S 4779 — A bill to support nutrition, farmers, the seafood industry, agricultural research, wood energy and innovation, and indigenous self-determination, and for other purposes.

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Beginning farmer or rancher The term “beginning farmer or rancher” has the meaning given the term in section 1991(a) of this title. (2) Direct producer-to-consumer marketing The term “direct producer-to-consumer marketing” has the meaning given the term “direct marketing from farmers to consumers” in section 3002 of this title. (3) Family farm The term “family farm” has the meaning given the term in section 1632a(a) of this title. (4) Food council The term “food council” means a food policy council or food and farm system network, as determined by the Secretary, that— (A) represents— (i) multiple organizations involved in the production, processing, and consumption of food; and (ii) local, Tribal, or State governments; and (B) addresses food and farm-related issues and needs within city, county, State, Tribal region, multicounty region, or other region designated by the food council or food system network. (5) Majority-controlled producer-based business venture (A) In general The term “majority-controlled producer-based business venture” means a venture greater than 50 percent of the ownership and control of which is held by— (i) 1 or more producers; or (ii) 1 or more entities, 100 percent of the ownership and control of which is held by 1 or more producers. (B) Entity described For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “entity” means— (i) a partnership; (ii) a limited liability corporation; (iii) a limited liability partnership; and (iv) a corporation. (6) Mid-tier value chain The term “mid-tier value chain” means a local or regional supply network that links independent producers with businesses and cooperatives that market value-added agricultural products in a manner that— (A) targets and strengthens the profitability and competitiveness of small and medium-sized farms and ranches that are structured as a family farm; and (B) obtains agreement from an eligible agricultural producer group, farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture that is engaged in the value chain on a marketing strategy. (7) Partnership The term “partnership” means a partnership entered into under an agreement between— (A) 1 or more eligible partners (as defined in subsection (e)(1)); and (B) 1 or more eligible entities (as defined in subsection (e)(1)). (8) Program The term “Program” means the Local Agriculture Market Program established under subsection (b). (9) Regional food chain coordination The term “regional food chain coordination” means coordination and collaboration along the supply chain to increase connections between producers and markets. (10) Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture. (11) Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher The term “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the meaning given the term in section 2003(e) of this title. (12) Value-added agricultural product The term “value-added agricultural product” means any agricultural commodity or product that— (A) (i) has undergone a change in physical state; (ii) was produced in a manner that enhances the value of the agricultural commodity or product, as demonstrated through a business plan that shows the enhanced value, as determined by the Secretary; (iii) is physically segregated in a manner that results in the enhancement of the value of the agricultural commodity or product; (iv) is a source of farm- or ranch-based renewable energy, including E–85 fuel; or (v) is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced agricultural food product; and (B) as a result of the change in physical state or the manner in which the agricultural commodity or product was produced, marketed, or segregated— (i) the customer base for the agricultural commodity or product is expanded; and (ii) a greater portion of the revenue derived from the marketing, processing, or physical segregation of the agricultural commodity or product is available to the producer of the commodity or product. (1...

In this subchapter: (1) Covered commodity (A) In general The term “covered commodity” means— (i) muscle cuts of lamb and venison; (ii) ground lamb and ground venison; (iii) farm-raised fish; (iv) wild fish; (v) a perishable agricultural commodity; (vi) peanuts; and 1 (vii) meat produced from goats; (viii) chicken, in whole and in part; (ix) ginseng; (x) pecans; and (xi) macadamia nuts. (B) Exclusions The term “covered commodity” does not include an item described in subparagraph (A) if the item is an ingredient in a processed food item. (2) Farm-raised fish The term “farm-raised fish” includes— (A) farm-raised shellfish; and (B) fillets, steaks, nuggets, and any other flesh from a farm-raised fish or shellfish. (3) Food service establishment The term “food service establishment” means a restaurant, cafeteria, lunch room, food stand, saloon, tavern, bar, lounge, or other similar facility operated as an enterprise engaged in the business of selling food to the public. (4) Lamb The term “lamb” means meat, other than mutton, produced from sheep. (5) Perishable agricultural commodity; retailer The terms “perishable agricultural commodity” and “retailer” have the meanings given the terms in section 499a(b) of this title. (6) Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Agricultural Marketing Service. (7) Wild fish (A) In general The term “wild fish” means naturally-born or hatchery-raised fish and shellfish harvested in the wild. (B) Inclusions The term “wild fish” includes a fillet, steak, nugget, and any other flesh from wild fish or shellfish. (C) Exclusions The term “wild fish” excludes net-pen aquacultural or other farm-raised fish.

