 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3835(c)) is amended—
			(1)in paragraph
			 (1)(B)—
				(A)in clause (ii),
			 by striking or at the end;
				(B)by redesignating
			 clause (iii) as clause (iv); and
				(C)by inserting
			 after clause (ii) the following:

						(iii)to facilitate a
				transition of land subject to the contract from a retired or retiring owner or
				operator to a beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or
				rancher for the purpose of returning some or all of the land into production
				using sustainable grazing or crop production methods;
				or
						; and
				(2)by adding at the
			 end the following:

					(3)Transition
				option for beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or
				ranchers
						(A)In
				generalIn the case of a contract modification approved in order
				to facilitate the transfer of land subject to a contract from a retired or
				retiring owner or operator to a beginning farmer or rancher or socially
				disadvantaged farmer or rancher under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the Secretary
				shall—
							(i)beginning on the
				date that is 1 year before the date of termination of the contract—
								(I)allow the
				beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, in
				conjunction with the retired or retiring owner or operator, to make
				conservation and land improvements; and
								(II)allow the
				beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, at the
				election of the farmer or rancher, to begin the certification process under the
				Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.);
								(ii)beginning on the
				date of termination of the contract, allow the retired or retiring owner or
				operator to sell or lease (under a long-term lease or a lease with an option to
				purchase) to the beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer
				or rancher the land subject to the contract for production purposes;
							(iii)require the
				beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher to
				develop and implement a comprehensive conservation plan that meets such
				sustainability criteria as the Secretary may establish;
							(iv)provide to the
				beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher an
				opportunity to enroll in the conservation security program established under
				subchapter A of chapter 2 or the environmental quality incentives program
				established under chapter 4 by not later than the date on which the farmer or
				rancher takes possession, through ownership or lease, of the land; and
							(v)continue to make
				annual payments to the retired or retiring owner or operator for not more than
				an additional 2 years after the date of termination of the contract, if the
				retired or retiring owner or operator is not a family member (as defined in
				section 1001A(b)(3)(B) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C.
				1308–1(b)(3)(B)) of the beginning farmer or rancher or socially disadvantaged
				farmer or rancher.
							(B)ReenrollmentThe
				Secretary shall provide to a beginning farmer or rancher or socially
				disadvantaged farmer or rancher described in subparagraph (A) the option to
				reenroll any applicable partial field conservation practice that is—
							(i)eligible for
				enrollment under the continuous signup requirement of section 1231(h)(4)(B);
				and
							(ii)part of an
				approved comprehensive conservation
				plan.
							.
			11.Conservation
			 cost sharing
			(a)Conservation
			 security programSection 1238C(b)(1) of the Food Security Act of
			 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3838c(b)(1)) is amended in subparagraphs (C)(ii), (D)(ii), and
			 (E)(ii), by striking rancher, 90 percent each place it appears
			 and inserting rancher, or a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher,
			 does not exceed the lesser of 90 percent or an amount equal to 15 percent more
			 than the rate offered to other farmers.
			(b)Environmental
			 quality incentives programSection 1240B(d)(2) of the Food
			 Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2(d)(2)) is amended by striking
			 subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

					(A)Beginning
				farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or
				ranchersThe Secretary may increase the amount provided to a
				producer under paragraph (1) that is a beginning farmer or rancher or a
				socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher, as determined by the Secretary, to an
				amount not more than the lesser of—
						(i)90 percent;
				and
						(ii)15 percent more
				than the rate offered to other farmers or
				ranchers.
						.
			(c)Conservation
			 incentives and reserved fundingSection 1244 of the Food Security
			 Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3844) is amended—
				(1)in subsection
			 (a)—
					(A)by redesignating
			 paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and
			 indenting the subparagraphs appropriately;
					(B)by striking
			 In carrying out and inserting the following:

							(1)In
				generalIn carrying
				out
							;
					(C)in paragraph (1)
			 (as designated by subparagraph (B)), by striking and Indian
			 tribes and all that follows through agricultural
			 producers and inserting , Indian tribes, and socially
			 disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and
					(D)by adding at the
			 end the following:

							(2)RequirementsIn
				carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall—
								(A)develop a
				definition of the term beginning farmer or rancher that—
									(i)is based, to the
				maximum extent practicable, on the definition of that term under section 343(a)
				of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a));
				and
									(ii)includes—
										(I)a fair and
				reasonable test of net worth; and
										(II)such other
				criteria as the Secretary determines to be appropriate;
										(B)develop and
				implement cooperative agreements with entities, including the Natural Resources
				Conservation Service, Extension entities, nongovernmental and community-based
				organizations, educational institutions, and private technical service
				providers, with expertise in addressing the needs of beginning farmers or
				ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers to provide—
									(i)sustainable
				agricultural systems training and technical assistance; and
									(ii)comprehensive
				whole-farm conservation planning education and technical assistance;
									(C)offer to
				beginning farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers a
				special incentive or bonus payment for developing comprehensive whole-farm or
				-ranch resource management system conservation plans as part of participation
				in—
									(i)the conservation
				security program established under subchapter A of chapter 2 of subtitle D;
				or
									(ii)the
				environmental quality incentives program established under chapter 4 of that
				subtitle;
									(D)provide a
				substantial number of ranking points—
									(i)for beginning
				farmers or ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers within each
				conservation program under this title that uses a ranking system to determine
				enrollment; and
									(ii)for detailed
				farm transition planning under the farmland protection program established
				under subchapter B of chapter 2 of subtitle D; and
									(E)provide such
				other incentives and benefits as the Secretary determines to be
				appropriate.
								(3)Reservation of
				funding
								(A)In
				generalOf funds made available for a fiscal year to carry out
				this title, the Secretary shall reserve, for a period of not less than 120 days
				after the date on which the funds are made available—
									(i)not less than 10
				percent for beginning farmers or ranchers; and
									(ii)not less than 10
				percent of funds for socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
									(B)Technical
				assistanceOf amounts reserved under subparagraph (A), the
				Secretary may provide to beginning farmers or ranchers and socially
				disadvantaged farmers or ranchers technical assistance at a rate that is not
				more than 15 percent higher than the rate that would otherwise apply to the
				farmers or ranchers.
								(4)Effect of
				subsectionNothing in this subsection prohibits any beginning
				farmer or rancher or any socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher from—
								(A)participating in
				any other program; or
								(B)receiving funds
				made available under this title that are not reserved pursuant to paragraph
				(3)(A).
								.
					12.Research
			 programs
			(a)Competitive,
			 special, and facilities research grantsSection 2(b)(2) of the
			 Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act (7 U.S.C. 450i(b)(2))
			 is amended—
				(1)in the first
			 sentence of the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
			 (F) and inserting (G);
				(2)in subparagraph
			 (E), by striking and at the end;
				(3)in subparagraph
			 (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and;
			 and
				(4)by adding at the
			 end the following:

						(G)areas of concern
				to beginning farmers or ranchers, including—
							(i)farm transfer and
				farm entry;
							(ii)farm transition
				options for retiring farmers or ranchers;
							(iii)land
				tenure;
							(iv)farm
				viability;
							(v)socially
				disadvantaged farmers or ranchers and immigrant farmers or ranchers; and
							(vi)production,
				marketing, conservation, and risk management alternatives relevant to new and
				beginning farmers or
				ranchers.
							.
				(b)Initiative for
			 future agriculture and food systemsSection 401(c)(2)(F) of the
			 Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C.
			 7621(c)(2)(F)) is amended—
				(1)by striking
			 including the viability and inserting the following:
			 “including—

						(i)the
				viability
						; and

				(2)by striking
			 operations. and inserting the following: “operations;

						(ii)farm transition
				options for retiring farmers or ranchers; and
						(iii)farm transfer
				and entry alternatives for beginning farmers or ranchers or socially
				disadvantaged farmers or
				ranchers.
						.
				13.Risk management
			 education for beginning farmers or ranchersSection 524(a) of the Federal Crop Insurance
			 Act (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)) is amended—
			(1)by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph
			 (5); and
			(2)by inserting after paragraph (3) the
			 following:

					(4)RequirementsIn
				carrying out the programs established under paragraphs (2) and (3), the
				Secretary shall place special emphasis on risk management strategies,
				education, and outreach specifically targeted at—
						(A)beginning farmers
				or ranchers;
						(B)immigrant farmers
				or ranchers that are attempting to become established producers in the United
				States;
						(C)socially
				disadvantaged farmers or ranchers;
						(D)farmers or
				ranchers that—
							(i)are preparing to
				retire; and
							(ii)are using
				transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started; and
							(E)new or
				established farmers or ranchers that are converting production and marketing
				systems to pursue new
				markets.
						.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		S. 3971
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 18, 2010
			Mr. Begich (for himself,
			 Ms. Murkowski, and
			 Mrs. Murray) introduced the following
			 bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
			 and Pensions

		A BILL
		To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to
		  prevent the approval of genetically-engineered fish.

		1.Preventing the approval of
			 genetically-engineered fishSection 512(a) of the Federal Food, Drug,
			 and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360b(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following new paragraph:

				(7)Notwithstanding any other provision of this
				section, a genetically-engineered fish shall be deemed unsafe under this
				section, including for purposes of section
				402(a)(2)(C)(ii).
				.