(a) Allowed purposes (1) Direct loans A farmer or rancher may use a direct loan made under this subchapter only for— (A) acquiring or enlarging a farm or ranch; (B) making capital improvements to a farm or ranch; (C) paying loan closing costs related to acquiring, enlarging, or improving a farm or ranch; (D) paying for activities to promote soil and water conservation and protection described in section 1924 of this title on a farm or ranch; or (E) refinancing a temporary bridge loan made by a commercial or cooperative lender to a farmer or rancher for the acquisition of land for a farm or ranch, if— (i) the Secretary approved an application for a direct farm ownership loan to the farmer or rancher for acquisition of the land; and (ii) funds for direct farm ownership loans under section 1994(b) of this title were not available at the time at which the application was approved. (2) Guaranteed loans A farmer or rancher may use a loan guaranteed under this subchapter only for— (A) acquiring or enlarging a farm or ranch; (B) making capital improvements to a farm or ranch; (C) paying loan closing costs related to acquiring, enlarging, or improving a farm or ranch; (D) paying for activities to promote soil and water conservation and protection described in section 1924 of this title on a farm or ranch; or (E) refinancing indebtedness. (b) Preferences In making or guaranteeing a loan under this subchapter for purchase of a farm or ranch, the Secretary shall give preference to a person who— (1) has a dependent family; (2) to the extent practicable, is able to make an initial down payment on the farm or ranch; or (3) is an owner of livestock or farm or ranch equipment that is necessary to successfully carry out farming or ranching operations. (c) Hazard insurance requirement (1) In general After the Secretary makes the determination required by paragraph (2), the Secretary may not make a loan to a farmer or rancher under this subchapter unless the farmer or rancher has, or agrees to obtain, hazard insurance on any real property to be acquired or improved with the loan. (2) Determination Not later than 180 days after April 4, 1996, the Secretary shall determine the appropriate level of insurance to be required under paragraph (1).

(a) In general The Secretary may make grants to the State of Alaska, a consortium formed pursuant to section 325 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105–83; 111 Stat. 1597), and Native villages (as defined in section 1602 of title 43) for the benefit of rural or Native villages in Alaska to provide for the development and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve the health and sanitation conditions in those villages. (b) Matching funds To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), the State of Alaska shall provide 25 percent in matching funds from non-Federal sources for any grant awarded under subsection (a). (c) Consultation with State of Alaska The Secretary shall consult with the State of Alaska on a method of prioritizing the allocation of grants under subsection (a) according to the needs of, and relative health and sanitation conditions in, each village. (d) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2023. (2) Training and technical assistance Not more than 2 percent of the amount made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used by the State of Alaska, and not more than 2 percent of the amount made available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year may be used by a consortium formed pursuant to section 325 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Public Law 105–83; 111 Stat. 1597), for training and technical assistance programs relating to the operation and management of water and waste disposal services in rural and Native villages. (3) Availability Funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall be available until expended.

(a) In general A direct loan (including a microloan, as defined by the Secretary) may be made under this subchapter only for— (1) paying the costs incident to reorganizing a farm or ranch for more profitable operation; (2) purchasing livestock, poultry, or farm or ranch equipment; (3) purchasing feed, seed, fertilizer, insecticide, or farm or ranch supplies, or to meet other essential farm or ranch operating expenses, including cash rent; (4) financing land or water development, use, or conservation; (5) paying loan closing costs; (6) assisting a farmer or rancher in changing the equipment, facilities, or methods of operation of a farm or ranch to comply with a standard promulgated under section 655 of title 29 or a standard adopted by a State under a plan approved under section 667 of title 29, if the Secretary determines that without assistance under this paragraph the farmer or rancher is likely to suffer substantial economic injury in complying with the standard; (7) training a limited-resource borrower receiving a loan under section 1934 of this title in maintaining records of farming and ranching operations; (8) training a borrower under section 2006a of this title; (9) refinancing the indebtedness of a borrower, if the borrower— (A) has refinanced a loan under this subchapter not more than 4 times previously; and (B) (i) is a direct loan borrower under this chapter at the time of the refinancing and has suffered a qualifying loss because of a natural disaster declared by the Secretary under this chapter or a major disaster or emergency designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or (ii) is refinancing a debt obtained from a creditor other than the Secretary; or (10) providing other farm, ranch, or home needs, including family subsistence. (b) Guaranteed loans A loan may be guaranteed under this subchapter only for— (1) paying the costs incident to reorganizing a farm or ranch for more profitable operation; (2) purchasing livestock, poultry, or farm or ranch equipment; (3) purchasing feed, seed, fertilizer, insecticide, or farm or ranch supplies, or to meet other essential farm or ranch operating expenses, including cash rent; (4) financing land or water development, use, or conservation; (5) refinancing indebtedness; (6) paying loan closing costs; (7) assisting a farmer or rancher in changing the equipment, facilities, or methods of operation of a farm or ranch to comply with a standard promulgated under section 655 of title 29 or a standard adopted by a State under a plan approved under section 667 of title 29, if the Secretary determines that without assistance under this paragraph the farmer or rancher is likely to suffer substantial economic injury due to compliance with the standard; (8) training a borrower under section 2006a of this title; or (9) providing other farm, ranch, or home needs, including family subsistence. (c) Hazard insurance requirement (1) In general After the Secretary makes the determination required by paragraph (2), the Secretary may not make a loan to a farmer or rancher under this subchapter unless the farmer or rancher has, or agrees to obtain, hazard insurance on the property to be acquired with the loan. (2) Determination Not later than 180 days after April 4, 1996, the Secretary shall determine the appropriate level of insurance to be required by paragraph (1). (d) Private reserve (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may reserve a portion of any loan made under this subchapter to be placed in an unsupervised bank account that may be used at the discretion of the borrower for the basic family needs of the borrower and the immediate family of the borrower. (2) Limit on size of the reserve The size of the reserve shall not exceed the least of— (A) 10 percent of the loan; (B) $5,000; or (C) the amount needed to provide for the basic family needs of the borrower ...

(a) As used in this chapter: (1) The term “farmer” includes a person who is engaged in, or who, with assistance afforded under this chapter, intends to engage in, fish farming. (2) The term “farming” shall be deemed to include fish farming. (3) The term “owner-operator” shall include in the State of Hawaii the lessee-operator of real property in any case in which the Secretary determines that such real property cannot be acquired in fee simple by such lessee-operator, that adequate security is provided for the loan with respect to such real property for which such lessee-operator applies under this chapter, and that there is a reasonable probability of accomplishing the objectives and repayment of such loan. (4) The word “insure” as used in this chapter includes guarantee, which means to guarantee the payment of a loan originated, held, and serviced by a private financial agency or other lender approved by the Secretary. (5) The term “contract of insurance” includes a contract of guarantee. (6) The terms “United States” and “State” shall include each of the several States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and, to the extent the Secretary determines it to be feasible and appropriate, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (7) The term “joint operation” means a joint farming operation in which two or more farmers work together sharing equally or unequally land, labor, equipment, expenses, and income. (8) The term “beginning farmer or rancher” means such term as defined by the Secretary. (9) The term “direct loan” means a loan made or insured from funds in the account created by section 1929 of this title. (10) The term “farmer program loan” means a farm ownership loan (FO) under section 1923 of this title, operating loan (OL) under section 1942 of this title, soil and water loan (SW) under section 1924 of this title, emergency loan (EM) under section 1961 of this title, economic emergency loan (EE) under section 202 of the Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act (title II of Public Law 95-334), economic opportunity loan (EO) under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1961 (42 U.S.C. 2942), softwood timber loan (ST) under section 1254 of the Food Security Act of 1985, or rural housing loan for farm service buildings (RHF) under section 1472 of title 42. (11) The term “qualified beginning farmer or rancher” means an applicant, regardless of whether the applicant is participating in a program under section 1935 of this title— (A) who is eligible for assistance under this chapter; (B) who has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than 10 years; (C) in the case of a cooperative, corporation, partnership, joint operation, or such other legal entity as the Secretary considers appropriate, who has members, stockholders, partners, joint operator,1 or owners who are all related to one another by blood or marriage; (D) (i) in the case of an owner and operator of a farm or ranch, who— (I) in the case of a loan made to an individual, individually or with the immediate family of the applicant— (aa) materially and substantially participates in the operation of the farm or ranch; and (bb) provides substantial day-to-day labor and management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the State or county in which the farm or ranch is located; or (II) (aa) in the case of a loan made to a cooperative, corporation, partnership, joint operation, or such other legal entity as the Secretary considers appropriate, has members, stockholders, partners, joint operators, or owners, materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch; and (bb) in the case of a loan made to a cooperative, corporation, partnership, joint operation, or other such legal entity as the Secretary considers appropriate, has members, stockholders, partners, or joint operators, all of wh...

(a) Program (1) Establishment Subject to the availability of funds appropriated under section 2027 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to formulate and administer a supplemental nutrition assistance program under which, at the request of the State agency, eligible households within the State shall be provided an opportunity to obtain a more nutritious diet through the issuance to them of an allotment, except that a State may not participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program if the Secretary determines that State or local sales taxes are collected within that State on purchases of food made with benefits issued under this chapter. The benefits so received by such households shall be used only to purchase food from retail food stores which have been approved for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Benefits issued and used as provided in this chapter shall be redeemable at face value by the Secretary through the facilities of the Treasury of the United States. (2) State quality control incentive (A) Definition of payment error rate In this paragraph, the term “payment error rate” has the meaning given the term in section 2025(c)(2) of this title. (B) State cost share (i) In general Subject to clause (iii), beginning in fiscal year 2028, if the payment error rate of a State as determined under clause (ii) is— (I) less than 6 percent, the Federal share of the cost of the allotment described in paragraph (1) for that State in a fiscal year shall be 100 percent, and the State share shall be 0 percent; (II) equal to or greater than 6 percent but less than 8 percent, the Federal share of the cost of the allotment described in paragraph (1) for that State in a fiscal year shall be 95 percent, and the State share shall be 5 percent; (III) equal to or greater than 8 percent but less than 10 percent, the Federal share of the cost of the allotment described in paragraph (1) for that State in a fiscal year shall be 90 percent, and the State share shall be 10 percent; and (IV) equal to or greater than 10 percent, the Federal share of the cost of the allotment described in paragraph (1) for that State in a fiscal year shall be 85 percent, and the State share shall be 15 percent. (ii) Elections (I) Fiscal year 2028 For fiscal year 2028, to calculate the applicable State share under clause (i), a State may elect to use the payment error rate of the State from fiscal year 2025 or 2026. (II) Fiscal year 2029 and thereafter For fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year thereafter, to calculate the applicable State share under clause (i), the Secretary shall use the payment error rate of the State for the third fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the State share is being calculated. (iii) Delayed implementation (I) Fiscal year 2025 If, for fiscal year 2025, the payment error rate of a State multiplied by 1.5 is equal to or above 20 percent, the implementation date under clause (i) for that State shall be fiscal year 2029. (II) Fiscal year 2026 If, for fiscal year 2026, the payment error rate of a State multiplied by 1.5 is equal to or above 20 percent, the implementation date under clause (i) for that State shall be fiscal year 2030. (3) Maximum Federal payment The Secretary may not pay towards the cost of an allotment described in paragraph (1) an amount that is greater than the applicable Federal share under paragraph (2). (b) Food distribution program on Indian reservations (1) In general Distribution of commodities, with or without the supplemental nutrition assistance program, shall be made whenever a request for concurrent or separate food program operations, respectively, is made by a tribal organization. (2) Administration (A) In general Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), in the event of distribution on all or part of an Indian reservation, the appropriate agency of the State government in the area involved shall be responsible for the distribution. (B) Administration by tribal ...

(a) In general Except as provided in subsection (i), EBT cards shall be issued only to households which have been duly certified as eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (b) Use Benefits issued to eligible households shall be used by them only to purchase food from retail food stores which have been approved for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program at prices prevailing in such stores: Provided, That nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to specify the prices at which food may be sold by wholesale food concerns or retail food stores. (c) Design (1) In general EBT cards issued to eligible households shall be simple in design and shall include only such words or illustrations as are required to explain their purpose. (2) Prohibition The name of any public official shall not appear on any EBT card. (d) Delivery and control procedures The Secretary shall prescribe appropriate procedures for the delivery of benefits to benefit issuers and for the subsequent controls to be placed over such benefits by benefit issuers in order to ensure adequate accountability. (e) State issuance liability Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the State agency shall be strictly liable to the Secretary for any financial losses involved in the acceptance, storage and issuance of benefits, except that in the case of losses resulting from the issuance and replacement of authorizations for benefits which are sent through the mail, the State agency shall be liable to the Secretary to the extent prescribed in the regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (f) Alternative benefit delivery (1) In general If the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture, that it would improve the integrity of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the Secretary shall require a State agency to issue or deliver benefits using alternative methods. (2) Imposition of costs (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall require participating retail food stores (including restaurants participating in a State option restaurant program intended to serve the elderly, disabled, and homeless) to pay 100 percent of the costs of acquiring, and arrange for the implementation of, electronic benefit transfer point-of-sale equipment and supplies, including related services. (B) Exemptions The Secretary may exempt from subparagraph (A)— (i) farmers’ markets and other direct-to-consumer markets, military commissaries, nonprofit food buying cooperatives, and establishments, organizations, programs, or group living arrangements described in paragraphs (5), (7), and (8) of section 2012(k) of this title; and (ii) establishments described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (9) of section 2012(k) of this title, other than restaurants participating in a State option restaurant program. (C) Interchange fees Nothing in this paragraph permits the charging of fees relating to the redemption of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, in accordance with subsection (h)(13). (3) Devaluation and termination of issuance of paper coupons (A) Coupon issuance Effective on the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, no State shall issue any coupon, stamp, certificate, or authorization card to a household that receives supplemental nutrition assistance under this chapter. (B) EBT cards Effective beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, only an EBT card issued under subsection (i) shall be eligible for exchange at any retail food store. (C) De-obligation of coupons Coupons not redeemed during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 shall— (i) no longer be an obligation of the Federal Government; and (ii) not be redeemable. (4) Termination of manual v...

(a) State responsibility (1) In general The State agency of each participating State shall have responsibility for certifying applicant households and issuing EBT cards. (2) Local administration The responsibility of the agency of the State government shall not be affected by whether the program is operated on a State-administered or county-administered basis, as provided under section 2012(s)(1) of this title. (3) Records (A) In general Each State agency shall keep such records as may be necessary to determine whether the program is being conducted in compliance with this chapter (including regulations issued under this chapter). (B) Inspection and audit All records, and the entire information systems in which records are contained, that are covered in subparagraph (A) shall— (i) be made available for inspection and audit by the Secretary, subject to data and security protocols agreed to by the State agency and Secretary; (ii) subject to subsection (e)(8), be available for review in any action filed by a household to enforce any provision of this chapter (including regulations issued under this chapter); and (iii) be preserved for such period of not less than 3 years as may be specified in regulations. (4) Review of major changes in program design (A) In general The Secretary shall develop standards for identifying major changes in the operations of a State agency, including— (i) large or substantially-increased numbers of low-income households that do not live in reasonable proximity to an office performing the major functions described in subsection (e); (ii) substantial increases in reliance on automated systems for the performance of responsibilities previously performed by personnel described in subsection (e)(6)(B); (iii) changes that potentially increase the difficulty of reporting information under subsection (e) or section 2015(c) of this title; and (iv) changes that may disproportionately increase the burdens on any of the types of households described in subsection (e)(2)(A). (B) Notification If a State agency implements a major change in operations, the State agency shall— (i) notify the Secretary; and (ii) collect such information as the Secretary shall require to identify and correct any adverse effects on program integrity or access, including access by any of the types of households described in subsection (e)(2)(A). (b) Correction of improper denials and under­issuances When a State agency learns, through its own reviews under section 2025 of this title or other reviews, or through other sources, that it has improperly denied, terminated, or underissued benefits to an eligible household, the State agency shall promptly restore any improperly denied benefits to the extent required by subsection (e)(11) and section 2023(b) of this title, and shall take other steps to prevent a recurrence of such errors where such error was caused by the application of State agency practices, rules or procedures inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter or with regulations or policies of the Secretary issued under the authority of this chapter. (c) Civil rights compliance (1) In general In the certification of applicant households for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, there shall be no discrimination by reason of race, sex, religious creed, national origin, or political affiliation. (2) Relation to other laws The administration of the program by a State agency shall be consistent with the rights of households under the following laws (including implementing regulations): (A) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.). (B) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794). (C) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). (D) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.). (d) Plan of operation by State agency; approval by Secretary; Indians The State agency (as defined in section 2012(s)(1) of this title) of each State desiring to ...

(a) Administrative costs Subject to subsection (k), the Secretary is authorized to pay to each State agency, through fiscal year 2026, 50 percent, and for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, 25 percent, of all administrative costs involved in each State agency’s operation of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which costs shall include, but not be limited to, the cost of (1) the certification of applicant households, (2) the acceptance, storage, protection, control, and accounting of benefits after their delivery to receiving points within the State, (3) the issuance of benefits to all eligible households, (4) informational activities relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program, including those undertaken under section 2020(e)(1)(A) of this title, but not including recruitment activities designed to persuade an individual to apply for program benefits or that promote the program through television, radio, or billboard advertisements, (5) fair hearings, (6) automated data processing and information retrieval systems subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (g), (7) supplemental nutrition assistance program investigations and prosecutions, (8) implementing and operating the immigration status verification system established under section 1137(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7(d)), and (9) establishing and operating a longitudinal database in accordance with section 2026(n) of this title: Provided, That the Secretary is authorized at the Secretary’s discretion to pay any State agency administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program on all or part of an Indian reservation under section 2020(d) of this title or in a Native village within the State of Alaska identified in section 1610(b) of title 43, such amounts for administrative costs as the Secretary determines to be necessary for effective operation of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as well as to permit each State to retain 35 percent of the value of all funds or allotments recovered or collected pursuant to sections 2015(b) and 2022(c) of this title and 20 percent of the value of any other funds or allotments recovered or collected, except the value of funds or allotments recovered or collected that arise from an error of a State agency. The officials responsible for making determinations of ineligibility under this chapter shall not receive or benefit from revenues retained by the State under the provisions of this subsection. (b) Work supplementation or support program (1) “Work supplementation or support program” defined In this subsection, the term “work supplementation or support program” means a program under which, as determined by the Secretary, public assistance (including any benefits provided under a program established by the State and the supplemental nutrition assistance program) is provided to an employer to be used for hiring and employing a public assistance recipient who was not employed by the employer at the time the public assistance recipient entered the program. (2) Program A State agency may elect to use an amount equal to the allotment that would otherwise be issued to a household under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, but for the operation of this subsection, for the purpose of subsidizing or supporting a job under a work supplementation or support program established by the State. (3) Procedure If a State agency makes an election under paragraph (2) and identifies each household that participates in the supplemental nutrition assistance program that contains an individual who is participating in the work supplementation or support program— (A) the Secretary shall pay to the State agency an amount equal to the value of the allotment that the household would be eligible to receive but for the operation of this subsection; (B) the State agency shall expend the amount received under subparagraph (A) in accordance with the work supplementation or sup...

(a) Education grants program for Alaska Native serving institutions (1) Grant authority The Secretary of Agriculture may make competitive grants to Alaska Native serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Alaska Native serving institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs. (2) Use of grant funds Grants made under this section shall be used— (A) to support the activities of consortia of Alaska Native serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students; (B) to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agriculture sciences; (C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level including by village elders and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and (D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Alaska Native serving institutions, or between Alaska Native serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. (3) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2001 through 2023. (b) Education grants program for Native Hawaiian serving institutions (1) Grant authority The Secretary of Agriculture may make competitive grants to Native Hawaiian serving institutions for the purpose of promoting and strengthening the ability of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs. (2) Use of grant funds Grants made under this section shall be used— (A) to support the activities of consortia of Native Hawaiian serving institutions to enhance educational equity for under represented students, including permitting consortia to designate fiscal agents for the members of the consortia and to allocate among the members funds made available under this section; (B) to strengthen institutional educational capacities, including libraries, curriculum, faculty, scientific instrumentation, instruction delivery systems, and student recruitment and retention, in order to respond to identified State, regional, national, or international educational needs in the food and agriculture sciences; (C) to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from under represented groups in order to prepare them for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems of the United States, beginning with the mentoring of students at the high school level and continuing with the provision of financial support for students through their attainment of a doctoral degree; and (D) to facilitate cooperative initiatives between two or more Native Hawaiian serving institutions, or between Native Hawaiian serving institutions and units of State government or the private sector, to maximize the development and use of resources, such as faculty, facilities, and equipment, to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs. (3) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to make grants under this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2023.

(a) Competitive research and extension grants authorized In consultation with the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee established under section 6923(b) of this title, the Secretary may make competitive grants to support research, education, and extension activities for the purposes of facilitating the development of urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production, harvesting, transportation, aggregation, packaging, distribution, and markets, including by— (1) assessing and developing strategies to remediate contaminated sites; (2) determining and developing the best production management and integrated pest management practices; (3) identifying and promoting the horticultural, social, and economic factors that contribute to successful urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production; (4) analyzing the means by which new agricultural sites are determined, including an evaluation of soil quality, condition of a building, or local community needs; (5) exploring new technologies that minimize energy, lighting systems, water, and other inputs for increased food production; (6) examining building material efficiencies and structural upgrades for the purpose of optimizing growth of agricultural products; (7) developing new crop varieties and agricultural products to connect to new markets; or (8) examining the impacts of crop exposure to urban elements on environmental quality and food safety. (b) Grant types and process Subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (4), paragraph (7), and paragraph (11)(B) of subsection (b) of section 3157 of this title shall apply with respect to the making of grants under this section. (c) Priority The Secretary may give priority to grant proposals that involve— (1) the cooperation of multiple entities; or (2) States or regions with a high concentration of or significant interest in urban farms, rooftop farms, and indoor production facilities. (d) Funding (1) Mandatory funding Of the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall use to carry out this section— (A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, to remain available until expended; and (B) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2031. (2) Authorization of appropriations In addition to amounts made available under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

(a) Authorization The Secretary shall establish procedures under which State and local agencies, charitable institutions, or any other persons may supplement the commodities distributed under the program authorized by this chapter for use by emergency feeding organizations with nutritious and wholesome commodities that such entities or persons donate to State agencies and emergency feeding organizations for distribution, in all or part of the State, in addition to the commodities otherwise made available under this chapter. (b) Use of funds and facilities States and emergency feeding organizations may use the funds appropriated under this chapter and equipment, structures, vehicles, and all other facilities involved in the storage, handling, or distribution of commodities made available under this chapter, and the personnel, both paid or volunteer, involved in such storage, handling, or distribution, to store, handle or distribute commodities donated for the use of emergency feeding organizations under subsection (a). (c) Volunteer workers State and emergency feeding organizations shall continue, to the maximum extent practicable, to use volunteer workers and commodities and other foodstuffs donated by charitable and other organizations in the operation of the program authorized by this section. (d) Projects to harvest, process, package, or transport donated commodities (1) Definition of project In this subsection, the term “project” means the harvesting, processing, packaging, or transportation of unharvested, unprocessed, or unpackaged commodities donated by agricultural producers, processors, or distributors for use by emergency feeding organizations under subsection (a). (2) Federal funding for projects (A) In general Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C) and paragraph (3), using funds made available under paragraph (5), the Secretary may provide funding to States to pay for the costs of carrying out a project. (B) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a project under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. (C) Allocation (i) In general Each fiscal year, the Secretary shall allocate the funds made available under subparagraph (A), based on a formula determined by the Secretary, to States that have submitted a State plan describing a plan of operation for a project under section 7503(b)(5) of this title. (ii) Reallocation If the Secretary determines that a State will not expend all of the funds allocated to the State for a fiscal year under clause (i), the Secretary shall reallocate the unexpended funds to other States that have submitted under section 7503(b)(5) of this title a State plan describing a plan of operation for a project during that fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year, as the Secretary determines appropriate. (iii) Reports Each State to which funds are allocated for a fiscal year under this subparagraph shall, on a regular basis, submit to the Secretary financial reports describing the use of the funds. (3) Project purposes A State may only use Federal funds received under paragraph (2) for a project the purposes of which are— (A) to reduce food waste at the agricultural production, processing, or distribution level through the donation of food; (B) to provide food to individuals in need; and (C) to build relationships between agricultural producers, processors, and distributors and emergency feeding organizations through the donation of food. (4) Cooperative agreements The Secretary may encourage a State agency that carries out a project using Federal funds received under paragraph (2) to enter into cooperative agreements with State agencies of other States under section 7505(d) of this title to maximize the use of commodities donated under the project. (5) Funding Out of funds not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2031, to rem...

(a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food insecure communities in areas of the United States that have significant levels of food insecurity and import a significant quantity of food. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term “eligible entity” means an entity that— (A) is— (i) an individual; (ii) an Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in section 5304 of title 25; (iii) a nonprofit organization engaged in increasing food security, as determined by the Secretary, including— (I) a religious organization; (II) a food bank; or (III) a food pantry; (iv) a federally funded educational facility, including— (I) a Head Start program or an Early Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.); (II) a public elementary school or public secondary school; (III) a public institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20); (IV) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 1059c(b) of title 20); or (V) a job training program; or (v) a local or Tribal government that may not levy local taxes under State or Federal law; and (B) is located in an eligible State. (2) Eligible State The term “eligible State” means— (A) the State of Alaska; (B) the State of Hawaii; (C) American Samoa; (D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; (E) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (F) the Federated States of Micronesia; (G) Guam; (H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; (I) the Republic of Palau; and (J) the United States Virgin Islands. (c) Establishment The Secretary shall distribute funds to the agricultural department or agency of each eligible State for the competitive distribution of subgrants to eligible entities to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food insecure communities, including through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. (d) Distribution of funds (1) In general Of the amount made available under subsection (g), the Secretary shall distribute— (A) 40 percent to the State of Alaska; (B) 40 percent to the State of Hawaii; and (C) 2.5 percent to each eligible State described in any of subparagraphs (C) through (J) of subsection (b)(2). (2) Carryover of funds Funds distributed under paragraph (1) shall remain available until expended. (3) Administrative funds An eligible State that receives funds under paragraph (1) may use not more than 3 percent of those funds— (A) to administer the competition for providing subgrants to eligible entities in that eligible State; (B) to provide oversight of the subgrant recipients in that eligible State; and (C) to collect data and submit a report to the Secretary under subsection (f)(2). (e) Subgrants to eligible entities (1) Amount of subgrants (A) In general The amount of a subgrant to an eligible entity under this section shall be— (i) in the case of an eligible entity that is an individual, not greater than $5,000 per year; and (ii) in the case of an eligible entity described in any of clauses (ii) through (v) of subsection (b)(1)(A), not greater than $10,000 per year. (B) Matching requirement As a condition of receiving a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall provide funds equal to 10 percent of the amount received by the eligible entity under the subgrant, to be derived from non-Federal sources. A State may waive the matching requirement for an individual who otherwise meets the requirements to receive a subgrant by the eligible State. (C) Project period Funds received by an eligible entity that is awarded a subgrant under this section shall remain available for expenditure not later than 3 years after the date the funds are received. (2) Priority In carrying out the competitive distribution of subgrants under subsection (c), an eligible State may give priority to an eligible entity that— (A) has not previously rece...

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Community wood energy system (A) In general The term “community wood energy system” means an energy system that— (i) produces thermal energy or combined thermal energy and electricity where thermal is the primary energy output; (ii) services public facilities owned or operated by State or local governments (including schools, town halls, libraries, and other public buildings) or private or nonprofit facilities (including commercial and business facilities, such as hospitals, office buildings, apartment buildings, and manufacturing and industrial buildings); and (iii) uses woody biomass, including residuals— (I) that have not been adulterated with glue or other chemical treatments from wood processing facilities, as the primary fuel; and (II) for which the use of that biomass for energy production does not cause conversion of forests to nonforest use. (B) Inclusions The term “community wood energy system” includes single-facility central heating, district heating systems serving multiple buildings, combined heat and electric systems where thermal energy is the primary energy output, and other related biomass energy systems. (2) Innovative wood product facility The term “innovative wood product facility” means a manufacturing or processing plant or mill that produces— (A) building components or systems that use large panelized wood construction, including mass timber; (B) wood products derived from nanotechnology or other new technology processes, as determined by the Secretary; or (C) other innovative wood products that use low-value, low-quality wood, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Mass timber The term “mass timber” includes— (A) cross-laminated timber; (B) nail-laminated timber; (C) glue-laminated timber; (D) laminated strand lumber; and (E) laminated veneer lumber. (4) Program The term “Program” means the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program established under subsection (b). (b) Competitive grant program The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a competitive grant program to be known as the “Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program”. (c) Matching grants (1) In general Under the Program, the Secretary shall make grants to cover not more than 35 percent of the capital cost for installing a community wood energy system or building an innovative wood product facility. (2) Special circumstances The Secretary may establish special circumstances, such as in the case of a community wood energy system project or innovative wood product facility project involving a school or hospital in a low-income community, under which grants under the Program may cover up to 50 percent of the capital cost. (3) Source of matching funds Matching funds required pursuant to this subsection from a grant recipient shall be derived from non-Federal funds. (d) Project cap The total amount of grants under the Program for a community wood energy system project or innovative wood product facility project may not exceed— (1) in the case of grants under the general authority provided under subsection (c)(1), $1,000,000; and (2) in the case of grants for which the special circumstances apply under subsection (c)(2), $1,500,000. (e) Selection criteria In selecting applicants for grants under the Program, the Secretary shall consider the following: (1) The energy efficiency of the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility. (2) The cost effectiveness of the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility. (3) The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system or innovative wood product facility represents the best available commercial technology. (4) The extent to which the proposed community wood energy system uses the most stringent control technology that has been required or achieved in practice for a wood-fired boiler of similar size and type. (5) (A) The extent to which the proposed comm...

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Agricultural commodity The term “agricultural commodity” has the meaning given the term in section 5602 of this title. (2) Geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher The term “geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher” has the meaning given the term in section 10906(a) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2204 note; Public Law 107–171). (b) Authorization Subject to the availability of funds under subsection (d), the Secretary may provide geographically disadvantaged farmers or ranchers direct reimbursement payments for activities described in subsection (c). (c) Transportation (1) In general Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary may provide direct reimbursement payments to a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher to transport an agricultural commodity, or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity, during a fiscal year. (2) Proof of eligibility To be eligible to receive assistance under paragraph (1), a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher shall demonstrate to the Secretary that transportation of the agricultural commodity or inputs occurred over a distance of more than 30 miles, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Amount (A) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of direct reimbursement payments made to a geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher under this section for a fiscal year shall equal the product obtained by multiplying— (i) the amount of costs incurred by the geographically disadvantaged farmer or rancher for transportation of the agricultural commodity or inputs during the fiscal year; and (ii) (I) the percentage of the allowance for that fiscal year under section 5941 of title 5 for Federal employees stationed in Alaska and Hawaii; or (II) in the case of an insular area (as defined in section 3103 of this title), a comparable percentage of the allowance for the fiscal year, as determined by the Secretary. (B) Limitation The total amount of direct reimbursement payments provided by the Secretary under this section shall not exceed $15,000,000 for a fiscal year. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2009 and each succeeding fiscal year.